Quids in! (Spring 2025) - Issue 66

YOUR FREE GUIDE TO SMARTER MONEY SAVING

SPRING 2025 / WWW.QUIDSINMAGAZINE.COM

No Holding Back Readers tell us how it is

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On Your Bike?

Can gig work boost our income?

YOU’RE E

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HIRED

The truth behind being an apprentice.

“It’s not like joining the Hunger Games.”

EXPERT ADVICE ON: ✔SPENDING ✔SAVING ✔BORROWING ✔INCOME

BEHIN WHAT’S

D THE

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R O F G N I H C R A SE

SILVER LININGS…

Welcome

● The new tax year brings ups and down, writes Madeleine Caravaggio

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I’m trying to stay upbeat, but it’s hard.

The weather (as I write) is grim. The news is depressing.

And the fact is, life is generally harder for Quids in! readers.

We know because you told us. Our Cost-of-Living survey received around 1,100 responses.

What can I say?

“One in five people One lucky reader won the £300 said they’d acted on draw prize. That’s advice in these pages” something.

I go to meetings about all this and they’re always depressing. So, I’ve decided it’s time to start talking up some solutions.

Seven per cent of readers said they had found help after reading something in our magazine or our Readers Club email service. That suggests that in a year, over 12,000 took extra control of their finances.

One in five people said they’d acted on advice in these pages. That would be 35,000 making changes. Imagine if each one saved fifteen quid! That’s over half a million pounds.

The thing is, all the bad news gets us down. But the reverse is also true. If we can make some positive changes, things start to look up.

What will you change today?

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Jeff, Quids in! Editor editor@quidsinmagazine.com

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ills are on the rise, but there’s some good news too. Here’s what’s coming from April and what it means for our wallets.

INCOME & SAVINGS Lower-paid workers over 21 can look forward to the minimum wage jumping to £12.21 an hour. Benefits are rising by nearly two per cent, “Check if you qualify and the state pension is getting for fuel vouchers or a boost, protected by the ‘triple energy grants” lock’ calculation. cent. Many will see bills rise by around The tax year resets in April. £100–£200 a year. Meanwhile, water If we’re working, it’s time to check our tax bills in Scotland are up nearly ten per cent, code and make sure we’re not overpaying. and in England and Wales, expect a rise of The Help to Save scheme is expanding about £10 a month. We should always look to all Universal Credit claimants. The into Council Tax Reduction schemes. government adds a fifty per cent bonus to The TV licence fee also goes up by five our savings. Worth looking into, even if we pounds. can only put a little away.

BILLS Hold on tight! Energy prices are now set to rise by 6.4 per cent. Ofgem, the regulator, reckons this will add about £120 a year to the average household’s costs. If we’re in trouble, we can check if we qualify for fuel vouchers or energy grants through our supplier or a foodbank.

Local authorities across the UK are hiking council tax rates, with some, like Bedford, raising theirs by nearly ten per

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With bills climbing, eve ry penny counts. Check what dis counts and benefits you might be entitled to.

It could make all the dif ference.

Visit quidsinmagazine.c om for more information or see the useful numbers on page 7.

In this issue…

Our Survey Said

You’re Hired

Does it deserve it’s terrible wrap? Page 4

We asked and you didn’t hold back: ‘We’re struggling’ Pages 5-6

“Apprenticeships are not like joining the Hunger Games” Page 8

Gig Work

• Address 14 St James’s Parade, Bath, BA1 1UL Tel 0845 646 0469 • Editor Jeff Mitchell Email quidsin@cleanslateltd.co.uk • Design Joe Burt Website wildsparkdesign.com • Head of Business Development Lisa Woodman Email lisa.woodman@cleanslateltd.co.uk • Contributors Maggy Owen and Madeleine Caravaggio Email quidsin@cleanslateltd.co.uk • Office Manager Dan Fineman Email daniel.fineman@cleanslateltd.co.uk © This magazine may not be reproduced in part or full without prior written permission The publisher (Clean Slate Training & Employment CIC) makes every effort to ensure content is correct at the time of going to print. We have no political allegiances, and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or editor. Any relationship with advertisers or sponsors is always on the understanding that we retain our editorial independence.

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Our purpose

Quids in! guides are designed to help people understand and manage their money better. They are published by Clean Slate, a CIC (Community Interest Company) and a social enterprise.

