Money Management and Debt Advice

Let’s Talk Money

Opening up about finances can help you make better financial decisions, feel less anxious and more in control. If you are parent, it can even help your children form good money habits in the future.

“Talk Money Week” is a campaign to get conversations flowing about money matters - and boost your financial and mental wellbeing at the same time. There are guides to help you start conversations about money with your family and friends.

Managing Bills

If your bills are starting to pile up, it is best to organise them in a way that is understandable to you or talk to somebody who can help you organise them. If you leave your bills to become unmanageable, you could end up in debt.  Make sure you know when each bill needs to be paid and how much is due by writing it on a calendar or putting a reminder on your phone for each month.

If you cannot pay a bill, you should contact your supplier. They should help you create a payment plan that you can work around.

Advice on managing bills

Money Helper has a range of helpful guides and information, including how to manage money well and deal with money troubles. 

Money Helper is a free service provided by the Money and Pensions Service. It brings together the support and services of three government-backed financial guidance providers: Money Advice Service, The Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise. It is committed to ensuring that people throughout the UK have guidance and access to the information they need to make effective financial decisions over their lifetime. 

Free impartial money advice is available

• on line or by using a web chat Where to get free debt advice
• over the phone on 0800 138 7777, or
• Via WhatsApp on +44 77 0134 2744

Moneywise is a website owned by St Leger Homes of Doncaster that is full of helpful hints to help manage your life and money on a limited budget or to find local groups in your area regarding bills. 

For landlord & tenant advice, including on rent arrears visit The Doncaster Council private renting webpage. 

Shelter provide a range of advice on housing issues including support for renters.

Managing Debt

If you are worried about debt or struggling to manage your finances, it can be difficult to know where to turn for help. There are various independent agencies and charities offering free, independent and confidential advice who may be able to help.

If you are in debt, you do not need to struggle alone. You may be tempted into taking out a loan to pay it off, however, this can sink you into further debt.

There are places where you can talk to an experienced debt advisor for free. They will give you the best options on how to deal with your debt, organise priority and non-priority debts and advise you on how to manage your money so most of it goes towards paying off your debts and you still have enough to live off.

Household Support Fund

The Government has provided funding for Doncaster Council to support households who would otherwise struggle to buy food or pay essential utility bills or meet other essential living costs. The funding is to help residents who meet the eligibility criteria between 06/10/21 and 31/03/22. For more information visit Doncaster Council's Apply for a Household Support Fund page.

Council Tax

If you are having difficulty paying your Council Tax, Our staff will be sympathetic of your situation and will work with you to try and put arrangements in place that take your financial circumstances into account.

The best way to get help and advice about what to do, is by contacting the Council Tax team by phone on 01302 734454, or by emailing localtaxation@doncaster.gov.uk. You can also visit our having difficulty paying page for more information.

Affordable Credit

We all need to borrow money sometimes but not all of us can do this easily, especially if we’ve had debt problems in the past. Sometimes, it can feel like the only option is to borrow from a ‘doorstep’ lender or get a payday loan. This can be a very expensive way of borrowing money – you may have to repay much more money than you originally received.

Credit unions are community banks – members pool their savings to provide each other with credit at a low interest rate. Loans usually work out cheaper than home credit (sometimes known as doorstep loans) or payday loans.

Find Your Credit Union

Doncaster’s local Credit Union is Community First Credit Union. It used to be called Danum CU before expanding into North Yorkshire. It provides accounts, loans and on line banking services. For more information see www.communityfirstcu.co.uk or telephone: 03 03 03 000 10

What is a loan shark?

If you can answer yes to one or more of these questions you might be borrowing from a loan shark:

• Did they offer you a cash loan?
• Did they not give you paperwork?
• Did they add huge amounts of interest or APR to your loan?
• Have they threatened you?
• Are you scared of people finding out?
• Have they taken your bank card, benefit card, passport, watch or other valuables from you?

A money lender has to be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to lend money legally. Money lenders who aren’t authorised by the FCA are known as loan sharks. The England Illegal Money Lending Team provides more information www.Stoploansharks.co.uk or telephone 0300 555 2222 to report a loan shark. See this animation Credit Union Animation - YouTube which raises awareness of loan sharks and promotes credit unions as a safer alternative.

Support for Renters

Renters going through the court process for eviction can access the Rental Mediation Service, a new pilot introduced as part of the current court process for housing possession cases. Mediation is free for all landlords and tenants and helps resolve cases without the need for a face-to-face court hearing. You can find further guidance on the Government Website.

Childcare Costs

For a wealth of advice on how you may be able to get help with your childcare, visit the Families Information Service.