<prompt> Human: I am trying to figure out if debt settlement is correct for me. I called National Debt Relief yesterday to inquire, as I saw they were rated highest from several different money management articles and an A with the BBB. Here is my situation: I pay my bills on time and have a credit rating in the upper 700s, however each month I can only afford the minimum payment and its like a revolving door with my debt. One of the things I made clear to the guy at National Debt was that I pride myself on my credit score, as I know my score will take a major hit if I settle the debt, but he made it clear that that score is doing nothing for me right now with my debt. For example, even with me consolidating two of my credit cards back in November he said that when I finally pay the loan off if I keep paying the minimum I will have paid 9,000 more with the interest. One of the other reasons I was to settle is that I have put off paying my federal student loans from grad school for 3 years now because I simply cant afford the payment on top of my private loan payment, credit cards, car loan and cost of living in NE Jersey. yes I would move out of this area to save money in a heart beat and move back to Ohio if it were not for my job industry So, I feel each month more and more frustrated that I have a paying full time job and do extra part time work on top of the full time but this debt is just sitting on me and is an embarrassment to me. The payment quoted to me yesterday was very easily manageable. That is if all the companies agree to settle The goal we talked about was lumping my private student loan 29,000 and credit cards 20,000 into one monthly sum so I can start to focus on paying my federal loans back and actually build a savings and private retirement fund. I am 30 With the federal student loan debt I am 250,000 total in the hole. Its hard for me to even see that in writing, but hey I did grad school at NYU-expensive but totally worth it long terms in terms of experience and the job I landed. If anyone can please let me know of thoughts, advice on debt settlement that would be great. I did look into debt counseling, but they can only change the monthly payment of each loan separately and I feel with my debt it needs to be in a lump sum. Thanks! TL;DRMake enough money to only pay minimum payments on my 250,000 total debt. Should I use National Debt Relief? Any additional advice?Assistant: Depending on your degree and job, you should be getting steady increases in salary over the next few years either promotions, increases, or taking new jobs. For now, I would cut out the extravagances. Do you have cable? Cancel it. Do you have a cell phone? Drop your plan down to the minimum. Do you eat out a lot or travel in to NYC? Stay at home, cook at home more. Is your car payment super high? Refinance or get a cheaper car. I would, personally, not use National Debt Relief. As you receive increases in salary and bonuses and tax returns and all those little windfalls in cash youre not expecting that happen from time to time, put all the extra money to the principal balance of your debt. Its gonna suck for a little while, but eventually you will climb out of this debt.Human: Thank you for this. Im handling this post for my fiance. We actually do what we can to only eat out once or twice a week. She has a lease on her vehicle, so she cant drop that as far as I know. Her payments are low because of her good credit score. Very good advice, thank you for your reply  <response>: We actually do what we can to only eat out once or twice a week.You cant afford to eat out at all. Budget your food expense better. You can save 5000 a year doing this. 