If you need help managing your finances, obtaining financial assistance or just want your pound to go that extra mile, then you’ve come to the right place.

Like some help to make the most of your money?

There are lots of reasons why you may want guidance on making the most of your money.  You could be looking to buy a house, facing redundancy or thinking of retiring.  Or you may simply want to make the most of your money by finding out more about budgeting, saving or borrowing.

Whatever your reason, you can now get expert professional guidance from A4e - Face to Face Money Advice, free of charge at 3 WFD Shops.   The advice you will receive will be completely impartial.  A4e - Face to Face Money Advice is run by the Consumer Financial Education Body (CFEB) and offers one-to-one appointments with money guides, telephone guidance and online information to help you make informed financial decisions.  

This service is free to staff and residents of Waltham Forest.  Appointments are held on the first Friday of each month.  To book an appointment call Waltham Forest Direct on 020 8496 3000, pop into your local WFD shop, or email wfdirect@walthamforest.gov.uk

Are you having trouble paying your rent or Council Tax?

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are government schemes to help you pay your rent and/or Council Tax. You can claim these benefits if you are working but on low pay, or if you receive benefits such as Job Seekers Allowance, income support, employment support allowance or a pension (depending on how much pension you receive).

» More on benefits

The Council’s Housing Advice Unit can also provide help for people who are worried about losing their home because of problems with rent payments.

» More on help with rent payments

Spread your council tax

From April 2009 council tax can be paid over the full 12 months of the year rather than the previous 10 months. For an average bill, this would reduce the monthly payments by £25. Payment must be made by direct debit.

If you are the only adult living in your property, you are entitled to a Council Tax reduction of 25 per cent as the sole occupier.

» For more information, call WFD on 0208 496 3000 or visit aCustomer Service Centre or Leyton Library.

Need help with your mortgage?

If you are worried about keeping up with your mortgage repayments, help is available. The Housing Advice Unit at Waltham Forest Housing Services gives free advice on housing matters to all private sector residents within the borough.

» More on help with your mortgage

Are you worried about debt?

Most people fall into debt for reasons that are out of their control, like unemployment, divorce and rising living costs. Don’t feel guilty – you haven’t done anything wrong. The best thing to do is not to ignore it and get some help if you need.

The Citizens Advice Bureaux of Waltham Forest provides free and impartial advice on debt and finance issues to residents of the borough. For more information, call 0844 826 9696 or visit www.walthamforestcab.org.uk/wcab/

Directgov provides information on managing debt. Visit www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm

Do you need a low-interest loan?

Waltham Forest Community Credit Union provides convenient savings and affordable loans at very low rates of interests to its members, which means members are able to get low-cost finance when they need it.

» More on credit unions

Energy saving in your home

You can make some very simple improvements to your home, which could help save you money, improve comfort in your home and reduce your carbon footprint. The following organisations can help:

Making your money go further

Save money by growing your own food in an allotment, exchanging unwanted items through ‘Give or Take’ days or saving money on transport. Read on for more great ideas.

Grow your own food such as root and leaf vegetables, soft fruit and, if you like, flowers for cutting or to brighten your plot by taking out an allotment with the Council.

» More on allotments

Get goods and services without using money:

  • the Local Exchange and Trading Scheme is a not-for-profit, community-based organisation with members trading a wide range of goods and services such as DIY, music lessons, reflexology, gardening, loan of tools and equipment, computing, cooking, giving lifts, allotment vegetables, dog-walking and sewing. Visit www.wflets.org
  • the Forest Recycling Project holds a ‘Give or Take’ in Waltham Forest roughly once a month where people are invited to bring along unwanted items and then everyone helps themselves
  • Freecycle is an online network that matches people who have things they want to get rid of with people who can use them for free
  • For more recycling ideas, visit recycling