Look for an organization that offers a range of services, including budget counseling, and savings and debt management classes. Avoid organizations that push a debt management plan (DMP) as your only option before they spend a significant amount of time analyzing your financial situation.
Do you offer information?
Are educational materials available for free? Avoid organizations that charge for information.
In addition to helping me solve my immediate problem, will you help me develop a plan for avoiding problems in the future?
What are your fees? Are there set-up and/or monthly fees?
Get a specific price quote in writing.
What if I can't afford to pay your fees or make contributions?
If an organization won't help you because you can't afford to pay, look elsewhere for help.
Will I have a formal written agreement or contract with you?
Don't sign anything without reading it first. Make sure all verbal promises are in writing.
Are you licensed to offer your services in my state?
If not, run.
What are the qualifications of your counselors?
Are they accredited or certified by an outside organization? If so, by whom? If not, how are they trained?
Try to use an organization whose counselors are trained by a non-affiliated party.
What assurance do I have that information about me (including my address, phone number, and financial information) will be kept confidential and secure?
How are your employees compensated?
Are they paid more if I sign up for certain services, if I pay a fee, or if I make a contribution to your organization? If the answer is yes, consider it a red flag and go elsewhere for help.
Debt Management Plans (DMP)
If your financial problems stem from too much debt or your inability to repay your debts, a credit counseling agency may recommend that you enroll in a debt management plan. A DMP alone is not credit counseling, and DMPs are not for everyone. Consider signing on for one of these plans only after a certified credit counselor has spent time thoroughly reviewing your financial situation, and has offered you customized advice on managing your money. Even if a DMP is appropriate for you, a reputable credit counseling organization still will help you create a budget and teach you money management skills.
For various reasons, not everyone is sold on using a dating service to meet people. The fear of the unknown as well as using modern technology to hook up with someone is more than some people can deal with. In this article will give you five questions to ask when comparing an online dating service to a traditional method of dating.
1. The first thing you should ask yourself is why are you considering a dating service. If you are the type of person who has difficulty finding a date, you may benefit from using an online dating service. If you currently are getting plenty of dates the traditional way you probably are not in need of a dating service to help you.
2. Another question to ask yourself is whether or not where you live is a factor in the way you date now. People in small rural areas have a hard time meeting people that are compatible with them. Online dating is a way for them to meet people they would never meet, however. The distance between them can be a problem in creating a long-term relationship.
3. Does traditional dating give you the best opportunity to meet the perfect partner for you. Going out to social gatherings and clubs can be a good thing and it's another way to meet people. Using a dating service allows you to compare profiles to come up with potential partners that are compatible with you who has the same interest as you.
4. We would be remiss if we did not discuss money. It can be expensive to go out in the hopes of bumping into the right person. Online dating services usually charge a fee but they give you the opportunity to meet people while you're in the comfort of your own home which can save you time and money.
5. Speaking of time, your time is extremely valuable. If you are currently a successful single person working in a career you may find it difficult to hook up and meet people. Online dating gives you the ability to filter through potential dating partners before you spend your valuable time to meet them.
Whether you decide to continue using a dating service or traditional dating these are some questions you can ask, which will help you to make an educated decision. Certainly you should go online and Google search words such as dating services, online dating, and so on to get a better feel on how the Internet is helping people to find dates today.
Both Lar & Marvin Perry are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.