If you are a consumer who wants to get out of debt and get your family's financial health back on track, you have a number of debt reduction options at your disposal. If you are not facing immediate financial hardship and you have some leeway in your budget to begin applying to extra payments, you can structure your own debt payoff schedule and begin attacking your accounts in whichever order you choose, although financial experts suggest starting with higher-interest accounts. If you are having difficulty making your monthly payments and fear that you may not be able to keep your head above water for much longer, bankruptcy may be your best bet. Although it may be possible to arrange debt settlement offers with your creditors, experts advise steering clear of third-party debt settlement companies that charge high fees in return for services of negligible value. For more advice, contact a representative of a non-profit credit counseling service in your area.