We’ve launched our new Debt’s emotional toll video today, focusing on Trudy, a single mum who fell into unmanageable debt a couple of years ago. She initially went with a fee-charging debt management company before speaking to CCCS. She now sees a light at the end of the tunnel thanks to us.

Her problems – and those of many people we speak with – were in part caused by a breakdown of a relationship, and it nearly cost her her life.

The video, and her experiences, touch on three areas of money and relationships that cause untold stress.

1. Women are twice as likely as men to be in debt due to divorce or separation

Women twice as likely to be in debt after separation

We’ve found that divorce and separation weighs heavily on women. As the above graphic shows, the proportion of women who encounter financial difficulty due to separation or divorce is almost double that of men (12.5% compared to 6.8%).

And as the woman is more likely to be the one “left holding the baby” the stress of the debt can be immense.

2. One in four clients struggled with their debts alone

One in four dealt with debts alone

Even when a relationship is strong it’s still difficult to talk about money. As the above graphic shows, 25% of people suffer alone, unable to talk with anyone about their debts. This can be through being single (like Trudy), or being afraid of what the truth will do to the relationship.

An interesting example of this is the number of DMP clients who don’t receive our monthly newsletter. Tens of thousands don’t receive our emails because they’ve indicated that their partner is unaware of their predicament and want to keep it secret from them. While this number has fallen in recent years there is still a large minority of our clients who keep their debt problem quiet.

Keeping debts from loved ones heightens stress levels even further, multiplying mental health issues.

3. Almost half of debtors wait more than a year after realising their debts are a problem before seeking professional debt help

Nearly half of debtors waited a year

Finally, there’s the stress over the delay in searching for debt help. As we’ve talked about before, 45% of clients waited over a year before seeking debt help.

That meant that they suffered for a year or more, racking up interest and charges, before they contacted a debt organisation.

Again, this impacts negatively on mental health.

4. CCCS was contacted by over 350,000 people in 2011

CCCS contacted by over 350,000 people in 2011

The important outcome was this: CCCS was contacted by over 350,000 people last year, of which Trudy was one. These people were living under the stress of debt, some of them made worse by the stress of relationship breakdown, keeping quiet, or brushing the issue under the carpet.

We can help you if you have a debt problem, and by doing this we can help relieve some of the stress associated. If you don’t want to talk with anyone, use our online counselling service Debt Remedy. After you finish Debt Remedy you can to use our Wellbeing tool, to help you assess the current state of your mental health.

If you’d like to talk to us, phone our Helpline on 0800 138 1111. The cost of a call is free, whether you’re calling from a landline or from a mobile.

Don’t let stress worsen your existing debt problem. We helped Trudy and over 350,000 others last year. We can help you.

Problem debt shouldn't have a social stigma

As a counsellor I recall speaking to a retired man who through no real fault of his own had ended up with a large amount of debt that he couldn’t deal with.

He was living in rented accommodation on a small pension, and without any assets the best advice for this gentleman was bankruptcy.

The mere mention of the word sent the elderly man into a panic; he was terrified that his friends, family and neighbours would find out that he’d got himself into such a drastic situation. To this gentleman bankruptcy meant he would be ostracised or publically shamed.

This gentlemen was crestfallen that a sudden change of events in his life which led to him developing a debt problem would also mean that he was now to be marked as man ‘who had failed’ or was ‘dodgy’ or a ‘crook’. He felt that curtains would twitch every time he left the house.

I ran through how a modern bankruptcy worked for this gentleman and tried to explain that he wouldn’t be stigmatised. He wanted to repay his creditors, but he wasn’t able to and his situation wasn’t going to change. The gentleman struggled with accepting what was the best solution for him.

Afraid to admit to debt

We often get calls or emails where someone is asking about debt solutions on behalf of a friend or relative who’s too ashamed or embarrassed to speak to us directly.

On our system we record cases where the client has a partner who is not aware of the debt problems they don’t want them to find out. The numbers of people who are in this situation are truly staggering.

Fear, shame and even some of the famous debt myths all contribute to make people with genuine debt issues feel scared to come forward and seek help, either from a charity like us or even from friends, family and loved ones.

This stigma often makes the situation worse and can lead some people bottling the problem up; this can add to anxiety or even create stress and depression.

