There are alternatives to bankruptcy that may be more effective for some persons who owe large amounts of debt. For instance, if your debts are primarily student loans, you may be able to alter the amount of your payments by entering into a different repayment plan with your lender, some of which are dependent upon your income. If your debts are relatively small relative to your income, you may be able to enlist the assistance of a credit counseling agency, which can help you budget your finances and even negotiate with your lenders in order to obtain more favorable repayment terms. You should be cautious, however, about for-profit agencies that claim they can "repair your credit"; most of the techniques needed to improve your credit rating are relatively simple tasks that you can perform on your own.