Monthly Archives: July 2022

3 TIPS TO MAINTAIN YOUR FINANCIAL WELLBEING

The rising cost of living is one of the most pressing issues facing many families today. The price of food, energy, fuel and other necessities has risen significantly in recent months. This has made it difficult to make ends meet and has put a strain on many household budgets.

Planning for the rising cost of living can be a challenge, especially if your income isn’t keeping up with inflation. As many people feel the squeeze as the cost of essential items continues to increase, there are a few important things to consider to maintain your financial wellbeing.

1. REVIEW SPENDING

The rising cost of living can be a real problem, especially if you’re not mindful of your spending. Going through your spending with the finest tooth comb can help you find areas where you may be able to cut back, and save money in the long run. Keep an eye on your budget and make adjustments as necessary to ensure that you are aware of your outgoing costs and can adapt your spending accordingly. Being able to see exactly where your money’s going will help you to pin down where you can make savings and cuts.

Ask yourself: What’s coming in and going out? Can I get something for cheaper? And (often the hardest of all): Do I really need that? Look at the money you have coming into your home – whether that’s just you or with someone else. You want to look at every single thing that’s going out (there may be a lot more than you think).

2. EMERGENCY SAVINGS

When it comes to financial security, one of the most important things you can do is to keep emergency savings aside for when you need them. Having a nest egg that you can tap into in times of need can help you weather a storm. One method is to create a dedicated savings account that you only use for this purpose. This way, you can easily access the funds when you need them but they remain out of reach for everyday spending.

Aim to build up enough to cover between three to six months’ expenses, or as much as you can afford. The best thing to do is make room for your savings in your budget as one of your outgoings. By doing so, it’ll help you see your savings as a must, rather than a must- do-later. And if you can, set up an automated payment from your normal bank account straight into your savings account – that way you don’t even need to think about it.

3. PENSIONS AND INVESTMENTS

As many people across the country are feeling the squeeze of a cost of living crisis, it’s more important than ever to make sure your finances are in good shape. One way to do this is by making sure you don’t touch your pension or investments. While it may be tempting to dip into these savings to help make ends meet in the short term, it’s important to think about the long-term impact this could have on your retirement plans.

Drawing down on your pension or selling investments could leave you worse off in the long run, so it’s important to consider all of your options before making any decisions. Consolidating your old pensions into one could help you cut down on management fees and give you a better picture of how your finances are looking. But before transferring your pensions it is essential to obtain professional financial advice.

DON’T FORGET YOUR LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SECURITY
It’s important to think about the long term when it comes to your finances. Making short-term decisions could jeopardise your long-term financial security. To discuss your situation or plans or for further information, please contact us.

MORE THAN HALF IGNORE MEDICAL ADVICE AND WORK DESPITE POOR HEALTH DUE TO FINANCIAL WORRIES

When you are off work due to an illness or injury, worries about how you are going to pay your bills can make an already stressful situation worse. So much so that many people are finding themselves in the very difficult position of having to put the need to earn money over their health by continuing to go to work, even when advised not to by a doctor.

Worse still, financial concerns mean some are avoiding seeing their GP altogether, even when concerned they may have a serious illness. Money worries see six in ten people go to work when they are ill, with one in three ignoring their doctor’s advice due to financial concerns, even when they are worried about serious illness, according to new research.

NO FINANCIAL PROTECTION IN PLACE

Three in ten people have no financial protection if they were off work should they fall ill or become injured, while 27% could financially only last for a month. The findings highlight that sick and injured Britons are forcing themselves back into work, despite doctors’ advice, due to having no financial protection in place.

Nearly a third (32%) admitted to not following their doctor’s advice because they couldn’t afford to take time off, while 43% would put off going to the doctors due to financial concerns – even if concerned they may have a serious illness.

NEGATIVE IMPACT ON MENTAL WELLBEING

The research also highlights that while nearly half (49%) say they would benefit from a policy that would cover their income if off work for an extended period, just 27% actually have any income protection cover in place, with 32% unaware of what such a policy is.

Money worries can have a negative impact on people’s mental wellbeing, with nearly two-thirds (64%) of those surveyed saying they fret about how they would cope financially if they needed to take four weeks or more off work due to poor health.

