When money’s tight, it helps to know which bills matter most.
Essential (or priority) payments include:
- Rent or mortgage
- Council tax
- Gas, electricity & water
- TV licence
- Child maintenance
- Court fines or government debt
These keep your home and services running, so always tackle these first before thinking about credit repayments.
If you’re struggling, free help is available from:
- StepChange – https://stepchange.org
- MoneyHelper – https://moneyhelper.org.uk
- Citizens Advice – https://citizensadvice.org.uk
They can help you make a plan and talk to your lenders if needed.