Lately, much of the economic news has been troubling.

But for a lot of people, there's nothing new about it. Many people have been enduring financial trouble for a while now. If you find yourself crippled by credit woes, there are ways to get help for free.

Across the area, consumer credit counseling services have only seen a jump in people seeking their help and that's because, in part, gas prices have gotten more and more expensive. It seems people are pinching pennies and living pay check to pay check.

Every year, more than 4,000 people seek help from the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) in Sioux Falls. Their number of clients only continue to climb and especially in the past year. Certified credit counselor Alyssia Sturm said, "Most times people are good people and they just had bad situations or a bad circumstance or one bad thing comes to another bad thing."

Sturm says a lot of people are just one pay check away from a financial disaster. Some over extend themselves. Others have lost income and others might have medical bills suddenly pile up.

But Sturm says the biggest hit has come from the sub-prime home mortgage crisis. The housing disaster has hit Sioux Falls hard. Every month, more than 80 families seek credit counseling after having their home foreclosed at the CCCS' Sioux Falls location alone.

The CCCS offers free services to help people fix their financial situation. Other classes are charged accordingly. Regardless, Sturm said, "We will review your income to your expenses and see where your at today. Then review your debt and see if there is a way you can repay your debt."

They'll help you get back on your feet through debt management and budget counseling classes. Those classes are confidential.

The CCCS has locations in several South Dakota cities, including Aberdeen, Brookings, Huron, Mitchell, Sioux Falls, Vermillion, Watertown, and Yankton. To contact an office near you or for more information, call (605) 330-2700 or (888) 257-2227 or visit them online.

How is the economy affecting you?
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