We aim to make our website as accessible as possible. However if you use a screen reader and require debt advice you may find it easier to phone us instead. Our phone number is 0 8 0 0 1 3 8 1 1 1 1. Freephone (including all mobiles).

Day 7: Taking control of your financial future

We have reached the last day of 7 Days, 7 Ways. You should be proud. You have achieved a lot since you signed up. We hope you are feeling a lot more positive about the future.

When you signed up, we talked about taking control over your situation. Getting debt advice is a great start.

What about everything else in your life? Things like your health, career and relationships. What can you do now for future you?

We have some ideas for you. Put the kettle on. There is some thirsty work up ahead! Come on, let's do it.

Today's tasks...

  1. Have a think about what you have done this week
  2. Finish off anything you need to do before you take your next steps
  3. Get the support you need. Get in touch with loved ones and let them know what you are going through
  4. Focus on the rest of your life - not just your money worries

Task 1: What did I learn and do this week?

  •  Day 1: You took the plunge. You faced the creditor letters that you may have been avoiding.
  •  Day 2: You learned that yo do not have to offer to pay more than you can afford. You can pay what is left after your priority debts and everyday bills are covered.
  •  Day 3: You learned how and why to budget. Now you know what your spending is - inside out and back to front.
  •  Day 4: We told you about free debt advice. We are here for you if you are ready to get advice.
  •  Day 5: We talked about how to boost the money have got coming in.
  •  Day 6: We looked at where you could save money on your living expenses. And some easy ways to build up a fund for emergencies.

Task 2: Finish off any tasks we have asked you to do

This depends on what your next steps are. We may have asked you to:

  • Share some paperwork with us
  • Fill out a form online to apply for a solution

We will have included this in your 'personal action plan'.

My budget is not right. What should I do?

You can always get in touch with us if you:

  • Have a question about your budget
  • Need to make changes
  • Add a debt or spending item

Don't worry about bothering us. We need to understand what you are dealing with. We can avoid stress down the line if we fix anything that is wrong now.

My action plan has not arrived yet. What should I do?

  • By post: It can take up to five working days to arrive in the post. We can send it to you again
  • By email: Make sure it has not landed in your 'spam' or 'junk' folder in error. We can send it to you again

I want to know more about the debt solution I chose. Where can I go?

Just head over to the Clients section of our website.

Task 3: Getting support while dealing with debt

It is not always easy to ask for support. You may fear that people will judge you or just will not get what you are dealing with and how it affects you.

You could try:

  • Friends and family members: Read our guide on talking to loved ones about your debt
  • Your GP: If your health is poor due to your money worries, tell them. They can help you manage stress and other conditions
  • Your HR team at work: They should give you advice privately. Or maybe they can point you towards other places to get help
  • Lots of people like you, who are going through what you are going through. Take a look at the MoneySavingExpert.com ‘Debt Free Wannabe’ forum

Task 4: Take control of other areas in your life

Remember our first email? We said we wanted you to thrive not just survive.

To survive means you:

  • Only thinking getting by day to day
  • Make just enough to cover your living costs
  • Let your stress affect your relationships
  • Put off investing in your future

To thrive means you:

  • Think of your long term goals and how you can achieve them
  • Use the hard lessons you have learned from being in debt to turn into a money expert
  • Have healthy relationships
  • Grab all the chances that come your way to improve your health, career and general happiness

I want to thrive! What should I do?

We have already looked at ways to boost your income and reduce your living costs. Here are some ways to thrive when it comes to:

Your future goals

Did you know you are more likely to keep to your New Year Resolutions if you write them down? Yes, that is right. Studies have proved this.

If you write your goals down, this becomes a written contract. Not a scary one - this is just between you and your notebook.

Try writing your goals once a week or month. This way you can check how you are doing. This will help make your goals stick in your mind.

Not sure what your goals are?

Well, think ahead to when you have money to spend again. What would you like to spend it on? Maybe you want a holiday. Sorry, need a holiday. Or you might be planning a wedding or wanting to start a family.

Whatever you would like to see in your future, that is your goals. And you can have more than one. It is your future.

Go on, grab a pencil and a piece of paper.

Your health, wellbeing and happiness

You can not put a price on good health. But it can be pricey to join a gym. And as for eating healthy food, you may be stuck for ideas. And do not forget your mental health.

We have some ideas for you. Read our guides to:

Your relationships

If you have had money worries for some time, it is likely there has been some friction with your loved ones. If you are a parent you may worry every time school breaks roll around that you won’t have money or ideas on how to keep your kids entertained. This can be a huge source of stress.

Find out how you can:

Now, it is over to you!

We hope that we have given you lots to think about since you began your 7 Days, 7 Ways journey.

You have achieved so much this week. Please remember it really takes courage to deal with your debt and money worries.

One last time: It is time to thrive, not just survive. Take back control of your financial future.

Debt happens. We deal with it.

We have helped millions of people since 1993.

Find out how.

"Absolutely amazing help"

"StepChange are so friendly and understanding, I would highly recommend or encourage anyone who needs advice or help with debt to contact them asap, they have been absolutely amazing for me. I was previously with another company and they took a lot of fees every month. These are completely free and all the money you pay goes straight towards your debts. I can’t say how thankful I am to have had them help me."

Natalie, Feefo Review