How Can Debt Happen?

Read below to understand the most common reasons that people in Scotland get themselves into debt. We know that debt is very easy to get into, but it can be extremely difficult to get out of. But being aware of the common causes can help you avoid it, or prove useful if you are already having trouble with your money. If you are in this position – you are not alone. Trust Deed Scotland^® is here for you. Or, if you are worried about a partner or family member who has gotten themselves into financial difficulties, ask them to reach out to us. We would like to break the taboo that is associated with unaffordable debts, so that you can understand that it is very rarely the individuals ‘fault’ and that the most important thing is getting help with debts from thereon.  

A Change in Circumstances

One reason for building up debt can be a change in circumstances. A reduction in income, or one-half of a couple losing their job, can be a tricky thing to adjust to. However, the quicker you can get used to being on a stricter budget, the less likely you are to fall into debt. As soon as a change occurs, it’s important to look at your spending and do what you can to cut back. Life events such as divorce or illness are also common causes of debt, and it can be particularly difficult to stick to budgets or pay attention to finances during these stressful times. A change in circumstances can also go the other way. Getting a job after a period of unemployment is a cause for celebration, but you should still be careful with your spending. The temptation to splash out can lead to living beyond your means and potentially cause financial trouble down the line. Unexpected bills are a very common reason for why people do get themselves into debt. For example, dental bills, parking fines, and vet bills. As a company that have advised thousands of clients since 2009, very rarely in our experience does a person find themselves in debt through reckless, or deliberate misspending. For us, it’s important that we help our customers to understand that taking the first step of seeking help, while also the most difficult; is ultimately the most important step to take.  

Gambling and Over-Shopping

Gambling and shopping have become far more accessible activities thanks to the internet, which means the number of people developing addictions to these pastimes has increased too. Struggling to control the amount you gamble, or how much you spend on nonessential items, is a sure-fire way to get into debt. Organisations such as Gamblers Anonymous Scotland can be very helpful for situations such as these.  

Not Having a Spending Plan

If money is especially tight, a monthly spending plan or budget is vital. In a 2023 Trust Deed Scotland^® customer survey, 25% of our customers told us that a lack of control over their finances was the biggest cause of their financial difficulties.* Going back through your receipts and checking how much you are spending on specific things will also enable you to identify less necessary purchases. Shopping around in various supermarkets and checking which offer the cheapest options can be a smart move too. Making plans and checking on your spending will also make you feel far more in control of your finances, and allow you to see if a problem is developing, thereby enabling you to take action or seek help before the problem worsens.  

Spending Your Savings

Not everyone is in the privileged position to be able to put a little money aside each month. If you can, however, this will be hugely beneficial if you run into any unexpected expenditures in the future. The need for repairs in the home, for example, can come from nowhere, and having money set aside will prevent you from having to pay out of your monthly income, which could potentially throw other payments – particularly direct debits – into disarray.  

Not Talking About Money

Finances can seem scary without proper explanations, and people can be made to feel bad for not understanding specific terms used when speaking about money. If you have children, beginning to educate them about money and how it works from an early age will help them significantly in the long term. If you are in a relationship, you should also talk often and openly about your finances. Keeping money problems a secret will only cause issues later on – money brings on enough stress as it is!  

Why Do People Get Themselves Into Debt? – Where To Get Help

How does debt happen? Whatever the reason for debt, it’s extremely easy to find yourself in debt. If you are concerned about your financial situation and need some non-judgemental debt advice, you can talk to Trust Deed Scotland^®. If you are thinking about reaching out for Scottish debt help and would like more information in the meantime, try our Trust Deed Wizard^® tool to see how we can help.   *Trust Deed Scotland^® Customer survey from November – December 2023, with 2,246 customer responses.

Debt Consolidation Options

Consolidating debt doesn’t just mean taking out a new loan to pay off smaller loans. It is the process of making your outgoings more manageable by bringing them all together. This can be done using one of the options detailed below. While this may not always address the issues that got you into financial trouble in the first place, depending on the solution you choose, consolidating debts may make it easier to manage your situation and can help put you in a better financial position. If you have problem debt, we would always recommend that you discuss your situation with an experienced debt adviser. This may help you better understand your options and allow you to make an informed decision on what’s right for you.

