Jumat, 15 April 2011

How to Find Free Credit Counseling

How to Find Free Credit Counseling

The cheapest credit counseling is the kind you do yourself, but if you’re having trouble with that, you can find free or low-cost counseling from a variety of agencies and public entities.

Do-It-Yourself Counseling

Although it’s not technically counseling, you can do many of the things they do on your own.

Most services offer budgeting forms and money management advice. You can learn to budget your money by borrowing personal finance and budgeting books from the library or following advice available on websites like this. If you need budget software, you can find several free online sites to help track your spending and bills.

If your credit is decent, you can arrange a debt consolidation loan through a credit card balance transfer, personal loan, or home equity loan without involving a credit card counseling service.

You can also negotiate for lower interest rates directly, simply by calling your credit card company and asking.

Professional Free Credit Counseling

If you’ve tried all of the above on your own without success or feel you need professional help, you can find it free. Many reputable counseling agencies offer free counseling for those in serious need. They may also provide free education materials and budgeting forms.

Certain programs are not free, however. Debt management programs nearly always include some kind of fee, although it varies by the amount of debt included and your ability to pay. Ask for a list of estimated fees before agreeing to anything.

If debt settlement is your only option, then it will also usually require a fee. Very few people succeed in settling debts on their own, but you can try.

Where to Find Free Counseling

If you need consumer credit counseling, start by contacting a local credit union, hospital, university, or military base. Although they may limit their services to members, patients, students, or service members, some also offer services free to the public. Credit unions are available to a wide range of people, so you should be able to find one you can join.

If none of the above is available to you, you can also contact local housing agencies for help. Because they’re funded by the government, they often provide free services.

Finally, contact a local community center to see if any local groups provide services. Several community centers offer money management classes that are free or low-cost. They may also be aware of volunteer organizations that provide free counseling.

If you need debt help, creating your own solution is the cheapest option. However, many people need professional help. There’s no shame in asking for it. You can find free counseling if you’re willing to look a little harder, but don’t delay if it comes down to paying $15 or waiting another three weeks to get started.

For more articles and suggestions, visit http://www.Bills.com

Justin Narin has 5 years of experience as a financial adviser; his key areas are loan consolidation, debt relief, mortgages etc. For more free articles and advice visit http://www.Bills.com


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