Q: I would like to know if there is someplace that will help me get my finances in order. I need to come up with a plan that will let me get my bills paid off in a certain amount of time and be able to put money away. I need help budgeting my money. Can you suggest a company and what is the average charge for a service like this?

A: Try Consumer Credit Counseling Services. They will help you budget for free or very low cost. They will also help you pay off your bills. But realize that using them to pay off bills may negatively affect your credit history for quite some time.

Be sure to ask a lot of questions before you sign up for their plan.