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  • Benefits
  • Everyday money
  • Family & care
  • Homes
  • Money troubles
  • Pensions & retirement
  • Savings
  • Work
    • Universal Credit

      Find out how Universal Credit works and how to manage your payment

    • Benefits if you have children

      Entitlements to help with the cost of pregnancy or bringing up children

    • Benefits if you’re sick, disabled or a carer

      Understand what support is available for coping with ill health

    • Benefits in later life

      You may be entitled for help with other costs on top of your State Pension

    • Benefits and work

      Extra support if you’re working, self-employed, or you’ve lost your job

    • Benefits to help with housing costs

      Support to help with rent or mortgage payments if you’re on a low income

    • Problems with benefits

      What to do if something goes wrong with your benefits

    • Benefits

      All Benefits guidance

    Tools

    Calculator

    Benefits calculator

    ALL TOOLS

    Pensions issues? Join our community group

    Join our private Facebook group ‘Your pension and planning for the future – by MoneyHelper’ to get help and to chat about pensions

    • Banking and payments

      How to choose, use and manage bank accounts

    • Budgeting

      How to budget, find the best deals and switch to save money

    • Buying and running a car

      How to buy and finance a car, deal with problems with car finance, and cut running costs

    • Credit

      Credit basics, applying for credit, credit ratings and problems with credit

    • Insurance

      Insurance for cars, health, travel, and help with insurance

    • Everyday money

      All Everyday money guidance

    Tools

    Tool

    Petrol price finder

    Tool

    Budget Planner

    Tool

    Your options for borrowing money

    Tool

    What to do when you’ve been refused credit

    ALL TOOLS

    Pensions issues? Join our community group

    Join our private Facebook group ‘Your pension and planning for the future – by MoneyHelper’ to get help and to chat about pensions

    • Becoming a parent

      Having a baby, returning to work, childcare costs

    • Death and bereavement

      Wills, inheritance, sorting out estates

    • Divorce and separation

      Sorting out money and homes, what if you have children, money after break ups

    • Illness and disability

      Managing costs, extra financial support, help with work or study

    • Long-term care

      Paying and getting funding, ways to pay, problems with care

    • Student and graduate money

      Credit cards, bank accounts, student debts

    • Talk money

      Difficult conversations, talking to teenagers, older people and partners

    • Family and care

      All Family and care guidance

    Tools

    Calculator

    Divorce calculator

    Calculator

    Baby costs calculator

    Tool

    Budget Planner

    Calculator

    Benefits calculator

    ALL TOOLS

    Pensions issues? Join our community group

    Join our private Facebook group ‘Your pension and planning for the future – by MoneyHelper’ to get help and to chat about pensions

    • Mortgages and homebuying

      Mortgages, help buying, remortgaging, first-time buyers, help and support

    • Renting

      Help renting a home and dealing with problems

    • Homes

      All Homes guidance

    Tools

    Calculator

    Stamp Duty calculator

    Calculator

    Mortgage affordability calculator

    Calculator

    Mortgage repayment calculator

    ALL TOOLS

    Pensions issues? Join our community group

    Join our private Facebook group ‘Your pension and planning for the future – by MoneyHelper’ to get help and to chat about pensions

    • Help with the cost of living

      Budgeting, paying bills, finding extra financial support, coping with job loss

    • Dealing with debt

      Bills, court fines, help with debts

    • Money problems and complaints

      What to do about mis-selling, compensation and complaints

    • Scams

      Spotting scams and what to do if you’re caught out

    • Money troubles

      All Money troubles guidance

    Tools

    Tool

    Debt advice locator

    Calculator

    Benefits calculator

    Tool

    Bill prioritiser

    Tool

    What to do when you’ve been refused credit

    ALL TOOLS

    Pensions issues? Join our community group

    Join our private Facebook group ‘Your pension and planning for the future – by MoneyHelper’ to get help and to chat about pensions

    • Manage and grow your pension

      How much to save for retirement and ways to boost your pension

    • Pensions explained

      How to start a pension, how pensions work and the benefits

    • Pension problems and changes

      How to find lost pensions, sort out problems and complain

    • Pension transfers and consolidation

      How to transfer or combine pensions, and if it’s a good idea

    • State Pension

      How much State Pension you might get and ways to boost it

    • Take your pension

      How and when to take your pension – your options explained

    • Tax and pensions

      How tax relief, tax-free allowances and tax on income works

    • Make the most of your pension

      Understand your pension options and work out your retirement income and costs

    ALL PENSIONS AND RETIREMENT

    Tools

    Appointment

    Get a free Pension Wise appointment

    Calculator

    Pension calculator

    Tool

    Money Midlife MOT

    Tool

    Get retirement guidance

    ALL TOOLS

    Get a free Pension Wise appointment

    Find out how you can take money from a defined contribution pension. Pension Wise is free, impartial and backed by government.

