Debt Consolidation Cost Scenarios

What is original in this dataset?

Version 1.0.0 contains 216 deterministic comparisons, generated from published inputs and code. It varies debt balance ($5,000, $12,000, $25,000), current fixed dollar payment (2.5%, 3% or 4% of the starting balance), new nominal annual rate (10%, 15%, 20%, 25%), new term (36 or 60 months), and fee withheld from gross principal (0%, 3%, 6%). The current nominal annual rate is fixed at 24%. The product of those scenario dimensions is 3 × 3 × 4 × 2 × 3 = 216.

This is original calculation output, not original evidence about actual lenders, market rates, credit-card minimums, approval or consumer outcomes.

What does the comparison show for $12,000?

Current-debt baseline: $12,000 at a fixed 24% nominal annual rate, with a fixed $360 monthly payment: 56 payment periods and $19,973.01 remaining repayment, including a smaller final payment. Each replacement loan below provides $12,000 net after a 3% fee withheld from gross principal. Gross principal is $12,371.13; the financed fee is $371.13.

Payment relief and total-cost savings are different measures. A positive last column means more future dollars paid, even if the monthly payment falls. The nominal rate excludes fee effects and is not fee-inclusive APR. Displayed amounts round to cents; totals use unrounded payments.

How can you reproduce the calculations?

Decimal precision 45. Existing debt is one mathematical balance at fixed 24% nominal annual interest, paid monthly with a fixed dollar payment until a smaller final payment. New loan proceeds equal the debt balance after a fee withheld as a percentage of gross principal. New gross principal = debt balance / (1 - fee fraction). Payments use monthly amortization with nominal annual rate / 12. Calculations retain full precision; monetary fields round half-up to cents only for publication. New total repayment minus current remaining repayment compares future dollars from today.

gross principal = debt payoff amount / (1 − fee fraction)
new payment = principal × r / (1 − (1 + r)−n), where r = nominal annual rate / 1200 when the rate is entered as a percentage, and n is the number of months. At a zero rate, payment is principal / n.

The current balance accrues one month of interest, then the fixed dollar payment is applied. The last payment is limited to the amount due. A payment that cannot exceed first-month interest is rejected. All balances and payments are theoretical; actual servicing can use daily accrual and different rounding.

A 3% fee withheld from a $12,000 gross loan would leave only $11,640. This dataset instead increases the gross amount to $12,000 / 0.97 so that exactly $12,000 remains for payoff. The fee is already inside the new scheduled repayment and must not be added a second time.

Can you download and cite the data?

• Download all 216 scenarios (CSV)
• Download scenarios, definitions and limitations (JSON)
• Download the Python 3 reproduction script — standard library only; run it in a writable directory to recreate both data files.

Suggested citation: Borrow Your Loan, Debt Consolidation Cost Scenarios, version 1.0.0, October 23, 2026, 216 deterministic scenarios. Include the scenario ID and this methodology URL when citing a numerical example. Figures describe modeled conditions, not surveyed offers or realized savings.

How should you interpret the columns?

Gross principal includes the fee that is financed through the larger loan. Net proceeds equal the old debt balance. New financing cost includes both interest and the withheld fee. A negative repayment difference means fewer modeled future dollars, while a positive payment-relief figure means a smaller scheduled monthly payment; neither establishes eligibility or suitability.

What does this model leave out?

• Not observed market data, current rate quotes, lender APR disclosures, eligibility guidance or offers.
• Existing payment is fixed in dollars; it is not a declining credit-card minimum-payment model.
• Equal-rate aggregate debt model; accounts with different rates or dates need a separate account-level calculation.
• Monthly interest model excludes daily accrual, account reuse, late fees, missed payments, taxes and optional insurance.
• A financed withheld fee increases principal. New nominal interest rate is not fee-inclusive APR; no fee-inclusive APR is calculated.
• Negative new-minus-current repayment indicates lower modeled future repayment; it does not establish suitability or guaranteed savings.

For debts with different rates, calculate the accounts separately and sum their remaining payments; do not substitute a simple average rate into this model. A declining minimum-payment schedule, promotional expiration, new spending or missed payment requires a different model. A smaller payment is not evidence of lower lifetime cost.

Where does this fit in a borrowing decision?

Use the debt consolidation decision guide to compare mechanisms and alternatives, and the payment calculator for a basic estimate with your inputs. Compare actual disclosed APR and fees before accepting an offer. The Loan Cost Index remains a separate fee-free installment-loan resource.

Read editorial policy and commercial disclosure. Report a reproducible error through contact, including the version and scenario ID, without sending account details.