CHRISTMAS BUDGET TIPS

■ Plan for Christmas and birthdays. You know when they are so even as little as $2 a week put aside in a jar or savings account will help.

■ Start shopping from January 1 at market days, or make gifts. They don’t have to be new — good second-hand stuff is great.

■ Xmas clubs — put so much a week by direct debit then you don’t see it.

■ Pot luck meals and shared meals are lots of fun even for Christmas, even a picnic in your back yard can be made fun. Pitfalls

■ Please pay your rent — no one wants to find themselves moving house.

■ All your payments need to be paid otherwise there are consequences.

Feeling financial strain?

■ See Waihi Budget Service. They are open five days a week and understand the problems you are going through as they have both been on benefits.

■ Keep in contact with the people you owe money to. If you don’t have the confidence to phone them see Waihi Budget Advice and they will talk to them on your behalf.

Budget Help

■ They can talk to your creditors.

■ They can go with you to Work and Income or the bank.

■ They can do a budget for you.

■ They will be starting a Budgeting for Success workshop in the new year to learn ways to help yourself.

Contact

Waihi Budget Service 19 Haszard St 07 863 7793 and 027 7755443 or wfbs@xtra.co.nz

The service is closed for the holiday period and will reopen on January 14.