Written by PayPlan
The January blues have subsided and the sun is coming out. The temptation to loosen the belt and relax your spending habits is undeniable. Here at PayPlan we’ve put together a list of financial top tips for creating and staying on a budget this spring. We’ve also included solutions for…
Written by PayPlan
With food bank use still rife across the UK and a considerable amount of in-work families still needing to use food banks, the controversy over Universal Credit rages on. In order to make sense of how well Universal Credit is (or isn’t) working, we decided to go to PayPlan clients…
Written by PayPlan
Christmas is a time when spending can easily get out of control. Even if you haven’t been extravagant, it takes a lot of planning and budgeting to avoid the January Christmas debt hangover. In January 2018, around 7.9 million people said they were likely to fall behind with their finances that…
Written by PayPlan
When you consider that people in the UK gambled £13.9bn between October 2016 and September 2017* (the most recent period for which figures are available) then it comes as no surprise that problem gambling is on the rise. These alarming figures highlight the need to understand what ‘safe gambling’ is…
Written by PayPlan
Almost 30% of people in financial difficulty admit they wait three to four years before reaching out for debt advice.
Written by PayPlan
An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) is a legally binding agreement between an individual and their creditors. It allows you to pay back one monthly affordable repayment and the creditors often agree to write off a certain percentage of your debts. Your credit score is a number that indicates to lenders…
Written by PayPlan
Want some motivation this fine Monday morning? Nothing inspires us more than the story of a PayPlan client who successfully became debt free. Alongside our many success stories, these helpful tips and tricks from our previous client, Andy, could help you become debt free. Andy’s Story Andy and his partner Jo…
Written by PayPlan
Mental Health Awareness Week is taking part throughout the UK from 14-20 May. We all understand that it is important to look after your mental health, but how do we do this? There are many physical warning signs that you may be struggling with your mental health. You may experience…
Written by Skint Dad
As a family, we first started talking about debt in 2013 when things got to the lowest point. We were skint – proper skint. It wasn’t about being able to afford a few pints at the pub, we didn’t have enough money to even get a food shop. Our debt…
Written by PayPlan
April 2018 is Stress Awareness Month, and here at PayPlan we understand how stressful managing your finances can be, particularly if you find yourself struggling to make up payments. It is important to understand stress, the causes and the triggers in your personal and professional life. Emma’s top tip for…
Written by PayPlan
April is Stress Awareness Month across the UK. Dealing with debt issues can be closely linked to stress, and we’re aiming to break the stigma and silence around debt by encouraging people to reach out for help sooner. Stress can manifest itself in both physical and emotional symptoms. Common side…
Written by PayPlan
If you’re one of the estimated 10.4million* people in the UK that are living on the breadline before payday each month, you’ll know that this can be a more stressful time than any other. You’ll be counting the pennies to prioritise the absolute essentials, whilst having to sacrifice items that…
Written by PayPlan
Large-scale redundancies, like the ones we saw when Carillion collapsed, are never far from the headlines, though there are plenty more we don’t hear about. Whether you’ve lost a job in the past, or it’s the first time, it’s only natural to worry about how you’ll pay the bills. Redundancy…
Written by PayPlan
Chris (36) had over £80,000 worth of debt when he reached out to PayPlan for help over 6 years ago. His debt problems started when his commission based job changed. Chris was a wealthy man with a large income of over £100,000 per year, but unexpectedly his key clients left…
Written by Skint Dad
Loss of a job? Change in circumstances? Or just the sheer volume of debt that becomes unmanageable? Whatever the reason you got into debt, it’s not just you it has an impact on. While, as a grown up, you’re the one who needs to have difficult conversations with creditors, make…
Written by PayPlan
For many of us, our list of outgoings usually feature some sort of debt repayment. It could be the mortgage on our home, a credit card bill or a personal loan. But while we understand debt is an everyday part of life and many of us make repayments without worry,…
Written by PayPlan
You’ll have probably seen plenty of newspaper reports about mental health in recent months, including some coverage about our work here at PayPlan to encourage more vulnerable clients to reach out for help in the run-up to World Mental Health Day on 10th October. Slowly-but-surely, the stigma is being removed,…
Written by Skint Dad
It appears men are not really the ones who deal with finances at home. After a general survey of the Skint Dad Community Group, the consensus was that men either don’t have the time, cannot be bothered to deal with money or trust it all to their other halves to…
Written by PayPlan
Approaching the subject of debt is hard at the best of times, but when you need to discuss any big money problems with your partner, we understand that this can be particularly scary – especially if your relationship is just entering a more serious stage.But many people are currently suffering…
Written by Skint Dad
Ricky Willis, author of the award-winning Skint Dad blog, tells us why having access to free debt help and advice is important. I never used to ask anyone for help. I didn't think I needed to. I earned a decent wage, was proud and wanted to spend my money...
