Category: Money Advice

Love Food Hate Waste report that each month, the average family in the UK could save £83 per month by avoiding food waste. This equates to around £1,000 per year that could be added to our pockets by saving food from the bin.  

Save Money by Saving Food

So, how can you minimise your food waste, and save money by doing so? Here are some simple steps and top tips to follow so that your food budget can last longer; and to see the difference in your wallet at the end of the month.  

1. Check the Fridge and Plan your Meals

Look through your fridge, freezer and cupboards before any food shop. Ensure that any food that needs to be used is eaten before you buy more. This also gives you the chance to plan meals with what you already have in the house. Ask yourself “what will pair well with what I have leftover?”  

2. Meal Plan

Every week, create a meal plan. Our top tip is to ensure your meal plan is realistic. This should help you to avoid nipping to the shops for small impulse purchases at a higher price. With a meal plan, you are less likely to visit the shop later in the week for that last-minute purchase which often leads to buying more than you planned.

Batch Cooking

Choosing to batch cook is a great way to ensure you’re using perishable foods before their use-by date. This also makes it easier for you later in the week to enjoy a home-cooked dinner, without the cooking! Simply store in your fridge or freezer, ensuring the food is in a sealed container.  

3. Make A Shopping List

Make a shopping list and make sure to stick to it. A shopping list not only ensures you won’t forget anything but will also help you to avoid impulse buys and overbuying. Tip: if you are struggling with shopping lists, take a quick picture of your fridge, freezer and cupboards as a reminder of what you have at home whilst you are out shopping.  

4. Budget

A budget is one of the most importance steps in money management. Set your budget before visiting the store and stick to it. Supermarket own brand food can be an easy way to stick to a budget without cutting down your shopping list. Often, supermarket own brand tastes just as good as branded food and at a more affordable price. We recommend taking a second look at any deals that may be enticing to you. Consider if the food on offer is an item that you need and will use. Deals often sway us into buying what we don’t need or too much food. Remember that if it ends up in the bin, money has been wasted rather than saved on a deal. Tip: we know that adding the cost of what is going into your trolley as you go can be difficult. Try Quick Scan to help you keep track of the total price as you go.  

5. Food Storage

Keeping certain food chilled can help it to last longer. By making sure you are storing your food correctly, it will be much easier for you to avoid food waste. Fresh food can be stored in the freezer if you aren’t ready to cook with it yet. Tip: Bread is one of the foods we waste the most. It can be kept in the freezer to last longer, allowing you to toast straight from the freezer whenever you’re ready.  

Help with Unaffordable Debt

If you’ve been struggling with your finances, Trust Deed Scotland^® may be able to help. The Trust Deed Scotland^® team of experienced debt advisers can help you to understand the debt solutions available to you. Call today to find out how you could reach a fresh financial start: 0141 221 0999 Alternatively, try the Trust Deed Wizard^® Tool and see what your monthly payments could be in a Protected Trust Deed, Debt Arrangement Scheme or alternative Scottish debt solution.

This UK Savings Week, there will be a lot of discussion over the importance of saving. For people who are unable to put a large amount to the side, some savings accounts can be opened with as little as £1. Then, you’re able to add to it as much and as often as you can. Savings can be for a short-term goal such as a holiday or large bill (e.g. car insurance), a long-term goal such as a down payment on a house, and a lifetime goal such as a retirement fund. Generally, it is encouraged to maintain an emergency fund to cover up to 9 months of living expenses. The reason for this is to cover you for any potential change in circumstances for example, losing your job or dealing with an illness that prevents you from working. However, we know that for many people across Scotland, a savings account with 9 months of living expenses; including accommodation payments such as rent and mortgage, as well as bills, food and travel expenses can seem out of reach. At Trust Deed Scotland®, we speak to people across the country who are struggling to make ends meet and saving any amount is currently unattainable. With the cost of living crisis stretching our budgets to the limit, every penny is needed. If you are not in a position to start your savings journey, that’s OK. You are not alone.  

UK Savings

Previous research by the Money and Pensions Survey (MaPS) found one in six adults across the UK had nothing in savings and another one in ten had £100 or less. This equates to 9 million UK adults with no savings and another 5 million with less than £100. Meaning these adults have been coping with rising costs and unexpected bills without a financial safety net. This can lead to reliance on credit. These figures encouraged a national target of encouraging a further 2 million adults across the UK to save regularly by 2030. Since this report from 2022, we can see little to no change positive change in saving habits across the UK. Although, attention was drawn to the problem a few years ago, a recent report found that:

• Almost 65% of adults in the UK believe they wouldn’t be able to last three months without borrowing money.
• One in seven adults said they have nothing in their savings. With 34% having less than £1,000 in a savings account.
• 33% of UK savers said they would struggle to cover a month’s worth of living expenses if they lost their primary source of income.

 

Turning to Credit

Research by the Money and Pensions Survey (MaPS) found that among the 79% of UK adults using credit, 43% felt anxious about how much they owe. When struggling to make ends meet, reliance on credit can become the only option. However, using credit to for even one payment can quickly snowball into unforeseen fees. Many Trust Deed Scotland® customers get in touch having used credit to pay for essentials, and now have nothing left over to pay off debt repayments such as credit cards. If you are in a similar position, this may be the sign to get advice from an experienced debt adviser.  

Paying Off Debt

If you are making payments towards debt, prioritise paying debt off before adding to a savings account. Trust Deed Scotland® provide tailored debt advice on all available debt solutions in Scotland. Our experienced Trust Deed Scotland® debt advisers offer non-judgmental, straightforward tailored debt advice and guide our customers step-by-step on their journey; allowing our customers to make informed decisions on the best solutions for them. Benefits of a formal debt solution include:

• Affordable Monthly Payment
• Unaffordable Debt Written Off
• Interest & Charges Frozen
• Reduced Creditor Contact
• A Fresh Financial Start

Together, we can help you take on your debt and work towards improving your financial future. A future where you can achieve your savings goals. Contact our team on 0141 221 099. Alternatively, get in touch via our WhatsApp Debt Advice service or to quickly check the debt solutions you may be eligible for, use our Trust Deed Wizard® tool.

It’s BFCM week, better known as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It’s a marketing onslaught that can be hard to resist. Our email inboxes are already filling up with promotions of all kinds, from electronics to apparel and fashion brands. Most retail websites we visit are offering generous voucher codes. We can’t browse our socials without finding clickbaitesque deals. We can’t read a newspaper, watch TV, or even listen to the radio without being offered even more discounts. It’s easy to get caught up in the shopping frenzy of Black Friday and end up spending more than we should. However, you should avoid spending money that you don’t have. Almost four in ten shoppers admit to Black Friday regret after splurging on impulse buys, according to new research by Tesco Mobile. Just over a quarter of the 2,000 respondents admitted to buying items they have never used. PriceWaterCooper, a global consulting, audit and tax firm, predicts that Total UK Black Friday spending is predicted to be £6.4bn in 2025, a 1.5% increase from 2024. The average spend per person is expected to be £262, up 13% from last year. Men are forecast to spend 43% more than women.

Resisting the pull of Black Friday and how it can affect mental health

Black Friday is designed to create urgency. Limited stock messages, countdown clocks and bold discount claims encourage quick decisions. When we feel we are running out of time, we are more likely to buy something without thinking it through. Studies also show that the pressure to buy can impact mental wellbeing. Constant advertising can create a fear of missing out (FOMO), which pushes some people to spend in order to feel better in the short term. Compulsive Buying Disorder also known as shopping addiction or oniomania, is a harmful behavioural condition and is estimated to affect around 300,000 people in Scotland. Psychotherapists writing in the Comprehensive Psychiatry journal have argued that addiction to online shopping should be formally recognised as an official mental-health disorder. Researchers say the condition presents consistent symptoms and characteristics, and that it can significantly affect emotions, thinking patterns, and daily life. Although “buying-shopping disorder” (BSD) has been recognised for decades, experts warn that it has taken on a new intensity in the internet age. Constant access to online stores, targeted advertising, flash sales and one-click purchasing can make urges stronger and harder to control. The Priory Group notes that when individuals overcome one addiction, such as alcoholism, other compulsive behaviours can sometimes emerge, including shopping. These behaviours often worsen in the run-up to the festivities, throughout Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and again during the January sales. Speaking about shopping addiction, they explained: “All rationale and reason around overspending are overlooked for the short-term gain, ignoring the longer-term consequences.” Some temporary coping and recovery strategies include:

