Being in debt, especially when it is a struggle to make regular monthly payments, can be demoralizing, anxiety-producing and even depressing. If you have a friend or family member who is in this situation, follow some of these tips to help him or her.

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It is important for anyone struggling with debt to understand that he or she is not alone. In addition to the emotional support that you can provide as a friend or family member, companies like Rescue One Financial can help by working with clients to set up a debt management plan.

Listen

Reach out to your loved one and let him or her know that you are available to lend a non-judgmental ear. Talking about money and finances can be difficult, but your willingness to listen could be just what your friend or family member needs in order to move past any guilt or shame and feel motivated to take action.

Help Him or Her Find Work

In today’s economy, there are many ways to earn extra income. Do you know anyone in need of a babysitter or dog walker? Could you help your loved one sell unwanted items online or get him or her set up doing odd jobs through an app, such as Handy or TaskRabbit? Work with your friend or family member to come up with ideas, and be sure to share any listings that you may hear of from a friend or see online.

Following these steps in order to help a friend or family member who is struggling with debt will, ideally, both help him or her to weather this difficult situation and strengthen the relationship between the two of you. The most important thing is to help your loved one to overcome any negative feelings by being kind, empathetic and understanding.