Reasons Why People Consolidate Debt

  There are many reasons why you would consolidate debts. Some of these include:

• Living expenses have gone up and you are unable to make the monthly payments
• You’ve accumulated payday loans due to unavoidable circumstances or reduced income
• High-interest credit cards are eating up your budget
• You’ve been keeping yourself afloat using a bank overdraft

 

Ways to Consolidate Debt

  There are several debt solutions that allow you to consolidate all your payments. Each option has distinct advantages and drawbacks and every option is not available to everyone. It all depends on your financial situation and preferences. Below is a brief overview of the available options:  

Borrowing From Family or Friends

  This is one of the cheapest ways to consolidate your debts. However it requires a lot of thought as while borrowing from family and friends may be a great option, it can fundamentally change a relationship with the person from whom you borrow. For instance, if unfortunate things happen which prevent you from paying them back, the relationship could turn sour. Consequently, if you decide to go this route, be sure to do it right. Consider creating a contract that outlines each person’s responsibility, the amount borrowed, the repayment period, the interest rate and the payment frequency. Also, keep track of the payment made and the balance due. Replacing several loans with one loan can help you regain control of your finances. However, don’t consolidate your debts for convenience since there are several pitfalls to consolidating debts including extending the loan term, hurting your credit score and jeopardizing assets, to name a few. Just be sure to get independent financial advice before consolidating your debts.  

Debt Consolidation Loan

  This is one of the most common methods of debt consolidation. It involves taking out a personal loan from a bank, credit union or other financial institution to pay off outstanding debts and consolidate them into one large loan. A personal loan is an unsecured loan, meaning if you default, you won’t lose anything. However, the creditor can pursue you for the debt. One of the most important things about using a loan to consolidate your debts is that it has a low-interest rate, which can range from 5% to 36%. The interest rate is largely dependent on your credit score and the amount you borrow, these loans are paid off in a set amount of time (typically two to seven years).  

Guarantor Loans

  This is one of the methods of debt consolidation in Scotland. It involves taking out a personal loan from a company and asking someone else to act as a guarantor on your behalf. Your guarantor then becomes responsible for the loan, should you default on it and become unable to pay it yourself. Recently, guarantor loans have come under criticism for the way they’ve been offered without the correct affordability checks, which has caused some of the leading providers of guarantor loans to cease trading. No matter how appealing it may seem, you should always seek advice before committing yourself or anyone else to take out a guarantor loan.    

Credit Card Balance Transfer

  Using credit cards for clearing debt is very similar to a loan, you just open up a new credit card with a limit higher than your personal loan debt and transfer your credit card balances onto the new card. Most credit card providers offer a promotional 0% p.a. rate for a limited period after which standard rate will apply. This option has low-interest rates and offers payment flexibility – you can pay more than your minimum payment each month. This method is not without its drawbacks as you need a very good credit score to qualify for the best interest rate, there can even be fees on the amount you transfer which. This can lead to even more credit card debt as you’ll increase your borrowing capacity if you don’t cancel your old cards.  

Debt Settlement

  Settling debts involves offering your creditors a lump sum payment to pay off part of what you owe them. In return, they will write off the remaining balance. If your creditor thinks that this is a better option than waiting for you to completely pay them back, they may accept the offer. However, you are unlikely to succeed if you call the creditors yourself and offer the debt settlement. If you don’t feel confident doing this yourself then you can work with a qualified money adviser such as Money Helper. These organisations may have a better understanding of which creditors (the people to who you owe money) are likely to accept and what they won’t consider. If you do get an offer of debt settlement, always get the offer in writing. Always then get confirmation that the funds have been received and the debt  

