Free Debt Help

When you're struggling with debt, the last thing you want to do is have to spend even more money to get the help you want. Shoot, that's why you're reading this blog! What could be better than free debt help?

While the Internet is full of great information, there are other sources of free help as well.

The one source of debt help I want to discuss today is that of friends and family. Most of us, though not all of us, do have a wide source of family and friends that we can address our concerns with. The problem, however, is that we too often let our pride or embarrassment about our situation, get in the way of receiving the help we need.

Getting out of debt is hard. Asking for help can be harder. But there are some good reasons for going to family and friends before anywhere else.

First, they almost always have your best interest in mind. Most companies, while they might have really good customer service, are primarily focused on one thing, their bottom line (i.e. how much money they are going to make off you). Those we are close to on the other hand, hopefully don't have the same motivation. Instead, they really care about you and would love to see you get out of debt.

Second, asking someone you know for advice about what to do, where to go, or what to read is THE best way to find a quality product or service. Consider how many times you visited a particular restaurant or read a book because someone suggested it. Was it worth it?

Most of the time, getting referred to something from a friend or family member is quite reliable and a whole lot better than going to the phone directory. Let's just say your odds are much greater that wherever you get referred to will be a good place to go.

If you're just looking to borrow money or something though, friends and family are NOT the source you want to tap into. They are a great resource for tips, ideas, suggestions, business referrals and general knowledge about "what to do," but they are a terrible resource to ask for money.

One of the biggest problem areas in families is money and it can very easily destroy relationships, particularly if there's an expectation of repayment. If a friend wants to give you money as a gift to help with your debt situation, unconditionally with no expectation of repayment, then by all means accept it. But I would never suggest asking for money unless your situation was truly dire.

Instead of asking for cash to help with your debt problem, consider asking for advice on where to find financial help. There are organizations, non-profit ones, that can provide assistance so asking around is a great way to find a reliable one you can trust.

The bottom line though, is that when it comes to free debt help, sometimes we just need to swallow our pride, accept the fact that we need help, and start asking around for it. Most of the time, you'll get great information and suggestions. Better yet, you'll be getting advice from someone who has your best interest in mind.

For those of you who just don't have anyone to turn to, hang in there. Don't give up. There are some options. In my next blog entry, I'll provide some other suggestions about where you might find free debt help.