Don't pay – you should be able to get advice for free.

Have realistic expectations – don't expect everything to be sorted out after one meeting.

Prepare for your first meeting – have everything to hand and dig through your paperwork to ensure nothing is missing and is everything.

Trust your debt adviser not to judge you – tell them everything and don't hold stuff back.

Engage in the process – the debt adviser is working with you, not for you.

Don't listen to other people – even if your friend got a Debt Relief Order or an Individual Voluntary Arrangement and it seems like it did wonders for them – it might not be the right choice for you. Your debt adviser will explain why. Their advice should be tailored to your circumstances.

Follow the advice. If you've decided on a plan, stick to it and don't deviate from it without checking back with your adviser. If circumstances have changed, then it might be time for a review, and that's OK, but don't change the plan you've agreed on without this.

Don't borrow more money. Unless you've decided to resolve your problems with a consolidation loan (and your adviser has endorsed this approach), don't borrow more money. If you can't keep within the budget you've set up, it's probably a sign that this needs to be looked at again. Remember, your debt adviser can only help you formulate a plan based on having all the correct information; if there's something you've not disclosed or forgotten about, you may find that the plan you've settled on is the wrong one.