Credit Counseling

You see advertisements for these types of services all over the place. Credit counseling companies—they sometimes advertise themselves as nonprofits—provide advice and help to people who are over their heads in debts and loans. In some cases, these companies will call up businesses you owe money to and try to negotiate. In other cases, they'll just give you advice about budgeting and...other stuff.

Be sure to read the fine print if you work with a credit counseling service to find out what fees or costs you may be paying for the service. It will probably be slightly more than the nickel Lucy charges for psychiatric advice.