Advice Citizens Advice Mid Lincolnshire is braced for the busiest time of the year for debt advice a list of whom you owe money to and
save money by:
bills by installing insulation, glazing or
expecting 120 clients to seek advice for
add up how much you need to pay each
• getting a discount on your council tax
a more efficient heating system in your
debt concerns in January, including council
month. If you don’t have your most recent
• switching to a cheaper deal for your gas
home.
tax arrears, debt relief orders, credit card
statements, contact your creditor to find
and electricity
debts and water debts.
out what you owe.
• getting a water meter fitted
able to get help with the cost of making improvements.
Citizens Advice Mid Lincolnshire is
If you’re on a low income you might be
2. Prioritise your debts - Your rent or
• switching to a cheaper broadband, TV, or
12-month period reveals that on a single
mortgage, energy and council tax are called
phone deal
day - 29 January 2019 - Citizens Advice
priority debts as there can be serious
• getting cheaper travel
Mid Lincolnshire can help explain and
offices helped 2,776 people. This is 24%
consequences if you don’t pay them. These
• paying for your prescriptions in advance
provide information about switching
above the daily average.
should always be paid first. Separate these
Analysis of national data over a
In 2017 and 2018, the busiest day for
Energy Champions at Citizens Advice
energy supplier and other energy cost Check if you can pay less council tax
and work out how much you owe.
saving measures.
If you’re on a low income or claim
debt advice fell on 31 January, with 2,762
3. Work out how much you can pay
and 2,775 clients seeking help respectively.
- Create a budget by adding up your
benefits, you might be able to get Council
Switch to a cheaper broadband, phone
essential living costs, such as food and
Tax Reduction.
or TV deal
This means over the past three years
Each local council runs its own scheme,
You might be able to save money by
one person sought help from Citizens
housing, and taking these away from your
Advice every 10 seconds on our busiest
income. Any money you have spare can be
so what you can get depends on where
switching to a different broadband, phone
days for debt advice.
put towards your debts. Citizens Advice
you live.
or TV provider.
You might be able to get a council tax
budgeting tool can help.
Check your terms and conditions before
Kingsley Taylor, Chief Officer of Citizens
4. Paying urgent debts - You might have
discount for your property - for example if:
you switch. If you’re part way through a
Advice Mid Lincolnshire, said:
to contact priority creditors quickly in
• no one lives there
fixed-term contract you might have to pay
“There is a surge in demand for our
urgent situations, like if you are about to
• you live alone
to leave early - this is called an ‘exit fee’.
debt advice towards the second half of
be evicted. Tell them you’re seeking debt
• you live alone apart from a live-in care
Exit fees can be expensive and it might be
January.
advice so you can find a way forward. You
worker
better to wait until the end of the contract
could try to pay them something if you can
• people you live with are full-time
before switching.
hugely stressful and that Christmas is often
afford to.
students or apprentices
an additional burden for anyone already in
5. Paying non-urgent debts - If you have
• someone you live with has a severe
financial difficulty.
any money left after paying priority debts,
mental disability
calls and broadband through BT Basic if
“We know that dealing with debt can be
If you’re getting benefits You might be able to get cheap phone
consider getting a free debt-management
• you need a bigger property because
you get any of:
independent advice and support to help
plan. You’ll make one monthly payment to
someone has a disability
• Income Support
you deal with your debts and get back on
the plan provider, who will handle paying
your feet.”
your creditors. Or contact your creditors
Saving money on your gas and electricity
and offer them what you can afford to pay.
You might be able to save money on
stronger financial footing, Citizens Advice
6. If you can’t pay your debts - If you’ve got
your energy bills by switching to a better
• income-related Employment and Support
Mid Lincolnshire is sharing its six top tips to
little or no money spare to pay your priority
deal. You could stay with your current
Allowance
help people get their finances in order for
debts seek advice from us straight away.
supplier or switch to a new one.
• Universal Credit
“Citizens Advice can offer free and
To help people kick off 2020 on a
Use our price comparison tool to
the new year. Reducing your regular living costs Citizens Advice Mid Lincolnshire’s six
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
If you’re struggling with money, there
top tips to sort out your debts.
are steps you can take to save on your
1. Work out how much you owe - Make
regular living costs. You might be able to
• the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
We are here to help, for further
compare deals and prices. If you’re in debt
information and advice on Debt and money
to your energy supplier you’ll need to
contact Citizens Advice Mid Lincolnshire
follow a different process for switching.
or visit https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
You might be able to cut your energy
debt-and-money/
Citizens Advice Mid Lincolnshire gi ves people th e knowledge and confidence th ey need to find th eir way forward. We offer free, confidential advice to everyone in Boston and North Kesteven.
s U o t k l a T
Boston Office
Sleaford Office
Municipal Buildings West Street Boston PE21 8QR Mon to Thur 9.30 - 4.00
Moneys Yard, Carre Street, Sleaford NG34 7TW Mon to Wed 9.30- 2.00 Thurs 9.30 – 2.00 & 4.00 – 6.30 Fri 9.30 - 12.30
North Hykeham Office Info-Links Office OneNK, Moor Lane North HykehamLN6 9AX Mon & Thurs 9.30 to 12.30
Adviceline : 03444 111 444 Monday – Friday 10am- 4pm National Language Line: 0845 310 9900 Email: outreach@ citizensadvicemidlincs.org.uk
Do you shop online? Want to raise important donations for Citizens Advice Mid Lincolnshire? It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3:
1. Any time you want to buy something online, be it groceries or getaways, go to www.easyfundraising.org.uk first. 2. Search for the shop or site you want and we’ll take you there, so you can shop as normal. 3. When you check out you’ll collect a free donation. It doesn’t cost a penny extra!
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