A jar of coins with a plant shoot coming from the top

Spring clean your finances

As spring brings new energy and optimism, it's the perfect time to refresh and declutter not only your home but also your finances. It’s the ideal season to take a fresh look at your financial situation and ensure your money is working as efficiently as possible for you.

 

Here at North Devon Homes, we can help you with your financial concerns. Our Money Matters team provides a range of services to support you, including advice on budgeting, getting help with debts, benefit checks, and can even help with emergency food vouchers. As a community landlord, we care about more than just providing housing, we are committed to supporting your wellbeing. 

 

Here are some tips to help you spring clean your finances:  

 

 

  • Did you know it only takes about 15 minutes to check you’re getting all the benefits you should be? Just visit www.entitledto.co.uk 

  • Write down all your income and outgoings as the building blocks of a household budget

  • Take a close look at your bank statements and ensure you recognise all the regular outgoings. If you find any subscriptions or insurance you no longer use or can’t identify, it might be time to cancel them and cut out any unnecessary costs.

  • Think about where you can make some savings. This could be cheaper tariffs for gas, electricity and water. There are social tariffs available on phone and broadband for people receiving benefits. These aren’t advertised on the comparison sites, so chat to your supplier. It could make a big difference to your budget
  • It’s amazing the discounts you can get on your regular bills just by politely asking – one of the easiest firms to do this with is Sky. If you are out of contract, call the Sky retentions team and ask for a discount before you renew.

For further financial support to our customers, we partner with Westcountry Savings and Loans (WS&L). This credit union offers access to ethical and affordable financial services.

 

WS&L is community-owned credit union, which means it’s run by its members, for its members. They have a say in how it's managed. One of the most valuable benefits they offer is low-interest loans, which can be a lifeline for those who might struggle to access credit elsewhere. They are committed to lending responsibly, ensuring you can only borrow what you can afford to repay.

 

Spring is also a great time to think ahead and start saving for the future, whether that’s for a family holiday, a special birthday, or even Christmas! WS&L offers flexible savings schemes, including Instant Access account, Christmas Savings and Junior Savings. The schemes all offer a series of different benefits where you can contribute regularly or when you can, making it flexible to suit you.

 

While you’re in the spring-cleaning mood, why not sell some of your pre-loved items? Whether it's clothes, electronics, or toys, selling things you no longer need can help you build your savings. Use the extra money to fund your savings goals or take a small step toward paying off debt.

 

If you ever need help with your finances or are considering a loan, please don’t turn to high-interest lenders or loan sharks. You could end up in a more difficult situation. Instead, reach out to our team for support. Call us on 01271 312500 or email [email protected] 

You can contact Westcountry Savings and Loans directly by calling 0800 304 7041 or visit www.westcountry.org.uk