    • How to save

      Getting started, getting the most out of savings, problems

    • Investing

      How to invest, types of investing, buying and managing

    • Types of savings

      Help with meeting goals, tax-friendly saving, saving for children

    • Savings

      All Savings guidance

    Tools

    Calculator

    Savings calculator

    Tool

    Budget Planner

    ALL TOOLS

    Pensions issues? Join our community group

    Join our private Facebook group ‘Your pension and planning for the future – by MoneyHelper’ to get help and to chat about pensions

    • Employment

      Basics, benefits, tax and National Insurance

    • Losing your job

      What to do, alternatives, redundancy pay

    • Self-employment

      Starting out, insurance, tax, self-assessment

    • Work

      All Work guidance

    Tools

    Tool

    Budget Planner

    Calculator

    Redundancy pay calculator

    Calculator

    Salary calculator

    ALL TOOLS

    Pensions issues? Join our community group

    Join our private Facebook group ‘Your pension and planning for the future – by MoneyHelper’ to get help and to chat about pensions

  • Benefits
  • Everyday money
  • Family & care
  • Homes
  • Money troubles
  • Pensions & retirement
  • Savings
  • Work
    • Universal Credit Find out how Universal Credit works and how to manage your payment
    • Benefits if you have children Entitlements to help with the cost of pregnancy or bringing up children
    • Benefits if you’re sick, disabled or a carer Understand what support is available for coping with ill health
    • Benefits in later life You may be entitled for help with other costs on top of your State Pension
    • Benefits and work Extra support if you’re working, self-employed, or you’ve lost your job
    • Benefits to help with housing costs Support to help with rent or mortgage payments if you’re on a low income
    • Problems with benefits What to do if something goes wrong with your benefits
    • Benefits All Benefits guidance
    Tools

    Calculator

    Benefits calculator

    ALL TOOLS

    Pensions issues? Join our community group

    Join our private Facebook group ‘Your pension and planning for the future – by MoneyHelper’ to get help and to chat about pensions

    • Banking and payments How to choose, use and manage bank accounts
    • Budgeting How to budget, find the best deals and switch to save money
    • Buying and running a car How to buy and finance a car, deal with problems with car finance, and cut running costs
    • Credit Credit basics, applying for credit, credit ratings and problems with credit
    • Insurance Insurance for cars, health, travel, and help with insurance
    • Everyday money All Everyday money guidance
    Tools

    Tool

    Petrol price finder

    Tool

    Budget Planner

    Tool

    Your options for borrowing money

    Tool

    What to do when you’ve been refused credit

    ALL TOOLS

    Pensions issues? Join our community group

    Join our private Facebook group ‘Your pension and planning for the future – by MoneyHelper’ to get help and to chat about pensions

    • Becoming a parent Having a baby, returning to work, childcare costs
    • Death and bereavement Wills, inheritance, sorting out estates
    • Divorce and separation Sorting out money and homes, what if you have children, money after break ups
    • Illness and disability Managing costs, extra financial support, help with work or study
    • Long-term care Paying and getting funding, ways to pay, problems with care
    • Student and graduate money Credit cards, bank accounts, student debts
    • Talk money Difficult conversations, talking to teenagers, older people and partners
    • Family and care All Family and care guidance
    Tools

    Calculator

    Divorce calculator

    Calculator

    Baby costs calculator

    Tool

    Budget Planner

    Calculator

    Benefits calculator

    ALL TOOLS

    Pensions issues? Join our community group

    Join our private Facebook group ‘Your pension and planning for the future – by MoneyHelper’ to get help and to chat about pensions

    • Mortgages and homebuying Mortgages, help buying, remortgaging, first-time buyers, help and support
    • Renting Help renting a home and dealing with problems
    • Homes All Homes guidance
    Tools

    Calculator

    Stamp Duty calculator

    Calculator

    Mortgage affordability calculator

    Calculator

    Mortgage repayment calculator

    ALL TOOLS

    Pensions issues? Join our community group

    Join our private Facebook group ‘Your pension and planning for the future – by MoneyHelper’ to get help and to chat about pensions

    • Help with the cost of living Budgeting, paying bills, finding extra financial support, coping with job loss
    • Dealing with debt Bills, court fines, help with debts
    • Money problems and complaints What to do about mis-selling, compensation and complaints
    • Scams Spotting scams and what to do if you’re caught out
    • Money troubles All Money troubles guidance
    Tools

    Tool

    Debt advice locator

    Calculator

    Benefits calculator

    Tool

    Bill prioritiser

    Tool

    What to do when you’ve been refused credit

    ALL TOOLS

    Pensions issues? Join our community group

    Join our private Facebook group ‘Your pension and planning for the future – by MoneyHelper’ to get help and to chat about pensions

    • Manage and grow your pension How much to save for retirement and ways to boost your pension
    • Pensions explained How to start a pension, how pensions work and the benefits
    • Pension problems and changes How to find lost pensions, sort out problems and complain
    • Pension transfers and consolidation How to transfer or combine pensions, and if it’s a good idea
    • State Pension How much State Pension you might get and ways to boost it
    • Take your pension How and when to take your pension – your options explained
    • Tax and pensions How tax relief, tax-free allowances and tax on income works
    • Make the most of your pension Understand your pension options and work out your retirement income and costs

    ALL PENSIONS AND RETIREMENT

    Tools

    Appointment

    Get a free Pension Wise appointment

    Calculator

    Pension calculator

    Tool

    Money Midlife MOT

    Tool

    Get retirement guidance

    ALL TOOLS

    Get a free Pension Wise appointment

    Find out how you can take money from a defined contribution pension. Pension Wise is free, impartial and backed by government.

