Are you in a financial bind? Are you having difficulty paying off your credit card debt in full each month? Are you overwhelmed by the endless expenses, collection calls, and payment demands facing you?

If you need relief from late fees, high interest rates, and overwhelming financial obligations, you are someone who will benefit from a debt management program.

Debt management programs help you manage your debt by consolidating your accounts into one manageable monthly payment. As a result, you’ll be able to pay your bills on time and will no longer face late fees and over-limit charges. You’ll enjoy reduced interest and an improved credit score, saving you thousands.

Thanks to credit counseling, debt management programs also teach you how to budget, take every expense into account, and increase financial literacy.

Paying down excessive debt is difficult — but it isn’t impossible. It simply requires determination, self-discipline, and perseverance. As Robert J. Shiller once said, “Finance is not merely about making money. It's about achieving our deep goals and protecting the fruits of our labor. It's about stewardship and, therefore, about achieving the good society.”

Good money management begins at home. One way to begin making smart financial decisions is keeping track of every expense, from small items like toothpaste and coffee to large-scale expenses like medical bills and mortgage payments.

This Cash Spending Work Sheet helps you easily track your cash spending as you go about your day. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to save small amounts here and there when you're attuned to where you’re spending your money. Once you’ve begun tracking and controlling your cash spending for four weeks or more, you’re on the right track to financial success.

It’s also important to list your monthly expenses — and this Monthly Expense Work Sheet helps you do just that. Take out your check register and list the checks for the entire month into the categories provided, from housing and auto to childcare and food. As you go through the process of listing your checks, you will begin to see patterns in your spending habits and gain a realistic view of your monthly expenses.

Finally, it’s important to formulate a spending plan. Read More