There are many things you need to know before meeting with a debt relief company to regain control of your financial situation. Here’s a quick look at how effective debt consolidation services can set you on a path to a debt free life.

1. Rather than juggling a variety of payments, debt consolidation allows you to make one payment to the debt relief company. Via the arrangement you've made with them, your payment is distributed among your creditors.

2. Some debt consolidation services are better than others. Some are more capable and will explain their services so you know what you're getting into. Some are more trustworthy. Investigate what you should look for in a quality company and make sure they always explain every detail until you understand it.

3. Plans are more or less the same from one debt relief company to the next, but not all services will give you the same response and service once you've made a commitment with them.

4. Counseling is an important step before consolidating your debt. There may be better alternatives for you. Debt consolidation services are appropriate for specific situations, and we will be up front with you about that.

5. Debt consolidation is more useful if your debts are unsecured – credit cards and loans.

6. Debt consolidation services work when you work at them. It is critical to find a plan that you can stick with in the long-term.

7. To become debt free via a debt relief plan, you’ll need to make changes to your spending and adopt new, financially-savvy habits (e.g. eating at home, cutting cable, forgoing vacations or new items, etc.).

8. When consolidating your debt, you will have to agree to close your accounts and not to open any new charge accounts. It's a difficult task, but will help you in the long run.

9. Consolidation does have some negative impacts on your credit report, but it is favorable to bankruptcy in many circumstances.