Money, debt and budgeting
Is money on your mind?
Anyone can experience money worries at any point in their lives and for many, the pandemic has heightened the strain on personal budgets.
Take a look at our free, money on your mind section, for information and signposting to local and national financial support.
It can be very stressful managing money, paying bills and ensuring you have enough to live on, but it’s important to remember that anyone can have money worries or fall into debt, for all kinds of reasons. There’s lots of great local and national advice and support available.
Herefordshire Council support
BetterOff is a free council service, which identifies if you’re entitled to receive benefits and helps you apply for them online.
Herefordshire Council offer a quick and easy to use budgeting tool, which can help you take control of your finances by creating a personal budget plan.
The council also has an online My Account service, which is great for keeping track of your Council Tax payments and instalments. It’s also available for housing benefits, business rates and landlords, so find out how it can help you today!
Local support
Bromyard Food Bank and Money Advice Centre provide free debt advice and support for people who may be struggling with debt or other money concerns. To find out more, call 07434 669103.
Christians Against Poverty offer free local CAP Money Courses, which can help teach you money management skills, including budgeting, saving and preventing debt.
Citizens Advice Herefordshire provide information on a wide range of areas, including debt solutions, borrowing money, budgeting, benefits and housing.
Ledbury Debt Centre offer free debt advice and support to help people who may be experiencing debt or other money problems. They also offer the free CAP Money Course, which can help teach you money management skills, including budgeting, saving and preventing debt. To find out more or book an appointment, call 0800 328 0006.
Leominster Community Money Advice Connect Centre offer free and confidential advice, to help you consider the different options available if you're experiencing money worries, you're in debt or need assistance with budgeting. The service is run by Leominster Food Bank and to book an appointment with a Money Mentor, simply call 07563 000862 or e-mail cmamanager@leominsterfoodbank.org.
Money Box Credit Union is a not for profit co-operative, which offer a range of affordable low cost loans for people in Herefordshire.
NILS is a registered charity, which offer no interest loans to local people in acute financial need. You only pay back what you borrow with no fees or extra charges.
South Wye Community Money Advice Centre, based at Putson Baptist Church in Hereford, offer free, confidential advice and practical support for people experiencing money problems, including budgeting and money management skills. To make an appointment, call 01432 357700 or e-mail swcmac@putsonbaptistchurch.co.uk.
Talk Community offer a free, online information and signposting resource called money on your mind, for any Herefordshire residents or businesses, experiencing financial difficulties.
National support
Age UK provide information on a range of areas, including benefits and entitlements, debt and savings advice, pensions and legal issues, such as making a will and power of attorney.
Christians Against Poverty is a charity which helps families by providing debt counselling, job clubs and money and life skills courses.
Citizens Advice offer information on topics such as debt solutions, borrowing money, budgeting, banking and pensions.
Money Helper provide free and impartial money advice and covers a wide range of areas, including debt and borrowing, budgeting and saving, work and benefits and pensions and retirement. It also has a number of handy online tools, such as a budget planner and mortgage calculator.
The National Debtline provide free and independent debt advice online or by calling 0808 808 4000.
The NHS provide helpful information on how to cope with money worries, along with tips on staying active, drinking less alcohol and healthy eating.
StepChange provide a free debt advice helpline on 0800 138 1111 (Monday to Friday 8am - 8pm and Saturday 8am - 4pm). Please note you’ll need to complete their budget template before calling and calls last for approximately 40 minutes.
Turn2us offer practical help for people who are in financial need, including accessing welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial assistance.