You can use our budget calculator to help you work out your budget to help you manage your money
Use our Budget management calculator (Opens in a new window)
Money Management
Managing your bills
Managing money can be difficult, especially if you are on a tight budget. However, if you plan for the month ahead you will be able to manage your money easier. Here are a few simple steps to help you on your way –
- add up all the money you have coming into your household
- add up all the bills that you have to pay for that month
- think about the other things you need to buy for that month like food, toiletries etc.
You can then work out what money you have left over for anything else you want to buy or save.
If your bills are starting to pile up a good way of making them easier to understand is to keep them organised. Here are a few tips you can use to help you organise your bills easier -
- have a place where you keep all your bills and place them in a folder.
- open all your bills as soon as you get them.
- set regular times to pay your bills
- use a calendar to mark off when bills need to be paid
- if you have a mobile device, you could use the reminder app to tell you when you need to pay your bills
If you cannot pay a bill, you need make contact with the company who issued the bill straight away. Their contact details should be displayed on the bill or you can go online and search for the company's contact details. They will then able to talk to you about setting up a re-payment plan.
If you have not been able to manage your bills and are in debt, there are still things you can do. You do not have to resort to taking out a loan to pay it off and increase your debt. There are people who you can talk to, who are experienced and who give advice about managing debt.
To help you find out what benefits you maybe able to claim, we have developed a benefits calculator. This online tool will ask you a series of questions regarding your current circumstances and from the answers you give, will work out what benefits you could claim. This is a guide only and all benefits claims are decided by the Department of Work and Pensions.
Access the benefits calculator (Opens in a new window)
The Money Advice Service was set up by the government to offer free and impartial money advice, they can support you with -
- advice and guides to help improve your finances
- tools and calculators to help keep track and plan ahead
- support over the phone and online
You can telephone for free and impartial money advice on free phone (from any UK landline) on 08001 387 777 Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm Saturday, 9am to 1pm except bank holidays.
Visit the Money advice service website to find out more (Opens in a new window)
Citizens Advice Hull & East Riding (CAB) can help you to manage your debts, and assist with bankruptcy and Debt Relief Orders. (DRO’s). They can help you to improve your debt situation by giving you the right advice and information to make informed choices including –
- help to deal with your debt problems
- how to avoid losing your home
- how to get your finances back into shape
They can also provide help and guidance with filling out forms for some benefit entitlements.
You can contact them via -
- telephone 01482 226 859 for specialist debt advice
- telephone - 03444 111 444 for all other calls
- email - e-advice@hull-eastridingcab.org.uk (Opens in a new window)
Visit their Hull Offices at –
The Wilson Centre,
Alfred Gelder Street,
Hull,
HU1 2AG
Statistics provided by the Gambling Commission show that almost 50 per cent of adults in the UK have gambled during the past four weeks. For some, it is as simple as buying the occasional lottery ticket or having a bet on the Grand National but for others, it is far more serious and can become a life changing addiction.
If you think your gambling or the gambling of someone else is getting out of control, it is time to get help, gambling support is available from Game Care
Visit the Game Care website to get help (Opens in a new window)
Alternatively, you can use telephone their freephone helpline on 0808 802 013 (8am to midnight, seven days a week)
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