Debt can be detrimental to the health and wellness of an individual or family. In the United States, money worries present themselves as the most pervasive issue in arguments. Couples fight over money as a result of a variety of different issues within the realm of personal finance, but the truth is that there are a number of simple ways that you and your significant other can minimize the debt burden and worry that comes as a result of credit card bills, medical expenses, and everything else that life can throw your way.

Handling debt starts with a turn toward more responsible budgeting (something that is surprisingly difficult for most people to pin down given its importance). If you are struggling to make payments to your creditors or pay the rent and utility bills every month, these three approaches to the debt burden can make all the difference in the world for you and your family.

1. Utilize professional debt settlement options for streamlined repayments.

A debt relief company is a must for anyone struggling to keep up with payments to each and every creditor they owe money to. Debt settlement companies offer clients a variety of solutions in the vein of debt relief. Whether you’ve fallen on hard times as a result of a layoff or temporary reduction in work hours, maintain high-interest credit cards as a result of a less than stellar credit score, or something else, speaking with a debt settlement professional is a great first step toward better debt management.

Debt relief companies offer a unique service. Instead of paying your creditors directly, you’ll pay into a pool managed by the settlement advisor that you work with. They will act as the liaison between you and the creditors that you owe money to. As your pool of capital continues to build with each monthly payment into it, the debt settlement company will work to renegotiate the total amount to be collected with the use of this capital as leverage. Rather than promising continued monthly payments into the future, they will provide creditors with a lump sum payout (and perhaps a minimal payment for a set number of additional months).

2. Consider a balance transfer or consolidation option.

Balance transfers and consolidation loans are other great options for those who are struggling to make payments on their loans, credit cards, and other credit accounts. A consolidation of debts is a move that consumers make in order to bring all their different credit accounts under the umbrella of one creditor. This makes repayment simpler, and it can often lower the amount you have to pay each month as a minimum payment as well.

With lower and more transparent repayment obligations, you can dedicate more of your free capital to attacking the principal of the loan, eliminating the debt faster than ever before.

3. Think about speaking with a bankruptcy lawyer.

For the most extreme debt cases out there, speaking with bankruptcy lawyers in Birmingham, AL, can provide you with the defense you need in order to gain access to a clean slate for you and your loved ones. Some consumers have dug such a deep hole that climbing back out can seem like an impossibility. What’s more, with higher levels of debt comes the additional burden of an extreme measure of added interest each month. This can make repayments untenable, leaving bankruptcy proceedings as a necessary alternative to settle debts once and for all and move on to better days.

With these three approaches to debt management, finding better days ahead isn’t just something that you and your family can dream of: Living this comfortable life can quickly become a reality.