It’s easy to see why you’d want to hire a professional to help you get out of debt. Just sorting out the paperwork can feel like you need an advanced degree. But unfortunately, most of what a financial planner or a debt counselor is going to tell you is either common sense or something you’ll learn by the end of this book.

On top of that, a professional, no matter how good they are, can’t do the most important part for you. They can’t make you spend less. They can tell you to spend less, but you’ve still got to put the plan into action. If you are willing to make dramatic, but temporary, changes in your budget, getting out of debt is as easy as falling off a log. Unfortunately, though, there are a lot of people out there who prey on people in desperate situations. We’ll go into it more in Chapter 22, but people with a ton of debt make great targets for scam artists.

When it comes down to hiring professional help, I generally think you should try reducing your debt on your own before hiring anyone. Give yourself 6 to 12 months. But if you know there’s no way you’ll do it on your own, or you haven’t made much headway after 12 months, consider getting help from a pro. Here are some things you should look for in a debt professional:

Focus on budgeting. I know I repeat this ad nauseam, but getting out of debt is all about controlling the flow of money in and out of your household. A professional who can help you gain control of this is going to be the best kind to hire.

Pay a flat or hourly fee. The best professionals to work with are the ones who charge you for their time, not their results. Professionals who get rewarded to cut your debt by as much as possible, as soon as possible, may offer you advice that is not in your long-term best interest.

Consider a CFP or a CPA. Both Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) and Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) have gone through extensive training and licensing procedures. They may not be the cheapest professionals to hire, but you are guaranteed a certain minimum quality.

Try your Employee Assistance Plan. Many employers now offer Employee Assistance Plans that give their employees free or low-cost access to a variety of financial and legal professionals who will get you started on your way.