Spring has finally sprung and now could be the best time to get your financial house in order. Here are some simple ways you could spring clean your finances, helping you to manage your debts more effectively:

1. Make a change: Many of us keep loose change in a jar but why leave it there when you could be building interest on it? Although you may only think of it as a little bit of copper, you could be surprised at how quickly those 1 and 2ps add up.
   So empty your jar and deposit it into a high-interest savings or account or use that additional money to repay your debt quicker.
2. Switch Your Supplier: One of the simplest ways to save yourself money over the year is to switch your utility supplier. There are a number of websites which allow you to compare your utility suppliers, and you could save yourself thousands of pounds a year.
3. Get to know your finances: Nothing can be more confusing that having mounds of paper bills which are jumbled, but spring cleaning is the perfect time to get these in order and have a system.
   Online banking can make keeping on top of your finances simple, and you can transfer this information into a spreadsheet so you can see where you’re debts are and what areas you can cut back on your spending.
4. Get help: If you have been ignoring your finances for a while, the idea of spring-cleaning your finances can be quite daunting especially if you have spent the last 12 months throwing away credit card bills, bank statements etc without even peeking inside the envelope.
   If your finances are getting out of control One Advice can help. We can offer a full range of debt solutions so are confident that we can offer you the best professional debt advice so you can find a solution to suit your circumstances.

Council Tax debt has led to bailiffs visiting over 1.4 million homes over council tax debts in 2009, according to statistics obtained by the Conservatives.

There has been a 60% rise in the number of families being pursued for their council tax debt. And the sharp rise council tax bills is thought to be the reason why more and more people are failing to meet their council tax debt.  The council tax bill for an average home has gone from £688 in 1997 to almost double the figure at £1,414.

Along with the 1.4 million who have been paid a visit from bailiffs, over three million people received court summons from their local council over falling behind on their council tax.

Over the 2008-2009 financial year, 3,121,089 orders were issued in England and Wales alone; this is a rise of 700,000 in just three years. The Conservatives believe that above-inflation rises in council tax bill has led to millions of families struggling with their debts and in need of debt management help.

It is not just bailiffs that families need to worry about when falling behind on their council tax debt as many could face the risk of being declared bankrupt. 2009 saw over 1,500 people being made bankrupt due to their council tax debts.

The shadow secretary for communities and local government, Caroline Spelman, commented: “Three million households suffer the trauma of going to court due to council tax. One and a half million people now face a menacing town hall bailiff knocking at their door.”

Debt worries are the biggest cause of stress with almost half (40%) of all adults being worried about the security of their jobs and their financial futures.

It is not just debt stress which we are all experiencing, it seems that we are turning into a nation of worries as we stress over problems with friends and family members (25%), health concerns (24%) and stress at work (22%). Coupled with debt worries is our concern about being made redundant from our jobs and unemployment, with almost a quarter (21%) of adults worried about this.

Senior health analyst at Mintel, Alexandra Richmond, who conducted the research commented: “Even though the recession may be over, people have become more aware of the fragility of their jobs, or indeed the price of their home, which is why employment and finance top our list of worries.”

It seems as though many of us are not seeking help with this stress, as only 6% of those surveyed would turn to professional help. If debt worries tops your stress list, One Advice can help. We can help with your unsecured debts by making them more affordable to you on a monthly basis.

If you have debt under £12,000 you may find that a Debt Management Plan can help you with your debt stress. We can make your debt more affordable to you on a monthly basis by negotiating with your creditors so you can benefit from a low monthly payment. We will take away any of the debt worries and stress that you are feeling as we will deal with your unsecured creditors on your behalf, just forward any contact onto us.

Those with debts over £12,000 may want to look at the IVA route. This is a legally binding contract between you and your creditors which allows you to repay only the debt that you can afford over a 60 month period, and any unpaid debt will be written off on completion of the agreement. If you have bankruptcy worries and fear losing your home, an IVA could be your opportunity to become debt free AND keep your home.

Call One Advice now on 0800 048 1752 for more details.

Now is the time when our credit card bills will be hitting the mat with a hefty thud and now is the time to fully ensure that you keep to your New Years Resolutions and make 2010 be the best year ever for your personal finances. The good news is that 10 simple debt management tips could save you £1,000 this year, and just think what you could use that money for, anything from paying off your debt to treating yourself to a hot holiday abroad.

