Because of the “free money” lending practices of the last twenty years, overwhelming debt has become a sad reality for millions of people. Many people took advantage of the credit offers to live above their means, but now, the credit hangover begins and those millions of people find themselves unable to pay back the so-called free money they were given. Now the work of repaying the debt becomes more than just a little daunting. Who can help? Where do you turn for help with debt?

Debt repayment is not a “one size fits all” kind of plan. You have options, but only you can determine which the best for your circumstances is. There are debt management companies, debt consolidation companies and loans, or you can try to do it yourself. Examine your credit report so you know exactly where you stand. Can you handle repayment on your own? Do you need professional help and how much will pay for it? Determine what affect each kind of repayment will have on your credit.

You will have to contact your creditors to make self-payment arrangements if you decide to go it alone. Most credit card companies and creditors are more than happy to work with you to make payment arrangements. They may even offer a settlement arrangement that could cut your bill in half. While this will negatively affect your credit score, it does have advantages. It can free up money to pay other debts and could save you from bankruptcy. If you do this for several of your debts, you could save thousands of dollars.

If you use a debt management company, they will work with you to come up with a debt management plan, or DPM, and they will negotiate with your creditors for a repayment plan. With them, you can determine a monthly amount that you can afford to pay that will go toward your debt. This amount may go into a special debt account or may go directly to the debt management company. If you decide to use a debt management company, make sure they are reputable and accredited. Carefully examine their fee structure so there are no surprises.

A debt settlement company will work out settlement arrangements with your creditors, and can usually negotiate a better settlement than you could on your own. The drawback is that they will generally charge a fee based on your amount of debt. When choosing a debt settlement company, try to find one that does not charge fees until the end of your debt repayment, one that can stop your creditors from calling you, and one that is accredited and listed with the Better Business Bureau.

Whatever method of debt solution you choose, make a plan for the future to keep from falling into the same hole. Many debt management companies will counsel you on budgeting, but do some research on your own, examine your lifestyle and make changes in your spending to stay out of debt.

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