"We are also close enough, with the refi of our house (which, no, has not happened yet, but I'm baking the loan a birthday cake) that we will be CATAPULTED into major debt reduction mode. (Fully 50 percent of our consumer debt will be nuked 3 days after settlement. Converted to secured debt, that is.)"

My $.02...

I think this is a very bad idea. Yes you will generally get a better interest rate over the short term, but you take unsecured debt and secure it with something you really don't want to lose. Plus you erode your equity in your home. I would rather pay down the credit cards, even if I have to do it slowly, then put that debt on my home.

Not sure if that was worth $.02.