To be clear it is not a way to just write off your outstanding credit or to walk away scot free from your financial obligations. No, it is a service offered by some companies to reduce the amount of your overall credit bill. Consolidation service is the name used by many of these companies to describe a service where by they will negotiate with your creditors. This will not only enable you to build up a great little nest egg but you will also benefit from getting into the habit of saving and investing money. While in college funds may be tight but the self discipline of providing for yourself in the future will be great way to learn the skills that you will also need in building your career. A quick dose of reality for some I'm sure but a very necessary one. That is because the truth is that even the most prudent investments carry a degree of risk with them. If you don't feel comfortable with the possibility of losing your money then it's more than likely that the stock market isn't for you. Once you've got that figure you need to work out the cost of your consolidation loan. At least with that you will have a rough idea in advance. All you have to do is multiply the monthly repayment by the term of the loan. Having done that it is simply a case of taking the bill consolidation figure from the credit card cost. Do you think while you're laid there in your hospital bed it's just possible that making the payment for your credit card bill might get forgotten? And what happens when you forget your monthly credit payments? Those nice friendly guys at the loan company who wanted to increase your credit card limit only last month now turn into Don Corleone and the boys from Mob! Poor credit isn't necessarily a barrier to you getting a loan to consolidate your debt as the companies understand your situation. There does though have to be an explanation when you apply for a loan for debt consolidation. Poor credit requires you to explain how you came to be in arrears and, just as importantly, why things are going to be different now.