SICK AND ON A REDUCED INCOME

Three in ten (30%) surveyed have nothing in place to support them financially should they be ill or injured, while 29% would rely on Statutory Sick Pay, which at £99.35 per week for up to 28 weeks (tax year 2022/23), pays much less than many people need to cover the cost of living, which continues to rise.

If on long-term sick pay and on a reduced income, many would use their existing savings (45%), make reduced payments (33%), borrow money from family or friends (25%), or use a credit card or loan (15%). However, during the pandemic a third (34%) of people had already dipped into their savings, meaning they may now have less to fall back on.

LONGER-TERM FINANCIAL IMPACTS

As a result of this situation, more than half (55%) admit they could only survive for three months, while more than a quarter (27%) would struggle after just one month. The additional financial pressures of being off sick for four weeks or more could push people to prioritise their household expenditures. The top five things that the people surveyed prioritise include utilities (67%), mortgage/rent (65%), food (56%), insurance i.e. car/ home/pet (15%) and internet/broadband (13%).

As well as the immediate impact of long-term sickness, many people are also concerned about the longer-term financial impacts, with almost half (49%) of those surveyed saying they worry about the impact on their ability to get credit in future. This is particularly an issue for the self-employed, where 43% worry about losing customers and just over a third (36%) worry that their business would have to fold.

TIME TO DISCUSS INSURANCE THAT WORKS WHILE YOU CAN’T?
Consider how you’d cover your usual monthly costs if you were ill or injured and couldn’t work for a while. Would you be able to carry on paying the bills using Statutory Sick Pay or your savings? If not, it’s worth thinking about insurance. To find out more, please contact us.

NINE IN TEN ADULTS MAKE STARK SPENDING DECISIONS AS ANXIETY RUNS HIGH

The pressure of spiralling living costs is a major concern among many UK households, with the vast majority looking to make significant lifestyle changes in response to price rises.

According to new research, 95% of adults in the UK say they are worried about the anticipated rise in the cost of living in 2022. Women are the most worried, with a third (33%) mentioning they are extremely worried compared to a fifth (22%) of men.

COST OF LIVING INCREASES

The expense most UK households are concerned about is the rise in energy bills (92%), with three in ten (29%) being extremely worried about this, followed by food shopping (87%). Cost hikes to phone and internet contracts, which typically increase by the more than the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate, concerns 84% of UK adults.

The level and speed of price rises means nine out of ten of us (89%) are looking to make changes to pay for the cost of living increases. Worryingly, the option for a fifth (21%) of people is to borrow their way out of trouble, with 7% admitting they simply don’t know how they’ll cover increases and 5% of workers saying they are considering taking out a short-term (payday) loan.

CUT BACK ON COSTS

Two-thirds (66%) of people say they will change their food shopping habits, with half of these saying they’ll reduce the amount of food they buy. Other solutions to cut back on costs include reaching for the thermostat and reducing the length of time the central heating is on (46%), turning off the heating in unoccupied rooms (36%) and nearly a fifth (17%) taking the drastic action of turning the heating off altogether. As part of the cutting-back regime, half (48%) of fulltime workers feel they’ll be forced to reduce or stop saving altogether.

On top of rising costs, National Insurance contribution rates increased from April, just as energy bills rise more steeply, which will dramatically affect take-home pay. For an individual on a salary of £50,000, that will mean an extra deduction of £464 a year, or £214 for someone earning £30,000. Worryingly, a fifth of workers (20%) say they are not aware of these changes, and two-fifths (43%) say whilst they are aware, they are not prepared for the changes to start.

ANXIOUS ABOUT FINANCES

Just as families in the UK felt they’d seen the worst of the financial impact of COVID, they’re facing a dramatic rise in their household bills. People are having to make difficult choices in an attempt to reduce the impact of rising energy bills, higher inflation, tax hikes and potential interest rate increases. Understandably, this has made many people anxious about their finances, but it’s also testing their financial resilience.

Household bills are rising steeply, with the cost of filling up the car at the pumps having reached eye-watering levels, leaving families up and down the country worried about their ability to make ends meet. Concern is so widespread that families who, on the face of it, would be considered financially comfortable and even those with six-figure incomes are deeply worried.

10 WAYS TO HELP MANAGE YOUR FINANCES

1. SAVE MONEY ON YOUR ENERGY BILLS

If you’re finding it hard to pay your energy bills, contact your provider as they should help you with ways to pay and don’t be afraid to ask for help from a debt advice charity if you’re struggling.