Trust Deeds and Formal Scottish Debt Solutions

  This is a legally binding agreement between you and your creditors to pay part of what you owe. The agreement can only be administered by a certified Insolvency Practitioner (IP) who will act as the trustee. This method involves transferring your assets to the trustee so that they can manage them with the aim of paying your creditors. Additionally, it prevents your creditors from adding more interest to the money you owe, taking legal action against you and repossessing your home and car. Protected Trust Deeds are designed to help individuals who have at least £5,000 worth of debt. Your trustee will make regular payments towards your debts for a period of 4 years. At the end of this period, any outstanding debt is written off by the creditors. This option is particularly helpful if you’re struggling to pay your debts within a certain timeframe. If you’re considering this method, Trust Deed Scotland® can help. We’re known for our ‘excellent’ service as per our [reviews] TrustPilot reviews and we offer formal debt solutions designed to help individuals manage their debts.  

Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS)

  If you are unable to get further credit, then a DAS may be a good solution for you. Using the Debt Arrangement Scheme, you will make an offer to your creditors which will freeze the interest and charges on your debts. You will then make an affordable monthly payment. Contact Trust Deed Scotland if you would like to receive tailored debt advice today.

 

Scotland is struggling with debt

The UK is in the midst of a consumer debt crisis. According to the Office for National Statistics: household debt is 33% higher on average than before the 2008 financial crisis, averaging around £15,500 per household nationwide. Scotland is no exception and has seen a 12% increase in personal debt averages, as well as a 20% increase in small-business failures. Living with debt has major consequences in terms of living standards, for the individual and the family, and can be a great source of anxiety besides. A big part of this is down to the simple fact that it can be incredibly daunting to try and take action against your debts – with the all-important question, ‘where do I start,’ being particularly hard to answer. This article attempts to offer the reader some clarity, guidance and to help answer that all important question, for debts big and small. It is crucial to have a plan of action – especially if you are making repayments to multiple creditors. A January 2019 study showed that it would take 26 years on average to write off credit card balances when making the minimum monthly repayment. Paying over a longer period of time of course also means you are likely to be paying more in interest. As such, some good strategy can save you money as well alleviating yourself from the burden of debt much faster.

Budget your way out of trouble with automated banking

First, before choosing the best strategy for you it is key for you to sort out your spending, and your borrowing. At the centre of most debt problems is an overspending problem. Painful as it may be, the first step in solving your personal debt problem is to accurately identify the extent of your monthly overspend. Stop spending are two words which are easy to say and harder to implement. The most effective way is to automate. How much simpler would saving be if the balance displayed in your current account was purely expendable income? After all, a displayed balance of say £2,000 may be reassuring at the start of the month – but what if only £200 of it was expendable after rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, groceries, car insurance etc? Fortunately, online resources make this possible. Money Saving Expert’s online budget planner is probably the most effective resource available at the moment. The MSE planner takes a couple of hours but provides a real assessment as to your overspend – producing both a monthly and annual total. Finally, to ensure you stay within the limit in practice, highly recommended is the ‘piggybanking technique.’ The key steps are as follows:

• Step 1: Define the main areas you need to make savings in and set a new ideal monthly spend in that area (the budget planner can help you do this.)
• Step 2: Set up a new bank account for each. Besides your main current account, always have a bills account and if you are self-employed a tax account. Then select 3 or 4 of the main categories from Step 1 for the other accounts.
• Step 3: Set up standing orders from your main current account into each of these accounts. Schedule this for 2-3 days after payday if there is any chance of payment issues from your employer (or clients if you are self-employed.)
• Now your main current account will accurately show what you have to spend. Piggybanking is most effective when you use online banking – access to your current account balance on your phone allows you to continually check on it in real time, and aid your decision making in day-to-day life.

