I've written before about using a home equity loan or line of credit (HELOC) to transfer debt away from credit cards.  Last month, I discovered another possibility for those with a 401k account at work.  Most 401k accounts let you take a loan against the funds, usually up to around 50% of the value in your account.  For me, there was also a $125 origination fee.  I have to say up front that experts I admire generally frown on this strategy.  There's a good discussion of this issue at Poorer Than You, and Liz Pulliam Weston over at MSN Money claims this is one of the 7 most common 401(k) blunders.  Here's what her article says: