If you feel that your family's financial well-being is being impeded by a mountain of debt, you may be interested to know that there are dozens, if not hundreds, of proven debt reduction solutions that you can implement to begin working your way toward a debt-free lifestyle. However, before you choose a debt reduction solution that is right for you, it is important to consider all of the implications of your decision. If you opt to work with a third-party debt settlement company, you may incur thousands of dollars' worth of fees and services charges before the settlement process even begins. Because of this, a growing number of personal finance advisors suggest that consumers handle the debt reduction process on their own, or with the assistance of a trusted advisor, such as a representative of a non-profit credit counseling organization or a trained member of a faith-based debt reduction program.