We know from our own research that clients have often been in touch with us a number of times over a period of sometimes years before they finally take the plunge and enter into a debt solution. They knew the problem was there but they tried to find other ways out rather than admit that their situation could not go on.

The perception and reality of debt

Despite the perception of debt being caused by frivolous overspending our findings show that most debt problems are more often caused by an ‘unexpected change in circumstances’ such as redundancy, a relationship break up or the loss of loved one. There are no stigmas around these unexpected events and the debt issues are often just a by-product of a larger life event.

Twitching curtains aside, nearly every one of us will at some point in our lives need some form of monetary assistance, whether this is debt counselling or debt consolidation or just borrowing money from family to help ease a financial mistake.

We all will at sometime need to learn to live within our means and budget correctly. There should be no stigma; interacting with money is a fact of life and there are already campaigns to introduce financial literacy into schools to prevent issues in the future.

The final proof is in the pudding. This video showing debt-free ex-client Nikki is very illuminating: she never discussed her debt problems with friends or family until the day she finished her debt management plan (DMP) and became completely debt free.

As she celebrated and explained her journey to friends she was suddenly shocked when a few of them started admitting that they too were using CCCS and had also suffered with problem debt. Nikki was debt free and only then did she feel confident to discuss her battle and it was only then that her close friends could admit to going through the same thing.

We don’t judge people with problem debt and neither should your friends and family. In this day and age most people can understand and empathise with how financial problems arise. Any stigma there once was is rapidly disappearing and this will help people seek debt help sooner (need debt help? Use Debt Remedy). That can make all the difference to their future.

Time for the jubilee!

Are you planning a full blown party to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee or just happy to have the extra bank holiday?

You might have already started organising things in preparation or if you’re less prepared you might like to see how you feel nearer the time.

Either way, if it’s something you need to budget for, now is a good time to think about how much you’re likely to spend on any celebrations.

If you’re stuck for ideas or your budget won’t stretch to the expense those extra days off work can cause, there are plenty of free Jubilee events you can attend. But if you’re less of a royalist we’ve put together a list of free things you could do with your two bank holidays to avoid the jubilations.

1. Enjoy the outdoors (fingers crossed we’ll have the weather for it!)

If you’re feeling adventurous, you could dig out the old bike or walking shoes and head for the hills for some fresh air and exercise. The Lake and Peak Districts, Snowdonia and the Scottish Highlands are all great places to visit. Why not test your map skills and try a bit of orienteering?

For details on walking routes, go to www.walkingbritain.co.uk or www.moredirt.co.uk if you’re going on a mountain bike.

If you fancy less greenery you could try a city-walking tour. For example Bath offers free two-hour tours each day, and a Jane Austen audio tour that you can freely download on to an MP3 player.

Other cities sometimes charge a small fee but you can find out about free ones by visiting the appropriate tourist board website.

2. Garden and parks

Spring is in full flow and it’s the prettiest time of the year to see gardens and parks in bloom. You could simply take a walk and enjoy the scenery, try to spot different forms of wildlife or even fly a kite if the weather’s right.

For more information about the UK’s parks and gardens visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk, www.royalparks.org.uk, www.english-heritage.org.uk or www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk

3. Arrange a date with the telly

If the outdoors isn’t for you, settle in with a good DVD box set or catch up online with television that you’ve missed over the last few weeks.

If TV isn’t your cup of tea, curl up with a good book (from the library) instead.

4. Try some wild camping!

Unlike in England and Wales, camping in the wild is free in Scotland, provided you’re well away from property and roads. If Scotland’s too far, you’ll need permission of the landowner before pitching your tent. They don’t usually mind as long as you respect the land.

For details of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, visit www.outdooraccess-scotland.com or The Mountaineering Council of Scotland.

5. Visit a museum

The vast amount of fascinating museums across the country gives us the chance to learn about history, industry, nature, fashion, science and the universe.

You can visit the Natural History Museum, the Imperial War Museum, the National Media Museum, the National Railway Museum, the National Football Museum and the Science Museum, to name but a few, all completely free of charge.

For information about museums and exhibitions go to www.24hourmuseum.org.uk.

6. Plant a veggie patch

You can save money and eat healthier by growing your own fruit and vegetables. May is a good month to start, and there’s no time like the present!

