BUDGET SERVICES
We offer a comprehensive budget advice service, either on a one to one basis with one of our volunteers or with our budget advisor, and we also run budgeting courses.
When a client is referred to us (or they can ‘self-refer’) our
The Coordinator will then match them up with one of the available budget advisors. An agreement is signed which the client has to adhere to, and depending on the need, a programme will be set. Within this, we also offer an advocacy service supporting clients in interactions with government agencies, or where necessary, power/phone companies, businesses or debt collecting agencies.
While many of the people who access this service have significant debt, a significant number are in the position where they just need some help in putting together a budget to manage their limited resources more effectively, or they wish to put in place a budget and cash flow to enable them to embark on a savings plan.
As with all our services, we work on a basis of empowering our clients to learn the skills to manage their own life and resources, so one of the things we do not do, is take over their money, sort it all out, and then give them the balance.
Our budget courses, range from a ‘one off’ overview on what budgeting is all about and the advantages of working with a budget, right through to a six session programme that is more intensive.
We also have a programme called “Budgeting for Young Beginners”; the aim of this programme is to teach young people how to be financially responsible before they are earning an income, as an aid to helping them prevent falling into the pitfalls of debt.
We also take a number of budgeting programmes out into the community to other organisations, both government and non government. There are no charges for these to community groups.
What can a budget advisor actually do for someone who’s having money problems and is in debt?”
The volunteers that wish to offer budget advice are put through a further specific training programme. All the training provided to our volunteers is at no charge to them.
· The budget advisor can give a clear and complete picture of the client’s financial situation.
· They can negotiate manageable terms with the finance companies and creditors that are owed money
· They can create a simple budget that is manageable and that the client can stick to over the long term
· They can generally provide lots of budgeting tips and information about where to get the best buys
· They can arrange to have a food parcel delivered in the shorter term, if there is a need to free up some of the grocery money to pay an urgent bill
· They can advocate for the client with NZ W&I or HNZ if this is necessary or appropriate
· They can advise on ways to better manage the grocery bill, particularly in relation to meal preparation, menu planning, wise shopping skills, setting up their own vegetable garden
· There are in fact, many ways that a budget advisor can help, that the client may not have thought of themselves, particularly if they have lots of other things worrying them