Christmas is a time of celebration but for many it brings added financial pressure. And this year it’s even harder.
According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) nearly 63% of people surveyed this year are feeling stressed or anxious about their financial situation which can have a significant impact on their emotional and physical wellbeing.
In addition, 1 in 3 people said that they are unable to pay for an unexpected large expense. This figure rose for those on lower wages to 41.5% and parents were particularly affected with nearly half unable to pay for an unexpected expense.
Perennial is helping people working in landscaping to take control of their finances and combat their money worries in the run up to Christmas, with their easy-to-use online budgeting tool, available via the Perennial website. The charity, which is dedicated to those working in all areas of horticulture, is encouraging everyone, regardless of their financial position, to use the tool to check their financial situation.
Wendy Tozer, Debt Advice Manager at Perennial, says: “Most of the people we help require financial help and support and we know it is a huge contributing factor to stress and other mental health issues.
“Using the budgeting tool is a great first step towards understanding how you are using your money. Being money-aware and creating a budget, we hope that those who are struggling financially will be encouraged to spend wisely this Christmas. The tool also gives lots of tips for increasing income and reducing expenditure, or finding out where to go for further help.”
Perennial’s qualified debt advisers are on hand to support individuals with anything from better budgeting, talking to creditors, or more complicated issues such as bankruptcy. They also work with individuals to ensure that they are receiving all the support from the state which they are entitled to. In some circumstances, Perennial offers direct financial help, including help for spouses/partners and dependent children.
Perennial’s help and support is free and confidential. Call the team on 0800 093 8543, complete the Contact Form on perennial.org.uk or email services@perennial.org.uk to find out more.