Check out the Which? guide to growing your own.

7. Learn something new

Have you always wanted to be bilingual or do you have an old violin that’s collecting dust in the loft? Lessons can be costly but there is a wealth of information available on the internet. Of course this hobby may last longer than just one day but this could be the start of a new you!

Try the BBC online language centre at which offers a 12-week free course for beginners.

8. Games day

Everyone has a collection of old board games like Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit at the back of a cupboard. Why not dig them out and invite some friends round to join in? Tell everyone to bring some food and make it an event to remember.

If board games are too ‘old school’ for you, have an Xbox or PlayStation tournament instead.

9.Cityfarms and animal sanctuaries

If you’re an animal lover but your budget or time is too tight to have your own pet, go to a city farm or organise a visit to an open day at an animal sanctuary. This time of year is perfect for spotting spring lambs frolicking in the fields and ducklings taking to the water.

Devon’s Donkey Sactuary which cares for sick and neglected donkeys, is free to visit, and Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital outside Aylesbury has a nursery area, where you can watch staff hand-rearing the orphaned birds and mammals, opens to the public during the spring and summer months.

For more information on city farms, go to www.farmgarden.org.uk.

10. Churches, cathedrals and castles

If you’re looking for beautiful architecture that dates back thousands of years, there are many churches, cathedrals and castles to visit throughout theUK.

Durham Cathedral, for example, was founded in 995 and is thought to be the greatest Norman building in England, while Exeter Cathedral, which was built in the early 12th century, has the longest uninterrupted medieval Gothic vaulting in the world.

You can visit them for free throughout the year, or check websites such as www.english-heritage.org.uk.

11. Support the arts

Tap into your creative side and inspire yourself by and spending an afternoon soaking up art at a gallery. Many institutions, such as the Tate galleries in London, Liverpool and St Ives, are free except for major exhibitions.

Or why not look out for work by local artists, and shows by art schools and colleges, which sometimes exhibit students’ work.

Art lovers should head over to The National Gallery for a large collection of Western European art from the middle ages to the early 20th century. Modern art enthusiasts must see Tate Modern, the contemporary art museum.

Whatever you decide to do, make the most of your extra day off, don’t spend too much, and enjoy it.

London: home of debt (photo: Luciano Mortula / Shutterstock.com)

Popular opinion of London isn’t favourable: it’s portrayed as a fat cat city, spending large while the rest of the country suffers from a recession. But this hides a surprising truth: London is actually the most over-indebted region of the country.

Think about the residents of west London borough of Kensington and Chelsea and what comes to mind? It’s unlikely to be an area with the highest debt repayment burden in the capital. Or how about the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham? No one would think of it as one of London’s rent arrears hotspots.

Research on London debt

Recently we commissioned research that identified London as the most over-indebted region in Great Britain (PDF). We’ve released a London debt infographic today to accompany the publication of it (you can click on the image below to see it full size).

London debt - click to see the full-sized version

The research found that this debt pain is not evenly spread, with those living in some boroughs much more likely in the red than others. The city contains – as it always has – a vast collection of people, from those considered by some as obscenely wealthy to those suffering from the highest rates of poverty seen countrywide.

The research highlighted the areas that are traditionally seen as the poor neighbours of the swanky boroughs of west London – it might come as little surprise that Tower Hamlets, Haringey, Brent and Barnet are London’s other rent arrears hotspots.

Debt south of the river

Looking south of the river we find Sutton and Croydon, the two areas most in need of debt help. 40 in every 10,000 residents of these two boroughs contacted us for debt help in 2011.

Conversely, less than five miles north, straddling the river, lies the borough of Richmond-upon-Thames. That exclusive part of west London had the lowest demand for debt help in 2011 – 40 times fewer people living there contacted CCCS than in Sutton and Croydon.

Also south of the Thames, the highest proportion of payday loan borrowing among CCCS clients came from residents of Lewisham, Bromley and Lambeth.

Debt help for London

This might not be too much of a surprise. Last year we wrote about the debt hotspots of Britain; rather than inner-city areas, the highest average personal debt occurs in those places regarded as the leafy suburbs of the London commuter belt – Slough, Watford, Sutton, Kingston upon Thames and Guilford.

