Having difficulty making ends meet? Don't know who to turn to for help? Cornell has partnered with the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Central New York to offer free financial counseling appointments on campus every other Monday or over the phone. Call 800-479-6026 for more information or to make an appointment.

CCCS (http://www.CreditHelpNY.org) is a nonprofit organization based in Syracuse with offices in Binghamton and other major upstate cities. Founded in 1972, CCCS is certified by a number of state and national credit counseling and consumer education groups.

"CCCS representatives tell me that people are coming to them with a lot more debt than in years past," said Mary Zielinski, manager of retirement services in Benefit Services. "Don't wait until your debt is out of control before seeking help; the sooner you develop a plan, the sooner you will get back on track."

CCCS helps clients review their income, expenses and debt to create a plan for achieving financial goals. They also offer tips on managing money and alternatives to bankruptcy for handling a financial crisis. Additional educational tools are located at the CCCS Web site under "Resources," including links to a budget worksheet.

Zielinski said that this first step of identifying spending habits is critical: "Making out a budget is like going on a diet: Just as you don't know how much you are eating until you keep a log, you don't know how much you are spending until you write it down. Once you know what you are doing, you can identify what you need to change."

CCCS notes that many New York state residents seeking financial help are behind on debt payments by as much as $10,000. "By then, you will need to take fairly drastic action to erase that debt, but CCCS can work with your creditors to reduce your debt and can set up a plan to budget repayments that are within your means," Zielinski said. CCCS charges a modest, sliding-scale fee for debt repayment and bankruptcy counseling services. The organization also offers credit report reviews and a personal financial management course, Credit When Credit Is Due, both for a modest fee.

"Good debt management will allow you to enjoy life within your means," Zielinski says. It will also allow for regular savings and retirement planning. "Debt does not need to be eliminated before you begin to save for retirement, but it does need to be under control."

Several articles on holiday spending, including a way to assess your financial stability before you begin shopping, are on the CCCS Web site. If two or more of the following statements apply to your situation, CCCS says that you are not a good candidate for a shopping spree: