Top Tips to avoid a Christmas debt hangover

We are all feeling the pinch this year and coping with the festive splurge is going to be a bigger challenge than ever, especially for those disadvantaged groups who have to survive on benefits income to get by. This campaign aims to prevent vulnerable and low income members of the community turning to expensive doorstep & payday loans even loan sharks*. PennysmartCIC** and Citizens Advice are once again working in partnership with Barclaycard to help people avoid falling into debt over Christmas. For the 5th year in a row we are producing a pocket-sized leaflet giving our 10 top tips to help people make informed decisions when budgeting and choosing credit to help with the costs of Christmas. These handy pocket sized leaflets are great for handing out with Christmas mailings or at any community events your organisations may be holding over the festive period.

To date over two million leaflets have been distributed to the public across the UK. The leaflets are distributed through our bureaux network and our financial capability forums and their members.

PDF version available on this link http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/fsfl_projects_toptipschristmas

Or, if you would like to receive hard copies of the leaflets please contact enquiries@pennysmart.org.uk.

* If you are aware of loan sharks operating in your area remember you can report them on the Wales Illegal money lending units free phone number – Cymru – 0300 123 3311 or UK – 0300 555 2222.

**PennysmartCIC are a non-profit money advice and training agency based in FLVC’s Corlan Building. We deliver money training to frontline staff, community groups and free face to face money advice.