Did you know? The average American household holds 14.27 credit cards. According to an informal CardWeb poll, six in 10 credit card holders say they've been hit with a late fee over the past year. On average most new college graduates have about $17,000 in federally guaranteed education loans.

(PRWEB) April 24, 2005 -- With consumer debt at such an alarming high - many Americans are turning to Debt management programs for relief. Debt management programs, such as http://www.consumerfirstcredit.com, can help their clients in a wide variety of ways:

1) They can help you pay less. Credit Counseling companies often negotiate with your creditors for better repayment terms, including lower interest rates and waived late fees.

2) They can help to pay off your debt faster. By creating a realistic and manageable payment plan, you'll be able to pay off your debt in as few as 3 to 5 years (as compared to potentially 20 to 30 years on your own).

3) They help make it easier to pay every month. By consolidating all your credit card and other unsecured debt payments into one, you won't have to juggle multiple payments.

4) They can help you learn to avoid future financial trouble. Many clients claim that once you start to pay down your debt, you'll feel a real change in the way you look at and use money. Some programs also teach tips, tricks and techniques to help you better manage all of your finances.

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