Many of us live day-to-day on a very tight budget without any financial safety nets

Any changes, big or small, in our weekly income or outgoings can lead to money problems. Having a serious health event like a heart attack may mean that you have a drop in household income, either in the short term when you are recuperating, or perhaps in the longer term if you are unable to resume the job you previously had. You may also face extra or new expenses as a result of having a heart attack for example, the cost of petrol traveling to hospital or doctors appointments, hospital parking expenses and prescription charges. These changes can cause money worries and financial hardship.

Seek help sooner rather than later and make a plan to secure your income and manage your outgoings.

There are positive steps that you can take to get on top of your financial situation. Take a look at our income/outgoings section below for some ideas. It is important to take control and do something about the bills- they don’t go away if you just ignore them and put them in a drawer.

Some people feel embarrassed or ashamed to ask for help when they have money problems. However, seeking help sooner rather than later is a positive and sensible thing to do and can help to avoid sleepless nights worrying about money problems.

If you are concerned about your money situation and feel that you need help to make a plan, contact your local budgeting service. Visit www.familybudgeting.org.nz to find a location near you.