A debt management plan can also help you discover the life rules for staying out of debt, so that you don’t have to deal with this situation ever again. They can also show you what living within your means really is, how to come up with and manage a budget, and what current expenses you should be cutting back on to stay within your monthly budget. The most important thing you need to take away from this experience, however, is responsible spending habits. Otherwise, the entire experience will have been pointless. A budget does not work if you do not stick to it.