When you have more than one credit card and you’re struggling to make ends meet, it can seem like the only option is to close your accounts. But that’s not always the best solution. Instead, try consolidating your credit card debt to take advantage of 0% interest deals and lower your interest costs. You’ll be able to keep better track of your spending by consolidating your credit card debt on a single card, allowing you to establish a strategy to pay off your debt as possible.

It’s not enjoyable to have credit card debt, and the more you have, the worse it gets. Consolidation is one strategy that many individuals use. This is when all your debts are consolidated into a single debt with a single payment. This one payment could be far less than the whole amount you were paying earlier. But, credit card consolidation isn’t for everyone, and there are a few things to consider before getting started. With that in mind, here are some suggestions for more successful consolidation.

Tip #1: Read and understand any terms of service agreements. This suggestion is for those who want to connect their bills on their own by combining high-interest obligations onto a single or two low-interest cards.

You’ll want to know about balance transfer costs, how long the lower rate will last, how much of the transferred amount is covered by the low rate, and so on. All these factors might affect how much you pay, and the goal is to pay less rather than more.

Tip #2: Research any credit counseling or debt consolidation companies you’re considering. In an ideal world, you’d be able to trust every firm that offers these services, but the fact is that some of them are only interested in your money and will only worsen your credit situation.

These businesses advertise on television, radio, and the internet, but that doesn’t mean you should trust them. Look for independent evaluations and contact the Better Business Bureau to learn about any customer complaints.

Tip #3: Don’t use your credit cards after you’ve consolidated them. Remember that you will be lowering your expenditure, giving the impression that you have more money to spend. Yet, this is not the case. Stop adding to your debt and do everything you can to pay off your consolidated credit card.

If you find yourself in a true emergency situation after you’ve started credit card consolidation, charge the emergency expense to the card that holds the balance of your debt. You should never begin charging on cards with a new zero balance, as this will only cause problems.

Tip #4: Read all the terms of the agreement, regardless of which firm you choose or whether you do it yourself. This cannot be emphasized enough. Don’t trust anything someone tells you in person. What matters is what is written on the paper you are signing. A written contract has more legal weight than a spoken contract.

Another reason terms are crucial is that they allow you to calculate how much you will have to pay. This is the only way to determine which credit card consolidation offer is appropriate for you and your circumstances.