We should all remember that while poverty and debt is linked, you can have debt without poverty. If you find yourself in this situation please read some of our other MoneyAware blogposts to understand what you can do, and when you need to contact us.

London’s image problem

London has an image problem in the eyes of the rest of the country that isn’t going to change for years to come. However we mustn’t forget that within London there are areas – rich and poor – where personal debt is endemic. In the end London residents have the same debt problems as anywhere else in the UK, despite the myths.

If you need debt help, don’t let your capital become a pain. Use our online counselling service Debt Remedy now or contact us on 0800 138 1111.

Happy Birthday CCCSVA (thanks to Sophie)

Where were you in 2007? Five years ago saw the start of the credit crunch, and you’ll no doubt remember the first bank bailout, after a ‘run’ on Northern Rock.

The country looked to be heading for trouble; we knew this could result in an increased demand on our service. With this in mind CCCSVA was launched.

CCCSVA was set up to provide in-house individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) for our clients. CCCSVA is wholly owned by our umbrella charity – The Foundation for Credit Counselling – and shares the same ethics and values.

The year the service was launched there were 42,165 approved IVAs in the UK, an increasingly recommended solution for people struggling with debt problems.

A great place to work

The first thing an IVA company needs is an Insolvency Practitioner and Jackie Westermanwas hired. Jackie has proved a massive influence at CCCSVA and was soon became an active member of the IVA protocol standing committee.

CCCSVA was primarily staffed by experienced debt counsellors from the main charity, it was an exciting time for all as they learned, studied and implemented practices that would serve them well.

The small team that celebrated that first approved IVA five years ago has grown steadily into a large team with many departments, each with a core specialisation.

• The Advisor team give the initial advice
• The Assistant Drafter team collate the required documentation
• The Drafting team create the actual legal IVA document, and see it through to the meeting of creditor stage
• Following a successful meeting of creditors the Supervisory team take charge and are the first point of contact for the duration of the IVA

CCCSVA offers its entire staff to high level of training and many of the team have taken the Certificate of Proficiency in Personal Insolvency (CPPI) or Institute of Credit Management (ICM) Diploma. Regular training is also organised on ever-changing debt law to make sure that CCCSVA remains an industry leader.

Ethical and sustainable

Like the rest of the charity CCCSVA has regular charity events usually around Children in Need and Comic/Sports Relief. The staff are also fond of a fuddle and enjoy regular bake off events where banoffee pie is the dish of the day.

CCCSVA doesn’t charge any upfront fees to clients to put forward an IVA on their behalf and from the beginning CCCSVA’s acceptance rates on cases put to creditors has been incredibly high. However, while CCCSVA is proud of its success rate it’s also equally concerned about the industry’s IVA ‘breakage’ rates.

An IVA is a five or six year commitment for clients and CCCSVA is determined that its IVAs were a sustainable long term solution that was the best advice for clients.

To the next five years

CCCSVA has steadily achieved some great successes. This was highlighted last year when Jackie Westerman was named Insolvency Practitioner of the year.

So it’s happy birthday and well done to CCCSVA. Five years from the start of the credit crunch, people with problem debt need them now as much as they did in 2007.

Post IVA credit file clean up

It’s a happy day when your individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) finally ends, you’re well and truly free and clear and your money is your own again.

You can also take satisfaction from the fact that you have done your best by your creditors. After all they were happy to accept the terms of the IVA and to complete the IVA you’ll have complied with the terms that were set out.

First steps

The first thing you’ll receive from CCCSVA is your IVA Completion Certificate. The certificate will be signed by your Insolvency Practitioner and is proof that your IVA is now done and dusted.

The Insolvency Service will mark your IVA as completed and update their records accordingly; once this is done you can start the job of repairing your credit file.

How to get your credit rating back into shape

We’ve blogged a before about credit ratings and how they work. This advice is strictly for those coming out of an IVA, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a lump sum IVA or five or six year term IVA.

There are three credit reference agencies (CRAs) in the UK: Callcredit, Equifax and Experian. You’ll need to get access to your credit report from all three agencies. You can get a one-off credit report from each of the CRAs online or by post for just £2.

Once you receive the reports it’s important to check the details on all three, and compare each against the other two. It’s also good to remember that credit reports only stretch back six years.

