June 04, 2008 11:09 AM Eastern Time 

ClearPoint Credit Counselors Declare War on Debt – Currency in 1940s Messages

RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--During the Second World War, Americans made changes in their daily lives to support the cause of victory. Government posters urged people to grow their own food and ration their gasoline usage. Today, consumer advocates are resurrecting those 1940s messages as a way to fight rising costs.

“A war is being waged on our wallets,” said Ann Estes, vice president of counseling delivery at ClearPoint, a national nonprofit counseling agency. “Only this time, the front is your bottom line, your bunker is your bank account, and your ammunition is savings.”

Faced with steadily rising gas and food prices, consumers are looking for ways to cut costs. “This summer, people are turning to their own backyards to supply them with food and a cheap vacation spot, just like they did 60 years ago,” said Estes. “People are feeling the pain of rising gas prices, and it has opened them up to new ideas on how to economize, like growing their own food.”

U.S. consumers reportedly spent $1.4 billion in 2007 on vegetable gardens, up 22% from 2006, according to a survey conducted in January for the National Gardening Association, an industry-sponsored group. Demand was so strong this spring that seed growers and garden centers increased marketing efforts promoting seeds for strange, attention-grabbing vegetables, like purple carrots and white tomatoes.

Planting a garden is just one of the many tips ClearPoint credit counselors give cash-strapped consumers to help reduce expenses, or even generate more income, and avoid racking up credit card debt. Another: Park your car and stay home this summer.

“Conservation is key,” said Estes. “During WWII, Americans were asked to recycle, conserve, and stretch their resources. The same applies to a successful budget: Consume less, reuse wherever possible, and sell what you don’t need.”

“Debt is the real enemy,” said Estes. “Stop using credit cards and pay down your balances. You’ll soon find yourself in a position to begin saving.”

ClearPoint Financial Solutions, Inc.™ is a national non-profit organization headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. The only non-profit credit counseling agency that is a System-wide member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), ClearPoint helps consumers achieve financial wellness through counseling and education. Visit www.ClearPointFinancialSolutions.org or call 877-465-2227.