Struggling consumers have more choices today than ever when it comes to debt relief options. These choices include credit counseling, debt consolidation, debt settlement, and bankruptcy. Opinions vary widely on each option but making the right decision is a matter of assessing a borrower's specific circumstances in relation to how each method works and what the ultimate result of each would be. The following are five questions to help get the decision making process started:

1) What types of unsecured debt are you struggling with? Consumers are struggling with all kinds of debt including credit cards, medical payments, department store, and revolving debt. If the answer includes more than just credit cards, consolidation, settlement, or bankruptcy could be viable options.

2) How many accounts are you struggling with? If you are struggling with payments on one or two accounts, especially if the balances are small, you might try seeing what those creditors might be willing to do for you directly. If your balances are larger (totaling over $10,000) you'll want professional representation to guide you through the options for debt relief and the execution of the proper strategy.    

3) Will you be able to pay off all your debts within five years? If the answer to this question is yes, then counseling or consolidation will be the right direction as both typically can reduced the overall interest rate on the debt but don't reduce the outstanding balance. If the answer is no, debt settlement or bankruptcy will be the best choices.

4) How much can you afford to pay each month relative to your current obligations? If you are in a situation where you just need a small reduction in your payments, counseling or consolidation with incremental decreases in overall interest rates on the accounts could suffice. If you're in a position where you could consistently make payments if they were cut by about 50%, then debt settlement will be the right the right choice. Being in a position where you can't put at least $100 toward you're debt each month could qualify you for a chapter 7 filing.

5)  Are you struggling with your mortgage? Many borrowers that are struggling with credit cards and other unsecured debt are also struggling with making their mortgage payments. A new strategy being employed by firms with experience in multiple venues is to combine debt settlement with a home loan modification to reduce both payments and fortify the homeowner's finances to the point that both payments will be sustainable for the long term.         

When considering debt relief options, borrowers need to look at the plusses and minuses and make a full assessment of each to determine which one will provide the best outcome for both the short and long term. A full analysis is critical due to the fact that switching strategies can be costly and waste valuable time. For many, taking counsel from an experienced professional will be the best way to define the best path and the ultimate outcome. In a situation where getting it right the first time through is a necessity, getting the right advice up front can prevent mistakes, speed the process, and put you on the path to financial recovery.