• Seeking support from people who understand the urges (other recovering shopping addicts, therapists, trusted friends)
• Removing shopping apps from your phone
• Unsubscribing from email and SMS marketing
• Discarding promotional leaflets that arrive through the letterbox
• Avoiding websites that you know will push Black Friday or sales content
• Planning other activities before, during and after Black Friday
• Avoiding social media entirely, or at least muting or unfollowing retail brands

If you are concerned about your mental wellbeing, our Support Services Hub provides further guidance and lists organisations such as SAMH and Breathing Space, two excellent Scottish organisations specialising in mental health support.

Black Friday and Buy Now, Pay Later: A toxic combination

  As retailers compete aggressively for your attention, the tactics used to drive spending often become more intense, especially during Black Friday. Time-limited offers, countdown timers, and personalised ads create a sense of urgency that can lead people to spend more than they intended. At the same time, the rapid expansion of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options across almost every major e-commerce website has added another layer of risk. BNPL is often promoted as a simple, interest-free way to spread payments, but the reality can be very different. The risks of BNPL during Black Friday BNPL can quickly become a problem because of: Deferred payments that seem manageable in November but pile up in December and January Late fees or additional charges if just one instalment is missed Debt stacking, where multiple BNPL plans run simultaneously across different providers Reduced visibility of your total borrowing — BNPL payments are easy to forget, and not all appear clearly on bank statements Encouragement to spend more, as BNPL increases average order values and lowers the psychological barrier to checkout During heavy sales periods, these risks increase dramatically because people make multiple purchases in a short space of time.

BNPL regulation in 2025

As of 2025, the UK has continued moving towards greater regulation of BNPL products, with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) urging firms to treat customers fairly and provide clearer information. However, full regulation of all BNPL providers is not yet complete, meaning many shoppers still face:

• Inconsistent affordability checks
• Limited transparency around late fees
• Varying levels of consumer protection depending on the provider

This creates a grey area where vulnerable consumers, especially those already worried about money, remain at risk of harm. The FCA have said that in 2026, thanks to the UK government’s intervention, it will start regulating Buy Now Pay Later, using its more formal name – Deferred Payment Credit (DPC). A real-world example of why BNPL needs tighter regulation: A typical situation we hear from customers goes like this: “I bought a few things over Black Friday. £30 here, £60 there. Each one felt affordable, and BNPL let me spread the payments. But by January I had six different instalment plans due at once, all small amounts individually, but together it was too much.” This pattern is extremely common and can push people into overdrafts, credit cards, or further borrowing to cover BNPL instalments. The bottom line BNPL is not inherently bad, but during Black Friday, when spending pressure is at its peak, it can become a toxic combination. Without careful budgeting, BNPL can turn short-term convenience into long-term financial stress.  

Black Friday: Why the Deals Often Aren’t Real Deals

Black Friday has a reputation for huge savings, but the evidence shows otherwise. Recent research from Which? (2024) analysed 175 products across major UK retailers including Amazon, Currys and Argos. Their findings were clear: 0% of the products were at their cheapest price on Black Friday 100% were cheaper or the same price at other points during the year. During the broader Black Friday period (15 Nov–12 Dec), 83% were cheaper or equal in price at another time, and 42% had been cheaper at least once in the previous six months Coverage in the UK press, including The Guardian, highlighted that not a single tracked item hit its lowest price on Black Friday, undermining the belief that it’s the best time to buy big-ticket items. In other words: the ‘limited-time deal’ you’re rushing to buy may not be a deal at all. Some retailers also take advantage of the Black Friday hype by promoting discounts that look substantial, but still don’t offer the best value. This becomes even more risky when buying expensive items, especially if it means dipping into an overdraft, using a credit card, or relying on Buy Now, Pay Later to “grab a bargain”. A simple tactic to avoid impulse purchases If you see something you think you must buy, add it to your basket — then step away and revisit it later. Ask yourself:

• Do I still want this?
• Can I actually afford it today, without borrowing?