    • How to save Getting started, getting the most out of savings, problems
    • Investing How to invest, types of investing, buying and managing
    • Types of savings Help with meeting goals, tax-friendly saving, saving for children
    • Savings All Savings guidance
    Tools

    Calculator

    Savings calculator

    Tool

    Budget Planner

    ALL TOOLS

    Pensions issues? Join our community group

    Join our private Facebook group ‘Your pension and planning for the future – by MoneyHelper’ to get help and to chat about pensions

    • Employment Basics, benefits, tax and National Insurance
    • Losing your job What to do, alternatives, redundancy pay
    • Self-employment Starting out, insurance, tax, self-assessment
    • Work All Work guidance
    Tools

    Tool

    Budget Planner

    Calculator

    Redundancy pay calculator

    Calculator

    Salary calculator

    ALL TOOLS

    Pensions issues? Join our community group

    Join our private Facebook group ‘Your pension and planning for the future – by MoneyHelper’ to get help and to chat about pensions

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Everyday money

Credit

Credit can help you manage your money – whether you’re looking to cover planned expenses or need to meet unexpected costs. But it’s important to use it in the right way.

Our guides will help you understand:

  • how credit works
  • what’s the best type for you
  • how to make sure you can afford repayments
  • how to apply for credit
  • what to do if you’re refused credit
  • how to manage your credit well.

So whether you’re new to credit, looking to improve how you manage it or need some support, we can help.

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Hot topics

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Your options for borrowing money

If you need to borrow money, our tool shows you the range of credit options available.

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How to check your credit report for free

Your credit report shows how attractive you might be to lenders. Here’s how to check yours for free and get help if you need to kickstart a makeover.


Articles

Affording and getting credit

  • What to do if you’re rejected for a loan or credit card
  • Making sure you can afford to borrow
  • How to check your credit report for free
  • How to apply to borrow money, like a credit card or loan
  • How to improve your credit score

Mainstream credit

  • Secured and unsecured borrowing explained
  • Overdrafts explained
  • What are personal loans?
  • What is Buy Now Pay Later?
  • A simple guide to credit cards

Managing credit wisely

  • Managing credit well
  • How section 75 and chargeback protection work for your credit and debit cards
  • Letting creditors know about vulnerabilities or adjustments
  • Transferring your credit card balance
  • How to prioritise your debts
  • How to reduce borrowing on credit
  • What are debt consolidation loans?

Alternative forms of credit

  • Borrowing from a credit union
  • Budgeting Loans and Budgeting Advances
  • Peer-to-peer borrowing and lending: what you need to know

Borrowing with or from others

  • What you need to know about taking out a joint loan
  • Borrowing money from or lending to friends or people you know
  • Borrowing from or lending to family
  • Guarantor loans explained
  • Sort out joint bank accounts, insurance, bills and other finances with your ex-partner
  • Why you need to avoid illegal loan sharks

High-cost credit

  • What are logbook loans?
  • What are pawnbrokers?
  • What you need to know about short-term, or payday, loans
  • What is store credit?
  • What is home credit or doorstep lending?

Dealing with problems

  • Help if you're struggling to pay your bills
  • Reclaiming unfair credit card charges
  • Help if you’re struggling to clear your credit card debt
  • Identity theft and scams: how to get your money back
  • How to deal with problem debt after separation
  • Money problems and mental wellbeing
  • Claiming compensation if you’ve been mis-sold

Popular tools and calculators

What to do when you’ve been refused credit
Get an action plan to improve your chances of being accepted in the future.
Budget Planner
Before you apply for credit, work out if you can afford repayments. Getting in control of your household spending can help you see where your money’s going and could mean you need to borrow less.
All tools & calculators

Support

Join our Facebook group

Join our private debt support community groupOpens in a new window – to share support from others with similar experiences as you.


 

Credit unions and community finance

If you need access to credit but can’t use a mainstream lender, download our printed guide to credit unions and other alternatives to high-cost creditOpens in a new window (PDF, 487KB)

Talk to your creditor

Worried about repayments? Download our printed guide Talking to your creditorOpens in a new window (PDF, 2MB)


Looking for us? Now, we’re MoneyHelper

MoneyHelper is the new, easy way to get clear, free, impartial help for all your money and pension choices. Whatever your circumstances or plans, move forward with MoneyHelper.

Continue to website
Looking for us? Now, we’re MoneyHelper

MoneyHelper is the new, easy way to get clear, free, impartial help for all your money and pension choices. Whatever your circumstances or plans, move forward with MoneyHelper.

Continue to website
Looking for us? Now, we’re MoneyHelper

MoneyHelper is the new, easy way to get clear, free, impartial help for all your money and pension choices. Whatever your circumstances or plans, move forward with MoneyHelper.

Continue to website
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