If you need a loan, check all the options

Next, sorting out your borrowing involves more than ‘just stopping.’ Sensible borrowing and affordable credit are vital tools in debt reduction. Payday loan firms rely on the perception that besides bank loans there exists no alternative. Whether you have an unforeseen bill or change in circumstances, payday loans are not the only means to keep your head above water in the short-term. Many can’t get a good rate for a personal loan from banks by account of their poor credit rating. If this applies to you, a better alternative to high-cost payday loans could be a local credit union. Credit unions provide low-interest loans for members who share a ‘common bond:’ typically residence in a local area; or employment in an industry. In preparation for this article, we used lenders own loan calculators to obtain a quote for a £500 loan. Quickquid offered a maximum repayment schedule of 3 months with an APR of 1294.1%. Therefore, the total interest on a £500 loan was £360. The total repayment was £860. For comparison we chose a credit union local to our office – Glasgow Credit Union, the biggest community lender in the UK. Their website states that: “Everyone who lives or works in the ‘G’ postcode area can become a member of Glasgow Credit Union and access our exclusive savings, loans and mortgages products.” Using their loan calculator, we got a quote for a £500 loan as above. The loan was repayable over 12 months, and APR stood at just 24.9%. Therefore, the total interest on a £500 loan was £62.92. The total repayment was £562.92. In this instance, a potential borrower could save £297 on just one loan. Another suggestion is to shift your credit card balances to 0% interest through a ‘balance transfer.’ This is a technique whereby you shift your debt to a new credit card, making the most of balance transfer deals. A comprehensive guide is available here.

How to clear your debts like a pro without a loan

Now, consider two popular repayment strategies. First, ‘debt avalanche.’ This method breaks down as follows:

• Step 1: Make a list of all your debt and rank them by interest rate from highest to lowest.
• Step 2: While making the minimum repayments on all of your debts, allocate the remaining affordable amount to the highest-ranking debt.
• Step 3: Once you have written off the debt at the of the list, repeat this process going down your list.

‘Debt snowballing’ essentially reverses this process in key ways:

• Step 1: Make the minimum repayments for all debts.
• Step 2: Allocate all of the remaining affordable amount towards the smallest outstanding balance.
• Step 3: Once you have written off the smallest debt, repeat the process going up your list.

Both of these methods have their merits. Debt stacking generally saves you the most money in interest, but it might take a long time to get a high-balance debt off your list. Debt snowballing may see you pay more total interest, but the psychological effect of ‘small wins’ may well keep you more motivated. So as to which method to choose, it may be best to borrow from fitness terminology: “the best diet is the one you stick to.”

Poor credit and can’t afford pay your debts in full?

Don’t worry you’re not out of options yet, there is government legislation designed to help in these situations. One of the formal, statutory solutions in Scotland is the Protected Trust Deed, a specialist insolvency solution.. The Trust Deed is a binding agreement between you and your creditors, overseen and administered by an Insolvency Practitioner (IP.) The Trust Deed allows you to repay your debts in a single, reduced monthly payment distributed too creditors by your IP. Below is a transparent, brief overview of the advantages and disadvantages, as well as notes on eligibility:

• • Advantages:
    • Your repayments are combined into one monthly contribution, which is managed for you – allowing you to put your debt problem behind you.
    • This contribution is based on what you can actually afford
    • Your creditors cannot legally contact you, all communication is to be directed towards your IP.
    • Your debt is ‘frozen’ throughout the agreement – meaning no fees or interest increases can be added to the debts in the Trust Deed.
    • At the end of your agreement (typically 4 years) the rest of your debt is written off.
  • Disadvantages:

• • Your credit rating could be affected: Trust Deeds stay on records for 6 years.
  • You may be required to release equity in your property.
  • You cannot be a Director of a Limited Company
  • You typically cannot acquire credit of over £250 during the Trust Deed.
• Who Qualifies for a Trust Deed:
  • People who have been living in Scotland for over 6 months with debt of unsecured £5,000 or more, owed to 2 or more creditors;
  • Unsecured debts include but are not limited to: unsecured bank loans; payday loans; overdrafts; store cards; council tax arrears & tax bills (for those self-employed.)
  • You must be employed or self-employed, as your contribution is calculated from surplus income.

The Protected Trust Deed and DAS are our specialist services and have offered thousands of Scottish families and individuals a fresh financial start in the midst of a consumer debt crisis throughout the UK. For a confidential chat with one of our experienced debt advisers, get in touch today on 0141 221 0999 or leave an enquiry online or on our Facebook page today.        

