What are the Best Sources for Debt Management Advice?

Debt management advice may become necessary when a mountain of debt becomes overwhelming. It may also be useful when a person relatively stable position is wondering whether it is safe to take on more debt. Unfortunately, the financial industry contains many unscrupulous organizations that take advantage of panicked debtors in return for promises of fixing their credit situation. Choosing safe, appropriate, and useful debt management advice begins with a careful assessment of a debt problem.

A person's fiscal health is often determined by how well he or she is able to pay off expenses, including debt payments. People that are able to pay bills, put away savings, manage day to day expenses and still have excess money are often in a good position to take on the debt of a new home, car, or credit line. For those who are making ends meet at current levels, some simple and direct debt management advice may be able to help shape future credit and loan decisions. Those in a more precarious position, who are falling behind on payments or getting buried under a load of collection agency warning may do well to contact a reputable debt management agency for fast help.

For those wanting to improve their personal accounting and consider increasing their debt load, debt management books are often a great source of information. Available in nearly any general bookstore, money management books may cover everything from setting up a better household budget to beginning retirement funds and investment portfolios. For the thrifty, perfectly relevant used copies of finance books often fill whole aisles at used book stores, and may be enormous bargains.

If a person has a simple question on which he needs debt management advice, he may consider contacting a call-in radio show with a financial expert. A “Dear Abby” for financial issues, these call-in shows can sometimes provide a simple, clear answer to a basic debt management issue. Some financial professionals also run online advice columns which allow readers to pose questions online as well. While this strategy does not usually provide in-depth analysis, it can provide a listener or reader with a good first step on the road to debt management.

For people in need of serious debt management advice, the solution may lie with a credit counselor. These professionals work with creditors to help iron out a debtor's situation, often by setting up repayment programs that are more manageable for the debtor. Creditors are often willing to work with credit counselors, since they are more likely to get money out of a repayment plan than the bankruptcy of a debtor. When choosing a credit counselor, it is vitally important to read reviews and get a sense of the company's reputation. Some of the most reputable organizations are non-profit or government-sponsored, which means that they are more likely to be interested in assisting clients than in turning a profit. Credit counselors typically charge a fee for their services, but it may be well worth the price to get a spiraling debt situation back under control.