What is Debt Counseling?
Debt counseling, also known as credit counseling, involves working with a trained counselor who offers debt relief options based on your personal financial situation. It can help you pay off your debts 7x faster than trying to do it alone.
There is a lot of shame and stigma attached to debt. While no one wants to be in debt, it doesn’t make you a bad or irresponsible person. Many times, college costs, medical bills, or reduced income can put you in a difficult situation. If you’re struggling with debt, the good news is you’re not alone. At MMI, we have many resources and debt relief programs to help you start making progress on your payments.
If you’re ready to find a personalized solution to your debt, debt relief counseling might be the choice for you.
How does debt counseling work?
Typically offered through credit counseling agencies, the process of debt counseling is simple. You connect with a trained debt counselor, who thoroughly reviews your finances and makes recommendations that are tailored to your budget. When you contact a debt counselor, there are no fees or obligations to work with the company. By providing recommendations for debt repayment options, including debt relief programs, this counseling can help you to start moving towards financial freedom.
Contact a debt counselor
To begin the debt counseling process, you can contact a debt counselor at a reputable credit counseling agency. At MMI, you can reach a debt counselor for free at whatever time is best for you. Counseling is available 24/7, online and over the phone.
Read more: What Does a Credit Counselor Do?
Review your finances
Once you connect with a debt counselor, they will begin each session with a thorough review of your finances – debt, income, savings, assets and more. The goal for debt counseling is twofold: to give you a better understanding of your financial health and a plan of action to get out of debt.
Receive recommendations
At MMI, we understand that everyone’s financial situation is different. Because of that, your debt counselor will give you personalized recommendations based on your financial review. No matter your financial situation, debt counseling can help you make progress on your debt repayment through a plan that works for you.
Begin your journey
After you receive your recommendations, you'll decide which debt relief option is right for you. This might be starting a debt management plan (DMP), applying for a debt consolidation loan, continuing to make payments on your own, or filing for bankruptcy, among other options.
Once you decide which plan you want to use, your counselor can help direct you toward other resources to help you reach your goals and get out of debt.
If you’re struggling with debt management, counseling is a great first step. Money Management International has trained debt counselors who are ready to help and provide recommendations based upon your budget. Get started today to see how we can provide debt relief.