13DON’T RUSH INTO A PAYMENT HOLIDAY

PAYMENT holidays on mortgages, loans and credit cards will be available for a while yet, but don’t see them as a get-out-of-jail-free option. At some point you’ll have to make up for missed payments in extra interest. Find out if you can move to a cheaper product, make reduced payments, or get interest frozen.

14TALK TO THE FAMILY

GETTING them all involved, sharing and working together will help ease the pressure and stress on you. Explain the need to tighten belts and get their ideas to have a good time on a budget.

15BE A SAVVY SHOPPER

PLANNING meals, writing a list and sticking to it can chop £20 a week off your grocery bill – over £1,000 a year. Don’t be tempted by impulse multi-buys. Knowing what you want will mean less time in the supermarket.

16TRIM YOUR MORTGAGE

MAKE sure you’re on the cheapest deal – around 10.8 million people are on their lender’s standard variable rate, which can be double the cost of the best deals. Know when your current deal ends and lock in a new deal.

17DON’T PANIC ON INVESTMENTS

BETWEEN January and the bottom of the market in March, the stock market fell a third. Since then, prices have recovered 25%. Investing is a long-term business, and there will always be ups and downs throughout.

18FLOG THE CLUTTER 19TURN PENNIES INTO POUNDS

HAVE a clear out and make a few quid on eBay

BY rounding up purchases – lots of banks and apps help you do this automatically, rounding up transactions and transferring the difference into a savings account.

20DITCH THE OVERDRAFT

THE freeze on interest on overdrafts is coming to an end and many banks are hiking rates up to almost 40%. Don’t get stung. Try and clear it or find a cheaper way to borrow, like a personal loan or 0% credit card.