Financial Health Check - MOT Your Wallet

Happy new year all.

To begin 2016, we’ve conducted some research with our New Year Financial Health Check and found one third could be missing out on opportunities to save household bills.

The survey also showed that in the last two years, 1 in 3 people hadn’t personally checked if they were on the best mobile phone contract (32 per cent), had the most appropriate energy tariff (33 per cent) or the best broadband deal (34 per cent).  Yet switching energy suppliers or changing tariffs alone could save people up more than £200 a year.

Looking at how you spend your money and where you can trim back will help you plan a budget that meets your daily costs.  It can also help you build up savings so that you’re prepared for any sudden changes, from one-off expenses like replacing a washing machine to a change in your employment.

Try and shop around so you get the best deal on your household bills. Energy, broadband and mobile phone tariffs all vary widely, and paying over the odds for lots of bills can all add up. Suppliers need to present the options clearly, so people can make informed choices to keep their costs down.
 

The check:
 

Blitz your budget

• Get a clear idea of how much you spend. Some bills vary from month to month, so take an average of these outgoings.  Our budgeting tool may help: https://budgetplanner.adviceguide.org.uk/guidancenotes

• Get the best deal on your energy

• The best energy deal for you depends on anything from the size of your home to the time of day you use the most fuel. To work out if you can save, use the free Citizens Advice energy comparison tool: http://energycompare.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Water down your water costs

• Smaller households may be able to save money by moving to a water meter. With a meter, you only pay for what you use. Work out if you could save by visiting www.ccwater.org.uk.

Diarise your contracts

• Unless you’re buying an upgrade, things like broadband and mobile phone services can’t be switched until your contract ends. Put contract due dates in your diary - this is your chance to see if you can get a better deal elsewhere.

Sort out your debts

• Make a list of your creditors, how much you owe and when you need to pay it back. Refer back to your monthly budget and see what you can afford to pay. If you can’t afford them all, go to your local Citizens Advice or visit the website www.citizensadvice.org.uk for information on which debts should take priority, and negotating with your creditors.

Maximise your income

• Overpaying taxes and not claiming what you’re entitled to can have an impact on your income. Make sure you’re on the right tax code by visiting gov.uk. If you’ve got children, check if you’re eligible for tax credits. If you live alone, make sure you’re not overpaying council tax - single person households should get a 25% discount.

Get to grips with your pension

• When you retire you'll need your income to support you, and give you a decent standard of living. Most people get a State Pension but some people can find it hard to live on this alone.  If you can, you should top this up with your own pension to make sure you'll have enough money to see you through your retirement.

• Over 50s with a defined contribution pension can get free impartial guidance on their pension options from Pension Wise, so you can start planning your financial future long-term. This is their website: https://www.pensionwise.gov.uk/

Remember - here at Wyre Forest we have debt advisors ready to help!