Budgeting

We can help you to regain control of your finances with one to one sessions designed to provide you with the skills you need to be financially resilient.

How we can help:

• Free, confidential, and impartial advice
• Which bills should I pay first?
• Maximising income – ensuring you are receiving everything you are entitled to

A budgeting appointment usually lasts between 45 to 90 minutes. We ask you to bring the following to the appointment:

• Details of wages and salaries
• Benefit award letters i.e. how your benefit was worked out
• Council tax bills
• Gas, electric, water and other household bills
• All court papers
• Statements, letters, agreements of all money owed (i.e. credit cards, hire purchase agreements, store cards)

If you do not have any of the above, we can still help you.

Appointments are usually held by phone but a face to face meeting can be requested.

Passport to Housing sessions

We also offer a programme of sessions before you begin your tenancy to help you make your future tenancy last. The aims and objectives of Passport to Housing are:

• To provide residents with the essential tools, skills, and knowledge to maintain their tenancies
• Educate residents on their tenancy rights and responsibilities and to make sure they are ‘tenancy ready’ before they move into their own homes

   

Topics covered in the sessions include:

• Banking – choosing & opening an account, charges & fees, fraud and online banking
• Budgeting – reasons to budget, tracking spending, tips on budgeting and types of debt
• Credit Repair – what is a credit score, building & repairing a credit score and checking a credit score
• Energy Efficiency – types of meters, smart meters,  appliance running costs and tips to save money on fuel bills
• Furniture Options – Local Welfare Provision and local places to source furniture
• Pre – Tenancy – understanding a tenancy agreement, property viewing checklist, social v private landlords, repairs & maintenance, and bidding process
• Wages – starting work, Tax & NI, workplace pension, understanding a wage slip and P60’s/P45’s

   

Call Bolton’s Money Skills Service on 01204 33 1968 to book in with us. Alternatively you can complete our self referral form or email us using moneyskills@bolton.gov.uk

Self referral form