Five ways to get ahead of winter

Budget before the chill sets in

It pays to prepare early. In autumn, write down your essential payments like rent, mortgage, and energy bills, and look for non-essentials you could trim. Think about setting up a ‘winter fund’ where you put aside even a small weekly amount to cover surprises.

If your income often changes, try planning for the months you earn the least, so you are never caught short. Our free budgeting planner will help you get started.

Save energy, save money

Energy bills can quickly eat into your budget, especially with rises coming this year. But there are small changes you can make today that will make a big difference to your bills:

• Unplug appliances when you are not using them instead of leaving them on standby
• Bleed your radiators in autumn to release trapped air and make your heating more efficient
• Put draught excluders under doors to keep heat inside the house. You could even make your own with old jumpers or tea towels!
• Wash clothes at 30 degrees and try to run full loads
• Check your energy tariff is the best one for you right now and see if switching utility providers could save you money
• Lower your thermostat by 1 degree to save around 10% of your energy bill each year, but still keep your home warm enough

Plan your festive costs

You want the holidays to be a joyful time, without the added stress of going way over budget. You can avoid a December money crunch by:

• Making a shopping plan to spread buys over several weeks
• Buying gifts and decorations early, or taking advantage of the sales to use for next year
• Make a spending limit per person and stick to it
• Look out for second-hand gifts on buy and sell websites that might be new and unused
• Planning meals early, making use of freezer space, and looking for deals on cupboard items like tin foil, napkins and present wrapping supplies

Check for benefits and emergency help

Don’t miss out on support you may be entitled to. Use our benefits calculator to see what you could claim. Last year millions in extra monthly benefits were found for the people who had used our calculator.

Check if you can apply for government help with utility bills, such as:

• Fuel Direct
• Warm Home Discount
• Cold Weather Payment/Winter Heating Payment (Scotland)
• Hardship funds

Build your financial resilience

Financial resilience means being ready for life’s surprises and for the future. Think about:

• Building a small emergency fund, even if it is just £5–10 a week
• Looking at ways to boost your income, like extra seasonal work or selling unused items
• Reviewing and comparing your insurance for things like your home or car to avoid costly renewals
• Starting or topping up a pension or savings account

Read our money advice guides to make your money go further, find other ways to make money, and get urgent help.