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Rising food and fuel bills and a tighter loan and mortgage market are causing household budgeting blues for all of us.

John Eden, a Citizens Advice Bureau manager, says more people than six months ago are seeking help for spiralling debt problems - in February alone it was asked to help new clients in debt to the total tune of half a million pounds.

"Many people feel ashamed to ask for help when they have money problems. But the worst thing in that situation is to put your head in the sand, because debt doesn't go away when you ignore it," says John Eden.

"It's a reality of modern life that we've become a 'spend now' rather than 'save up' society. Many of us have taken on levels of personal debt that previous generations would have been uncomfortable with. And it's manageable - until a crunch comes."

Food and household bills are rising fast

Sometimes that crunch is an individual crisis triggered by a change in personal circumstances - a lost job, illness, or relationship breakdown, for example.

But today the crunch is on a bigger scale altogether because the crisis is more widespread with all but the most well-off families feeling the effects of rocketing household bills, falling house prices and the rising cost of home loans and other credit.

A debt advice worker Garry Mills has seen clients so desperate they've threatened suicide. He says "They can't hang you, they can't shoot you, and you're unlikely to be sent to prison. If you are struggling financially talk to someone - it's the first step to making things better."Ìý

But there are money experts ready to help - click on the links on the right or call the numbers below to find out more. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ has daily updated financial news and advice at bbc.co.uk/money

• AGE CONCERN WILTSHIRE: 01380 727767
  

  9:00am - 4:00pm, Monday - Thursday

  9:00am - 1:00pm on Fridays

  
  
• CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU Salisbury: 01722 327222‎

• CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU Swindon: 0845 050 5155‎

• CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU Amesbury: 01980 622696‎

• CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU Devizes: 01380 728771‎

• CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU Trowbridge: 0844 499 4106

• CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELLING SERVICE: 0800 138 1111
  

• NEIGHBOURHOOD PROJECT MONEY ADVICE: Garry Mills 01452 541576