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If you have gotten to the point where your debt is so high that you cannot handle it within your current financial situation, you may be best to talk to a professional about debt relief.

You may have never had anything to do with debt relief and have no idea what anything means or how to understand your options. Don’t fear, knowledge is key. All you need is a little bit of knowledge and you will be able to face your debt relief options much more confidently.

What are my basic debt relief options?

Create your own budget, rearrange your finances and organize it yourself.

You are probably beyond this if you are considering professional help but it does not hurt to make sure. Work out all your payments, combine credit card debts into one card if poss and create a fixed strict budget. You may be able to pull through.

Creditor Negotiations

You will find numerous companies and people who say they will help negotiate lower payments with your creditors. Sometimes they will be known as debt management, debt managers or mediate negotiations. This basically involves them calling round, informing them they you cannot pay and threatening that you will go bankrupt (this will result in your creditors getting almost nothing) and arranging lower settlement feeds or flexible payment plans. Obviously companies charge for these services so always be confident and weary. Don’t get threatened or rushed into a deal and read all small print. Fees can be very creatively hidden even if the company claims to be non-profit. Find the right company at the right price and this may be the option for you.

Debt Consolidation

This word is everywhere you look. It could be the right option for you but you really have to look into it. Debt consolidation basically involves you getting one large loan to cover all your debts. This loan may be at a lower interest rate and can often be paid back over the course of many years giving you a lower monthly payment. Many debt consolidation companies will also seek to act to control your spending too and act as a kind of accountant. Theoretically your spending is out of control so this may be good for you. A good company will also provide many tips to help you through your everyday life, whilst in debt. Again these companies all make a profit. You should evaluate the offers very closely and check all loan interest rates. Sometimes very large fees are hidden in the principle loan or interest rises to a very high rate after an initial low period.

Bankruptcy

This is not really debt relief but rather the last option. You lose a lot during bankruptcy and it can be highly stressful for all involved. Think long and hard and look at EVERY alternative option before even considering this.

Bankruptcy is a federal court process that is in place to help people (consumers and businesses) get totally rid of their debts or repay them under the bankruptcy’s court protection In America there are two types of bankruptcy, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is acted out through liquidation: Property that you own that is not exempt under your state’s laws may be liquidated (this means sold) to pay back some of your debt. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is more common. It involves a reorganization and is aimed mostly at consumers. Generally you get to keep all of your property. It is arranged for you to make monthly payments over the course of three to five years. This repays all or some of your debt.

Always be aware that bankruptcy can be very complex and can have complex and varied rules depending on your situation.

With all of these options look out for the scams, try and find genuine testimonies and always check alternatives in a though manor.

So, what option should I choose?

This is something that you should take a lot of time and honest reflection deciding. You should see if there are any government or charity run advice services that you can contact (not services that are trying to sell you services, just advice). Talk to friends and family, they may know people who have gone through this or may have gone through it themselves. Read everything you can and make sure you are confident that you understand your personal circumstances. If you are looking at various services then gather as much info from them as you can. Call them or request that they send you info via the net or post.

If you keep yourself confident, knowledgeable and composed you should be able to make the right decision to help reach your debt free future.

Using your credit cards to your advantage, to ease your debt