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Budgeting tips and energy-saving ideas for the winter months

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As winter starts, a little preparation can make all the difference. The colder months bring new challenges, but with a few simple steps, you can stay well, manage costs, and find support when you need it most. Rachel, Cystic Fibrosis Trust’s Welfare Officer, shares helpful budgeting tips, energy-saving ideas, and explains how you can get more money help. We're here to help make winter feel a little brighter and a lot more manageable.

1. Payment dates over Bank Holidays

It's essential to know when money is coming in, especially during the busy festive period. Bank holidays can change your pay dates, whether you receive wages, benefits, or other financial support.

Key upcoming UK Bank Holidays:

  • 2 December (Monday) – St Andrew’s Day (Scotland)
  • 25 December (Wednesday) – Christmas Day
  • 26 December (Thursday) – Boxing Day
  • 1 January (Wednesday) – New Year’s Day
  • 2 January (Thursday) – 2nd January (Scotland)

How payments are affected by Bank Holidays:

If your payday falls on a weekend or bank holiday, you will usually get the payment the working day before. Check your payment dates and contact your bank if you think your payment is late.

If you are finding things hard because your pay or benefit paydays have changed, your local authority will be able to direct you to available emergency support. 

To find your nearest food bank visit find-a-foodbank. Ask your CF Social Worker for more information on how to get a Food Voucher or contact the free helpline on 0808 208 2138 to speak with a trained Citizens Advice adviser. 

Top Tip! If you have a smart phone, sign up to apps like OLIO and TooGoodToGo so you can find cheap food parcels near to you. 

2. Christmas bonus

If you receive certain benefits, you may be eligible for a one-off, tax-free £10 Christmas Bonus in December. This is given to people who get certain benefits during the first full week of December. It’s a bit of extra help during the festive season.

3. Cold Weather Payments

You may be able to get a Cold Weather Payment of £25 if you get certain benefits and the temperature in your area is forecast to be 0°C or below for seven days in a row between 1 November 2024 and 31 March 2025.

Note: Cold Weather Payments do not happen in Scotland, but you may be able to get an annual Winter Heating Payment instead.

4. Winter Fuel Payments

Winter Fuel Payments are available to people born before 23 September 1958 who live in England or Wales and get certain benefits.

If you're eligible, you'll get your payment in November or December. If you haven’t had a letter confirming you can get these payments, it’s worth checking if you need to make a claim. 

Important: Applying for Pension Credit may help you to get financial support like the Winter Fuel Payment. The deadline for applying for Pension Credit to be considered for Winter Fuel Payments is 21 December 2024. Speak to our Welfare and Rights Advisor, your Specialist Social Worker or a local Advice Agency (Citizens Advice) for more information.

5. Warm Home Discount

The Warm Home Discount Scheme offers a £150 one-off discount on your electricity bill if you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or are on a low income. Find out more here.  

People on pre-pay or pay-as-you-go meters can still apply. Contact your electricity supplier to check if you’re eligible and to apply.

Park (mobile) homes: You apply a different way if you live in a park home. Apply for the Park Homes Warm Home Discount. 

6. Keep warm and costs down

Staying warm without breaking the bank can be hard, but a few simple steps can make a big difference.

  • Join the Priority Services Register: This free service offers extra support for people with medical conditions, like cystic fibrosis, to help during power cuts or emergencies. Find out more information here. 
  • If you use an Oxygen Concentrator, you can get money back for the electricity it uses. This is called a ‘rebate’. You should get the rebate every three months. The person who installs your concentrator should tell you how to get the rebate. Speak to your oxygen provider for more details. Home oxygen therapy - NHS
  • Energy-saving tips: Simple changes, like turning off lights when you leave a room, using colder washing machine cycles, and boiling only the water you need, can make your home more energy-efficient and lower your bills. Contact a Green Doctor to help you take control of your bills and save energy in the home. Find out more here.

Need extra help with energy costs?

If you’re finding it hard to afford your energy bills, speak to your energy supplier. They must work with you to find solutions. You may also be able to get grants or other financial support to help with energy costs. You can find out more information about energy bills here.  

If you are struggling with debt, support is available to you: 

Top Tip! Take Regular Meter Readings. Taking regular meter readings and sending them to your energy supplier helps make sure your bills are right. If you don’t give them your reading, they might ‘estimate’ (guess) how much energy you’ve used, which can lead to big surprise bills. To avoid this, try to give your supplier your meter reading every month. You can also ask for a Smart Meter, which sends your reading to your supplier automatically and can help make sure you are only paying for what you use.

7. Cystic Fibrosis Trust grants

Staying well with cystic fibrosis (CF) over the winter months isn’t always easy, especially with added money worries. We offer a number of grants to help you.

  • Emergency Grants: This £150 grant is available for those in urgent need to help cover essentials like food. We look at applications as soon as we get them, but please note that forms sent to us after 17 December 2024 will be paid in January.

Find more information on how to apply for these grants here, or contact the Helpline.

8. Taking control of your money

Making your money go further is essential during the winter months. Whether it’s setting a budget, maximising your income, or cutting down on spending, there are many ways to make your money work for you.

  • Budgeting: Use the MoneyHelper Budget Planner to keep track of your money coming in and what you are spending. This tool can help you manage your money throughout the winter.
  • Maximising Income: Our Income Maximisation Service can help you find all the financial support you could get, making sure you’re not missing out on benefits or grants. Contact us at [email protected] or call 0300 373 1000 to speak to Rachel, our Welfare Officer.

‘Tis the season

At Christmas, it can be easy to feel we need to spend more money than we can afford. Here are a few ideas to help you stick to your budget:

  • Skip unnecessary presents! 
    Set a price limit for gifts. You don’t have to buy the most expensive one. You could even try Secret Santa with your family/friendship group - draw names from a hat and each person buys one gift, keeping it secret who it’s from. It’s fun and saves money.
  • Get creative!
    You don’t have to buy presents - make them! Bake brownies, make candles or soap with minimal supplies, wrap them up in cellophane, and tie them with a ribbon. If you like photos, print one and put it in a cheap frame. Personal, homemade gifts can be thoughtful and special without costing a lot.
  • Keep the magic alive for kids!
    If you’ve got kids, check out these 20 fun, cheap (or free!) ways to make Christmas feel magical!
  • Skip the turkey!
    Just because it’s Christmas doesn’t mean you need to have turkey and all the usual trimmings. There are plenty of cheaper alternatives, and you can save leftovers for another meal.
  • Save on postage!
    Instead of sending cards, share a message on social media or send a free e-card.

There are many more great ideas to save money - check out MoneySavingExpert for 48 Christmas MoneySaving Tips.

9. Looking after you

Winter can be a hard time for mental health, particularly when living with cystic fibrosis. For some people, the festive season can bring feelings of loneliness, stress, and money worries, but there are plenty of ways to get support:

  • Connect with others: Our CF Connect service and Online Community are great places to connect with others living with CF for support and shared experiences.
  • It’s Good to Talk: If you need someone to talk to, the Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123, or you can text SHOUT to 85258 for free, confidential support.

10. Our Helpline

For information and support on anything to do with cystic fibrosis, including financial support, contact our confidential Helpline:

Our Helpline is open Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm and will close for the holidays from 12pm on 23 December, reopening on 2 January.

Reach out to our Helpline

With these resources and tips, you can get through the winter months with confidence. Stay warm, stay well, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need support. 

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