Ask yourself questions such as:

• Am I spending too much each month on luxuries or socialising?
  
  
• Can I cut costs anywhere: e.g. buying “own label” foodstuffs, cutting out expensive packaged foods and take away meals.
  
  
• What about the rent / council tax / mortgage etc etc. Are you paying too much council tax, can you get a better mortgage deal? Are you entitled to any benefits?
  
  
• WHY is this happening? Has something changed that you may not have noticed? e.g. increased interest rates on credit cards, late payment charges, bounced cheques and bank charges.
  
  
• Are you paying TOO MUCH tax, make sure your accountant if you have one knows his stuff and is acting for YOU.
  
  
• If I borrow more money to keep me going for three or four months what happens after that? Will anything really change or will I just be in even more debt.
  
  
• If you run a car: Do I really need it? Can I get cheaper car insurance? Is the HP too expensive?
  
  
• Can I save on electric, gas and phone bills?
  
  
  
  

Consider ways to increase your income such as ;

• Taking a part time or better paid job.
  
  
• Asking for a raise (diplomatically).
  
  
• Applying for benefits you may be entitled to (but make sure you tell the tax man what you earn EVERY MONTH if you get Working Family Tax Credit to avoid overpayments).
  
  
• Is your partner working, if not can he / she get some form of employment?
  
  
• If the kids are working can they make a contribution to the family budget?
  
  
• Can you do overtime?
  
  
  

Having appraised your situation you will probably want to do one of the following:

• Get out of debt or contact us
  
  
• Stay in debt.   It is easy to put off seeking help hoping that things will improve in six months. Will they really? What will change that you can honestly say will resolve your debt situation? A problem that can easily be resolved now may be out of your hands and in the courts in six months time.