How to rise to the cost-of-living challenges | Tenant news

A lot of us are tightening our belts as we find ways to help us through this tricky financial climate. Here are a few helpful tips we’ve researched and want to share with you.

Free repairs for your broken essentials

Have you got important broken items that you can’t afford to replace? Check if you’ve got a repair café near you that can help fix it for free. Repairing things is also better for the environment – a double win.

Cheaper broadband and mobile/sim deals

If you’re struggling on paying your broadband and mobile bills, look out for black Friday mobile and broadband deals.  Or switch your service provider once the discounted year’s contract deal runs out. Find tips on how to use a comparison website so you can choose the right deal for you.  

If you receive any benefits, you might be able to get a broadband deal on ‘social tariffs’ that will be cheap for the long term.

You can use the MoneySavingExpert broadband comparison tool for broadband deals and sim deals with some as low as £4.75p/m.

Ways to keep yourself warm and reduce your energy bills

If you can do without turning the heating up, invest in warm items that you can wear around your house so you can keep yourself warm and save on your energy bill. Try these tips.

Accessing the Household Support Fund

Back in May, the Government extended the Household Support Fund from 30 September to 31 March 2023. This means there’s £500 million allocated to help vulnerable families that you can access through your local council.

Whether you are on benefits or not, if you’re struggling to make ends meet, the government has put this help in place for you. Please reach out if you need help.

Checking if you’re not being underpaid

If you are working and getting paid a national minimum wage, please check that your employer is not underpaying you. You can check the National minimum wage by visiting the Government website to see the current rates.

Free sanitary products – ask for Sandy

Period products don’t come cheap and aren’t always affordable. If you need help to get sanitary products, please visit your local food bank or a Morrison’s supermarket and ask for ‘Sandy’.

You can also access free sanitary products at school, college, and university if you are a student.

Free food from bakeries, neighbours, and other participating shops

And finally, why not grab yourself some free food from bakeries, neighbours, and food waste heroes around your community? Or if you’re able, be one of the heroes and bring some smiles of hope to someone struggling by becoming an olio food waste hero. Get an Olio app. Find more details from olioex.com