Social media has proven to be a game-changing technology. Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat have profoundly impacted all of our lives – and these platforms are likely to be the mere tip of the iceberg as technology continues to develop rapidly. The benefits of social media are well documented. It offers unprecedented interconnectivity and communication; near unlimited access to content, both informative and entertaining; and has revolutionised marketing for business owners who can now reach any and all potential customers in real-time. What we are less familiar with, however, are the downsides of social media, which is unsurprising considering it’s still in its early years. Some well-informed conclusions are coming to light – social media, for example, could be directly linked to your spending habits. Especially with the increase of buy now, pay later lending options.

Life through the lens: The Instagram lifestyle

Instagram – a social networking platform allowing users to upload photos and videos, edit them with filters and organise them using tags and location has enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity in recent years. Users of the platform can browse other users’ content through tags and locations; view trending content; “like” photos; and follow other users to add their uploads to their feed. There are few things more addictive than our Instagram feeds. It is the ultimate ‘work break’ ( or procrastination tool) that allows you to keep on top of all of the latest trends, goings on of your friends, family and favourite public figures in the most digestible format. A picture, after all, is worth a thousand words. It appears, though, to have become something much bigger than intended. Average user time spent on the app has doubled in less than a year – and according to the Royal Society for Public Health, social media as a whole has “become more addictive than cigarettes.” Any platform with such addictive qualities can influence peoples lives in ways we are only just beginning to understand. Studies are beginning to find links between social media use and mental health problems due to negative self-comparison. Psychologists have long understood the purposes and consequences of self-comparison within our peer groups, workplaces and neighbourhoods. Social media has taken these comparisons to a new, previously unimaginable level. Our feeds give us 24-hour, instant access through posts and stories to watch our friends jet off on holiday, buy a new car and dine at the best spots in town. Instagram in particular, offers a window into people’s lives – but only the interesting parts, only their wins. As a result, users are left comparing their whole lives to the best parts of someone else’s – an entirely unfair comparison. Think of the ‘social media influencer’ modelling the latest fashion trends and offering you their discount code; or the amateur athlete revealing six-pack abs against a perfect sunset background, telling all you need to get lean is to buy the latest Herbalife supplement. Studies show that over 75% of people exaggerate or lie on social media, and “post a completely different reflection” of themselves. Social media allows us to put our best foot forward. It doesn’t require us to offer an accurate account of our daily routine – which in all likelihood wouldn’t make it to the trending page, social media influencer or not.

Overspending and the debt spiral

How, then, do overspending and debt fit within this context? Strong evidence is emerging that because of social media induced self-comparison, young adults, in particular, are overspending to keep pace – citing the FOMO (fear of missing out) phenomenon. As Goldman Sachs put it: “We’ve always been concerned about what other people think of us — and have, in a way, built our budgets around it.” Again, though, social media has entirely redrawn the limits of this – as young adults strive to keep up not only with their peer group but with the thousands of influencers and celebrities on their feeds and on the trending page. Credit Karma and Qualtrics have produced the most comprehensive study to date. Their survey in the United States found that nearly 40% of millennials spent money they didn’t have to keep up with their friends and that they doubt they can keep the pace up for another year without going into debt. Further, according to Pew Research: 40% of U.S. adults on social media say that seeing other people’s purchases and holidays on social media influences them to look into a similar purchase or trip. This emerging evidence is significant and demonstrates how social media feeds into the debt spiral. The debt spiral is a concept we have referred to throughout our posts. At the core of most debt problems is an overspending problem: people spending too much money to enjoy a quality of life they can’t afford and resort to expensive short-term credit to fill in the gaps of this overspending, plunging them into debt. There are two specific features of social media that particularly drive overspending;

• First, the rise of the modern blogger or social media influencer. This has particularly changed the way companies market their products (especially in the fashion and beauty sectors). Brands send selected products to be promoted by ‘influencers’ with high amounts of followers.Often the influencer is given a discount code to encourage their followers to spend. This is a full-time, high-income form of employment for thousands of young, fashionable opinion leaders. With professional efficiency, they take that aspirational photo to promote the product causing thousands of their followers to race to buy it in the hope that they will look just as good.
• Second, consider times, where you have been browsing or shopping online and head to social media for a little break, up pops a brand or product you’ve looked at on your feed as an advertisement on an entirely different page.This is no coincidence. Brands can ‘re-market’ to you on social media, tailoring the ads you see based on your online activity as well as the activity and preferences of your connections.

