Winter wellbeing: looking after your finances

This week's blog, the final in our 'Winter wellbeing' series, focuses on financial wellbeing.

Over recent years, the cost of living in the UK has increased significantly. The winter period can be a challenging time financially for many, though there is support available. The Mental Health and Money Advice Service offers a range of information and guidance. 

If you’re finding it difficult to manage your finances or reduce debt, you might find it useful to: 

• Develop a budget planner for the year - Citizens Advice, Money Saving Expert and MoneyHelper have useful guides to help get started with budgeting.
• Check government/local council support you might be eligible for by visiting Citizens Advice website, Turn2Us website or your local council website.
• Reach out to the National Debtline on 0808 808 4000 who offer free impartial debt advice and support. You can also use the webchat function on their website.
• Contact Vetlife, who also offer financial support to veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and their dependents in the UK. 

Ways to save money on everyday bills 

Daily life is expensive, but there are a few things you can do to make sure you’re saving as much as you can on general outgoings. 

• Find out if you are eligible for tax relief on your professional subscriptions (for example RCVS registration fees). 
• If you live in England and have (or are likely to have) a number of prescriptions each year, it may be worth talking to a pharmacist about an NHS prescription pre-payment certificate, which may allow you to save money (typically these cost £32.05 for a three-month certificate and £114.50 for 12 months). Prescriptions in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are free. 
• Dependent on your individual circumstances there are also a range of government, employment and NHS support schemes that can support you with advice and benefits such as free prescriptions, and childcare costs. To find out more visit the Government website or Citizens Advice website. 
• If you travel by train, it may be worth looking at eligibility for a Railcard too, which can typically save you a third off rail fares. 
• Find out if there are any local warm spaces near you, where you can go and not have to pay for energy. See our previous ‘Be weather ready’ blog for more details on energy saving. 

Pensions and retirement 

As well as managing day to day finances, it's useful to plan and budget for retirement. 

• If you need support with your pension, MoneyHelper also offer free and impartial information.  
• You might also want to contact your own pension provider or see what support is available in your workplace. 
  For further information on the state pension, check out the Government website. 

Help with funding reasonable adjustments in education and the workplace 

• Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) is a fund that can be applied for to support university students who ordinarily reside in the UK, and to cover extra disability-related costs or expenses they have while studying (which exceed those provided as reasonable adjustments by their university or college). DSA is not means-tested and does not typically need to be paid back. To find out more visit the Save the Student website. 
• The Access to Work scheme can help you get or stay in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability. Access to Work is not means tested, does not need to be paid back and will not impact other benefits you might receive. To find out more visit the UK Government website.