When the Christmas bills replace the Christmas cards in the mailbox, many people resolve to get their finances in order for the coming year.

You may find yourself with financial concerns because of overspending, through a job loss, an extended illness or continued rises in everyday expenses without raises in your income. You may be engaged or newly married and wanting to establish a good budget.

Or you may be looking for ways to save up for a new house or even retirement.

Regardless, Aberdeen Neighborhood Housing Services can help you figure out your financial puzzle.

We offer budgeting/money management and credit counseling free of charge.

For more than 20 years, Royce Travis, housing counselor at ANHS, has helped people gain control of their money.

You do not have to be interested in getting a loan or in the market to buy a house. Any Grays Harbor resident who could use some help with finances can come in and talk with Royce. Even those on fixed incomes can benefit from these services.

Unlike some other programs designed to help people get squared away financially, Royce not only helps identify the problem, she also teaches you how to manage your own money.

"When I work with someone the goal is to teach the skills necessary to maintain a budget on their own. They will ultimately establish a savings plan, pay their bills on time and have that great feeling knowing their finances are in order and that bill collectors will no longer cause them embarrassment at home or work," Royce said.

And in the meantime, she can help you organize your finances, prioritize your bills and/or negotiate with creditors for more affordable monthly payments. She can even help negotiate for a "short payoff," which is asking the creditor to settle for an amount less than the total amount actually owed. (The negotiated amount is paid at the time of the agreement.)

And, Royce not only can help you obtain your credit report, she can also set you on the path to repair your credit - even after late payments, a repossession or a bankruptcy.

"People struggling with debt are always surprised at how quickly they can get back on track," she said.

"They don't realize how simple it is, because no one ever showed them."

They also do not realize that creditors are usually willing to work with them to recoup a part or all of their money.

Royce says the key is - drum roll please…. to live on what you earn.

To get there the first thing you need to do is determine your net pay - that is what you have after taxes and other deductions are taken out.

Then, list your fixed expenses such as rent/mortgage payments, car payments, insurance, utilities, childcare or support, credit cards, etc. Then include how much you spend a month for monthly living expenses such as groceries, gifts, entertainment, etc.

Once that information is determined, she can help you create a budget.

More often than not, people are shocked at where their money actually goes, she said.

Things like entertainment and eating out need to be included in a budget, but they are often places that small changes -like using a two- for-one coupon, or limiting dining out to one night a week (or month) - can make a big difference in the pocketbook.

"You have to be willing to make sacrifices to your lifestyle in order to succeed with your ultimate goal," Royce says.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act entitles you to copies of your credit history. If you are thinking about putting your finances in order, this is a good place to start.

You can order a report from any of the three major credit reporting agencies by calling the toll free numbers and following the instructions.

For each, there is an $8 charge for the report. (However, if you're unemployed or low income, you may be eligible for a free report.)

Call Experian at 1-800-392-1122; or Equifax at 1-800-851-2674 or Trans Union at 1-800-888-4213.

Next week we will discuss repairing bad credit and correcting mistakes on a report.

In last week's column we gave the pros and cons of different kinds of heating systems. We'd like to clarify that it's only been some models of Cadet wall heaters that have been subject to recall notices lately.