Which? have put together a list of 10 tips which are designed to aid you with your 2010money makeover:

1. Check your credit cards. The average APR of a credit card is now at almost 17%, but be on the look out for any 0% deals where you can transfer your balance and Which? believes could save as much as £500 a year on a £3,000 balance.
2. Switch your current accounts. Although switching your current accounts may not save you money in the short term, it could transform your banking experiences and make it more of a pleasure to deal with your finances.
3. Change your energy suppliers. Recent research from Which? Switch reveals that UK households  who have switched their energy supplier could save an average £263 a year. This is all extra money that you could be using to pay off your debt and we can help our clients to switch their suppliers and do a comparison check to ensure that you are getting a great deal.
4. Get a free water meter. It is worth looking into getting a free water meter as most homes in England and Wales are entitled to a free water meter. Getting the water meter installed could help you do your bit for the environment by saving water and also reduce your bills.
5. Open a new savings account. If you are saving money on a daily basis, or whenever you can afford to do so, it always makes sense to ensure that your money is working as hard as possible for you. Which? recommend that you check the interest rates on your current your savings accounts and advise that you switch is you are earning any less than 3% interest or if your cash Isa is less than 2.5%.
6. Find the cheapest petrol. One of the perils of being a car owner is ending up paying more than necessary for petrol. It is essential so make it as cheap as possible and use the Internet to search for the best petrol prices in your postcode.
7. Minimise your insurance premiums. Always make sure you are getting the best price for your insurances and be careful that your current car or home insurers don’t increase their costs when it is due for renewal.
8. Have a house swapping holiday. For a holiday with a difference consider a house swap. For example, a week’s trip to New York could save you around £900 compared to the price of a three star hotel.
9. Compare phone, TV and broadband prices. The same way as you would do with your utility suppliers, don’t pay over the odds for your home phone services  when there are options such as money-saving bundles  or making free phone calls from your home computer via the Internet.
10. Insulate your home. Consider insulating your loft with blanket rolls as these could provide you with significant savings on your heating bills.

Martyn Hocking, Editor at Which?, says: “If you make just one New Year’s resolution this year, make it that you’ll face your finances head on.” One Advice are also on hand to help you with your finances and if your debt repayments are becoming a struggle we can offer free debt advice and a range of financial solutions to help you to manage your money better.

We all like to splash our cash a little bit in the January sales, and being so giving to others at Christmas makes many of us feel as though we can treat ourselves a little bit. But many of us also have debt free New Years resolutions too which can conflict with our sales spending.

It turns out debt advice could be needed by many after our January sales spree with almost £5 billion will be spent this month in the sales, according to research by Bright Grey. And although a bit of thrifty sales shopping means that we avoid paying full retail prices, it is important to remember that bargains are only bargains if we actually use them. This research goes even further to say we consider almost £2 billion of our hard earned cash spent in the January sales was  a ‘waste of money’.

54% of shopping done in the January sales tends to be spontaneous, with only 21% researching prices and shopping online to be sure of the best deal. Men are the biggest spenders, spending over £50 more than women, but more women consider their sales purchase to be wasted. To fit with the other typical New Years Resolutions, like losing weight and keeping fit, 10% of women buy clothes a size too small in hope they’ll eventually slim into it.

There is obviously the danger of overspending, which can lead many January sales spenders needing to seek debt advice to get their finances in order for 2010.

Roger Edwards, from Bright Grey, said: “Christmas can be enough of a strain, without adding huge bills for impulse purchases in the sales… It seems a lot of us are getting carried away with impulsive spending, but by simply cutting back a little we could put the money that’s saved towards protecting our lifestyle and financial security.”

Debt worries can be all consuming, and may of those who are struggling with their debts and are in need of debt advice are taking their debt problems into the workplace.

According to recent research released by Axa, over 70% of us admit to feeling anxious about our finances and spend time thinking about the best way to deal with them, which includes times when we should be working. 5% of people say that they have also taken time off work because their debt problems have become to much to handle, which means that 1.4 million people have missed work due to debt worries.

Dudley Lusted, Head of Corporate Healthcare Development at AXA PPP healthcare, said: “Money worries have become more than a mild distraction amongst the UK workforce… Almost a third of employees already spend up to 15 minutes a day worrying about their finances so it makes sense to allow them to use that time to address these issues – with the boss’s blessing.”

The most pressing concern for most is repaying debt or bills but One Advice can help you with that. We can make your debt more affordable to you with one of our debt solutions, such as a debt management plan. Not only will this ensure that your debt repayments are affordable to you but will also include expenditure for your bills meaning these will be accounted for.