Switching your energy supplier used to be a good way of saving money on your household bills, but with energy prices soaring, you’re probably better off staying on the standard tariff with your existing supplier once your fixed tariff comes to an end. Some suppliers aren’t taking on new customers, and that way you’re protected by the energy price cap. The government-backed website – Simple Energy Advice – has tips on how to keep your energy bills down.

2. SAVE MONEY ON PETROL

Try using a fuel price checker site to check that you’re always getting your fuel for the cheapest price possible. Other ways to save include: driving at a lower speed and avoiding accelerating and braking quickly if you can; making sure your tyres are at the right pressure; and taking out anything heavy in the car that you don’t need to carry.

3. FOOD BILLS

Grocery bills can make up a big proportion of your household spending so it makes sense to look for savings. Plan your meals for a week and then write your shopping list – this will help you avoid buying unnecessary items. Consider changing to a cheaper supermarket or to different brands if you prefer a particular supermarket.

4. WATER BILLS

You can’t switch water suppliers but there are steps you can take to keep your bills down. Check if you’d save money by switching to a water meter. You can use the Consumer Council for Water’s calculator. If you’re on certain benefits and have a large family or someone with a particular medical condition, you may qualify for the WaterSure scheme, which caps water bills. Meanwhile, if you’re on a low income or receiving benefits, check what additional assistance your water company offers.

5. COUNCIL TAX

Depending on your circumstances and who is living with you, you may qualify for a Council Tax discount. For example, you can get a 25% discount if you’re the only adult living in the property. Find out what discounts are offered by your local council at GOV.UK.

If you’re on a low income or certain benefits you may be able to get a Council Tax Reduction. Your bill could be reduced by up to 100%. There’s a different scheme in Northern Ireland.

6. CHECK IF YOU’RE ENTITLED TO STATE BENEFITS
Billions of pounds of state benefits go unclaimed each year, and you could be missing out. The national charity Turn2us has a free and confidential benefits calculator on its website (https://benefits- calculator.turn2us.org.uk/), which can help you work out which means-tested benefits you’re entitled to. It also has a grant search tool (https://grants-search. turn2us.org.uk/) for information on grants you may be able to apply for.

7. FIND OUT WHERE YOUR MONEY’S GOING

Start by finding out where your money’s being spent. It sounds obvious, but we may not realise exactly how much we’re spending each month – and what we’re spending it on – until it’s laid out in front of us.

Review your last three bank statements and credit card bills (or check online) and spend some time going through them, highlighting
any areas where you think you’re spending money unnecessarily or spending too much. This could be on anything from a top of the range broadband package that you don’t need, to a mobile phone contract where you’re paying for data you don’t use.

Every month money is wasted on unused subscriptions, with the most common wasted money on gym memberships. A fifth (19%) of
UK adults said they planned on cancelling TV subscriptions (e.g. Netflix, Amazon Prime). Even magazine subscriptions of a few pounds a month are money down the drain if you don’t have time to read the magazine. Take a few minutes and cancel any subscriptions you don’t really use to save yourself a bit of cash.

8. DRAW UP A BUDGET

Drawing up a weekly or monthly budget will help you get your finances under control. It’s just a list of money you have coming in and what you spend and it doesn’t have to take long to set up. There are plenty of templates online to get you started. Alternatively, budgeting apps can also be used to plan what you want to spend and keep track of it.

9. SEE IF YOU CAN PAY LESS INTEREST

If you owe money on an expensive credit card, it may be worth considering whether you can transfer the balance to a credit card charging 0% interest. Although these cards are interest free, you will normally be charged a balance transfer fee of between 1 and 3% of the amount you transfer. Because you won’t be charged interest on your balance, more of your money can go to repay what you owe.

These cards aren’t right for everyone, and it’s important to make sure you can pay off your balance by the time the 0% interest deal runs out. It may also affect your credit score, especially if you do it multiple times.

10. GET HELP WITH UNMANAGEABLE DEBTS

If you are struggling to pay for the essentials, you are using one credit card to pay off another or your debts are causing you worry, then contact a debt advice charity, such as StepChange. They will be able to give you help with your debts, free of charge.

NEED HELP TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY?
Rising inflation and increases in taxes are set to leave millions worse off in 2022. We’re here to help you review your current financial situation and answer any questions you may be concerned about