Debt consolidation is one of the best ways to get excessive debt repayments under control. Consolidating all of your debts into a single monthly payment with a lower interest rate makes it easier to pay what you owe. As long as you can stop taking on new debt after consolidating existing debt, a debt consolidation loan can improve your credit score. Here are three big benefits of debt consolidation:

1. One monthly payment. If you’re currently trying to keep track of multiple credit card and loan payments, it can get complicated. When you have to pay several different bills each month, it’s easy to miss a due date or forget one completely. Consolidating each of your debts into a single payment will eliminate this problem.

2. Lower interest rate. When you consolidate multiple debts with various interest rates, you can usually get a lower interest rate than what you’re paying on the accounts separately. The interest rates on your existing debt can fluctuate throughout the term of the loan, while consolidation loans typically feature a fixed interest rate until the balance is paid in full.

3. Reduced stress levels. Anyone who’s ever experienced debt knows it can trigger a range of emotions. From depression and anger to anxiety and insomnia, debt is a monster that can overshadow many aspects of your life. Consolidating your debts and making payments more manageable will ease the strain and improve your mental outlook.

Everyone makes financial mistakes from time to time. The important thing is to learn from them. If you use a consolidation loan to manage your finances, don’t let your credit card use get out of hand or you’ll find yourself in worse shape than you were before you got the debt consolidation.