2009 was clearly a year of doom and gloom for the worlds economic situation, but the message of the credit crunch seems to be hitting home to the younger generations as more look at repaying their debts, according to research published by Friends Provident.

31% of 21-29 year olds are now prioritising paying off debt and becoming debt free, compared to a smaller number of those who choose to save for a house or fund a career break.

This new breed of financially responsible Brits are not just thinking about their short term need for debt advice and about being debt free in the short term, but many more are also looking towards their financial futures. Almost half (44%) of those polled are starting to save for their retirement through a company pension. And over a third claim that they want to start contributing to a pension by the time they turn 30.

James Ward, director of UK corporate at Friends Provident, said: “In the current economic environment it is very uplifting to see that the younger generations are taking financial matters into their own hands. It is encouraging to see a large percentage of twenty-something’s taking responsibility for their finances and planning for their future at such a young age and rightly so.”

2009 was a pretty dire year financially but it seems like it wasn’t only businesses and world leaders who were experiencing financial worries and were in dire need of debt advice, as on in 20 people described 2009 as their worst year ever!

Research by the Samaritans reveals that almost half of us were most worried about money or debt throughout the year. It wasn’t just money worries which concerned us the most, and other hot topics included problems in relationships with family and friends, worries about physical health, fears over job security and stress at work.

Only 18% of us said they thought that last year had been a good year – so here’s to 2010!

Samaritans chief executive Catherine Johnstone says: “In the last year, we received five million calls and many of them were about the worries identified in this survey, with approximately one in every ten calls linked to financial stress… Sharing your troubles can be a huge relief and is often the first step to finding a way of coping with the challenges that life throws at all of us.”

There has been a surge in the number of discount vouchers which are being used as Brits sweep the web in order to save a little bit more on big-ticket items, household goods and their weekly shopping bills. Vouchercodes.com has revealed that there are over 400 times as many people using discount vouchers on their shopping as there were five years ago.

According to their research, customers have accessed over 14 million voucher codes this year, compared to just 35,000 in 2004. Around half of the codes downloaded are then used, and this number is set to rise as we look at ways on how to avoid Christmas debt to ensure that we start 2010 as debt free as possible.

This rise in voucher code usage shows how the economic climate means we want to shop as smart as possible, ensuring that we get the best deals at the best prices. Many High-Street stores and restaurants have turned to money-off vouchers to attract extra custom during the credit crunch, which has help to fuel this boom in voucher usage.

And now, as Christmas decorations adorn shop windows and stores try as hard as possible to get us in the festive mood and spending, it can be hard to resist Christmas deals and promotions. Many gift sets and gadgets are on 3-for-2 which means you can save a little extra, but shopping online, looking for voucher codes and combining it with cash-back sites where possible is a sure way to take full advantage of Christmas discounts.

Danny Watson, from website Voucher Alerts, comments: “There has been a huge rise in the number of voucher codes being released by retailers in the run up to Christmas with more and more trying to entice customers to buy… and lots of retailers have run with similar ideas which when combined with the discount codes they are releasing can save you a huge amount off of your Christmas shopping bill.”

Christmas is a time of joy and a time of giving –but if you are not careful then the weeks and months afterwards could be spent worrying about your ideal debt solution and how you are going to make ends meet.

It can be very easy to get wrapped up in the Christmas spirit and many of us may find that we stretch ourselves further than we would like and rely on credit cards and store cards in order to fund the festive season. CreditExpert believe that almost one in five households relied on credit cards last Christmas, with many others having to take out personal loans or extend their overdrafts.

But you don’t have to take on extra Christmas debt and worry about 2010 being filled with you taking on debt advice in order to repay those Christmas gifts which have long been forgotten about  – there can be another way to afford Christmas!

1: Avoid Christmas Debt – Okay, this might sound like an obvious suggestion but keeping your debt levels in check is the only way that you can avoid the Christmas debt-hangover. However, it might take a little planning…

2: Learn how to save - Even if you can just save additional Christmas spending money from one or two months worth of wages it can really make a difference to your finances. For example,  if you need an extra £200 over Christmas, saving £50 from October and £50 from November means that you are already half way to having no Christmas debt.
The longer period you can do this over, the smaller amount you need to save each month meaning that you can avoid Christmas debt with ease.

