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I got £1,000 in extra cost of living payments for groceries – I had no idea I could get it but it took minutes to apply
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WHEN mum-of-two Becci James stopped using her car because she couldn't afford the fuel, she knew she was struggling.
The 42-year-old pupil support manager was working four days a week at the local state school and training the other day to become a young person's counsellor.
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Money hadn't been an issue for her in the past but as the cost of living shot up, things began to get increasingly tight.
"My food bills had almost tripled, gas and electricity had doubled and small items such as insurance had to be dropped in order to meet the mounting cost of essentials for myself and the children," she told The Sun.
"I panicked when the car needed an MOT and constantly watched the prices of fuel to try and save where I could."
Becci, who lives in Lymington in Hampshire with her two daughters, Effie, 16, and Poppy, 13, had already resorted to loans and credit cards to pay for essentials, but even that was no longer an option.
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She even considered quitting her three-year counselling degree so she could pick up another day's work.
"Thoughts of my financial commitments were all-consuming," she said.
"I had one day a month when the weight lifted but the day after I was paid, my bills would leave me with nothing but my child benefit and tax credits payments on which to get by."
Becci said she felt "very trapped" and worried because ongoing union negotiations with the government meant "there is always a huge delay on any pay rises in state education".
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She started to drop financial commitments that weren't an immediate essential.
"I cut back on important things such as cover for my boiler being serviced and pet insurance," she said.
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"I was gambling with potentially huge payments, without any savings behind me."
She stopped giving the girls pocket money, cancelled trips out together and was constantly turning off lights and using throws instead of putting the heating on.
"It's something that I never used to think twice about," she said.
Then, as she scoured her TSB banking app to find ways to cut down her spending even further, she noticed a new section called Money Worries.
"I was intrigued but thought that it would be an area for advice and not much more," she said.
"When I scrolled down and came across 'extra support', I have to be honest, I wasn't expecting very much."
But after following a link to Lightening Reach and filling in a short form about where she worked and how old her children were, a whole list of grants she was eligible for appeared.
Becci clicked through to The Teaching Staff Trust and it took her just moments to apply.
Within a week she received £1,000 in vouchers to spend at Amazon and the big supermarkets.
"They came through almost immediately by email," she said.
"Receiving the news that I had been awarded a grant, I felt really valued for the work I do.
"It was as if there was finally an awareness that working in education makes a huge difference, but that like the NHS, staff are generally limited by restrictive pay boundaries.
"I also finally felt free of the stress and able to concentrate on my studies towards becoming a qualified counsellor."
Having access to the vouchers, Becci was able to ring fence some of her wages for bills instead of supermarket trips.
"I had no idea that this opportunity existed until I came across it on the TSB app and since then I have successfully been awarded another two grants, both to support me in my studies.
"To say that they have made a huge difference to our lives is an understatement, as they have given me financial breathing space right when I needed it.
"To anyone who thinks they have exhausted all avenues, please complete this brief online form, there are support matches for lots of different careers and needs.
"There are charities out there just waiting to help you out.
"Do not be embarrassed or think it's not meant for you, as in this time of financial crisis, there are more of us than ever before who are working hard and still relying on vital help such as this."
What energy bill help is available?
THERE'S a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
Where to find financial help
There are several other grants and cash payments you can get if you're struggling.
Household support fund
You might be able to get help with essential costs from your local council through a programme called the Household Support Fund (HSF).
The funding is designed to help people who are vulnerable or can’t afford to pay for necessities like energy bills, water bills, and food.
Some councils offer food vouchers to families during the school holidays, as well through the scheme.
Eligibility criteria varies by council, so you need to check your local authority's website to see what’s available and how to apply.
For instance, Richmond Council says that it offers grants of up to £600 for families with two or more children, whereas Haringey Council says it typically pays vouchers worth £100 per household.
Local welfare assistance schemes
Most councils also have local welfare assistance schemes designed to help families in severe financial hardship.
Again, the eligibility criteria varies by council, and how much you can get will depend on your specific circumstances.
Most councils say they will prioritise families who need urgent access to food.
The support you get could be money, vouchers, or referrals to other organisations such as food banks.
Energy grants from suppliers
Most major energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
Eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £1,500.
If your energy company doesn’t have a scheme available, you could consider switching to one that does.
Fuel vouchers
If you're having difficulty paying your energy bills and use a prepayment meter, or if you use alternative heating sources such as oil, LPG, coal, or wood, you may be eligible for a fuel voucher from your local council.
A fuel voucher gives you credit for your gas and electricity supply without having to pay in advance.
You'll receive a code in a letter, text message or email which you can use to add the credit.
You can use a fuel voucher at a Post Office, a shop signed up to Payzone or a shop signed up to PayPoint. You'll need to take the code and a form of ID.
Help paying your water bills
Many water companies provide free water-saving devices to households to help reduce their bills.
Contact your supplier to learn about available assistance and visit the SaveWaterSaveMoney website for more information. You can also check whether you qualify for a discounted waterbutt.
GetWaterFit says that the average saving per person is £104 a year.
Kids eat free deals
In the school holidays, plenty of pubs, restaurant chains, and supermarkets offer kids eat free deals.
For instance, Morrisons is giving away 100,000 free crumpets this summer, from August 5 to August 25. To get the deal you just need to ‘ask for Ellen’ in any Morrisons café.
Meanwhile Subway is offering a free four-inch Sub, a snack and a drink which usually costs £3.50.
However, you need to buy a full price Footlong Sub or SubMelt which normally costs £7.39 to get the deal.
Asda’s ‘Kids Eat for £1’ deal runs in over 205 Asda Café’s all year round - not just during the school holidays.
Unlike with lots of the other deals in the summer, you don’t need to buy an adult meal to qualify.
Debt help
If you're concerned about debt, don't bury your head in the sand.
Citizens Advice says it's important to work out a budget and keep an eye on your bank balance.
Try and pay off more than the minimum on credit cards each month, and pay your most expensive credit card first.
If you've got several debts and can't pay them all, it's important to prioritise.
Your rent, mortgage, council tax and energy bills should be paid first because the consequences can be more serious if you don't pay.
Groups like Citizens Advice, StepChange and National Debtline can help you manage your debt and negotiate with your creditors.
You should always have a look at what free options are available for managing debt before you turn to a private firm for support.
There's also a specific government scheme to help manage debt called Breathing Space, which gives you the right to legal protection from creditors for up to 60 days.
The FCA said consumers can get free and impartial advice from the MoneyHelper website or by telephone on 0800 138 7777.
How to get support
Becci found help through her TSB banking app, which put her in touch with Lightning Reach, an organisation which helps people in financial hardship access support.
Nicola Bannister, financial support director at TSB, shared her tips if you find yourself struggling with finances.
Contact your bank: Speaking to your bank does not affect your credit rating and can be the first step to finding a better solution and getting financial help.
Check for unclaimed grants: Lightning Reach and other benefit calculators can make sure you’re not missing out on money you’re entitled to.
Set your budget: Rising bills and prices mean it’s important to know how much money is coming in and going out, so you don’t overspend.
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Look for where you can make savings: Use your banking app to cancel outgoings like Direct Debits and subscriptions you no longer need.
Don’t delay: If you are worried it’s best to take action as soon as you can, rather than allowing the situation to get worse. Organisations like StepChange, Money Helper, the National Debtline or Citizens Advice can all provide free advice if you are struggling with debts.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories