Managing your money
Overview
Successful management of money is an important part of maintaining your independence and personal wellbeing.
You can find information and advice on making the most of your money whatever your financial circumstances.
Budgeting and planning
Budgeting allows you to ensure that your spending stays within what you can comfortably afford and lets you prioritise the things that are most important to you.
The Government's Money Helper provides easy to understand online information and budgeting tools.
Plan before you borrow
Understanding the cost of borrowing money is an important part of staying within your budget.
Money Helper offers information about borrowing money to help you understand what this involves. For example, whether you really need to borrow and the true costs of borrowing money.
Getting benefits
It's important that you are getting the benefits you are entitled to. Many benefits are not means-tested; this means you become eligible because of a mental or physical illness or disability.
Find out more about benefits and financial support
Calculating your benefits
Online benefit calculators are available that will work out the benefits you can claim from local and national government.
Money and mental wellbeing
Financial worries and mental wellbeing
Being in debt or having money worries can have a negative impact on your mental health and wellbeing.
Mind has a series of pages with information and advice on money and mental health.
When to seek urgent help
If you start feeling like you really can't cope, life is becoming very difficult or your life isn't worth living, get help straight away.
Ask to see your GP or contact Samaritans (telephone: 116 123) for confidential, non-judgmental emotional support.