General Money Matters

Regardless of your age, looking after your money and budget is always a good idea. 

• Shop around for the best deal on energy, insurance, telephone, broadband, savings and borrowing – the MoneyHelper website has guidance on how to make your money go further.
• Find out if you are entitled to Council Tax Reduction or other help with your Council Tax bill
• Keep an eye on your budget – our Money Matters guide has a template you can use to look at your income and spending, particularly if you have more costs or a lower income.
• Make sure you are claiming all the benefits you are entitled to – visit our benefits page or call the Age Scotland helpline for a benefits check on 0800 12 44 222.
• Make sure you are paying the right amount of tax – Tax Help for Older people has expert tax information for older people on their website.
• Check the energy efficiency of your home – browse ideas from Home Energy Scotland.
• Be alert to scams where criminals try to con you out of money – visit the Citizens Advice Scotland website for what to look out for and what to do.
• Set up a Power of Attorney in case, in future, you lose the mental capacity to look after your own money and welfare.
• If you have debts or are struggling to balance your budget, get advice. Many people find it difficult to discuss personal money matters, but you can get reliable confidential information and advice about budgeting and debt from your local Citizens Advice Bureau  or from Scotland’s Financial Health Service

Download our Useful Contacts guide