Another important thing to look out for is any adverse information after your IVA started. Ideally you should have a clean bill of health as any issues would have been registered with the CRA prior to the start of your IVA, but if they’re showing and you’ve got issues listed after your IVA started you should address these straight away.

Remember that not all accounts listed on the credit report will be CCA-regulated companies (or “money lenders” to you and me). For example your payments to your mobile phone (if you’re on a contract) and electricity companies will also appear in your credit report.

Your IVA will show on your credit file for six years from the day it started. So if your IVA was five years long it will only be listed on your credit file for a further 12 months. The idea behind asking creditors to correct the dates on default notices is to make sure that these too will be gone within 12 months.

A clean bill of health

Once your IVA and defaults have passed the six-year mark you will find that they are no longer listed on your report. This doesn’t automatically mean that you will be left with a clean rating and be able to get credit again instantly.

Ratings-wise you’re essentially starting from scratch and will have to take time to build a credit file that is attractive to lenders. Often, the only way to do this is to take a form of credit such as a credit card, use it regularly, never miss any payment and stay within the agreed limits, as Martin Lewis explains in this article.

Upward spiral

Living for five or six years without any form of credit (except possibly a mortgage) is a real achievement in this day and age. On finishing an IVA some of you may feel that you would never want to take out credit again and that you’ve learned a valuable hard won lesson.

It’s still wise to make sure that you repair your credit file to the best of your ability. You never know what’s round the corner and credit can sometimes be useful in an emergency situation. When you take out credit it’s important that you borrow within your budget and that you have the means to repay in full.

To reclaim or not to reclaim?

Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) has been in the news a lot recently and many people are taking the time to check and see if they had been mis-sold any policies in the past.

PPI was sold on the proviso that it would cover borrowers’ loan repayments if they fell ill or lost their jobs. In many cases this has been found out to be false and mis-leading and some customers were sold policies without their knowledge.

Many of our IVA clients believe that they can’t reclaim any mis-sold policies because they’re in a legally binding arrangement with their creditors. The fact is that if you have been genuinely mis-sold a policy then you do have the right to reclaim from creditors.

Because you’re subject to an IVA, reclaiming is slightly more complicated and you won’t get to keep all of the money from any successful claim.

How does it work?

You might be aware of TV and radio advertisements by companies offering to reclaim on your behalf. You might have even received a spam text message or phone call from a company offering their help. It’s important to remember that such companies charge a fee for this service.

The most important thing to remember is that you don’t need to use a claims management company to reclaim PPI. From our experience using a claims management company could cause a big headache if you’re already in a debt solution.

The best way to claim mis-sold PPI is to use this easy-to-follow PPI guide  from Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert.com fame. The step-by-step instructions are simple to follow and more importantly, they are proven to work.

What do CCCSVA do with PPI reclaims?

The option to reclaim is yours, should your claim prove successful you need to keep us informed of what your creditors intend to do.

Each creditor treats PPI claims differently. Some creditors may reduce the money owed to them by offsetting the PPI amount; this way your debt to that particular creditor will be reduced.  If a creditor tells you that they have done this, let us know because we may be able to challenge this under the terms of your IVA proposal

Other creditors may refund the PPI money to you directly by issuing a cheque. Under the terms and conditions of the IVA you need to inform CCCSVA immediately if you have received this money.

Why would you need to do this?

There’s a windfall clause in the terms and conditions of all IVA agreements and under this clause you would be required to submit the funds into the IVA for the benefit of creditors.

If you’re not sure if you ever had PPI then it’s worth following the instructions to find out. Some people who did take PPI were not aware at the time that they had signed up for the product. This is one of the reasons why banks are repaying the money to some customers.

Do remember that if you do reclaim you must make your IVA company aware of any funds received. To not do so would breach the terms and conditions of your arrangement. Good luck with your claim!

Stick to your budget

If you’ve resolved to take back control of your finances, the first step you need to take is to put together an accurate income and expenditure budget.

Around a quarter of the UK population have never put a budget together, and this often means they miss things off a budget that should always be included.

Lots of people tell you to budget but there aren’t that many detailed guides as to what your budget should include.

