Coping with money worries
The cost of living is on everyone’s mind right now and is having an impact on most people’s personal finances. These money worries can also have an impact on our mental health and wellbeing. If you’re having to make hard decisions about what you can afford, it’s normal to feel stressed or down.
Support and advice for money worries
Citizens Advice Scotland’s (CAS) Money Map can help you find sources of online support to reduce your bills and ease the costs of daily living. The Money Talk Team can offer additional support for those who want to talk to a CAS representative.
Moneyhelper’s YouTube page has a range of videos to help you navigate things that affect finances like loosing your job, switching power supplier, or talking to creditors. You can also contact them by phoning 0800 138 7777.
Visit the Scottish Government’s Cost of living support site to find help during the cost of living crisis.
Things you could do to help your mental wellbeing
- Share your worries with someone you trust – just talking about it can help ease your worries.
- Contact organisations which can support and advise you on practical advice around finances and the cost of living.
- Even when you don’t feel like it, try and do some small things to help lift your mood.
- See your friends.
You can also try some free activities to help take your mind off things.
Do
- get outside and get some fresh air
- go for a walk
- practice some self-care
Visit Parent Club’s Outdoor activities and games page for ideas to help families get active to help their mental wellbeing.
You can find further advice to help your mental wellbeing by learning about dealing with anxiety or panic, handling stress or how to lift your mood.
How to talk to people about money worries
MoneyHelper’s Talk Money guides and Talk Learn Do have advice on talking to the people in your life about money, including information for parents and young people.
Benefits
Social Security Scotland provides information on a range of benefits and payments you could be entitled to.
MoneyHelper’s benefits calculator can help you identify which benefits you are eligible for.
Budget calculators
Citizen’s Advice Scotland’s Budgeting | Money Map calculator.
Money and Pensions Service’s Budget Planner | Free online budget planning tool | MoneyHelper
The Mental Health and Money Toolkit is a resource to help you understand, manage and improve your mental and financial health. It can be a useful tool to take with you to any money or debt advice appointments you might attend.
Housing
Shelter Scotland provides information and advice on housing and homelessness.
MoneySavingExpert has advice on council tax and housing government grants.
Employment
Healthy Working Lives has a range of free information and assistance for employers to help them promote and support mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.
Your rights
Visit advice.scot’s Knowledge Centre to find out more about your rights around employment, housing, and neighbourhood issues.
Further support
If nothing you’ve tried seems to be working and you’d like to speak to someone about your mental health, you can phone:
- NHS 24 on 111 and choose the mental health option
- Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87
If you need urgent help
During office hours, you can contact your GP.
Anytime, you can phone 111.
In an emergency you can phone 999.
Mind to Mind: Managing other feelings
Give feedback about this page
Let us know what you liked, what you didn’t or what you think is missing by emailing nhs.inform@nhs24.scot.nhs.uk
Please don’t include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions.