
Money tips
Need help making sense of your money? Money Mentors can help you understand things. Browse our bitesize videos for quick tips or dive into detailed articles to learn more.
Take control of your money
Our team can help you learn new ways to save, budget and make plans. They’ll explain financial jargon and help you achieve your goals.
Need help making sense of your money? Money Mentors can help you understand things. Browse our bitesize videos for quick tips or dive into detailed articles to learn more.
Use our tools to help you set a budget and create a plan for your money – and more.
Get impartial help from a Barclays Money Mentor®. You can ask them anything about your money – from how to budget and create a savings goal to how to work towards buying your first home.
If you already bank with us, your first discovery session is free. This is a shorter, introductory appointment.
If you have Blue Rewards or Premier Banking you have unlimited access to full Money 1:1 sessions for free.
Want to budget better, tackle your spending or save for a special occasion? Our Money Mentors are here to break it all down for you. Browse our bitesize tips or dive into detailed articles to learn more.
Do you find it hard to say no to your friends?
Yes.
I'll get round one, round two, round three.
I'm a generous person.
How do you know each other?
We’re friends.
At the moment living together.
Are you worried about the cost of living crisis?
We're actually scared.
Like, what's going to come next?
Yeah.
Yeah, because everything around us is going up.
but our pay is staying the same.
And now I have no flexibility to save.
Not that I was a great saver anyway.
That can be hard.
I was trying.
Yeah. Yeah.
I've never had that sort of
I need to put it away for this
or I need to put it away for that.
I just like to spend when I need to.
You just don't care.
It’s not that I don’t care.
I just like to see my friends have a good time.
I think that's your problem.
That’s my problem.
I find it at times really hard to say no.
But this is why I'm saying from my own experience
I think it can be helpful.
You can think of the reason why you're saying no
in the first place.
It's to save to buy a house, for example.
And that's when, you know
saying no and things like that become easier
because you're very clear
about what you're working towards.
I'm sure good friends
they'll be able to understand that.
We're all in the same boat.
It's difficult for all of us right now.
Yeah. Yeah.
For sure.
You know, you're not just saying, for example
Oh, no, I'm not doing this.
You can say
you know, I'm not doing this tonight
because, you know
I really have to tighten up with my finances.
But what about you come to my house instead.
Having that conversation in the first place
you then realise
oh, actually, you know, I was feeling this too.
And then you can kind of share the goals you have.
When you achieve
you can kind of make each other accountable as well.
I told you, I'm going to achieve these things.
So you're going to come back to me
and Su will go back to you.
She will.
You said, you were going to do this.
Maybe we could open up about it more.
Yeah.
And then we
that just gives us a bit of a conversation
and then we can speak about where we are.
This is how much I save or can we cut back here.
And stuff like that.
I think that's a great idea
if you felt comfortable doing
between both of you.
Yeah.
I needed this help.
I needed to have this conversation.
I am very, very happy.
Pleasure. Thank you.
It's been a pleasure to be with you.
Nice one.
No one wants to fight FOMO when their friends are having fun. But what if you can’t always afford to join in? Susku and Kereim sit down with our Money Mentor Fabio, who helps them talk about their money worries and share the big goals they want to save for. Ever thought about your money mindset? Whether you’re a joyful spender, a thrifty creative or a generous friend, it could help spark a conversation.
Let's talk wants versus needs in 20.
So needs are the things you really can't go without.
Whereas wants are life's 'nice to haves'.
Then there are things that seem like needs but are actually wants.
Like a meal at home, becoming a meal out.
So, separate what you want from your needs and make sure your budget reflects it.
Every day, temptations tug at our attention spans. You see an advert for a tasty takeaway or feel a pang of envy at your friend’s flashy new phone. Sometimes it’s hard to say no. But if you want to be great at managing your money, you’ve got to figure out your wants vs your needs. Money Mentor Nicky shows you how. Is it time to make a proper budget? Don’t be intimidated – with our guide, it could be easier than you think.
Let's talk micro-budgeting.
Budgeting across a whole month can be tricky, but micro-budgeting can really help.
You can start by covering the essentials, like your mortgage, your rent and your bills, then split what's left into micro budgets and stick to them.
You can split by purpose, like meals out or clothes.
I tend to split mine by weeks.
It makes getting to the end of the month feel more manageable.
If you struggle to stick to a monthly budget, we might just have the answer. Meet the micro-budget – a simpler, nimbler way to manage your money. Watch our Money Mentor Nicky explain how to get started, then look forward to feeling more in control. Want to learn the basics of budgeting? It’s not as tricky as you might think. Our easy budget guide breaks it all down.
Let's talk Kakeibo Budgeting in twenty.
Kakeibo is a mindful budgeting technique where you write your spending down while asking yourself: Why do I need it?
Can I live without it?
Can I afford it?
And how do I actually feel about buying it?
Which helps you really understand your relationship with money.
There’s more than one way to make a budget. And if you’re someone who hates the sound of scary spreadsheets and strict rules, you might like Kakeibo budgeting. It’s a mindful way to manage your money, and helps you think about the ‘why’ behind your spending. Money Mentor Nicky explains how it works. Want to explore mindful spending in depth? We’ve got more tips and techniques for you.
Money stress is incredibly common, especially at the moment.
It can feel really scary and all encompassing.
This three step approach just might help.
First, look at any payments you need to make What's in your control and what's not?
Second, break down the things that you're in control of.
Make a plan Set realistic targets of what you can pay and when.
Finally, look at the things that you feel are out of your control.
If your bills have gone up, mine have You might be entitled to some support If you need help Reach out to the relevant organisations Someone you can trust Or online communities.
You could take a look at the government's Help for Households website To find out what you might be entitled to.
I really hope having a plan helps.
Worrying about money is a horrible feeling. But however bad things seem, there’ll be a way to make them better. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, our Money Mentor Nicky shows you a simple, three-step plan to help you stay calm and work out what to do. Having a tough time right now? We’re here to help, and we’ve got lots more guidance to get you through it.
Spending to improve your mood?
Sounds like you could be an emotional shopper.
I get it.
Buying new things can make you feel great, but it's a cycle that you should try to break.
So remove temptation.
Find yourself browsing?
Find something else to distract you. Go for a walk, call a friend, they'll love that and it will make you feel better.
Seen something you like?
Leave it in the basket.
Go back to it in a couple of weeks and ask yourself whether you still need it, Want it?
I really hope that helps.
Can’t help browsing online when you’re having a bad day? It’s all too easy to fall into the trap of emotional buying, but it doesn’t feel so good when you see your bank balance at the end of the month. Money Mentor Jo shares a few ideas to help you tackle temptation and stop splurging. Want more ways to curb compulsive spending? We’ve got nine clever tactics you can try.
Let's talk managing regular payments in 20.
So, login to your Barclays app, And head to 'regular payments' so that you see everything together.
Are there any you can cancel?
You can also think about moving some payments to just after payday.
It'll give you a better idea of your money for the rest of the month and more control.
You’ve probably got plenty of standing orders and Direct Debits. Good job the Barclays app makes it really easy to manage them. You can see them all at a glance, figure out which ones you don’t need, and even move your standing orders to just after payday. Learn how with our Money Mentor, Nicky. And that’s not all. We’ve packed our app with clever features – learn more about what it can do for your money.
Let's talk standing orders vs direct debits in 20.
...in 20 ish?
Okay.
So they’re both set payments out of your bank account.
But a standing order is set up by you, like a monthly payment into your savings account.
You can cancel them and change the amount and date.
Meanwhile, a direct debit is an agreement between you and The company, like your mobile phone provider.
and you'd have to speak to a company to make any changes.
You’ll have one or the other for your phone contract or your rent. They’re both regular payments that go out of your account – but they don’t work in the same way. Watch our Money Mentor Punita explain the difference, and why you shouldn’t just cancel a Direct Debit. You’ve got lots of flexibility with standing orders, though. Find out how to manage them with the Barclays app.
Making the minimum payment is pretty common.
The problem is, the interest starts to build up.
And the longer you take to pay the card, the more it could end up costing you.
If you've got lots of cards, prioritise the ones with the highest interest.
What can you afford to pay now and in the longer term?
Now, if you are struggling, ask your provider for some help.
Or a charity like Citizens Advice or the National Debtline.
I really hope that helps.
Credit cards are great for spreading the cost of a big purchase – like a holiday or home renovation. But while it’s tempting to only pay off the minimum each month, the interest builds and you could end up spending more than you bargained for. Watch Money Mentor Jo explain how to stay on top of the cost. Now it’s more important than ever to look after your money. So we’ve got extra tips on taking care of your credit card debt.
Let's talk wants versus needs in 20.
So needs are the things you really can't go without.
Whereas wants are life's 'nice to haves'.
Then there are things that seem like needs but are actually wants.
Like a meal at home, becoming a meal out.
So, separate what you want from your needs and make sure your budget reflects it.
Every day, temptations tug at our attention spans. You see an advert for a tasty takeaway or feel a pang of envy at your friend’s flashy new phone. Sometimes it’s hard to say no. But if you want to be great at managing your money, you’ve got to figure out your wants vs your needs. Money Mentor Nicky shows you how. Is it time to make a proper budget? Don’t be intimidated – with our guide, it could be easier than you think.
You alright?
Yeah.
I think it will be good.
Some new ideas, hopefully.
Yeah.
I don't think we realise
how much teenagers worry
about money.
And I think often
as a grown up, we kind of say
don't worry, it's fine, there's enough.
But because of all the hype
they're just processing it all the time.
And it does build up anxiety.
If I ask, how much is this?
Or, how much are we earning?
It's never
oh, we earning this much.
It’s only
we’re earning enough.
As parents, we want to protect our children
and they don't need to know everything.
The key is to have an open discussion and
it helps you appreciate things a lot more
if your parents share things with you.
