Digital tools to support

Budgeting

Understand how automating spending and savings can help you stick to your budget, plan for irregular costs and stay in control with less effort.

Transcript

We know that sticking to your budget is hard, which is why we recommend automating your spending. This is when you set up a system that automatically helps you manage your money, which means that you don’t have to remember to do this each time you are paid.

Try to line up bill payments with your payday. Plan ahead for bills that come less often, like your TV licence or your car insurance, so they don’t catch you by surprise. Irregular payments can be tricky to plan for. Planning helps you to monitor your outgoings, which gives you peace of mind.

There are a number of free and low-cost apps that help you track your spending. Some also help you save, which leaves you better prepared for unexpected expenses. Most banks offer apps that help you track expenses as well as save. These are effective budgeting tools that allow you to set up pots that can be used for various purposes. For example, one pot for emergencies and another for lean periods like Christmas, Eid or birthdays.

Some apps also let you see all of your accounts in one place, so you get the full picture: your spending, debt, savings and investments side by side. This makes it easier to see where you stand overall. A few even help you save or invest small amounts automatically. Just make sure you do your own research and pick a reputable one that works best for you.

Once you’ve created a personal budget, it’s really important that you stick to it. So automation is a key tool in managing your budget. Once you’ve set this up, you can relax knowing that you are on top of your finances. Just be sure to check your account often and plan for any lean periods.

All Adult Learning Modules

Budgeting

Module 1

5 videos

14 minutes

In this module, you’ll explore how budgeting can help you plan ahead and manage the impact of rising costs.

Woman sitting on a sofa in a bright living room, reading a letter and holding an envelope, with a coffee cup on the table nearby.

Earnings

Module 2

7 videos

16 minutes

In this module, you’ll learn how to understand your pay, spot any issues early and explore the different ways you can increase your income.

Smiling café worker in a striped apron holds a wooden board of sandwiches beside a counter, with customers chatting and coffee and pastries in the background.

Freelance

Module 3

8 videos

29 minutes

In this module, you’ll learn what freelancing involves, from getting paid to managing tax, expenses and day-to-day responsibilities.

Woman wearing glasses works on a laptop at a café table, with a red coffee cup beside her and greenery and large windows in the background.

Pensions

Module 4

9 videos

24 minutes

In this module, you’ll explore how pensions work, from the State Pension to workplace and personal pensions, so you can plan ahead.

Debt

Module 5

7 videos

19 minutes

In this module, you’ll learn how borrowing works, how to manage debt responsibly and where to get help if it becomes hard to handle.

Credit

Module 6

6 videos

21 minutes

In this module, you’ll learn how credit works, different types of credit, how repayments are made and how interest and fees are calculated.

Man sits on a sofa using a laptop while holding a credit card, in a bright living room with white blinds behind him.

Mortgages

Module 7

9 videos

38 minutes

In this module, you’ll learn how home buying works, the factors that shape affordability and how mortgages influence the overall cost.

Couple smiles outside a brick house, holding up new keys, while two children run toward them from the open front door.

Investing

Module 8

8 videos

28 minutes

In this module, you’ll learn how investing works, how to manage risk and how to grow your money over time.

Man with glasses checks his phone at a desk, with an open notebook in front of him and a blurred office background.