If you have considered debt consolidation then you are probably a little overwhelmed with the mass amount of debt consolidation companies there are to choose from. With some of these debt consolidation companies, it's hard to even find out what debt consolidation is all about. It seems you have to commit to sharing your entire financial history, as well as sitting through a high pressure sales pitch, with some.
It may not have occurred to you that you can take debt consolidation into your own hands. As with most things in life, there are going to be advantages and disadvantages with handling your own debt consolidation. Credit counseling may be in order before even considering debt consolidation, if you don't have any idea where to start. It's important to remember that there are resources available and it's best to use them, rather than trying to wing it, when it comes to debt consolidation.
The first step in do it yourself debt consolidation is to assess the situation. You need to know how much debt you actually have, how old the debt is, and whether or not the debt is still with the creditor or if it has gone to a collection agency. Then you should prioritize your debt. Debt consolidation should not result in the loss of any of your secured property, so you will want to deal with those creditors first.
Once you have a clear picture of your financial situation, use the debt consolidation resources that are at your disposal to contact your creditors and begin negotiating. The process of debt consolidation does not need to be a complicated one. Taking care of your own debt consolidation will certainly be more stressful than taking your case to a debt consolidation company, but you will save a little money and learn valuable lessons regarding credit and debt consolidation along the way.
Timothy Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Debt-Relief-Solutions.com. He provides more credit counseling, bankruptcy and free debt consolidation information that you can research in your pajamas on his website.