Clean Slate is a social enterprise that helps people on low incomes become better off through money guidance, employment support and digital skills. Our staff are recruited from the communities in which we work. Quids in! publishes a magazine, specialist guides, a website and monthly money email. You can support our work when shopping on Amazon by using this link: https://amzn.to/3Raw8Si

NEWS

WON’T STAND FOR THE STANDING CHARGE

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● Ofgem accused of siding with energy giants, not consumers

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ampaigners calling for an end to standing charges on energy bills have slammed new proposals from the regulator Ofgem.

Standing charges are included in bills whether we have used gas and electricity or not. They make up around £300 of all energy bills. Charities supporting struggling households wanted them reduced and included in usage costs. This would give householders more control over how much they pay, as it would all be about how much we use.

Ofgem’s plan, however, has been criticised as confusing and putting consumers at risk of

higher bills altogether.

Last year, Ofgem consulted the public on standing charges and a whopping 30,000 people fed back. Most were against standing charges.

In response, the body has suggested new tariffs that would swallow the standing charges into higher unit prices. At the same time, however, they have proposed tiered pricing based on how much (or how little) we use. So, low energy consumers would pay more per unit for using less.

The BBC reported that campaign group Fuel Poverty Action described the ideas as

BREAKING

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emember ‘sliders’ from the bad old days of Wonga payday loans? They made it supereasy for people to fall into debt and face huge fees when they couldn’t repay.

Now sliders have been put to use in a newly-rebooted, online calculator for smokers. Designed by Stop Smoking London, but available to all, the page works out the savings if we cut down by one, two or more cigarettes a day. Check it out at: stopsmokinglondon.com/calculator Like lots of things we know aren’t great

“the opposite from what we actually need”.

Peter Smith, from charity National Energy Action, said: “We are particularly worried pre-payment meter customers may be left racking up increasingly unaffordable charges.”

Two in five Quids in! readers (41%), who responded to our Cost-of-Living survey, told us they had to turn off their heating despite being cold. This rose to more than half (56%) among working age people who are not able to work.

Ofgem has given energy firms and consumer groups until the 25th March to respond to the latest proposals.

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THE HABIT ● Feeling the pinch? Is it time for a reality check?

“Pre-payment meter customers ma y be left racking up inc reasingly unaffordable c harges”

for us, many lean on smoking to get them through tough times. But when we’re counting every penny, it’s time to think.

According to the calculator, cutting down by just two ciggies a day could save us £10.64 per week. That’s over £550 a year.

Other calculators can tot up the cost of things like take aways or coffees out.

The ‘Demotivator’ tool on Martin Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert website does just

“Cutting down by just two ciggies a day could save us £10.64 per week”

that. (See: moneysavingexpert.com/ shopping/demotivator) What’s more, if we add in our annual income, it’ll tell us how many hours we have to work just to cover these treats.

Now, that is demotivating!

Treating ourselves to a fish supper once a week is, again, something to look forward to. Prices vary across the country but let’s assume it’s at least £25 for a family. Typing that into the Demotivator, it reveals that’s costing us £1,300 a year.

Assuming an annual income of £20,000 and entering that in too… We’d have to work a shocking five weeks just to cover this annual cost.

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: K R O W G I G

If we’re out of work or struggling to make ends meet, gig work might seem like a ticket to fast cash. It’s had a bad rap in the past but are the options any good for us now?

E N I M GOLD ?

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ith companies like Uber, Deliveroo, and TaskRabbit always on the lookout for workers, it’s never been easier to pick up a shift, hit the road, and start earning. But is the gig life really all it’s cracked up to be? Let’s break it down – the good, the bad, and the ugly.

WHO’S HIRING? The gig economy is booming, and businesses are crying out for workers to fill flexible roles.

Here’s where we can find work now: • DELIVERY & DRIVING – Uber, Deliveroo, Just Eat, Amazon Flex, and major supermarkets like Tesco, Asda, and Sainsbury’s are all looking for drivers and riders to keep up with demand.

Supermarket delivery drivers are typically employed on contracts and paid by the hour, with benefits such as holiday pay and sick pay, unlike self-employed gig workers.

Got a bike, scooter, or car? We could be earning within days.

• FREELANCING & ONLINE WORK – If we’ve got skills in writing, graphic design, coding, or admin work, platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and PeoplePerHour can help us find gigs. It’s important to note that success on these platforms often requires time, effort, and strategic planning. Some freelancers struggle to secure their first few projects and may find the competition stiff. Building a reputation through positive reviews and a robust record of previous work is crucial for attracting clients.

• ODD JOBS & TRADES – TaskRabbit and Handy match workers with people who need jobs like furniture assembly, cleaning, or gardening done.

