Residents urged to seek debt advice before January bills come in

At least a third of all families will have spent more money than they can afford at Christmas, leaving many struggling in the New Year.

If you are worried about post-Christmas debt, help is available. Organisations like Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau and Renfrewshire Council’s Advice Works provide free, impartial and confidential expert advice on managing debts and what to do if you have got big bills coming in.

The Money Advice Service also provides information on its website about how to manage your money, including online budgets and a financial health checker tool.

Renfrewshire Council’s Convener of Finance, Resources and Customer Services, Councillor John Shaw, said: “I would urge anyone who is struggling with debt after Christmas to contact one of Renfrewshire’s advice services as soon as possible.

“Dealing with debt early is key to making it much more manageable. Advice experts will deal with your situation confidentially, providing you with free and impartial money advice to help you manage your debts.”

It may seem far away, but many money experts are advising people to take the financial strain out of next Christmas by starting to save for it now.

Setting up a Credit Union Christmas account will allow you to put away money regularly and can help you borrow cash without hefty interest charges.

Councillor Shaw added: “It’s always advisable to start saving for the next Christmas as early as possible. You can find out more about managing your money on Advice Renfrewshire’s website.”

For debt advice visit www.advicerenfrewshire.org or call freephone 0808 164 2922. You can also visit www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk.

For more information on Credit Unions visit www.mycreditunionrenfrewshire.co.uk.