$800,000 new debt in South Canterbury region

New clients have brought about $800,000 in debt to the Timaru Budget Advisory Trust as the cost of Christmas spending and going back to school becomes a reality for many South Canterbury residents.

While the trust enjoyed a quiet Christmas, operations manager Catherine Enill said with stockings filled and children back at school, the main issues people were facing were ‘‘often things that are out of your control’’ such as rent, electricity, or a failed relationship – aggravated by the end of a care-free holiday season.

‘‘You can smooth other payments over a year. You can’t make your rent any less and if your rent goes up, your rent goes up.’’

While the trust often had between 40 and 50 new clients per month, that number usually jumped by 25 in the first few months of the year.

The trick to dealing with the influx was to spread appointments out and order them according to urgency, she said. ‘‘We just work harder.’’ People from all walks of life came in for advice, not just those referred by Work and Income New Zealand, Enill said.

‘‘Sometimes people just want to sit down with someone and talk through the options,’’ she said.

‘You can’t make your rent any less and if your rent goes up, your rent goes up.’ Catherine Enill

‘‘Not everybody has had to particularly pay attention to money and it’s a difficult skill to learn.’’

There was no need to embarrassed about asking help, she said.

Enill’s message for those in need: ‘‘Come early and don’t worry, there’s always help out there.’’

‘‘We always encourage people to come in earlier than later, before it gets really bad,’’ she said.

‘‘I think we would like to make sure that people know that we’re here as well. Some aren’t aware we’re here until the crisis point.’’

There were more options for those who attempted to nip it in the bud, she said.

‘‘Once you’ve got that initial weight off your shoulders you can plan better for the rest.’’ be for