Could you get a Christmas grant?

There can be a lot of pressure, especially on parents with young children, to provide a perfect Christmas. But this can come at a cost. Once the presents have been opened, the turkey has been eaten and the Christmas tree has dropped its needles, we generally see a big rise in people coming to us for debt help.

In case the festive season is proving a financial strain for you, we've come up with some suggestions that might help you cut off money worries at the pass by boosting your income in the run up to Christmas.

Grants

Although there don’t tend to be specific grants available to cover the cost of Christmas, some charitable organisations may help with this, depending on your situation.

Others offer grants so you can pay bills and buy essential items, which could free up a little more cash to spend over the festive period.

Search for grants.

Benefits

If your budget is stretched to breaking point, it’s worth checking you’re not missing out on benefits you may be entitled to.

In September, 34% of customers we spoke to on the phone completed a benefits assessment and, on average, those people found they could be claiming an extra £1,021 a year.

Try our benefits calculator today. Or if you’d prefer to go through it together, give us a call on 0161 518 8282. We’re here 8am to 8pm during the week and from 10am to 4pm over the weekend.

Cost-of-living help from your local council

Under a scheme known as the household support fund, the government has given each local council in England a pot of money to provide emergency cost-of-living support. If you need help paying for the basics, find out what’s available from your local council.

The scheme is due to close in March next year though, so the sooner you get in touch about financial support, the better.

Foodbanks

If you’re struggling to pay for groceries this Christmas, you may be able to get an emergency food parcel. Find your local food bank on the Trussell Trust website.

Need debt help?

If no matter what you do, you still can’t afford to pay your debts, don’t give up hope. We offer free, impartial debt advice, either online or over the phone.

There are a range of debt solutions available that may be able to reduce your monthly payments and even write off some of what you owe. Some of these are free, some have a fee.

We’ll check which are suitable, provide you with all the information you need and give you time to think it over. If you want to go ahead with a debt solution, we’ll help get you set up.