Here are some links to help you make the most of your money and tackle debt. Most
of these links also appear on relevant pages throughout the site.
Please note: most links on the ask:ted website are to
external sites, and will open a new window in your browser.
Go to...
Forums
Dealing with debt
Getting a bank account
Preventing identity theft
Avoiding loan sharks and doorstep lenders
Benefits
Borrowing
Budgeting - manage on a low income
Saving money on shopping and bills
General advice on managing your money
Wakefield and District Housing and partners
Forums
Debtforum.org.uk
Join others and share experiences concerning all aspects of money management and debt.
Dealing with debt
Clear Start Consumer Debt Service
Free help and advice on debt management.
National Debtline
Personal budget section and Debt management plan.
Citizens’
Advice Bureau
Includes debt test, factsheets and FAQs.
Yorkshire
Water Community Trust(PDF, 204k) helps those in serious debt who can’t pay
their water service charges.
British Gas Energy
Trust
Helps people in need to meet energy charges arrears and other household bills.
Credit Action
Read all the latest UK debt statistics.
Consumer Credit Councelling Service
In Wakefield...
Wakefield Citizens'
Advice Bureau
Contact the Debt Unit to speak to someone locally about debt.
TOP
Getting a bank account
Guide to Basic Bank Accounts (PDF, 375k)
FSA guide tells you how to apply and what types of accounts are available.
Royal Bank of Scotland
Our partner Royal Bank of Scotland has a useful page about basic bank accounts in
its ‘
Managing your money’ guide.
In Wakefield...
White Rose Credit Union
Contact the WRCU for details about WRCU current accounts in Wakefield.
NatWest
Contact NatWest - owned by our partner Royal Bank of Scotland - for details about
their basic "Step" accounts.
TOP
Preventing identity theft
Top tips from WDH
Wakefield and District Housing’s tips to prevent anyone fraudulently using your
personal information to make money.
TOP
Avoiding loan sharks and doorstep lenders
DirectGov
The dangers of loan sharks and how to report suspected illegal lenders.
TOP
Benefits
turn2us.org.uk
A new independent charity that helps people access the money available to them – through welfare benefits, grants and other help.
Adviceguide
Everything you need to know about benefits, on site run by the Citizens’ Advice
Bureau.
Department for Work
and Pensions
Find useful information on specific benefits using an A–Z list.
Age Concern
Talk to someone who specialises in advising on issues specific to older people.
Yorkshire Water Community Trust
helps those in serious debt who can’t pay their water service charges. Download
an
information
sheet(PDF, 204k).
British Gas Energy
Trust
helps people in need to meet energy charges arrears and other household bills.
In Wakefield...
Wakefield Council
Read about housing and council tax benefits in Wakefield.
Wakefield and District Housing
Housing benefit information for WDH tenants.
TOP
Borrowing
Now Let’s Talk Money
Read more about how to get an affordable loan.
Department
for Work and Pensions
See a list of organisations offering affordable personal loans.
Loan calculator
Use this calculator on the Moneyfacts website to find out if you can afford loan
repayments.
In Wakefield...
White Rose Credit Union
Find out how to get an affordable loan in the Wakefield district.
TOP
Budgeting - manage on a low income
FSA - Financial Capability Site
Parents guide to money
Now Let’s Talk Money
Guide to managing your money.
Department for Work and Pensions
Guide to managing on a low income
Budget calculator
Use this calculator on the FSA’s Money Made Clear website to work out your personal
budget
Budget planner (PDF, 72k)
Use this planner on the British Bankers’ Association website to keep a record of
your outgoings and work out what you have left over
Guide to creating a budget
Read this detailed guide on the DirectGov website
Face2Face
with Finance
Royal Bank of Scotland’s money management website with tools for budgeting
TOP
Saving money on shopping and bills
Moneysavingexpert
Website with tips on how to save money on shopping, bills, banking, transport, travel
and more.
Moneyexpert
Compare prices to pay less for energy, phone, insurance and more.
Energyhelpline
Compare process to pay less for energy.
uSwitch
Compare prices to pay less for energy, phone, insurance and more.
www.myvouchercodes.co.uk
Many shops offer vouchers; you can get them on the My Voucher Codes website.
www.vouchercodes.co.uk
More shopping vouchers available at the Voucher Codes website.
Quidco
Website offering discounts and direct cash back when you buy products.
Frugal
Website with tips on a wide range of ways to save money on food, cleaning products,
internet connections and more.
Consumer Direct
Clear, practical consumer advice about products, services and your rights.
Cheap family days out
The Day Out With The Kids site lists ideas for interesting low-cost activities,
by county.
Save Xmas – a quick guide to paying for Christmas (PDF, 200k)
The Office of Fair Trading offer a simple guide to the different savings and voucher
schemes available.
Paying for Christmas
Page on the Consumer Direct site that includes a simple guide to the different options.
TOP
General advice on managing your money
Money Advice Trust
The Money Advice Trust (MAT) is a charity formed in 1991 to increase the quality and availability of free, independent money advice in the UK.
Now Let’s Talk Money
Read more about how to get an affordable loan.
Money Made Clear
Find easy-to-understand information about getting to grips with your finances, savings
and pensions on this FSA website.
DirectGov
Easy-to-understand information about money, benefits, pensions, taxes and more.
Credit Action
Help from a national money education charity.
Money Basics
Simple, clear, independent information about managing your money well.
MINTameside
Advice about money and benefits.
Advice tailored specifically for older people...
Age Concern
Charity advising and supporting older people
TOP
Wakefield and District Housing and partners
Come and visit the WDH website
You don’t have to be a tenant. Read about how we are work alongside local residents
and organisations to build a better living environment for all.
WDH works with the following partners to bring you the best advice and guidance:
Wakefield District Citizens’
Advice Bureau
White Rose Credit Union
Royal Bank of Scotland
Credit Action
The Springs Advice Centre
Now Let’s Talk Money (DWP)