• HOSPITALITY & EVENTS – Companies like Stint and Indeed Flex offer shifts in bars, restaurants, and event venues for those happy to be on their feet.

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MAKING WORK PAY?

Universal Credit (UC) says it ma kes work pay. Here’s what we need to know to make it work for us.

Taking on part-time hours:

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Work Allowance

If we have children or a disability, we can earn £404–£673 a month before UC star ts to go down

Gig work on a self-employed basis:

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Start-up Period

New to self-employment? We get 12 months of support before cert ain expectations kick in.

E L P M A Taper Rate

For ever y £1 we earn over the allowance, UC drops by 55p. The mor e we make, the less benefit we get, but the total is always more. (Earn £10 and lose £5.50 in UC payments, but we still take home £14.50!)

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Part-time Work?

UC may still ask us to look for mor e hours or higher pay. The aim is for us to stand on our own feet financially

IS IT RIGHT FOR US? Before jumping into gig work, we should ask ourselves these questions: • How much do we really need to earn?

Work out the cost of the job itself, including petrol, maintenance, or platform fees, before committing.

• Do we have the right insurance? If we’re delivering food or driving passengers, we might need extra cover beyond regular car insurance.

• What’s the competition like? Some areas are saturated with riders and drivers, meaning fewer jobs and less cash.

• Will we stick with it? Gig work can be exhausting, especially if we’re juggling multiple platforms to make enough money.

THE PROS: WHY IT WORKS FOR SOME

THE CONS: WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR

how we want. If we need to fit shifts around childcare or other commitments, the gig economy gives us the power to decide our own hours. ✔ QUICK CASH – Some platforms pay weekly, and others let us cash out daily.

When money’s tight, this can be a lifeline. ✔ NO CV NEEDED – Many roles don’t ask for experience or qualifications. Got a driving licence? A smartphone? We’re good to go.

✔ VARIETY – If the idea of doing the

same job every day bores us to tears, gig work lets us mix it up with different tasks and workplaces.

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Minimum Income Floor (MIF)

After a year of being selfemployed, UC assumes we earn at least the National Living Wage for full-time hours, even if we don’t! The taper rate is applied on this basis, 52 weeks a year , whether we have been able to wor k or not

“The gig econ omy isn’t a get-ric h-q scheme, but fo uick r some, it’s a lifeline”

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✔ FLEXIBILITY – Work when we want,

✖ NO JOB SECURITY – We’re not employees, which means no sick pay, no holiday pay, and no guaranteed income. If work dries up, so does our pay. ✖ UNCERTAIN EARNINGS – While some workers make decent cash, others find that after expenses (fuel, insurance, maintenance), their hourly rate is lower than minimum wage. ✖ NO BENEFITS – Unlike a full-time job, we don’t get pension contributions or access to things like company perks or training. However, some platforms do offer limited support. For example, Deliveroo provides an earnings support programme for riders who are unable to work due to illness, offering £35 per day for up to 15 days if they meet certain criteria. Uber also provides Partner Protection insurance for eligible drivers, covering accident-related medical expenses and some income protection.

Amazon Flex drivers can opt into insurance plans, but these come at an extra cost. ✖ SELF-EMPLOYED TAXES – We’ll need to do our own tax returns and set aside cash for National Insurance. It’s easy to get caught out if we don’t plan ahead.

Report Earnings Monthly

We must log income and expenses ever y month, or UC could stop. Nee d help navigating UC and gig work? Speak to a Work Coach or a Quids in! money coac h, if we’re in an area near you

says

The gig economy isn’t a get-rich-quic k scheme, but for some, it’s a lifeline.

If we need cash fast and like the idea of bein g our own boss, it can be a decent shor tterm fix.

For unemployed people who want a stepping stone into work, it can be a good place to start. Universal Credit can even be our friend, while we get ourselves together, (see above). But if we’re after stability, benefits, and care er progression, it might not be the best long-term option.

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G N I V I L F O T S O C YOUR G US COLD AND HUNGRY VOICE

LEAVIN

g off the heating, and Brits are skipping meals, turnin living crisis takes its toll, a even falling ill as the cost-ofin! magazine has revealed. shocking new survey by Quids

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Quids in! readers have painted a grim picture of life for lower-income households, with thousands, skipping meals, turning off the heating, and feeling unwell. The cost-of-living crisis is hitting hard.

Those who cannot work due to illness or disability are struggling most. More than half (54%) are skipping meals. Over half (56%) are going cold. Most (61%) feel anxious about money. Many (38%) say money stress has made them sick.

skip meals to save money

38%

say money stress has made them sick

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People are cutting back. Almost one in ten (9.2%) have cancelled home contents insurance. Some (7.2%) have stopped paying for broadband.

