Money Makeover
Saturday 17 January 2009
We are all finding ourselves in uncertain economic times but there are some things you can do to take control of your money. Here are the Consumer Council’s tips to help you start the New Year with a money makeover.
Work out your budget-visit www.consumercouncil.org.uk and download our budget planner to work out what money’s coming in to the household, what’s going out and where you can make savings. There are also details of organisations that can help if you’re struggling to make ends meet.
Don’t bury your head in the sand - If you’re worried about money, don’t keep it to yourself. Contact Advice NI on 028 9064 5919, Citizens Advice 028 9023 1120 or the Consumer Credit Counselling Service, 0800 027 4990 for help.
Maximise your income -make sure you’re getting everything you’re entitled to. Visit your local advice centre for more information.
Sitting on a small fortune? - There’s about £12 million lying in forgotten bank and building society accounts here. To find out if any of it’s yours, call the Consumer Council on 0800 121 6022 or visit www.mylostaccount.org.uk.
Shop around –you could save money by shopping around for the best deals on current and savings accounts, mortgages, insurance, credit and store cards. If you’re not happy with any of your accounts or cover, switch today.
Make your voice heard –we could all have over £219 a year if we complained about faulty goods and shoddy service, so be confident and complain when things go wrong. Contact Consumerline on 0845 600 62 62 or www.consumerline.org for more information. You can also download our complaints leaflet at www.consumercouncil.org.uk.
Start the savings habit if you can – even putting a little bit of money aside can make a real difference. Remember, many of us are only a month away from financial difficulty if we lost our main source of income.
For more tips on making your money go further, contact the Consumer Council on 028 9067 2488 or visit www.consumercouncil.org.uk
