Manchester City Council

Maximise your income

Find out whether you are entitled to any extra benefits or tax credits - we can help you check.

Budgeting

Preparing a budget that lists all your income and spending helps you get a clear picture of where your money is going. If you don't have enough money coming in to pay for everything, a budget can help you to identify what you can and can't manage without.

Money-saving

• Transport - try walking and cycling more - it's healthy and free.
• Entertainment - try to plan for this and set a spending limit.
• Food - try to eat out less, for example by making your own lunch and taking it to work. Stick to a shopping list so you can avoid spending money on things you don't need.
• Insurance - check around for cheaper quotes when you renew any policies. Have a good look at the policies and remove any options you do not need.
• Utilities - shop around for the cheapest gas and electricity deals. Free advice on energy-efficiency and relevant grants is available from the Greater Manchester Energy-Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512012.

Affordable credit

If you do need to borrow money, make sure you can afford the repayments. The cost of the credit is measured by the APR, so look for agreements with a low APR. Credit unions can be a much cheaper option. To find details of your local credit unions, phone the Department of Work and Pensions' Now Let's Talk Money helpline on 0800 0121656.

For more tips and advice visit: www.manchester.gov.uk/helpinghands

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