By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
CASEY financial counsellor Lisa Hansen sees more struggling families in January than any other month.
A counsellor of five years with the Casey North Community Information and Support Service (CISS), Ms Hansen said she sees the same post-Christmas finance issues every year.
“We see a lot more people in January because they are struggling to pay utility bills after the Christmas period as well as clocking up high credit card bills that they can’t afford,” she said.
In a bid to help stop the January money struggle Ms Hansen will be posting Christmas saving tips on the Casey North CISS Facebook page every day throughout the month of December.
“Teaching preventative tips and budgeting is definitely my favourite part of the job and we do see families just once who put into action their budgets,” Ms Hansen said.
“But there are families who are really struggling with an illness or have lost their job and we see them every year for the same financial problems.”
Ms Hansen’s number one tip is to plan for Christmas on Boxing Day.
“Putting into place a Christmas budget a year out is a must,” Ms Hansen said.
“Even if you are putting aside $10 a fortnight for Christmas – that’s great, as well as putting things on layby throughout the year and organising with the family to do a Kris Kringle instead of buying for everyone.”
Ms Hansen also suggested buying non-perishable foods “that you can stash away for next Christmas” to help ease the December cash burden.
CISS release an annual ‘Don’t let Christmas Burden You’ brochure with interesting savings tips and financial no-no’s.
Some of those include: over-reliance on credit cards, last minute shopping, pay day lenders and pawn brokers, and interest free purchases.
“Pay day lenders and pawn brokers often have very expensive fees and charges, interest on loans which are hidden in fees can equate to 1300 per cent,” Ms Hansen said.
“Also make sure you can afford to pay back the interest-free purchase over the amount of weeks provided – that can also trap people.”
Ms Hansen suggests keeping on top of all bills over the Christmas period to reduce the stress in January.
“Families often have to pay for the following year’s costs just before Christmas such as school holidays with children at home and paying for extra child care – families are really stretched.”
For more information on CISS’s financial counselling call 9705 6699.
