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Christmas shoppers urged to plan ahead

British consumers have been advised to take a careful approach to this year's Christmas shopping in order to avoid financial difficulty in the new year.

Citizens Advice has issued a set of tips for seasonal shoppers, featuring a number of recommendations on how to keep festive spending under control. The guidelines stress the importance of planning early, being "realistic" and budgeting accordingly.

People are advised not to forget their everyday bills in the rush to buy Christmas items, while shopping around for the best possible deal and not relying on an overdraft or credit card are also recommended by the service.

"It is very easy to get carried away at Christmas and spend on the spur of the moment, especially if people leave it until the last minute. But every year we see a huge increase in debt problems immediately afterwards," said Teresa Perchard, director of policy for Citizens Advice.

"With a little forward planning, Christmas panic buying can be avoided," she added.

According to a recent report by Cornhill Direct, 30 per cent of UK consumers are planning to spend less than they usually would this December. Personal loans can help people with post-Christmas debt problems organise their finances.

See how much you could save with a debt consolidation loan from Lombard Direct.

© Adfero Ltd

03/12/2007 15:41:53

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