Is it worth getting a debt consolidation loan just to lower my monthly payment?

Be careful, because a lower monthly payment isn't the same as paying less overall. Consolidation loans often lower your payment by stretching the term to 5 or 7 years. Even at a lower rate, a longer term can mean you pay more total interest than you would have by aggressively paying off your cards in two or three years.

The right reason to consolidate is a genuinely lower interest rate combined with a payoff timeline that's the same or shorter than your current path, not just breathing room in the monthly budget. If cash flow is the real problem, a lower payment can prevent missed payments, but don't mistake it for progress. Compare total interest paid, not the monthly number, across both scenarios at wealthserene.com/tools/debt-payoff.