3: Up your income – Now is the time to maximise your income and there are a number of ways that you can do this to avoid Christmas debt…

• Switch your supplier – The rising cost of living means that you could be paying over the odds with your utility bill suppliers. Consider freeing up some of your cash by switching providers. You could save yourself £100s by doing so and this can go towards avoiding Christmas debt.
• Sell unwanted items – Use this as an opportunity to clear your house of items that you don’t need. Gather together these items (and I’m sure they’ll be a few unwanted presents from last Christmas there!) and auction them online or take a trip to your local car boot sale.

What to do if you end up with Christmas debt….

It is inevitable that, no matter how hard we try, some of us will have unknowingly overspent over Christmas or in the January sales and are left wondering how they are going to repay this debt. If you are struggling with your finances there are a number of debt solutions which can make your debt easier to manage.

An IVA is suitable for those with debts over £12,000 who cannot afford to repay their debt. Your unaffordable debt could be written off in as little as 60 months and you can avoid declaring bankruptcy.

If you are struggling with lower levels of debt, there is still a debt solution to suit you. Our debt management plans are tailored to your individual circumstances so you can benefit from one lower monthly repayment.

For more free debt advice, call One Advice today on 0800 048 1752.

Halloween is notably a time when things tend to get a little scarier around the streets of Britain, but this year one thing could frighten you even more: your bank balance.

Popular holidays tend to stretch our finances a little further than we would like, Easter and Christmas being prime examples. But it now seems we are making more of an effort with our Halloween celebrations as research suggests that UK parents will spend £200 million on scary Halloween costumes and treats.

Debt advice could be high on the list of many too as this research by Egg reveals that 77% confess to spending more than they can afford to. This could lead to many needing debt advice as these extra outgoings mean falling behind on debt repayments or go over your overdraft.

The fact that Halloween falls around the school half-term means it is likely to stretch your wallet and debt management skills even further as you spend an additional £270 trying to entertain the children with additional treats, pocket money and days out.

Spokesperson  from Egg, Vanessa Wood, commented: “Halloween has become much more of a calendar event in the UK than it used to be and we can see this reflected in the cost to parents.”

This Thursday and Friday’s planned postal strike has led many to worry about their bills and personal finances, and are seeking debt advice in order to ensure that they can keep on top of their money and ensure that everything will be paid on time to escape fines from their creditors. Things which you should keep an eye on when it comes to your debt and the postal strike include:

Credit Card Debts: If you miss or make a late payment to your credit card debt it could show on your credit score, you could be hit with a fine or lose any special promotional interest rate deals which you have with your creditor. It is important that you ensure that your credit card debts are in check over this period, if necessary use online banking or call up your creditor to ensure that everything is being processed as it should.

The good news is that many of the main providers have said they will give a degree of leniency to those who make late payments on their credit card debts, but these cases will be dealt on an individual basis so it is always a good idea to be pro-active to ensure you don’t make any late payments.

Utility Bill Debts: If you’re billed by post, ensure that you keep an eye out for these statements or contact your utility bills supplier if these are late, as you could lose out on early payment discounts. Also utility bills are classed as a priority debt so always ensure that these debts are paid or you face losing the service.

Bank Statements: If you rely heavily on posted bank statements to ensure that your finances are in check, now could be a good idea to explore the world of online banking as you have instant access to this information.Many ATMs will also provide you with mini-statements.

Selling online: If you are an online seller then communicate to your customers as soon as possible about the planned strikes and explain why there is a possibility of late delivery. If possible, send the items so they can be tracked online. That way the buyer knows they have been sent and they can check their progress.

Debt Advice…. Would you have been struggling with your debts without the added stress of the postal strike? One Advice can offer you ethical debt advice about a range of debt solutions. There is not one debt solution to fit all, which is why we offer a full range of services to ensure that you are best informed about your debt solution options.

A greater number of men could need debt advice, as women are more likely to tackle the effects of the credit crunch by cutting back on spending. According to a Legal & General poll, the ongoing recession appears to have changed our spending habits.

Of the 4,000 people asked for their Changing Face of British Homes research, 56% of women are making savings and avoiding the need for debt advice by cutting back on their weekly shopping bills, compared with less than half (41%) of men.  Another area where women are looking to cut back more than their male counterparts is on high street spending. 60% of women are looking to cut back on their spending sprees, compared with 57% of men.

Garry Skelton from the company, commented: “The current economic climate is having an effect on most of us. While Brits are shopping around and cutting back, it’s important to ensure that any compromise does not mean losing something that is valuable.”

If you have cut back on spending but still feel as though your debt repayments are a struggle, One Advice are here to help. We can offer you debt advice and try to find you a debt solution to reduce your monthly repayment of your unsecured debt. Call now for further debt advice.