MAKE YOUR MONEY WORK FOR YOU
MONEY & BUDGETING
Master your finances with practical tools, real-life challenges, and smart habits designed for your independence.
£
MONEY IN.
- Wages/Salary
- Benefits/Allowance
- Loans/Grants
- Side Hustle Credit
£
MONEY OUT.
- Rent & Bills
- Food & Essentials
- Transport Costs
- Subscriptions & Fun
BALANCING THE SCALES
CAN YOU MAKE YOUR MONEY LAST?
A budget helps you see what money you have coming in, what you need to spend and what you have left. The aim isn't to stop spending — it's to stay in control of your money.
MONEY IN – MONEY OUT = MONEY LEFT
HAVE A GO
Imagine you have £750 coming in this month and your essential spending comes to £620.
How much would you have left? £________
What would you do with the money left over?
NEEDS BEFORE WANTS
Pay for the things you need first — somewhere to live, food, bills and travel. Then you can see what's available for the things you want.
MONEY IN
Wages / benefits: £900
MONEY OUT
Rent contribution: £350
Food: £160
Gas & electric: £80
Phone: £25
Travel: £80
Toiletries & essentials: £30
Social / entertainment: £75
TOTAL MONEY OUT: £800
MONEY LEFT: £100
NEEDS OR WANTS?
WOULD YOU PAY FOR IT FIRST?
Some things are essential and some things are things we'd like to have. Knowing the difference can help you make better choices when money is tight.
YOU DECIDE
If money was tight this month, which of these would you pay for first?
£45 PHONE BILL
NEED
WANT
£70 NEW TRAINERS
NEED
WANT
£35 FOOD SHOP
NEED
WANT
£20 TAKEAWAY
NEED
WANT
£60 ELECTRIC BILL
NEED
WANT
£30 NIGHT OUT
NEED
WANT
£25 BUS PASS
NEED
WANT
£15 STREAMING SUBSCRIPTION
NEED
WANT
THINK ABOUT IT
A need for one person can sometimes be a want for someone else. Think about your own circumstances and what would happen if you didn't pay for something.
I NEED IT
Things that are important for everyday life.
Rent | Food | Gas & Electricity | Essential Travel | Toiletries | Basic Clothing
I WANT IT
Things that are nice to have, but I could manage without.
Takeaways | New Trainers | Gaming | Nights Out | Streaming Services | Concert Tickets
= MONEY LEFT £_____
STAGE 3: WHAT HAVE I GOT LEFT?
TOTAL MONEY IN £_____
– TOTAL MONEY OUT £_____
STAGE 1: MY MONEY COMING IN
Wages / salary
£
Benefits / Universal Credit
£
Allowance / other income
£
Other
£
TOTAL MONEY IN
£
STAGE 2: MY MONEY GOING OUT
Rent / housing
£
Gas & electricity
£
Food
£
Travel
£
Phone
£
Toiletries / personal care
£
Clothes
£
Subscriptions
£
Socialising / entertainment
£
Debt repayments
£
Other
£
TOTAL MONEY OUT
£
I could __________________________________
WHAT IF SOMETHING CHANGED?
Imagine your electricity bill was £30 more than you expected this month. Would your budget still work? What could you change?
BUILD MY BUDGET
YOUR MONEY. YOUR PLAN.
Now it's your turn. Work out what money you have coming in, what you need to pay for and what you'll have left. Don't worry if you need some help — learning to budget takes practice.
WHAT WILL I DO WITH WHAT'S LEFT?
SAVE SOME
Put something aside for the future.
EMERGENCY MONEY
Keep something back for unexpected costs.
PLAN FOR SOMETHING
Save towards something important to you.
ENJOY SOME
Budget some money for the things you enjoy.
THE £100 CHALLENGE
Imagine you have exactly £100 for the week. No more, no less. How do you split it? Think about food, travel, and that one thing you really want.
£100
WATCH OUT FOR THESE
MONEY TRAPS
SUBSCRIPTION SCAMS
Hidden fees and 'free trials' that are impossible to cancel. Always check your bank statement each month to spot unwanted charges.
HIGH-INTEREST LOANS
Payday loans might seem like a quick fix, but the sky-high interest rates can trap you in a cycle of debt that is hard to escape.
BUY NOW, PAY LATER
It looks small, but multiple payments add up fast. They are still loans and can negatively impact your credit score if missed.
Quick Money Habits
Tick these off daily
Check your bank balance every morning.
Track every single penny you spend.
Move small change into a savings pot.
Identify one 'want' you didn't buy.
Look for discounts before you pay.
Plan your meals for the next day.