Readers will recall that a little while ago I mentioned that Christmas was a time of debts (Beating Debt at Christmas, 15th December 2007) and it could cost you significantly if predatory lenders get their claws into you. For the poorer person of Thanet it's not just the lenders to worry about. The Council's collection on rent debts has become ever more insistent and tenants that get into trouble over Christmas could be on the street by new year.

In conversation with a councilor I shall not name it came to light that many councilors have been spending increasing amounts of time trying to advise constituents that have been getting into financial trouble. It seems that "the credit crunch" has already hit for many people in Thanet and a crisis is quietly brewing. This is backed up by the increased aggression with which the Council Tax and Rent Collection departments have been seeking their money where fairness is forgotten in favour of "the letter of the law".

On the subject of personal money management you may find this great page worth a read (even if it was written by an American) Everything You Ever Really Needed to Know About Personal Finance on the Back of Five Business Cards.

However is a disaster brewing and if so what can be done about it?