KEEP It simple – open the envelope.

It is often the hardest thing to do and a huge first step. Christmas is finished. The decorations are down. The party’s over.

And the bills are coming in.

It’s tempting to throw them away unopened. Who’s got any money at this time of year? Or to stick them behind the clock or on top of the microwave and pretend they’re not there. Wrong.

Bills not opened have a way of breeding when you’re not looking.

Just like the Tribbles in Star Trek.

Close your eyes to a small problem and in a few months’ time you’ll be up to your neck in a much bigger one.

And that will be a real mess...

So deal with it now. Delaying makes it worse.

Fail to pay your credit card bill and you’ll get hit with a missed payment fee of £12 and extra interest.

Miss a parking fine of £30 and it doubles to £60. Miss paying fixed penalties, such as that speeding ticket, and you’ll end up in court, probably with a bigger fine and with costs to pay too.

Go overdrawn without realising – and without asking – and the charges could soon mount up. If you had that much money to spend on Christmas you’d have a great time, so why waste it on bank charges that you could avoid?

If you owe people money and haven’t paid them or haven’t got in touch to say why, then they could hand over your debt to a collecting agency, and before you know it you’ll have bailiffs at the door.

Do you really want that? Putting things off, not opening that envelope could cost you a lot of money – all for nothing. It’s such a waste. Don’t you think the bankers have got enough money already without having your share too? Don’t give them the chance to take it.

Debts are much easier to deal with when they are small and new. Delaying causes a lot more headaches. It just isn’t worth it. And if when you’ve plucked up the courage to open those envelopes, you still don’t know what to do or how to manage, then ask for help. The National Debtline is on 0808-808-4000 and will give you free advice.

Or make an appointment with the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, who will go through all that horrible paperwork and help you make sense of it.

Best of all, of course, is not to let it get that far. If you deal with things straightaway, then you’re in charge.

They can’t frighten you or get worse, because you’ve already sorted them.

Deal with the bills now. If you can’t deal with them, get help straightaway.

It’s the easiest way to cut them down to size.

So go on, open those envelopes ...

Supermarket checkout

BIG TUB OF LOW FAT NATURAL YOGHURT

Aldi: 49p

Asda: 53p

Morrisons: 78p

Tesco: 78p

Sainsbury’s: 85p

EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL 750ml

Aldi: £2.39

Morrisons: £2.39

Tesco: £2.39

Asda: £1.99 (for 500ml)

Sainsbury’s: £2.39 (for 500ml)

WEETABIX-TYPE CEREAL

Aldi: £1.69 for 36

Morrisons: 75p for 36 (value line)

Tesco: 75p for 36 (value)

Sainsbury’s: 75p for 36 (basic)

Asda: £1.19 for 24