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15%

Beyond working age

Working age, working

Working age, unable to work

E L P M A Even working people are struggling. Over a third (37%) skip meals. Almost half (48%) turn off the heating. One in five (22%) have used a food bank, compared to a third (34%) of those who cannot work.

As a result, money stress is hurting our health.

One in five (22%) say stress has made them feel sick. More than a quarter (28.6%) struggle to pay bills. Almost 15 per cent have fallen behind on rent.

To cope, one in five (19.4%) have now moved to cash in order to budget. About the same (19.3%) had to use a food bank. Many (44.8%) have missed social events to save money. Some (15.6%) have argued with family or friends about money.

20%

3%

34 % One in eight readers (12.3%) say they have big money problems. Over a third (34.1%) skip meals to save money. Two in five (40.5%) turn off the heating even when it’s cold. Many (40.6%) feel scared, worried, or sad about money.

Readers who faced serious financial problems

48%

of working people are turning off the heating

Some have borrowed from unsafe lenders. One in twenty (4%) working-age people have done this. No older people said they had.

Money trouble is everywhere. One in five (20%) unable to work have big money problems. One in six (15%) working people say the same. Rent debt is high: 21% of those unable to work are behind.

One in five (20%) working people are too.

Only 4% of older people are in rent debt.

In fact, older people were generally doing better than everyone else. The numbers struggling to maintain healthy habits were less than half those of the worse off groups. Still, one in four (26%) felt anxious about money, a third (34%) went cold, and one in five (21%) skipped meals.

One in ten (10%) readers over retirement age had fallen into arrears with bills and half that number (5%) were were feeling the pinch with debt payments. But against most pointers, over four times more working age people were struggling.

TAKING CONTROL

50%

using less energy to cut bills

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Cash is making a comeback. One in four (25%) now use cash to budget. More older people (26%) do this. Fewer working people (24%) choose this option. As more shops, transport, and food places are going cashless, this could leave some people unable to pay for what they need.

53%

Readers find Quids in! useful all the time or often

The good news is that Quids in! is playing its part. Of those who receive the magazine, our emails or guides, more than half (53%) found it useful all the time or often.

A further 38 per cent said it was sometimes helpful. In turn, this led to one in five (20%) taking action on advice they had read and almost a third (30%) thinking more carefully about their finances. Crucially, where money worries can feel so isolating, our magazines, emails or guides helped over a third (36%) feel less alone.

CREDIT UNIONS Credit unions are not-for-profit organisations that provide bank accounts, loans and savings. They may help people the banks won’t. To find your local credit union call ✆ 0161 832 3694 or visit www.findyourcreditunion.co.uk.

BENEFITS • People with disabilities or carers should contact the Disability Benefits Centre (✆ 0345 605 6055) .

For Child Benefit/tax credits: Inland Revenue (✆ 0845 300 3900).

• Council Tax and Housing Benefit is dealt with by your local council.

• Benefits calculator qimag.uk/benecalc • Pensions Service: ✆ 0800 99 12340 • Age Cymru Advice ✆ 0300 303 44 98 • Age Scotland Helpline ✆ 0800 12 44 222 • Age UK England ✆ 0800 678 1602 DEBT ADVICE For free debt advice and help, contact any of the organisations below.

• National Debtline ✆ 0808 808 4000 www.nationaldebtline.org

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The cost of living crisis appears to be far from over and the debt timebom b is ticking ever-louder. Our readers have spoken and we all need to re-double our efforts to stretch limited budgets.

LOAN SHARKS The Illegal Money Lending Team tackles loan sharks. Call anonymously on ✆ 0300 555 2222, text LOAN SHARK and your details to 60003 or email them at reportaloanshark @stoploansharks.gov.uk.

In Wales call ✆ 0300 123 3311 or email imlu@cardiff.gov.uk.

Scotland: ✆ 0141 2876 655, or email loansharks@glasgow.gov.uk

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Readers, though, are making changes. Half are using less energy to cut bills. One in five have changed suppliers.

Many have searched online for money advice.

WHAT NEXT?

useful numbers

The government must help. The rese arch says working age people who are currently unable to work need help the most. Investing in shorter waiting times to help them overcome or manage health cond itions will pay for itself through lower welfare cost s. And improved support, not judgement, for jobseeke rs is key.

