As the cost of
living continues to rise beyond that of economic recovery, more and more people
working across the UK horticulture sector are struggling to make ends meet, or
are unable to put anything by for savings or emergencies.
Perennial, the UK
horticulture industry’s charity, has launched an online budgeting tool to help
people understand their financial position and plan ahead.
Taking control of
finances, particularly when earning a low wage, is not easy but Perennial’s new
online tool is designed to help people manage their money and to suggest
changes to improve their finances.
Matthew Cooper, Debt
Advice Manager at Perennial, says: “Creating a budget is important because it
helps you understand how you are using your money and where your biggest
expenditure is. Seeing this written down is the first step towards making
changes to achieve a good balance between your income and spending.
"The tool also
gives lots of tips for increasing your income and reducing your expenditure and
point you in the right direction for further help.”
The new tool is
available via the Perennial website and can be used on a desktop computer,
tablet or smart phone. It is very easy to use and does not require any
technical or financial expertise. The information users input is completely
confidential and will not be shared with anyone else. People can use it
anonymously if they wish or they can register to allow them to revisit their
budget at any time and see how their planned changes are working.
Those with urgent
debt issues can contact Perennial’s qualified debt advisers who can help by
negotiating with creditors, preparing financial statements, advising on
bankruptcy, helping with court paperwork and offering representation at
hearings. In addition, Perennial offers direct financial help in some
circumstances, including help for spouses/partners and dependent children.
