<prompt> Human: Hello everyone! First time poster here.Ill explain my situation as succinctly as possible.I worked in a well paying hourly job as a supervisor for 5 years before losing my job. During the time that I worked there, I had acquired a few personal loans for my wedding, honeymoon, and then for a vacation I took a couple of years ago.After being unemployed for two months at the beginning of the year, I found another job, though it is a much lower wage, and on top of that we are paid at the end of each week, meaning smaller checks and more planning needed.The loans I have to pay come to a grand total of 9200 and the way things are, I am finding my self over-drafting my account just from paying my minimums on my loans.So I ask if it would be worthwhile to try and consolidate my loans through one of those third-party companies, or is it just another way to take advantage of people already struggling with debt? While it hurt or help my credit to keep paying them separately versus a debt consolidator?Thank you for reading!  <response>: You dont have a credit score problem, you have an income and expense problem.If the total interest youll pay is lower with a consolidation loan, than it would be with the credit cards, then you should get the loan, pay off the cards with it, then pay off the loan.If the loan will not cost you less than the credit cards, dont do it.Also, dont use a debt consolidation service. Theyre just scams to take more of the money you dont have.Once you dig your way out of debt, then you can worry about your credit score. 