It's a new year, and a chance for the thousands of local residents affected by the recession to take a look at their debt and reform their spending and saving habits.

Deanna Booker, a quality improvement manager at Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Maryland and Delaware Inc. - or simply CCCS - has observed just how widespread the financial hardships are for families today.

Booker's agency is a nonprofit group that provides budget counseling, debt-management repayment programs and community education on using credit.

With an office in Brooklyn Park, CCCS counselors meet with clients face-to-face to resolve...