The holidays are over and the decorations are put away for another year, but for many consumers the reality of overspending on the holidays is just beginning to set in. The joy of giving has been replaced by the anxiety of knowing that it could take all of this year, or even longer, to pay for your holiday purchases. At Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Central Florida and the Florida Gulf Coast, certified counselors are helping consumers get on the right financial track for 2009.

“It is possible to dig your way out of what may seem like overwhelming debt,” said Rick Skaggs, president of CCCS. “Simple steps can go a long way toward eliminating debt and creating a more secure financial future.

CCCS offers the following tips to consumers pay off holiday debt and improve their financial outlook this year.

Stop charging! If you don’t have the willpower to not use your credit cards, remove the temptation by removing the cards from your wallet. Secure them in a safe deposit box at your bank or other hard to reach location, or simply put them in a bowl of water and freeze them. The time it takes for them to thaw will give you plenty of time to think about your purchase.

Make more than the minimum payments. If you can’t pay your balance in full each month, strive to pay more than the required minimum and reduce or eliminate the debt as quickly as possible. Use bonuses from work, gifts of money, and other unplanned revenue to pay creditors.

Set goals. Write down what you would like to accomplish with your finances this year and post them where you can see them. Goals might include paying off a particular debt, paying more than the minimum on every credit card, starting an emergency savings account and setting aside 3-6 months of living expenses, or reducing your monthly expenses. Review your goals regularly and track your progress.

Create a budget. Incorporate your goals into a savings and spending plan, and you are much more likely to be successful. Take a realistic look at where and how you spend and where there are opportunities to save. If you aren’t sure where to start, track every penny you spend for one or two months to get a better idea of where your money is going.

Explore alternatives for extra income. Despite current economic conditions, explore opportunities to increase your income. Talk with your employer about working additional hours at your current job, or pick up a part time job to make some additional income. Use all additional income to pay down debt.

Don’t hesitate to seek help. You don’t have to solve your financial problems alone. Consumer Credit Counseling Service has trained and certified credit counselors who offer budget and credit counseling confidentially and free. CCCS is a nonprofit, community-based organization and a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). For more information, call

1-800-330-CCCS or visit us online at www.cccsinc.org or www.cccsenespanol.org.

About Consumer Credit Counseling Service

Established in 1974, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Central Florida and the Florida Gulf Coast (CCCS) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit community-service agency that provides confidential budget counseling, money management education, debt management programs, bankruptcy counseling and education, and comprehensive housing counseling. CCCS is part of the CredAbility Network, a family of agencies serving consumers in north Georgia, south and central Florida, middle Mississippi and east Tennessee, as well as nationally via telephone and Internet.

Headquartered in Orlando, CCCS of Central Florida and the Florida Gulf Coast has 17 offices. The agency is HUD-approved, a United Way partner, accredited by the Council on Accreditation, a Central Florida WAGES partner and is a member of National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC).

Consumers can speak to counselors in English and Spanish 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by phone at 1-800-330-CCCS, and also access the agency’s web sites, www.cccsinc.org and www.cccsenespanol.org where live-chat counselors are available around the clock.