Top budgeting tips

Take control of your money

Manage your money online

Seeing what’s going in and out of your account can help you feel more in control of your money. If you use Internet Banking or our Mobile Banking app, you can check your account at any time. You can also use our Spending Insights feature to see a breakdown of your monthly spending. It will show you what you spend your money on every month and where you could make savings.

Set up different accounts

Do you know how much money you have left over after bills every month? Setting up different accounts for different pots of money could help. You could have one account for household bills and another for everyday spending. Then you’ll know you have enough to cover your bills and how much you have left. While you’re looking at your bills, why not check to see if you could get a better deal elsewhere. We’ve got some useful tips to help you feel more in control of your bills.

Spread the cost

Large costs can be difficult to pay in one go. It might be better to see if you can spread the cost with regular, smaller payments instead. See if you can pay monthly by Direct Debit for things like car insurance, or your TV licence fee, which can make them easier to manage. Our upcoming payments feature will help you keep your finances in good shape. It allows you to view upcoming payments and see how much you have left until payday.

Look for savings

It’s worth looking out for ways to save money on your spending. From offers and deals to loyalty and cashback schemes, you’ll be amazed how much you can save over time. If you want to buy something, why not wait for the sales to see if you can get it for less? It’s also worth seeing if you’re entitled to get any help with living costs or energy bills, with schemes like Universal Credit.

Day- to-day budgeting

 
Improving your day to day budgeting video

 

Budgeting doesn’t have to be stressful. Find out more about the ways you could make things more manageable with a few simple changes. These include reviewing your direct debits, using comparison sites, and reducing unnecessary costs. You can also use our handy budget calculator to help you stay on track.

Smart ways to manage your money

Build a savings habit

Saving a little every month is a good habit to get into. Your savings will soon build up and can help with unplanned bills, urgent repairs or even loss of income. There are different ways to save and we’ve got some helpful saving hints and tips to get you started.

Make a spending plan

It’s tempting to buy things on impulse, but they might not be things we really need. It’s better to plan your spending in advance with a budget you can afford. That way you can make better decisions when you’re shopping and keep your spending under control. Use our budget calculator to help manage your future costs.