Posted on June 22, 2009 at 11:54 pm Also, once you've identified or verified that they are really in debt and in need of help, how can you help?

Posted on June 23, 2009 at 5:41 am here are some signs:-when the person is maxing out the credit cards -when the person is taking cash advances or using credit to supply everyday needs like groceries and gas.-when the person can only make minimum payments.-when the person is skipping/missing payments-when the person is charging more than he;/she is paying per month.-when the person is showing signs of anxiety over unopened bill envelopes or is  already getting calls from collections agencies.

Posted on June 23, 2009 at 5:51 am some questions to ask yourself to find out if you need to seek professional help:1.does your credit card balances increase every month?2. have you considered filing for bankruptcy?3. have you/are you applying for new credit cards because the other ones are nearing their limit or are maxed out?4. have you already taken out money from your retirement account to pay debts? 5. if you lose your job now, would it immediately throw you into a financial crisis?

Posted on June 23, 2009 at 5:57 am free counseling services have sprung up in the past few years due to the seriousness of the in debt and in need issues, it has actually become a threat to people's health--you can check out credit counseling services via the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, at www.nfcc.org. or the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies, www.aiccca.org. or you may fill out one of the forms here to speak with a debt consultant for free.

Posted on June 23, 2009 at 6:07 am not only to the health yielding, debt has become a threat to relationships and lives. there have been suicide cases because of debt. i guess it depends on the nature of the debt and the person's financial situation?if the person is in debt but has a steady good paying job, then it is a matter of allocating the income into payment, and perhaps budgeting.if the person is in debt and has received a lawsuit, bankruptcy is an option, if only for the automatic stay (but im sure there would be objections to this, as bankruptcy should be the last debt relief option)if the person doesn't have the means to pay (unemployed, no assets, disabled, senior citizen, etc.) he/she may explore the possibility of being considered judgment proof. it's important for you to find out the person's financial standing.

Posted on June 23, 2009 at 6:16 am beware of scams though because they are going to cost you. if you are going to seek professional debt relief services watch out for the ones that have the usual sales pitch- be on the look out for like words "quick and easy solution, pain free, in no time..." truth is paying off debt is never easy. it takes time, patience, hard work, and a lot of sacrifice.

Posted on June 23, 2009 at 6:18 am how about those self-help books? are they any good? has anybody heard of dave ramsey?

Posted on October 15, 2009 at 4:22 am in debt and in need of help- how can you tell?Mhm, how can you not tell with this financial crisis is the more apt question I think. And yes Dave Ramsey's The Total Money Make Over book is quite popular.

Posted on October 15, 2009 at 4:26 am You can also try Suze Orman's The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom.If people are reading these books you can tell that they are in debt and in need of help - them or somebody they know. The content of those books though or the principle behind them is the same as the ones that you find online. Even if you've read the book I think that it's best to see a debt consultant or credit counselor for your unique financial situation. Remember that what's in the books are general knowledge. Question is, do those apply to your situation exactly?

Posted on October 15, 2009 at 4:30 am I agree and if you have any questions or if you need for your financial situation to be assessed - destroydebt.com offers a free initial debt consultation, just fill out a form.