List all reliable income
Wages, benefits, maintenance and other regular income after deductions.
Money and cost of living
Protect essentials first, then deal with the rest in order.
Choose the problem, use the immediate action plan and continue into the Money Academy or a free advice route.
1List income and bills
2Protect essentials
3Contact creditors early
4Get free advice
Choose a route
What do you need to sort out?
Money does not stretchBuild a realistic household budget.Several bills are overdueWork out which consequences are most serious.Debt letters or callsRespond without agreeing to an unaffordable amount.Check entitlementUse free calculators and local advice.Scam or unsafe borrowingPause payment and verify who contacted you.Urgent money crisisRisk of eviction, disconnection, court or no food.
Get free debt advice urgently when essential payments or legal action are at risk
Seek free advice if you may lose your home, face court or enforcement action, have essential services at risk, cannot afford food, or are borrowing to cover basic living costs.
Budget
Use real figures, not guesses
List essential household costs
Housing, energy, council tax, food, travel, childcare, health and insurance.
Use statements to check spending
Review at least one full month and separate needs, commitments and flexible spending.
Set a weekly safe amount
Divide what remains after essentials and priority arrangements into a realistic weekly amount.
Priority bills
Pay by consequence, not by who shouts loudest
Some missed payments can lead to loss of home, disconnection, court action or other serious consequences. Identify those first and get advice before spreading small payments across every creditor.
Debt letters
Do not ignore them, but do not promise what you cannot afford
- Check the creditor, account, balance and deadline.
- Keep the envelope and every page.
- Ask for information in writing if the debt is unclear.
- Explain financial difficulty and request breathing space or an affordable hold where appropriate.
- Get free debt advice before agreeing to a formal solution.
Income check
Check benefits and local support
Free calculators can estimate possible entitlement, but results depend on the information entered and do not replace a decision by the relevant authority.
Scams and unsafe borrowing
Pause, verify and protect access to your money
Unexpected contact
Do not use the number or link in the message. Contact the organisation through a trusted website, statement or card.
Open scam lesson →Loan shark or pressure
Do not meet threats alone. Seek confidential specialist help and preserve messages or payment records.
Open national support routes →Free starting points
Money support
MoneyHelper
Government-backed impartial money guidance and free debt advice locator.
Open MoneyHelper →StepChange
Free debt advice and debt-solution information.
Open StepChange →National Debtline
Free independent debt advice.
Open National Debtline →