A debt consolidation loan can combine several credit card balances into one monthly payment, but it is not automatically cheaper. Compare the loan’s APR, fees and total amount repayable with your existing cards, and check whether a longer term would mean paying more interest overall. Avoid using cleared cards again, and be particularly cautious with secured loans because your home could be at risk if repayments are missed. Before applying, consider free guidance from MoneyHelper or a debt charity such as StepChange, and check that any lender is FCA-authorised.