By Julian Knight BBC News Online personal finance reporter

Sarah, 52 from Yorkshire, owes more than 100 times her monthly income.

Since 1996 she has managed to accumulate a staggering �111,000 in unsecured borrowings.

She had credit cards and debts with seven catalogue firms as well as eight store cards, some charging 30% interest.

But the retired public servant doesn't consider herself to be a spendthrift in a nation obsessed with buy-now-pay-later, but a victim of circumstance.

"I was in a marriage where my self esteem was constantly battered. I was with a man for 20 years who didn't care."

For seven years, Sarah, who is now separated, borrowed to buy clothes and treats for her husband.

Every time I applied for credit I got it - I am still surprised that there was no process which took account of my total debts

Sarah's unhappiness didn't manifest itself just in the form of spending - she also developed serious medical problems.

"I was anorexic - at one stage I went down to five stone 12 pounds. I felt frustrated and had no family or support structure to cope with my unhappy marriage."

Watchdog

Sarah admits she buried her head in the sand over her debt.

She earned a reasonable salary and had managed to pay off a substantial portion of the mortgage on the family home.

"Every time I applied for credit I got it - I am still surprised that there was no process which took account of my total debts and calculated when enough was enough."

At the time, Sarah's salary allowed her to pay off the minimum payment on her debts each month. But, in the case of some of the store cards, the minimum payment barely covered the interest.

"I didn't realise when signing up that the rate of interest would be so high," she says.

"We need a watchdog to act against firms that charge consumers so much."

Not uncommon

After Sarah's health worsened she decided to take early retirement.

It was at this point that she was also forced to face up to her debt problems.

"Suddenly my income shrunk to �1,000 a month and I faced the frightening prospect of owing more in the form of minimum repayments than was actually coming in."

I had been receiving aggressive letters from lenders and I knew it was time to get help

According to Frances Walker of Leeds-based debt charity the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) Sarah's experience is not uncommon.

"Many people live with debt until they are hit by a change in circumstances such as divorce, unemployment or illness," Ms Walker said.

According to the Bank of England, personal debt grew by nearly �10bn during June - a record 14% rise on a year earlier.

As a result, economists are worried that many people in the UK could be heading for a debt meltdown.

Even keel

Sarah has now taken the first steps to deal with her debts.

In April she approached the CCCS, which offers a free advisory service.

"I had been receiving aggressive letters from lenders and I knew it was time to get help. Fortunately a friend told me about the CCCS."

Sarah is now repaying �401 a month to her debtors through the CCCS and is determined to get back on an even keel.