It may seem obvious that priority bills need to be included, along with things like your mortgage, rent and secured loans, utility bills and council tax; and of course essentials like food. But what other things can be and should be included on a budget?

Here are ten expenses that should be included in personal financial budget if you have or need them. For more details on working out a budget, read our budgeting article.

1. Private pensions

Not all creditors will be happy with this but if you don’t have a work pension and are at an age when you should be making some provision for retirement a private pension contribution could find a place on your budget. The amount paid into the pension should be reasonable.

2. Church/charity contributions

Again the amounts must be realistic but if you have a cause which is close to your heart and you do make a regular contribution to a church or charity this can be included in your budget. If your creditors are not happy with this they can request that you stop paying it.

3. School trips and school activity

If you have children you will have accounted for the necessary expenditure in your budget, but what about things that don’t come up every month, such as school trips? School trips are often a vital part of a child’s education and with the average debt management plan taking around five years you should account for the cost of at least a couple of these trips a year.

4. Children’s pocket money

You’ve covered children’s food, clothes and school dinners, as well as travel and school uniforms. Children need a little spending money also. As long as the amounts are manageable your creditors should have no issue seeing ‘kids spending money’ on your budget.

5. Sports, hobbies and entertainment

If you follow a local team, or enjoy swimming or the occasional trip to the cinema this should be included in your budget. We’re not saying you’ll be able to buy a season ticket to Arsenal but you can have some rest and relaxation, within agreeable limits.

6. Dentists/opticians

As someone who wears glasses and needs regular eye tests I know that if I don’t replace my specs regularly I can get headaches. Dental costs are also vital for general health. People usually see these costs as ‘out of the blue’ but in a good budget they should be accounted for and the cost spread over the year.

7. Medicines and prescriptions

If you’re on regular medication this should be accounted for in your budget. If you require medication all year round you might also want to consider a pre-payment certificate to save you money. This would all need to be included in your expenditure.

8. Laundry and dry cleaning

Need suits for work? Or wear a uniform that can only be dry cleaned? This can be expensive over the course of 12 months. Your budget would need to reflect this or you’ll find yourself taking the money from other areas.

9. Hairdressing

If you’re a man you might just go for a grade two every month but if you’re a woman a haircut can be essential. Some people even need regular haircuts as part of their job (especially if they’re facing the general public). The accurate cost needs to be represented in your budget. Avoid Vidal Sassoon hair salon prices though.

10. Tobacco

It’s a bad habit but your creditors are realistic enough to know that you just can’t stop. If you smoke your creditors will usually allow a small amount of money in your budget for tobacco. Usually this would cover cost of smoking rolling tobacco only, so you might be expected to cut back that way. We always encourage clients to reduce the amount they smoke as this is better for your health in the long run.

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If you’ve never put a budget together read our article A Beginner’s Guide to Budgeting. If you’re struggling with problem debt you should try our online debt help service CCCS Debt Remedy. It’ll help you to put together a realistic budget and will offer the best debt solution available to you.

News that concerns this lady & what she stands for

You wouldn’t think it by looking at the weather but it’s May already and time to share April’s debt news.

This month we cover mortgage rate changes, welfare benefit awareness, council tax enforcement and even Coronation Street and Eastenders!

Mortgage rises

You could be one of the one million UK homeowners that will see mortgage costs jump as standard variable rates (SVRs) rise from the beginning of May. Experts have predicted that this could be up to a 25% rise in mortgage costs.

In the last few years people on SVRs have had relatively low repayments so this could come as quite a shock to many households. Unfortunately there’s no way of avoiding the mortgage costs as it’s a priority and must be maintained in order to keep the house.

If you’re worried how this might affect you it’s best to contact your lender in the first instance to find out. If you’re told that your rate will change, get in touch with us so that we can help you to plan ahead and budget for it.

The only way is up

The Big Six energy companies have been accused of trying to get out of their commitments to help vulnerable households struggling with their bills. As the deadline looms they are asking for extensions to help those that are struggling.

Along with the news that we’re at risk of gas and electricity shortages, it’s not a good sign for utility prices as Ofgem predicts that it will push up the prices. Read our tips to avoid fuel poverty if you’re worried about how this could affect you.

Unfortunately as you’re probably aware, petrol prices are too still on the rise. As we say, knowledge is power so equip yourself with the facts and learn how to cut your fuel spend by a third.

Petition for fairer council tax enforcement

A new Facebook page highlighting “aggressive” enforcement techniques of local authorities has been set up by the Govan Law Centre to investigate the scale of the problem.

They want to get as many testimonials as possible from people who’ve had enforcement action taken against them by the council without adhering to the proper timescales or trying to resolve the situation beforehand. Contact them if you have been affected.

Corrie and EastEnders

If you’re a soap fan, you might have caught the recent debt storylines in both Coronation Street and EastEnders. We know that the image that’s portrayed on television is usually far from the truth, which is why we wrote a blogpost on Lovemoney.com explaining why Coronation Street doesn’t help those in debt.

If you’re like me your heart strings will have been pulled at when poor Bianca did her best to try and get financial help from her neighbours. Hopefully you’ll take our advice and avoid the payday loan headache altogether.

Benefits Awareness Month

With the start of the new tax year came benefit changes that could affect your income. To highlight these changes we supported Benefits Awareness Month which is championed by the charity Turn 2 us. Please get in touch with us if your income has changed and it affects your situation.

And finally…

Two stories about us – if you want to know more about debt and the confusing terms used in the industry then every weekday morning we’re tweeting #clearaboutdebt. So if you want to know your IVAs from your DROs, read our clear about debt blogpost, updated daily.

And finally. our Helpline is now free to call from mobiles and we’re now open on Saturdays from 9am – 3pm, all due to the demand that we’re experiencing. Don’t forget that our online counselling tool Debt Remedy is available 24 hours a day – you’re only a few clicks away from a debt solution.

An unexpected surprise

We’ve all done it – stuck our hand down the back of the sofa to find a slightly fluffy coin or two! It might only be 20p, but when you’re living on a budget every little helps.

There are other ways to land extra cash, ones that don’t involve searching down the back of furniture for coins.

Here are our top six…

Forgotten bank accounts

Remember when you opened that bank account as a kid? You diligently paid in your paper round or babysitting money for a few months and then promptly forgot about it. We’re not saying it’ll be worth millions today, but it is your money and it would be nice if you could track it down.

My Lost Account is a service brought to you by 43 banks and 47 building societies; it also helps search for lost, misplaced or forgotten National Savings and Investment bonds. It’s estimated that £850 million is lying unclaimed in lost and dormant accounts.

The service is completely free and can take up to three months to complete. You will be expected to provide some documentation as proof of your claim.

Reclaim PPI

You can help reduce your debt by reclaiming mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI). If you think you were sold mis-sold PPI by a bank in the past it’s definitely worth reading why claiming PPI could be a scandal for those in debt.

It’s important to avoid the pitfalls and it’s easy and straightforward to reclaim mis-sold PPI yourself.

Don’t believe it’s easy to reclaim? Listen to this one minute advert from Martin Lewis (MoneySavingExpert.com) and Richard Lloyd (Which?).

Tell them what you think

Finding extra income isn’t all about taking money back from the bank; it can often involve a bit more leg work. A lot of people make a little extra cash by signing up to survey sites. We all love to give an opinion, and this way you get paid for it too!

Sell sell sell

Another way to find extra cash is to utilise what you already have. Have you got any unwanted items that you can sell on eBay or Gumtree. Even better why not copy our American cousins and organise a garage sale? It’s a good way to clear out clutter and you also get to know your neighbours a little better in the process.

It’s also worthwhile keeping on the lookout for local car boot sales. These are great fun in the summer and you might even pick up a few bargains for yourself.

Park your cash

Consider renting out your drive, garage or car parking space with Park on My Drive, Parklet or Your Parking Space you don’t necessarily have to live near a major attraction or a city centre to make this profitable. Visit the sites and give it a try; there could be extra cash quickly parked into your bank account.

Grab a grant

One other thing that is often forgotten about is the availability of grants for particular sets of circumstances. It’s always worth browsing the grant list to see if your circumstances qualify you for any extra cash.

We hope this gets your mind racing and helps put some extra money in your budget. Lastly, don’t forget about us; we’re here to give help, advice and support while you’re on your DMP.

If you’ve got any questions email us or give us a call. If we can’t help we should be able to point you in the right direction.