Meanwhile, if we feel like we’re goin g under, it’s essential to seek help now. There are money guiders all round the country and support agen cies, (like those listed on the right), are on standby to take our calls.

• StepChange Debt Charity ✆ 0800 138 1111 www.stepchange.org • Citizens Advice www.citizensadvice.org.uk.

In Wales call ✆ 08444 77 20 20 England call ✆ 08444 111 444

• Citizens Advice Scotland www.cas.org.uk. ✆ 0808 800 9060 • Debt Arrangement Scheme (Scotland) www.dasscotland.gov.uk ✆ 0300 200 2770

Centres Worried about the cost of living and making ends meet?

Do you live in Bath, Bristol, Gloucestershire or London? Pop along and see us at one of our drop-ins – we can help you maximise your income and bring your costs down. Average financial gains £1,328! If you can’t get to a drop-in but would like some light-touch support with budgeting and money guidance, add your details at www.cleanslateltd.co.uk/remotesupport.html and we’ll get back to you. Or use our enquiry form at www.cleanslateltd.co.uk For the full list of drop-ins, visit www.cleanslateltd.co.uk/contact

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YOU’RE

HOW IT WORKS

D E R I H E L P M SA

✔ Anybody over the age of 16 can become an apprentice

✔ Apprentices usually work 4

days and study 1 day a week

✔ Apprentices earn at least

the national minimum wage while they learn, and holidays are paid ✔ Apprenticeships are funded by big businesses and the government

tice is Becoming an appren show nothing like the TV

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on’t believe what you see on TV. Becoming an apprentice is not like joining the Hunger Games.

It’s a space to learn and earn, with support from both employers and trainers.

Alan Sugar, (and previously Donald Trump in the States), make good telly, but their shows are nothing like reality. Bosses don’t even really get to tell staff they’re fired anymore. Not unless they enjoy legal action.

Each of the home nations around the UK manage schemes slightly differently. It was National Apprenticeship Week in England in February, while Scottish Apprenticeship Week was marked from the start of March.

They do share a common approach, however.

The key thing is people of any age who want to get on can swerve the academic route to a great career. People from betteroff backgrounds might not blink at years at university running up debts of tens of thousands of pounds. For those of modest means, however, apprenticeships offer the chance to train up while earning a crust.

In the same time it takes someone to graduate, apprentices can have three years’ earnings under their belt, a qualification and no student loan to pay back.

No longer just for school leavers, apprenticeships offer everyone a chance to learn new skills without going back to school. As householders, we can earn while we learn, making it easier to pay the bills and take off some pressure.

They let us learn by doing. We’ll pick up skills we need on the job.

Whether it’s getting our hands dirty with a trade or mastering some new

tech, apprenticeships give us the practical knowhow that employers love.

Some formal training may be required for certain jobs. If we want to be an accountant, for example, we’ll still need to attend classes.

And if we do want a degree without going to university, there are apprenticeships for that too.

CELEB-ENDORSED

CONFIDENCE BOOST Whether just starting out, or getting back into work after a break, the step up can feel daunting. Apprenticeships make it easier.

They let us take it one step at a time – no pressure, no rush.

We learn at our own pace, so we can build confidence without feeling overwhelmed.

Plus, many employers offer flexible hours, so we can work around our personal life.

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Many famous faces earned their way to the top, starting as an apprentice, including knights of the realm Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Billy Connelly and Sir Ian McKellen. Also on the list are Jamie Oliver and Stella McCartney, and former Love Island star Zara McDermott.

“I felt like university was becoming a little bit of a lifestyle choice as opposed to a future career choice. I really just wanted to get myself stuck into the world of work,” Zara recounts. But she remembers how there was still a stigma around apprenticeships in the school system.

“My headmaster was like, ‘Why would you go for an apprenticeship?’” Zara stuck to her guns and ended up in an advisor role at the Department for Education.

FIND WHAT FITS

There’s no shortage of apprenticeships out there. Whether we’re into healthcare, tech, or something else, there’s something for everyone. And we don’t need a career plan to get started. Apprenticeships help us ease into work and gain confidence, no matter where we start.

Adult apprenticeships are also “I really just wanted to designed with flexibility in mind. We can get myself stuck into juggle family or other commitments while learning, and many employers the world of work” provide extra support, like childcare or Zara McDermott flexible hours.

FIND OUT MORE

England: www.apprenticeships.gov .uk/apprentices Scotland: www.apprenticeships.sco t/ Wales: careerswales.gov.wales/appre nticeships Northern Ireland: www.nidirect.gov .uk/campaigns/ apprenticeships