The emotion one feels when they are drowning in debt is overwhelming; believe me, I know because I have been there. You lay awake at night worrying and wondering, ‘how will I find the money for the car repairs that have be done or else I cannot get to work’, or maybe ‘how will I tell my children that we have to give the family pet to the humane society because we just cannot afford the vet bills’, or maybe ‘how do I break the news to my spouse that I have just been laid off’.

Over the years I have talked to many people struggling with debt and financial problems. I few years ago, I had to convenience them that they were not the only ones dealing with and experiencing the same problems. In the midst of today's economic crisis, I find myself having very different conversations. Struggling financially does not have the same stigma it did a few years ago. Just recently, while at a social gathering, a woman, whom I had only meet in passing, initiated small talk with me by divulging the details of her recent foreclosure and loan modification.

In general, we are more open and accepting of our money problems but this is mostly because it is no secret that a majority of our society is struggling; layoffs, foreclosures, repossession are common topics of discussion. If you take this into consideration, and apply basic principles about supply and demand, its only common sense that there is now, more than ever, an enormous market of individuals seeking financial and debt help and are willing to pay for it. So, where you have demand, you have supply. Where there are customers, there is someone to sell to them, and debt settlement companies are popping up everywhere.

As a consumer you need to smart and educated. Look for a company that has the traits you look for in any company: does the website look legitimate, how long has the company been in business, are their goals similar to mine? You can also visit www.dstruth.com. This is an independent website that is becoming a forum for individuals to discuss the debt settlement industry. And, since it is independent you know that while you are reading through the material, you will not be constantly blasted with advertisements.