“Under the right circumstances, shifting increasingly expensive short-term Debt to longer-term, lower-rate duration can help reduce monthly expenses, at a time when every little bit counts.”
The research was conducted among 2,068 UK adults in June 2022, 58% of whom were homeowners, of whom 25% also had an unsecured loan.
It revealed that the vast majority (78%) of UK homeowners found themselves spending more on living costs than six months ago. Three in 10 (30%) of those with revolving credit, including credit cards, store cards and overdrafts, said they had an average balance of almost £3,000 and had seen their rates rise over the course of the same period.
Overall, our research found that around 12.7m UK homeowners could face an average increase of over £750 in annual interest rate payments on revolving credit, with 3.8m seeing a increase of over £60 per month.
With the two pinch points of the rising cost of living and more expensive credit, and an average balance of £8,738.90 per owner for revolving credit and unsecured loans, such as car loans, the moment may have come for savvy spenders to consider Debt Consolidation. .
Not a last resort
For many, the term “debt consolidation” can carry negative connotations, suggesting an unmanageable or poorly managed amount of debt, and a person in dire straits. Indeed, our research found that only 30% of people with outstanding debt would consider consolidating it into a single loan, while 45% said they wouldn’t see it as an option at all.
However, far from being a matter of desperation, with much of the UK dependent on unsecured credit, rising rates and the economic outlook looking constantly bleak, it is simply a matter of good money management .
While no financial solution is perfect for every client, under the right circumstances, shifting increasingly expensive short-term debt to longer-term, lower-rate duration can help reduce expenses. monthly, at a time when every little gesture counts. There’s also the added benefit of streamlining all additional fees and charges and having one easy-to-manage payment per month, reducing the risk of complications or missed payments.
A homeowner can use their home’s security in a number of ways in this situation, including re-mortgaging to raise capital to pay off debts, but the best option may be second mortgages, as this allows borrowers to stay on a potentially more favorable market. first rate of charge while enjoying the equity accumulated in their home.
At Pepper Money, the average median salary among our second charge clients who take out a debt consolidation loan is £53,900. These are high-income earners who take proactive steps to ensure their continued financial stability, in addition to potentially boosting their credit ratings, while leaving a safe buffer of equity in their home.
While there is risk with any form of borrowing, Pepper Money prides itself on taking a careful and thoughtful approach, backed by humans and technology working together to deliver positive results for clients.
In this time of uncertainty, this is an opportunity to make the most of the continued stability in the housing market, leveraging the power of home equity to gain some breathing room. With rising inflationary pressures, now is the time to find out if secondary debt consolidation is right for your clients.
