Tips, advice and tools to help you cope with the rising cost of living
The cost of living crisis will impact many workers across the film, TV and cinema industry. Although there is a wealth of advice available from various sources, sifting through the information can sometimes be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve compiled seven simple steps to help industry workers cope with the rising cost of living.
Seven practical and simple tips:
1. Prioritise your bills
We understand that it can be difficult to stay on top of things as bills increase. Use MoneyHelper’s bill prioritiser to help you pay your bills and payments in the correct order. If you’re having issues with debt, you can call our free, confidential 24-hour Support Line for a listening ear, advice and support. You can also contact Step Change for information and support on dealing with debt.
2. Tackle rising energy bills
An increase in wholesale gas prices has led to rising energy bills for households across the UK. Our friends at MoneyHelper have produced some information and advice on what to do if you’re worried about rising energy bills, including information on the energy cap for customers in England, Scotland and Wales. For practical tips and advice on how to lower you energy bills by making your home more energy efficient, visit the Energy Saving Trust.
Petrol is also another concern for industry workers, as many need a car to travel for work. Save money on fuel by using the PetrolPrices tool to find the cheapest fuel nearby. There is also lots of useful information online offering hints and tips for lowering your everyday car costs.
3. Everyday savings and vouchers
Make use of deals and voucher codes for savings on everyday items such as groceries. MoneySavingExpert compile the latest deals on a weekly basis, so you can save money on essentials from a range of categories. You can also use Honey, an extension you can easily add to your browser which searches for online discounts and coupons on your behalf.
4. Benefits and grants
The benefits system can be difficult to navigate if you’re a freelancer, but there are lots of free tools and resources you can use to find out what you may be entitled to. The Film and TV Charity can also provide one-off Stop Gap grants of up to £750 to meet urgent need via a quick and easy application process.
5. Manage your spending
Use our budget planner to manage your money and plan for the inevitable ups and downs that come with life as a freelancer, particularly during these challenging times. This can help you identify non-essential costs, and other areas that you could cut back on if needed.
6. Increase your income
There may be some opportunities for you to increase your income, by renting out your driveway or renting a room in your home through the government’s Rent a Room scheme.
You could also boost your earnings by upskilling. ScreenSkills offer bursaries to help you progress your career which could allow you to increase your earnings.
7. Contact us for additional support
If you work behind the scenes in film, TV or cinema, we’re here to help. We have a range of financial support services, tools and resources to help you manage your financial health and support you during a crisis. You can also call our 24/7 Support Line for friendly, confidential advice, round-the-clock on 0800 054 0000.
Our friends at Turn2Us have also produced a helpful breakdown of support to help with the cost of living crisis, including benefits, grants and other sources of support.
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