Citizens Advice in Cambridgeshire warns more support needed to ease money pressures
It comes after a study found almost 5 million adults are feeling worried about their finances heading into 2024
Citizens Advice are telling us more people facing money concerns in Cambridgeshire may need further help to get by.
It comes as a study from the National Debtline charity found 4.7 million adults in the UK are starting 2024 worried about their finances.
Richard Curtis is a money advice specialist at Citizens Advice in Cambridge.
He tells us why people may feel anxious in the new year:
"They may have been paid early in December and coming towards the end of January not having enough to survive, so I certainly see food bank and fuel energy vouchers will be in need.
"There are certain local and national grants available for different people in different circumstances available to them that they don't realise they are entitled to."
Planning ahead
Richard told us looking at what's being earned and spent can help people think clearer about their finances.
"An income and expenses sheet with their bank statements, put that together so they can see a clear picture of what's coming in, what's going out and then we'd look to help maximise their income in different ways," he said.
"It's finding cheaper ways to do things, setting budgets for themselves, accessing grants they had no knowledge of just to try and get them through the difficult period."
Doing things differently
People are also being recommended to think about spending at Christmas almost 12 months before the big day, which Richard thinks could prevent issues.
"People try to pay for Christmas out of their December income on benefits or their wage, and leave themselves in a desperate situation for months to come, so think about it now," he added.
"We can't be with them 24 hours a day, but hopefully through some of the education and the things we can point out of different ways of doing things, it is a much better way in terms of the way to manage your finances."