If you hesitate on either point, it may have been an impulse decision triggered by the sales environment.

Why waiting can save you money

Most online retailers use cart abandonment strategies. About 41% of shoppers abandon their baskets and retailers know this. As a result, waiting can lead to:

• additional discount codes
• free-delivery offers
• price-drop notifications

Or, you may simply realise you didn’t really need the item after all.

Christmas debt

Regardless of how you feel about Christmas, don’t let money and debt cause you stress. Christmas debt can be really damaging…

1. It adds stress in the back of your mind & stops you from enjoying time with your family.
2. You start the new year on the wrong foot, New Year’s resolutions are trumped by Christmas debt.
3. It cost you money. Buy now pay later, credit cards and store cards are expensive forms of borrowed debt.

To avoid going into debt this Christmas, we recommend making a Christmas budget and sticking to it. Don’t feel pressured to spend more than you can afford. You don’t want to start 2026 with Christmas debt hanging over your head.

Help with unaffordable debts

Trust Deed Scotland® have thousands of five-star Scottish debt help reviews on Trustpilot. With our experience of having helped over [volume] people in Scotland, we offer advice on Trust Deeds, the Debt Arrangement Scheme and alternative Scottish debt solutions.

• Reduce monthly payments
• Unaffordable debts are written off upon successful completion of solutions
• Frozen interest and charges
• Reduced creditor contact

To find out more about the risks and benefits of these solutions from our experienced debt team, contact Trust Deed Scotland on 0141 221 0999, or complete our online Trust Deed Wizard form.

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Many parents in debt find themselves adding to their debts over the summer so that they can arrange childcare or summer activities for their children. We know that family costs can soar once the kids are on school holiday. Budgeting for the cost of childcare as well as simply keeping the kids entertained this summer can feel overwhelming; especially when parents are already dealing with debt. Although this isn’t a new problem for parents, with rising costs impacting people across Scotland, stress and worry about how to spread the budget is growing.  

Childcare Costs during Summer School Holidays

For many, paying for full-time childcare over the summer is unaffordable. With budgets already being squeezed to cope with rising costs, paying for the essentials over summer can push family finances over the edge. In the UK, it cost an of average £943 for a school-age child to receive summer childcare in 2023; a 3% rise on the reported cost from the previous year. It’s important to note that on top of high costs, childcare over the summer can also be difficult to secure depending on where you live. Some partners are able to organise alternate shift patterns so that one parent is always home to take care of the kids as a replacement for childcare. It’s also possible for some parents to arrange a working from home arrangement to look after their children whilst working. Although a good choice as a money saving decision, both of these options can lead to increased stress, reduced quality time with your partner, as well as decreased productivity at work. There are limits to the possibilities of saving on childcare costs. Parents may find themselves with fewer job options due to their need for flexibility, parents can be forced to reduce their working hours to find time to look after their children and may use their holiday time to watch the kids; meaning that they don’t benefit from relaxing time-off. For single parents without friends or family who are able to help out, they can have no choice but to pay for childcare. You may be eligible for childcare funding in Scotland. Although working families can benefit more from the financial support in Scotland such as free school meals, bus fare and lower-cost childcare in comparison to across the UK, many households still struggle to meet a socially acceptable standard of living. This is the case even for parents who work full-time on the national living wage. In the UK, the average cost of nursery childcare for a child under 2 years old is £148.63 per week for 25 hours, or £300 a week for full-time childcare. In Scotland, the average price for holiday childcare was reported at £157.22 per week in 2023.  

