Youth

Living on a tight budget

Furniture

If you are moving into your own home you will have to furnish it and do your own decorating. Furnishing a flat is not cheap and you may not be able to afford many new items at first.

• Try to buy new electrical goods, if possible (for safety reasons).
• Check out the charity shops and junk shops for second hand household items.
• Look in the local papers and shop notice boards for second hand items.
• Family and friends may be able to pass on items they no longer use.
• Contact the Throughcare Team, they may be able to put you in touch with someone.
• Avoid buying things from people selling round the doors or from mail order catalogues, they can be expensive and it is easy to run up debt.

Heating and Hot Water

• Ask for advice from the gas or electricity companies about the cheapest way to run your heating/hot water system.
• Don't heat rooms you are not using and don't leave the heating on when you are out.
• Use draught excluders round doors and windows.
• Showers use five times less water than baths
• Put on an extra jumper instead of turning up the heating.

Travel

• Walk if you can or use a bike
• Can you share transport with someone living near who drives to your work or college.
• Buy a season ticket if you have to travel a lot. Students can get reduced rates on train travel.

Food

• Don't buy all your food from the late night corner shops it's cheaper to buy from discount supermarkets.
• Buy supermarket's own brand goods.
• Most supermarkets offer savings cards use them to build up points.
• If you can share with someone its cheaper to buy food in bulk.
• Take-aways and ready cooked meals are more expensive than cooking your own.
• Eat healthily, but fresh food and vegetables.

Plan you weekly budget
Make a list of your income and expenses.
For example:

Income		Expenses
Skillseeker Wage	£55.00	Rent	£60.00
Housing Benefit	£50.00	Gas/Electricity	£7.00
		Food	£20.00
		Travel	£6.00
		Clothes	£5.00
Total:	£105.00	Total:	£98.00
		Left Over:	£7.00