With a new year in front us we can expect that, as usual, unwanted bills will arrive and some unfortunates will find themselves deeper in debt.

If you fall into this category, a few lifestyle changes, some better meal planning and budgeting could help lift you above those financial difficulties.

Community Affairs officer Karen Marshall offered several tips on how to get out of debt, how to economise with grocery shopping, meal planning and how to budget.

"The first thing people should do is plan their weekly menus from breakfast to snacks, all the way to dinner,'' Miss Marshall said.

She added: "Once they plan out their menu then it stops impulse buying and they will be amazed at how much it cuts down on their bill.

"People should also buy what is in season, as far as fruits and vegetables, because they are cheaper, fresher and they are a better buy.'' Miss Marshall also advised against buying bulk items as you may end up wasting the items.

"Buy the quantities that you need, and if the stores only have a bulk bag you can always ask someone in the store to break down a bag of fresh vegetables or fruit.'' She added: "The other thing people need to look at is the feasibility of specials, people tend to travel all over the place for specials and end up buying a lot more than they intended. You need to shop around sometimes because you may not be getting the deal you think you're getting.'' Miss Marshall also said in cases where parents take their young children to the grocery store it is important to let their kids choose maybe two items that they can buy before going in the store so that when they get there are no temper tantrums.

"Some parents will buy on impulse to stop the tantrums and they should realise that purchasing that cartoon character brand item is higher in cost.

"Plan lunches out and make drinks instead of buying the drink boxes because they are very expensive -- you're looking at close to three dollars for three drink boxes when a packet of drink mix can last you a week.

"Parents should add up what they spend on drink boxes, they could save a lot of money.'' Miss Marshall also said this is the time of year that people need to sit down and set financial goals.

"Think about looking into the future for the year and what do you see? A lot of people live from paycheque to paycheque and that is no real financial security for anything that may come up and that is how people get in debt.'' Miss Marshall added that for those who don't know how to budget, the banks offer free financial counselling.

"People live beyond their means and people don't even realise that they have done it. You need to assess your lifestyle and see if you are living within your means.

"Write down all the income, then on another column write down all fixed expenses then go into another column and make note of all flexible expenses such as grocery shopping, health care, clothes, entertainment. Then you need to assess and find out where the bulk of your money is going.

"You then need to assess whether you can cut back and live within your means and comfortably, but not in excess. A lot of people go out to eat when they could bring it from home saving yourself about $10 a day.'' Miss Marshall said to help cut down on your electricity bill Belco, on request, can give you a read-out to see how much electricity is being used on each item in your home.'' Meal planning was very important.

"Parents tend to let their kids eat constantly instead of giving them a good well-balanced meal. It is important that meal time is observed so kids can get what they need -- which is not fast food.

"Fast food is more expensive and should not be a solution when you don't feel like cooking.'' Miss Marshall also said kids would get fuller on a good meal. "Junk does not last, it is not filling. People should eat something substantial because it will fill you up a lot longer.'' General manager of the Credit Association Dora Whitecross offered advice for those starting the year already in a financial hole.

"The most important thing to remember is that if you are in trouble you need to be really honest and admit that you are really in debt. The rest is really easy.

"We put people on a payment plan that makes some type of sense, a plan that they can live with that coincides with their pay period,'' Mrs. Whitecross said.

She added: "We strongly encourage them not to even dream of incurring any further debts and we recommend getting out the scissors and cutting all your plastic so you won't be tempted.

"You should also make sure you can live off the money that you have in your pockets. And most importantly, make sure you honour your commitments.''