Buy Now, Pay Later culture

Buy now pay later providers such as the Swedish Klarna have launched in the UK, determined to sign up as much millennial as possible. With its ease of user-friendliness and ‘coolness’ there is a recent trend of people having financial difficulties caused by buy now, pay later deals spiralling out of control.

Unplugging from the spiral

What to do then? How can you stop social media induced self-comparison from damaging your financial situation? Hopefully, reading this post can serve as a first step. Consider and look deeper into the findings presented here. Be very, very careful and selective about what you follow and consume on social media. What highly selective images are triggering envy in you; what celebrities or ‘influencers’ are you getting drawn into self-comparison with? More importantly, is your feed and the content you consume leading you to make purchases you probably shouldn’t? Take the time to look through all platforms you are active on and do a full audit. Get rid of anything you feel might be leading you down the path outlined in this article. If it doesn’t inspire you or makes you feel bad about yourself ‘unfollow’. As a final message, social media can often lead you to feel like you are missing out – often this is not accidental. Social media is a disruptive technology in its infancy – it is engaging, addictive and redefining the world in many ways, both good and bad. When it comes to your finances, for now, it appears best to be very careful as to what you consume on social media. Chasing phantoms, striving to keep up with highlight reels on Instagram can ultimately rob you of long-term financial stability. You can’t get a mortgage on your dream home with a crippled credit rating, or have the freedom to travel throughout your adult life if all of your income has to go towards paying off high-cost credit. If you already find yourself in a financial position which is no longer manageable, you might benefit from a tailored debt advice call with one of our expert advisers, get in touch today on 0141 221 0999. If you’re looking for our official Trust Deed Scotland social media accounts, you can find them here: Trust Deed Scotland Facebook Trust Deed Scotland TikTok Trust Deed Scotland Instagram Trust Deed Scotland Twitter

The Easter holidays and spending money go hand-in-hand. If you have kids, you might be heading abroad, visiting family or planning a few activity-packed days out (fingers crossed for good weather). In theory, the Easter holidays should bring a fun-filled fortnight with your family, but in reality, you’re facing an expensive few weeks. With or without children you can expect price hikes on holidays, transport and admission costs.

Just how expensive is Easter?

This year the average five day holiday is expected to cost £810 – including the 67% of Brits who are choosing to spend their break here in the UK. In 2018, holiday comparison website Kayak reported a 30% price increase for top holiday spots, compared to previous years over the Easter holidays. If you’re heading to a popular destination like Dubai or Malaga expect to pay 49% and 40% more on flights respectively. Looking for a last minute flight deal? Beware! You could end up paying over the odds on accommodation when you arrive, so do your research before getting spend happy with your credit card.   Last year, it was estimated we spent upwards of £247 over Easter weekend alone! If you have children that figure is closer to £300 per person. Even those ‘free’ activities like visiting the beach or the park could rack up costs from petrol, parking and a cheeky wee ice cream. You’re not immune to the spending frenzy if you don’t have kids either. Over Easter weekend you are more likely to head out for a meal, visit a museum, catch a film at the cinema or give your home a fresh lick of paint. Plus, with most of the country enjoying the break you’re more likely to visit friends and family, spending on average £19 on transport costs according to Money Facts (as above).

Money saving hacks for the holidays

Heading abroad? If you’re heading for foreign soil but waiting for the perfect deal before you book, here are a few money-saving hacks to try:

• Be flexible with your flights. Travelling on a weekday, at night time or taking an indirect route could all help you to save some pennies. You could even fly to a nearby city and then catch a train to your destination. You’ll get to see more of the country from the ground this way too!
• Research affordable destinations. Porto, Portugal was recently revealed as the cheapest spot in Western Europe for a short break, where a beer comes in at a neat £1.75. Research from the Post Office suggests a two-night stay in 3-star accommodation, a three-course meal and entrance to an art gallery for 2 people would set you back just £172.60pp.

