Skip to content

Note: You are reading this because you have an old browser that doesn't support the web standards used to build this site. For a better web experience, please install a recent browser.

Managing Your Money

Help is available when you have money problems. We can advise you about your rent and help you to get all of the benefits you are entitled to. And we can direct you to other organisations that can help you with debts and legal problems.

Your most important job: your budget

Writing down your budget is the only way to understand your financial situation.

Make a list of your income, whether it comes from your job, your benefits or anywhere else. Then write down all of your expenditure, including council tax and any repayments you have to make. Also include some extra for savings to cover Christmas presents and emergencies.

If your income does not cover your expenditure, you must either:

  • Increase your income - make sure you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to (see below); or
  • Decrease your spending. Are you paying too much for certain things? Is there anything you do not really need?

More detailed help and useful links are given below.

Problems paying your rent?

The golden rule if you are having trouble with your rent is talk to us. We will help as much as we can or direct you to other organisations that are better able to advise you.

Your first call should be to your housing officer, who can be contacted through your local area office.

Our procedure for dealing with rent arrears is set out in our housing management policies. A shorter summary can be found in the " If you do not pay your rent" section.

Court proceedings can be stressful and we do not undertake them lightly. If we are taking you to court, we suggest that you get legal advice. Your local Citizens Advice Bureau should be able to help.


Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) is a registered charity offering free, confidential advice and support to anyone who is worried about debt. Their online debt counselling tool, CCCS Debt Remedy, can provide you with advice tailored to your individual circumstances. All advice and recommendations are backed by 15 years of experience and knowledge gained by CCCS counsellors. You don't have to give your name and the CCCS service is totally free. Click here to visit CCCS Debt Remedy.

Benefits: maximise your income

Our Regional Welfare Rights Officer is available to help Guinness Trust tenants maximise their benefit income. She can help you find your way through the benefits system and also to find out more about Council Tax and to get debt advice. Call her on 01707 391399.

To check if you are getting all the benefits, why not try the online Directgov benefits adviser It takes just a few minutes and can give you a general idea of your entitlements. If the calculator suggests that you are not getting everything you are owed, you can print out the results and take them to your benefit office

Other sources of benefit advice and information are listed in our Useful Links section.

Too many debts?

Many adverts on TV and in newspapers promise to make your debts just disappear. Most of these companies charge an ongoing management fee leaving you with less money to pay your creditors.

Free, impartial help is available from a number of sources.

Consumer Credit Counselling Service
0800 138 1111

National Debtline
0808 808 4000

Payplan
0800 716 239

Citizens Advice
Phone number in your local phone book or Yellow Pages.

Other sources of debt advice and information are listed in our Useful Links section.

Borrowing Money

Credit unions are an increasingly popular alternative to High Street banks. A credit union is a non-profit organization offering savings accounts and loans at low rates of interest.

Community Development Financial Institutions(CDFIs) are community based loan companies that typically offer loans at around 30% APR to people who have not been able to get credit elsewhere.

Doorstep lenders are much more expensive than either Credit Unions or CDFIs. They might offer you a cheap deal at the start but they will be more expensive in the long run. To compare the cost of cash loans, go to the Lenders Compared website.

No bank account?

Having a bank account is vital to managing your money. If you do not have a bank account, getting one is easier than ever. All banks now have basic accounts. They are available to people who have not had an account before or who have had financial problems in the past. To help you choose, the Financial Services Authority has published a comparison of different banks' accounts.