December | Tips to cut spending this Christmas, BudgetSmart and more!

Welcome to our monthly Debt Digest newsletter, keeping you up-to-date with the latest news and tips around dealing with debts.

Tips to help you save money this Christmas

Christmas is a time for joy, togetherness, and celebration.

However, it’s all too easy to get caught up in the festivities and find yourself overspending, leading to financial stress that can linger long after the decorations are put away.

Debt Diaries | Episode 3: Janet

One of our clients, Janet, had built up ￡30,000 worth of debt through multiple credit cards and a loan.

Now approaching the final stage of her DMP, Janet said she feels free and happy again.

This is her story...

Reducing the stigma around gambling-related debt

We’re supporting Stigma, a national public health campaign to reduce the stigma around gambling harms.

The nationwide initiative, by charity GambleAware , revealed that 75% of people who had experienced gambling problems felt they couldn’t open up to loved ones, with stigma being the most significant barrier preventing people from opening up.

Emma Gibbons , our Vulnerability Lead, said: “It’s important that we increase conversations within society around gambling harm and make sure that people have a better perception of those experiencing gamble-related debt.

“Through our relationship with GamCare , we’ve been able to develop appropriate pathways into debt advice and regularly carry out training to the wider financial services sector to help them ensure they’re up to date with the latest information and advice.”

If you’re worried about how gambling makes you or someone else feel, GambleAware can help.

The new BudgetSmart is LIVE!

Whether customers want to cut back on their outgoings or ensure they're getting the most out of their money, BudgetSmart has over 2,600 clever money-saving methods to help battle those monthly costs.

• 42% of customers who use BudgetSmart find additional income of around ￡50 per week.
• 45% of customers who use BudgetSmart go to save money as a result, averaging around ￡26-￡50 per month.

Thousands of customers access our market-leading resource completely free of charge.

We know that December can be one of the most difficult months of the year financially, so it's crucial to ensure your budget is accurate.

If you're struggling to afford your monthly payments and need to update your budget, you can get in touch with us to do so.