There are times when debt can get out of hand and seem impossible for an individual or family to manage. If that has happened to you, there are some steps you can take to begin to repair the damage and repay your debts more quickly. One of the most reliable is non-profit debt consolidation. There are non-profit credit counseling services that are approved by the National Federation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and offer counseling, budget training, and debt consolidation services for a small fee. Most will begin by examining your finances and helping you establish a budget that you can live on. They can also negotiate with your creditors to reduce your interest rates and monthly payments, set up a payment plan that fits your budget, then collect one payment from you each month and distribute it to your creditors. Because your payments are lower, you should be able to pay your debts more quickly. However, these non-profit counselors will rarely recommend bankruptcy, so if you are in serious trouble, you should probably consult a bankruptcy lawyer.