If you are having financial problems, it is important for you to act now before those problems get worse. Doing nothing can lead to much larger problems in the future.

The good news is that there are solutions. There are ways to help improve your relationships with creditors, reduce your debts, and help you manage your money. In brief, these solutions can help give you a new, fresh start. First, let's see how bad your problems are.

Answer the questions in the following Debt Test. If you're married, print this out and take it home so that you and your spouse can work together to answer the questions. Make a note of how many questions you answer yes to.

1. Are you using more and more of your income to pay your debts?

2. Do you make only the minimum payments due on your loans and credit cards each month?

3. Are you near, at, or over the credit limit on your credit cards?

4. Are you paying your bills with money intended for other things?

5. Are you borrowing money or using credit cards to pay for things you used to buy with cash?

6. Do you often pay your bills late?

7. Are you dipping into your savings to pay current bills?

8. Do you put off visits to the doctor or dentist because you can't afford them?

9. Has a collection agency called recently about overdue bills?

10. Are you working overtime or holding a second job to make ends meet?

11. If you or your spouse lost your job, would you be in financial trouble right away?

12. Do you worry about money a lot?