This looks at the what, where, when and why related to your spending. 

Are the items something you need or just something you want? 

Could you spend less? 

How much could you save over the period of one month/six months/a year by dropping just one item off the shopping list that is a want rather than a need?

This section also looks priority/non priority payments along with alternative ways of buying and ways to save money.

This looks at your budget in detail that is looking at the incoming funds and those outgoing and maximising your income and saving funds for emergencies/rainy day. 

• Do you know what payments are priority / non priority?
• Do you calculate yearly ‘one-off’ payments into your monthly budget so that you have the funds ready when they are due?
• Do you have the best telephone / TV package for your needs?
• Are you getting the best deal for your gas / electric?
• Are you eligible for help with your water bill?
• Are you entitled to any benefits?

With regards to energy bills we provide sessions where we check you are getting the best deal for your and discuss your options as well as giving you other energy saving advice.  For more information about this please click here.

This looks at the different types of bank accounts and the benefits of saving.

• Is your bank account the best one for you?
• How do you manage your account?  Looking at statements and managing online.
• What is the best way of managing your money on a daily basis? e.g. if spending by card means you don’t keep tabs of your spending and end up overdrawn why not draw out a specific amount each week and stick to that.  Seeing the money dwindle could encourage you to be more careful.

The benefits of saving even if it is a small amount each week. This goes back to wants and needs and shows how reducing the amount spent on take away food for example can save you enough to spend on a holiday.

This looks at the different type of credit available and explains APR. 

Also covered:

• Can you afford the loan – looking at monthly payments + interest
• How you can improve your credit score