Citizens Advice issues pre-Christmas debt warning

Citizens Advice is urging consumers across the UK to plan their budgets early in order to avoid a serious debt management hangover in the new year.

Given the scale of spending expected around the country this December, the charity is also keen to see people shop around for the goods that they want and to start saving as soon as they can for next Christmas.

January tends to see more people than usual approach Citizens Advice for information about becoming debt free and
bankruptcy, and as a result the charity wants to see more caution exercised on the UK’s high streets this December.

“It is very easy to get carried away at Christmas and spend on the spur of the moment, especially if people leave it until the last minute,” said Teresa Perchard, director of policy at Citizens Advice.

“But every year, we see a huge increase in debt problems immediately afterwards.”

In late December 2006, Citizens Advice urged UK consumers to resolve to take greater control of their finances and aim to become debt free in the new year.