Debt Help for Parents

If you are finding it challenging to cover the monthly necessities and make repayments to your debts, Trust Deed Scotland^® can advise you on a range of debt solutions to help you manage your debt and free up your money; so you can have less worry about how you’ll cover childcare costs over the summer. 45% of our customers currently in Scottish debt solutions are raising one or more child¹. Having advised nearly half of our customers who have at least one child to support, Trust Deed Scotland® are well-experienced in ensuring the most beneficial debt advice for you and your family. We can talk you through all available debt solutions in Scotland, including Trust Deeds, the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS), Minimal Asset Process (MAP) and Sequestration; helping you to choose the right debt solution for you and your family’s circumstances. Get in touch to put a plan in place for your future.   ¹ data from February 2024.

Wedding season is here. It’s time to celebrate with your friends and family as they mark a new chapter in their lives. However, when finances are tight, this can be a stressful time while you figure out how to fit the costs into your budget, save money and still make sure that you can be a part of the couple’s big day. Below are our top tips to keep costs under control and stay within your budget as a wedding guest.  

Budget for the Wedding in Advance

Firstly, figure out your budget for the wedding day and any additional events. This includes accommodation, travel costs, wedding gifts and spending money for any correlating events such as the hen do or stag do. Don’t worry if it’s tight, there are many cost-saving options that can help you stick to this. Tip 1: take cash with you on the wedding day or other event and stick to only spending this. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.  

Book Accommodation Early

It’s unlikely that you will score a good deal on last minute accommodation – and it is risky to wait with the hope that you will! You may end up stuck with the most expensive accommodation as your only option. We recommend looking into your options in advance. Tip 2: book group accommodation. Not only can booking for accommodation as a group add more fun to the experience, it also helps you to save money. There are options that can end up cheaper than booking a hotel room when split around a group of people. Have a look at vrbo.com, airbnb and booking.com. Remember to explore your options with accommodation that’s a bit further out. Splitting a taxi with a group of you to head to a cheaper stay may be a money-saver compared to more expensive accommodation closer to the wedding venue.

Buy the Wedding Gift Early

Browse your family member’s or friend’s wedding gift list early to pick the best option. It’s likely that the least reasonably priced gifts will be left to the end – so get there as soon as you can! This way, you are free to pick which option best fits into your budget. It’s important to remember that for gifts that are truly unaffordable for you, it is best to put your financial stability over buying the dream wedding gift. Alternatively, organise with a group to buy one of the couple’s picks from their wedding gift list by splitting the cost. This way, you can put forward what you can truly afford and the couple still receive their chosen gift. Tip 3: if the couple request wedding gifts in cash, you can get clever with this. For example, find out where they are going for the honeymoon and gift the money in this currency for an added touch. Remember, only gift what you can afford.

Save on Your Wedding Guest Outfit

Try to recycle items in your wardrobe however, we’ve all been there when it feels like you have nothing to wear… but this isn’t an excuse to buy something new! Utilise free options first such as borrowing from friends and family – you can promise to return the favour when they next have an upcoming event! The next step is to check cost-saving shops such as ebay or vinted for a good deal.

Know When To Say No

We all know that a wedding celebration doesn’t always involve just the wedding ceremony. You may feel expected to attend the engagement party, bridal shower, pre-wedding dinner… but don’t feel as though you are obliged to attend everything… or anything. If attending more will put a strain on your finances, politely explain that you can’t make it. Remember, the couple already know what it’s like to be counting the pennies – they are planning a wedding after all! So, if you need to cut costs in certain areas, they are likely to understand. The main goal is for friends and family to be around to celebrate the occasion with them.  

Help is Available

For some, the joy of seeing a loved one celebrate such an important day can be overshadowed by the stress of unaffordable debt. Even as a wedding guest, there are many costs to attending the wedding that can be unaffordable. If you are concerned about your financial situation and need friendly, non-judgemental and confidential debt advice, you can talk to Trust Deed Scotland^®. Or try our Trust Deed Wizard^® Tool to find out if you are eligible for debt help.