  Already booked your Easter holiday? You’re probably looking forward to a well-deserved break. Having already parted with your hard-earned cash though, you might want to consider a few ways to save on those last-minute holiday costs:

• Buy tickets to attractions in advance. Online prices can be significantly cheaper than on the door costs.
• Don’t leave travel money until the last minute. Airport currency exchange is often significantly less competitive. To get the best possible exchange rate, do your research. Money.co.uk have a great comparison tool.
• Get a travel credit card. If you use your credit card you could be in for a shock when you return from your holidays, often facing fees for using it abroad. Specialist travel cards are a great holiday companion because they don’t charge for cash withdrawals or interest and non-sterling transaction fees. For a guide to the best travel cards, check out Money Saving Expert.

Staying at home? Well why leave? Scotland has everything you need to enjoy the break right on our doorstep. Okay, okay except maybe the weather – but you never know!   Visit Scotland have gathered a list of 38 things to do this Easter, many of which are free. You could blow away the cobwebs with a day along the Fife Coastal Path, unleash your inner Culture Vulture and visit Dippy at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum or take a jaunt through Edinburgh’s Botanic Gardens.

Grab a deal

Always check out deal websites like Itison and Wowcher for bargains on days out, restaurants, and hotels before you head out. You’ll find discounts on venues like Edinburgh Dungeon, M&Ds and Landmark Forest Adventure Park. Just make sure you check the terms and conditions to ensure the deals are eligible over the holidays.

Entertaining the kids at home

If you’d rather stay avoid the crowds and stay in the house but have children to keep entertained here are a few ideas:

• Print some Spring activities. If you have access to a printer there are lots of websites that offer free to download quizzes, colouring and puzzles. Jump Start has some seasonal options from an Easter Bunny Maze to a printable Easter Card little ones can colour in.
• Easter baking. Everyone loves a chocolate nest, don’t they? For the cost of just a few cheap ingredients (and a messy kitchen), you can keep your children occupied making some yummy Easter treats you can all enjoy. Head to the BBC Good Food website for some Easter baking inspiration.
• Traditional egg painting. You know the drill, grab some paint or dye and a box of eggs and let everyone get creative. Here are a few ideas. When you’re finished, head for the nearest hill and race your eggs to the bottom!

Already struggling to keep your finances in check?

If you’re struggling to keep your head above water in an unmanageable financial position, you could benefit from a chat with one of our experienced debt advisers. We’re a leading debt personal debt solutions company in Scotland and offer confidential advice to residents of Scotland. To join the [volume] people we’ve already helped to start their journey towards a brighter future get in touch today: Call us on 0141 221 0999 or see if you qualify now using our Trust Deed Wizard tool.

If you’re an entrepreneur, sole-trader or small business owner, small business debt is probably a fact of life for you. You’re not alone, it’s almost impossible to grow a business without borrowing. Following the financial crisis of 2008 and more lately the Coronavirus crisis of 2020, two trends have emerged which could be adding to your financial burdens:

• Firstly, since the credit crunch access to mainstream lending (primarily bank loans) has declined, driving more people to high-cost credit such as payday loans
• Secondly, personal unsecured debt levels have soared to record levels

For business owners, these trends have proved particularly costly. Chartered Accountants French Duncan predicted in 2019 that a record 20 business failures per week in Scotland. To help you stay in business without your debt spiralling out of control, you need to consider your priority costs, ensure you’re taking advantage of tax credits and expense allowances and only borrow responsibly. That might sound overwhelming but we’re here to help with 4 steps to get you started:

Step 1: Prioritise your business costs

The first step towards getting your house in order is to clarify what your priority business costs are. These are the basic payments you must make just to keep your business in operation. These costs will vary depending on your business services are, but they may include:

• Mortgage payments or rent on your business premises
• Business vehicles (if you travel to jobs) and their associated costs
• Tax, VAT and National Insurance
• Utility bills
• Leases on equipment
• Unpaid Fines
• Court judgements

Citizens Advice’s priority debt calculator is a great tool to help you tailor this list to the needs of your business.

