North Charleston, SC - The credit crisis is taking a turn for the worse. Family services in North Charleston help people get out of debt and lately they are overloaded seeing the most clients in their history.

For Ramona Kile, spending money was as easy as a swipe. You feel like you can afford it until it's time to start paying the bills and then you're saying, excuse me, but I think I’m paying off more than I’m making.

Kile racked up about $3,000 several years ago and is still paying it off. When the bill collectors’ calls started, Kile knew she was in trouble.

“I started shaking every time I’d hang up the phone trying to talk to these people, I realized I needed help. I could not control this myself,” said Kile.

Kyle joined a Lowcountry debt management program, where she learned life would have to change.

“I no longer have cable TV,” said Kile.

They are sacrifices that many more are making now as the economic downturn pushes more people to charge it.

“When gas was spiking up to $4 a gallon, they were using their credit cards to put gas in their vehicles, they're using their credit card to pay their utility payments, they're using their cash advance on their credit card to pay their mortgage payments,” said Family Services’ Debbie Kidd.

Paying off that debt is doing more then clearing credit for Kile.

“I could actually breathe for a change that I didn’t feel like I was getting up everyday with a rubber band tied around my chest,” said Kile.

That feeling though, spreading now, as many turn to plastic just to pay for the day to day necessities.

Family Services say they usually see about 30 people during these last months of the year. They are now seeing more than 200 clients a month.

For more information on their programs, click here.