Council tax bills have been hitting mats up and down the country, a vast majority of which include increases with an average rise of 4% across England and Wales.

We know many other household bills are also rising and there have been several recent reports about the impact on families who are just about managing on the resources they have, as well as about the changing nature in the debt profile of individuals seeking advice. This is often less about store and credit cards and more about paying for household essentials, including council tax.