Step 2: Get quality funding

  When you’re starting out, your top concern is probably funding. We have spoken previously, with concern, about the growing use of high-cost credit – specifically payday loans. To reiterate, turning to high-cost loans is dangerous, but also entirely unnecessary. Good quality alternative finance is available both in a personal and business context. Be it through the growing trend of crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending, or the use of local credit unions as we recently advocated in our Clear your debts like a Pro article. Financing your business is no longer a case of petitioning your high street bank. Finding the right funding, best fitted to your business is simply a case of knowing where to look. Here are some highly recommended key resources.

• Funding Options: this is an invaluable Treasury owned search tool, which based on specific criteria aims to rank over 50 providers of a variety of grants and loans in order of suitability to your business
• If you are looking into grants over a loan, the good news is that in Scotland alone there are over 220 grant types This guide from smallbusiness.co.uk details the most popular ones.
• Business Gateway offers a broader range of support and services – including over 30 online resources dedicated to business financing.

Step 3: Make friends with HMRC

  Self-management of your taxes can be a daunting prospect even if you’ve been in business for a long time. The key to a good relationship with HMRC is communication. Ensure you keep HMRC in the loop with correct, up-to-date information about your business’s income and expenses. If you don’t, there’s a chance that your tax bill may be over-estimated. This not as uncommon as it may sound following the start of the new tax year and the introduction of new tax codes. If you find yourself in a position where you’re struggling to make payments, keep HMRC up to date with your situation. Otherwise, they may jump to the conclusion that you are avoiding payment altogether. Contact your local office and explain to them. You can even make an offer to pay off the debt at an amount you can afford. If they agree that you can’t afford to pay in one lump sum, they may accept your offer to pay in monthly instalments.

Step 4: take advantage of tax allowances

  Running your own business can become all-consuming. It is therefore unsurprising that most small business owners do not find the time to investigate all possible tax credits and exemptions they’re be entitled to. Here are three tax breaks which may save your business thousands each year:

• Research and Development tax credits: R&D tax credits are worth looking into even if you don’t initially feel like you would qualify. HMRC defines R&D very broadly, and thousands of software, design, architecture and engineering businesses doing no laboratory work benefit from these reliefs
• Employment Allowance: If you have employees (even a few), the Employment Allowance could reduce your National Insurance bill by £3000 a year. If your application is successful, no National Insurance is payable up to the £3000 limit. For most small businesses, this would eliminate the entire bill
• Use of Home Claims: HMRC allows generous tax savings for small businesses operated from home. For example, you can claim for a proportion of heating, mortgage interest, broadband, landline telephone and even council tax costs.

These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to making savings in the tax minefield. Bytestart offers a comprehensive guide Sole Trader Tax Guide for further reading.

Has your Business Debt become unmanageable?

If you are in an increasingly unmanageable position, a Protected Trust Deed could be an option for you. A Protected Trust Deed is a legislated debt solution in which you could write off unaffordable debt, reduce your monthly repayments to one affordable sum all while protecting the things you love. However. there are a couple of important factors to consider first:

• As a sole trader, your income probably fluctuates month to month. This requires closer collaboration with your trustee to ensure the projections used to calculate your monthly contribution are fair and accurate
• If your business and personal bank accounts are held with the same bank, you will need to open a new business account with a different bank before the trust deed begins
• You will not be able to access further business borrowing for the duration of the Trust Deed.
• The general rule is that you can’t be the director of a limited company unless the terms of your Trust Deed allow it.

For an accurate assessment of whether a Protected Trust Deed or Business Debt Arrangement Scheme is the right option for you, get in touch today for tailored, confidential chat with one of our self-employed debt specialists. Call our Self Employed Debt Help specialist team on 0141 221 0999 to find out if you qualify now.