Hermiston – Many consumers may be haunted by the shopping ghost of the holidays gone by, as credit card statements begin to greet them in the mail.

Instead of drowning in fear, consumers need to know that a financial lifeline is near: Consumer Credit Counseling Service, a member agency of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) – the nation’s original and largest nonprofit credit counseling organization. Consumer Credit counseling services offers consumers educational services, money/credit management advice and debt reduction services to help them dig out of debt and improve their credit standing.

High seasonal utility bills are also stacking up and adding to debt pressures as more people remain indoors to heat and light up their homes.

Now more than ever, consumers need to know they can find safe, reliable, and free help through reputable nonprofit credit counseling agencies.

Over the past 10 years, average credit card debt for households with at least one credit card has more than doubled from $3,275 in 1992 to $8,940 in 2003, according to Cardweb.com, an online credit card information source. As credit card balances bulge, consumers should not take the power of budgeting for granted. NFCC offers these tips to help consumers get started:

Make a New Year’s resolution to: Balance your checkbook each time you receive a paycheck to ensure that you are not spending more than the amount you make.

Keep track of your bills. Designate a filing cabinet or secured box for bills and financial statements. Make separate files for bank statements, tax documents, credit card bills, medical receipts, mortgage statements and other records. Keep up with the due dates for bills and payments.

Create a monthly budget. Your budget is your spending plan. To create a budget plan, determine your monthly income and recurring expenses like rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, food, transportation costs, tuition, savings, entertainment and personal grooming. Then identify other recurring and periodic expenses like clothing, household appliances and maintenance, gifts, credit card purchases and vacations.

Prioritize your expenses and spending. After writing down your expenses, prioritize each expense based on your needs and versus your wants. Set spending limits and determines estimated costs for each expense. If additional funds are left over after all monthly expenses are paid, split the rest of your income between debt reduction and savings. Pay down high interest credit cards bills and loans which will save you money over time. Use extra funds to increase your savings-its good insurance for unplanned emergency expenses. Look for ways to reduce daily spending: Take lunch to work more often and look for movies during early matinees instead of evening showings.

Develop a diversified saving plan. Saving should not be limited to retirement planning. It’s important to save for a down payment to purchase a home or vehicle and other items like uncovered medical expenses. Make regular deposits in an interest-bearing savings or money market account to cover these costs. Be sure to take advantage of employer-sponsored benefit savings, such as retirement accounts and flexible spending accounts which help cover uninsured medical costs and lower the taxes you’ll pay on payroll income.

Recognize the early warning signs of debt trouble. You may be approaching a debt crisis if you are experiencing theses signs. You’re behind the basics, like January’s mortgage or rent and utilities. You’re using credit to buy items you should be able to buy with cash, like groceries. You’re skipping some debt payments to make others. You’re receiving overdue notices or telephone calls from bill collectors. More than 25 percent of your take-home pay is being used to pay back credit card debt.

Don’t suffer in silence, take action and get help. Call your creditors or seek helpful credit counseling. Don’t be afraid to call your creditors. As soon as you know you’re going to have problems contact your creditors and explain your situation and what you’re doing to meet your debt obligations. Depending on the creditor’s policies and your situation, credit and payment history, you may be able to negotiate your next payment or a lower interest rate. Remember, your creditors would rather keep you as a customer than lose you to bankruptcy or foreclosure.

Consumers should review credit counseling services carefully, before choosing help. Find out if the agency offers money management advice without signing you up for a debt repayment plan. Ask the agency to explain their fees, services and national affiliation. Find out if they are a member of the NFCC, which signifies that the agency offers quality, reputable services. Check www.cccswaor.org or NFCC’s Web site at www.nfcc.org for additional questions to ask before any organization with your financial future.

To schedule an appointment with the local Consumer Credit Counseling Services counselor, contact CCCS offices at 667-8738 in Hermiston, or 276-3856 in Pendleton.

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Marilyn Dwyer is the Hermiston branch manager of Consumer Credit Counseling Service. She is a certified credit counselor through the National Foundation for Creditr Counseling amd a certified comsumer counselor for credit reviews theough Associated Credit Bureaus.