Save now for Christmas says poverty charity

WITH less than 100 days to go before the festivities, a debt counselling charity is advising people to start saving now for Christmas.Causeway Coast Christians Against Poverty centre, which helps people climb out of the debt trap, says in difficult financial times no one wants to think about Christmas until it is too late.

“People panic at the last minute that they aren’t going to have a great time and that makes them do rash things, like take out loans for Christmas,” said Causeway Coast Centre Manager Ricky Wright.

“We want people to remember that the most heart-warming things about Christmas like seeing your child in the school nativity, or singing carols in church, or getting together with family, cost almost nothing.”

Debt Coach David Kelly offers this advice, “Putting a little money aside now will give you enough for small presents without giving you a terrible start to 2011. After all, your loved ones don’t want to think of you struggling all year just to give them something big to unwrap on the day.”

Christians Against Poverty is a UK wide debt counselling charity giving free help to people with spiralling debts by offering hope and a solution through church-based centres. The service is available for people of all faiths and backgrounds, not just Christians.

The local centre helping people throughout the Causeway Coast is based at the Causeway Coast Vineyard church, in Coleraine.

If you need help with spiralling debts, contact the local centre on 0800 328 0006.