IF YOU thought the hangover was bad after the Christmas drinking, wait until those bills begin fluttering through the letterbox and landing on the doormat.

Debt, it seems, is the worst festive hangover you can suffer. We are caught up in the atmosphere and the pressure to spend, spend, spend is just too great for many. The lure of the High Street is irresistible. The feverish need to part with cash is addictive. The intoxication of the big spend dissolves all resolve.

True shopping junkies are too weak to cope. Once they are in over their heads, they submit to the "Oh, what the hell" factor and go out and spend more.

The addicted are never more busy than at Christmas when they buy only the best for their children or loved ones, whether they can afford it or not. And straight after that they go in search of even more addictive cut-price supplies in what used to be called the January sales.

A straw poll of people in York showed that most had seriously overspent at Christmas yet they were keen for more credit card action. To many it is like dieting. A little restraint for a while can get them back on track with a little tightening of the belt and some careful budgeting.

To others, though, it can lead to a desperate spiral of debt from which it is almost impossible to pull out.

York Citizen's Advice Bureau will by now be dealing with a sad and steady stream of unfortunates who have spent well beyond their means. The bureau has experts who can help with advice on facing the extent of your debt; admitting to the bank, electricity or mortgage company that you have a problem, and the need to negotiate a way out of the mess.

What is important is that these unfortunates face reality and seek help and advice.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.