Steps to consider on the road to recovery from overspending during the holidays

Santa Monica, Calif., December 13, 2006 – LowerMyBills.com®, an Experian company, today announced five tips that may help cure the all-too-common New Year's debt hangover. For more than seven years, LowerMyBills.com has been helping consumers find ways to lower their recurring monthly expenses. The company understands the need for such help after the oftentimes costly holiday season, when consumers don't always stick to their budgets.

"One in three consumers will rely on credit cards to finance their holiday spending this season, according to estimates from the National Retail Federation," said Matt Coffin, president and founder of LowerMyBills.com. "Even with good intentions, strict budgeting and planning ahead, it can be difficult to avoid getting caught up in the holiday cheer and overspend. However, there are some easy things consumers can do to lower their monthly bills to free up money to pay off outstanding bills or save for next year's festivities."

LowerMyBills.com offers the following five steps to help cure a New Year's debt hangover:

1. Take a deep breath and review bank account and credit card statements to determine the damage. Consider applying for a credit card with a lower interest rate and transferring the current balance, thereby paying off the balance more quickly.
2. Spend some time making a list of gifts purchased this year and how much was spent on each. Create next year's budget by adding or deleting names as needed. Go a step further and plan an overall 2007 holiday budget now while 2006 expenses are still top of mind. Don't forget to include gift wrap and meals out with family and friends.
3. Think about cutting current recurring expenses to pay off holiday debt or even save money for next year. A few ideas to research include auto insurance (eligibility for lower rates), Internet access (less-expensive options are available for those who use e-mail only) and long-distance service (shop for a plan that charges less per minute).
4. Homeowners can consider starting the new year with a lower mortgage payment. For example, it may be possible to refinance into a mortgage with a lower interest rate and use the money saved each month to pay off other outstanding debt.
5. Evaluate current cell phone plans and research ways to cut back on this monthly bill. Wireless carriers vie for patronage and offer deals like a free phone or family plans. Also, depending on usage, it may be less expensive to pay per text message rather than a monthly fee.

It's never too late or early to start saving money. Keep these tips handy in 2007 and enjoy a pain-free post-holiday season next year.

LowerMyBills.com is the one-stop destination that offers consumers savings through relationships with more than 500 service providers across 20 categories, including home loans, credit cards, long distance, auto and health insurance, and wireless services. To start curing a New Year's debt hangover, consumers can simply go to www.lowermybills.com.

About LowerMyBills.com

LowerMyBills.com is part of Experian InteractiveSM and a premier, free online service for consumers to compare the lowest rates on monthly bills and reduce the cost of living. LowerMyBills.com is the one-stop destination that offers savings through relationships with more than 500 service providers across 20 categories, including home loans, credit cards, long distance, auto and health insurance, and wireless services. To date, LowerMyBills.com has helped more than 5 million consumers save more than $3 billion with lower rates. The company is based in Santa Monica, Calif. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.LowerMyBills.com.

About Experian

Experian® is a global leader in providing analytical and information services to organizations and consumers to help manage the risk and reward of commercial and financial decisions. Combining its unique information tools and deep understanding of individuals, markets and economies, Experian partners with organizations around the world to establish and strengthen customer relationships and provide their businesses with competitive advantage. For consumers, Experian delivers critical information that enables them to make financial and purchasing decisions with greater control and confidence. Clients include organizations from financial services, retail and catalog, telecommunications, utilities, media, insurance, automotive, leisure, e-commerce, manufacturing, property and government sectors.

Experian Group Limited is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. It has corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, and operational headquarters in Costa Mesa, Calif., and Nottingham, UK. Experian employs more than 12,500 people in 34 countries worldwide, supporting clients in more than 60 countries. Annual sales are in excess of $3.1 billion.

For more information, visit the Group's Web site at www.experiangroup.com.

The word "Experian" is a registered trademark in the EU and other countries and is owned by Experian Ltd. and/or its associated companies.

Contact:
Patty Ladegaard
LowerMyBills.com
310.998.6560
patty.ladegaard@experian.com