STEPHEN LEWIS goes in search of a little seasonal advice on how to stay out of debt this Christmas

AS the switching on of York's Christmas lights makes clear, the festive season is upon us once more.

And while it may be great for the children, in the adult world at least there are more than a few of us whose hearts become a little heavy at the thought of the expense ahead.

Every year, it seems, the pressure to spend, spend, spend at Christmas grows more intense. However much we decide to be careful, we always end up spending more than we mean to. And when we wake up with those New Year hangovers and the first credit and store card bills begin to arrive, it can be a real shock.

Consumer debt in the United Kingdom has reached a staggering £50 billion. Often, though by no means always, it's those at the lower end of the income bracket who end up struggling to cope with the largest debts.

Paula Sidebottom, services manager with York Citizens' Advice Bureau, says her office deals with almost 4,000 debt inquiries a year, from households who average debts of almost £11,000, not counting mortgages. The average monthly income of those households is £800, she says - about half the national average.

Many, if they get into debt over Christmas, can end up paying for it for the rest of the year.

"All of us are under pressure at Christmas to splash out," Paula says. "Mainly, these are harmless extravagances if the bank balance can cope. But for many of us, it can lead to long-term misery and hardship. TV ads are encouraging us to want more, stores are encouraging us to spend more and before we know it we find ourselves owing more than we are able to repay."

The proliferation of 'store cards', which mean we can run up debts with several different stores, as well as on our credit cards, makes it all the easier to end up in debt without even realising it, because it can be difficult to keep track of exactly how much we have spent.

Nevertheless, we can all have a great Christmas without ending up with debts around our ears, Paula says. The key is to set a budget in advance - and then stick to it.

To set your budget, Paula says, work out how much you have coming in each month, and what outgoings you have - rent and bills such as water, mortgage, electricity, gas and telephone. See how much you have left after all bills have been paid, and use that to set your budget.

It is vital, she says, that you make sure bills do get paid - and that you don't finance a lavish Christmas by not paying them. Misery lies that way.

If paying bills means you have less to spend on Christmas, so be it. Remember, an over-extravagant Christmas which leaves you with bills you can never shake off could be just the beginning of worse to come. Some families which go to the CAB for help have over a period of time run up debts, including rent or mortgage arrears, of up to £25,000, Paula says. "And that's when people start to go under."

The Credit Services Association, which represents debt collection agencies in the UK, is so worried about levels of debt it has issued its own guidelines to ordinary consumers this Christmas.

"Like everybody else, we want everyone to have a wonderful Christmas," says the CSA's Executive Director, Kurt Obermaier. "But time after time, people are seduced into getting themselves into unmanageable debt positions. If people get into really, really serious debt, there is no benefit to anyone, because collecting agencies cannot collect it any more than anyone else."

So, if you want to enjoy a happy and debt-free Christmas, follow these simple rules:

- Set a clear budget which will leave you enough to pay all bills - and stick to it

- Make a list of presents and don't be tempted to buy more

- Start saving straight away so you don't need to use credit if you can help it

- Start buying now so you can spread your cost

- Don't be tempted by "buy now, pay later" offers - invariably, you will lose track of how much you owe

- Offers which appear too good to be true, invariably are

- Make your decisions and stick to them - you'll appreciate New Year more if you do.

- If you are worried about debt, you can contact York CAB's specialist money advice team, in confidence, tel 01904 636066.