Managing your money
Lots of people are finding it hard to make ends meet. The price of essentials like food, gas and electricity have gone up. But there are things you can do to make things easier:
- You may be able to pay less if you shop around.
- Check you are getting everything you should, such as benefits and other sources of income.
- Learn how to budget to make the most of your money.
How to save on household expenses
There are lots of things you can do to save money on food:
- Use loyalty cards and coupons.
- Consider changing where you buy your groceries to find better deals.
- Look for reduced price food getting close to the sell by date.
- Use resources such as Local Pantries, FoodCycle, or community fridges to access affordable or free food.
- Apps like Olio and Too Good To Go can help you find food that would be thrown away.
- Trussell Trust food banks can give you three or more days of food in an emergency. You will need to get a voucher. You can get vouchers from your doctor or health visitor and many other places. Contact your local Trussell Trust food bank or visit their website to find a full list of who gives out vouchers locally.
You may be able to pay less on energy and other household bills:
- Switch to a water meter. Use the Water Meter Calculator on the CC Water website to check if you can save money.
- Consider buying broadband and landline services as a bundle.
- Use price comparison sites and change companies for gas and electricity if they offer cheaper rates than your current supplier.
How to boost your income
There might be ways you can boost your income:
- Make sure you’re paid the correct amount as agreed in your work contract.
- Check your personal tax allowance.
- Find out if you can get any benefits.
- If you are on a low-income you may benefit from the NHS Low Income Scheme.
- Check if your council has a welfare assistance scheme which can help if you are in an emergency situation. Contact your local council for more information.
- Find out if you can get any charitable grants.
Budgeting techniques
There are lots of things you can do to manage your money well:
- Review your income and expenses. Our Digital Advice Tool can help you with this.
- Check regular payments like direct debits and cancel any that are unnecessary.
- If you smoke, use resources like the NHS Quit Smoking website and mobile app.
