Covid two years on: What you can do if you’re struggling for money 

The economic effects of the pandemic, and the rising cost of everyday essentials, continue to make money tight for millions of people. But there are ways to tackle your financial worries and claw your way back into control.

Follow these steps to get back on a firmer financial footing. 

Cut costs 

Start by working out where your money disappears. 
 
Trawl through your bank and card statements, or log into online banking, to identify all your direct debits, subscriptions and regular payments. 
 
Think “ditch or switch” – cancel where possible, and if you can’t, look for a better deal. 
 
You could save loads by switching suppliers for household bills such as gas, electricity, landline, mortgage, mobile, broadband and insurance, without affecting your lifestyle in the least. Compare the Market can help with this. 

Ditch services and any subscriptions that you no longer want or need, such as the gym you don’t use or the magazine you don’t read. 
 
Then consider tougher decisions, such as paring down TV services, pausing savings and stopping charitable donations. 
 
If it feels hard, remember it needn’t be forever, just until you’ve got your head above water. 
 
Elsewhere, food is one of the biggest bills for many families. Slash bills by planning meals, shopping at a lower cost supermarket, switching to own-brand and value ranges, and ditching takeaways. 

Next, start a spending diary and strip out non-essential spending where possible. Question every purchase: 

• Do you really need it now? 
• What could you use instead? 
• Any way you could get it for free or for less, for example by borrowing or via a website like Freecycle? 

Deal with debt 

Expensive debts can really drag your income down. The Office for National Statistics found that by December 2020, nearly 9 million people had to borrow more money than usual because of coronavirus. 

If you’re drowning in debt, aim to tackle it step by step starting with the most expensive interest rates. 

Switching debt to an interest-free credit card, if your credit score is strong enough, could buy the breathing space to clear the balance, without extra interest mounting up. Use a credit card eligibility checker to find out what credit cards you’re eligible for without harming your credit score. 

If you still have any savings, earning next to nothing in interest, consider using them to pay down debt. 
 
That may feel painful but remember every debt you clear frees up cash to repay the rest, before you can start rebuilding your savings. 

Take advantage of tax breaks and benefits 

Claim any money you can.

For example, if your boss has required you to work from home during the pandemic, even for just one day, you can claim £1.20 a week in tax relief for the whole 2020/21 tax year. 

If you’re married or in a civil partnership, check out the Marriage Allowance. If one of you is a basic-rate taxpayer, and the other doesn’t earn enough to pay income tax, it’s worth up to £252 for the current tax year. You can even backdate claims up to 5 April 2017, and potentially claim up to £1,220 

Make sure you also claim any benefits and grants to which you’re entitled, including Universal Credit if your income has tanked. 

Start saving 

It may be hard to imagine being able to set aside any spare cash, if there’s already too much month for your money. 
 
But Covid-19 has certainly proved the need for rainy day savings to cope with storms ahead. Experts advise keeping three to six months’ worth of expenses in an emergency fund. If that seems unachievable, remember even £1,000 or £100 can help when times are tight. Consider using an automatic savings app to help squirrel away small sums each week. 

Any tax information is our understanding of current UK taxation law which might change, the amount of tax relief you receive will depend on your personal circumstances. 

Don’t forget that while you may think that this article is brilliant, it is intended for information purposes only and should not be mistaken for financial advice or recommendations.