Living with debt is an inevitable part of modern life. Just about everyone has debt in one form or another - a mortgage, an outstanding credit card balance, a car financing deal, a student loan - and many other types. So if we can't get rid of debt we need at least to learn how to handle it so that we can control it, before it controls us. In this book we look at a series of case studies and how people got into trouble with debt. They weren't stupid or irresponsible. Their problems arose because circumstances changed. Some changes could have been foreseen, others not - but they were things that could happen to anybody at any time - to you or me. This book will show you: How, if you take the right action at the right time, you can get matters straight. How to borrow in a way that will minimise the risk of getting into difficulties, and how to do it at the lowest cost. How, if the worst happens and you get into a complete financial mess, you can get out of it with the least long term damage.