Case Study:

Chris Barlas

AFTER a few bad life choices I fell into serious debt. I had mortgage and credit card arrears, my relationship had broken down and I was given sole custody of my son.

Financially the pressure was huge and I surrendered the keys to my house.

I was sorting the rest of my life out, but my finances were a stumbling block.

The end of the month was horrendous, waiting to get paid on the last Thursday. A five-week month could be unbearable and I barely struggled to get by.

Then last year I heard about the CAP money course, designed to teach you how to manage your money.

Very early on you create a budget. Looking at what comes in and what goes out was something I’d never really done.

You work out a weekly allowance that you stick to and the course encourages you to use cash, so you know how much you’ve got to spend weekly.

It also encourages you to save a little bit – even a pound or two a week will do.

At first, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to stick to the budget and I’d constantly need to take out more but I quickly realised I could live on the amount. It changed my life. Once you start practising this, it just becomes the norm.

It gives you more power and control over your money.

I stick to my system and save for what I need rather than resort to credit.

I’m not depriving myself, I’m savings for things and there’s a small pot of cash if I need to buy something for my son.

Now I work with people coming out of prison and I was very keen that people be offered this type of training so I’ve recently trained as a volunteer to deliver the budgeting course.

Everybody could do with some help with budgeting.