17/10/2026
The cost of juggling due dates isn't only interest. A payment missed because it landed in the wrong week can mean a late fee, and repayment history stays on your credit report for two years, which matters if a home loan is anywhere on the horizon.
Consolidating may not reduce what you owe, and stretching it over a longer term can raise the total you pay. However, it can cut the number of ways things can go wrong in a busy month.