If I was doing it all over again
I think we would’ve had more of those discussions.
I think we've been a bit late
starting and managing money
so we need to get over the anxiety of it
and just get practical with it.
Because, you know, as a grown up
that's what you got to do.
It panics me when we go to the shop
and mum opens her little banking app and it's got £7
and then she's moving money around.
Is that from your savings?
So it's quite common for people to have
money in different pots that you can't see.
You can even hide them
in your apps nowadays
to help make it easier for you to save.
Maybe, you know, as a family
you could discuss that
and explain how you work your budget out.
If you maybe had a budget
and then you tried to work together
and gave it to Phil to do
you know, Phil is learning around
how to manage a budget.
Something as simple and, you know
everyday task as doing the food shopping.
If she gave me a list and a budget
I reckon, I could do it.
I think you could absolutely do it.
And, hopefully, you feel a bit more comfortable
you know, knowing that those pots do...
Yeah.
do move around for a reason.
And, hopefully, that's reassuring.
Yeah.
It's been lovely talking to you today.
Thank you.
What do you say when it’s time for ‘the talk’? No, not that one – we mean the household budget talk. It’s not always easy to know how much to tell your teens. You want to help them learn, but you don’t want them to worry. Our Money Mentor Jemma helps Victoria and Phil start the conversation. Getting money-savvy can also give teenagers a sense of freedom, help protect them from fraud and give them motivation – learn what you can do as a parent.
I wonder what they’re going to say.
Hopefully some good advice for us.
Were you surprised at how much having a child
had affected your budget?
Torpedoed the budget.
We had no idea.
It's expenses you can't escape
such as nappies, food
clothing ever so often
because they grow up so quick.
Yeah.
Do you look out for any certain offers
or do you buy items when they're on sale?
Yeah, basically
Absolutely.
We're the yellow label King and Queen now.
You definitely have to shop around
to see which promotion is on at which time
just to make sure you're getting the best value.
There are sites online
where you can have a look at what
you know
the dates that these things are coming up
so you can plan it into your budget.
I didn't realise that was even a thing.
We can definitely get better at that.
Do you prepare for those seasons changing
when you do your budgeting?
We can learn a couple of tricks to get ready
for the colder seasons especially.
Yeah, I mean, there's so many
different seasonal sales in the shops nowadays
that it's really useful to buy the key items
such as, you know, winter coats.
And it's really good
to have like a rotation of clothes.
So you've got some for them to grow into.
And it's really useful
if you've got friends and family
that have got young children
to not be afraid to ask and to get those items
because they do grow so fast
that they don't get a lot of wear
out of clothes.
That's a brilliant way of saving
and one I definitely do myself with my daughter.
That's a really good idea.
Thank you very much.
No worries at all. Thank you.
Thank you.
Having a baby is the very best way to turn your world – and finances – upside down. With all those nappies and nursery essentials to buy, it pays to be good at budgeting and bargain-hunting. Watch new parents Simon and Natalie trade tips with our Money Mentor Jemma. And there’s lots more we can do to help you – read our guide to budgeting, saving and borrowing for your new arrival.
SPEAKS IN HINDI: Are you excited?
SPEAKS IN HINDI: Yes, very. Let's see what happens.
SPEAKS IN HINDI: Let's see. Here goes.
What are the main financial challenges
you and your family are facing?
We have to think twice before we have to do something.
After a couple of years, we need to remortgage,
so we are a little bit worried like,
what interest rate would it be then?
So you've bought your new home, congratulations.
It's fixed for two years did you say?
Yes, two years.
Before it does come to the end,
at least 90 days before you can start looking around
and it can be fixed for you as well.
It's always good to plan beforehand.
We'll definitely give it a try.
Yeah, definitely.
Yeah.
What do you think your biggest expense is
apart from your mortgage?
Groceries, everything is going up.
You know, in Indian family
we have not only one dish, we have three, four different dishes,
so now we have to cut down on our dishes
to just save some money.
Of course, a lot of people bulk buy during Diwali and Eid.
Instead of buying your 5KG flour,
they're buying 15 to 20 and then with the bulk buying,
thinking about maybe bulk cooking as well
and putting it in the freezer.
Not only is it saving money on your gas,
it's saving money on your food and also
time as well, because time is essential at the moment.
Right.
Definitely a good idea.
Do you talk to like the wider community,
your family, about the cost of groceries?
When we get together, then we'll know where there is a sale or
where is the discounts and
my sister gives me a lot of tips on that actually,
when we meet.
If we buy a pack of sugar,
we share with the family friends
and when they buy they do it with us.
I don't know if you know,
but you can have money saving food apps*.
You'd have to pay for the item
but then you take a picture of the receipt and then
this money goes back onto your app*,
and then you could potentially save one or £2
and that one or £2 you could put towards
Definitely.
The bread, the milk.
That's nice.
We will give it a try.
What other big expenses do you have
that prevent you from saving?
We moved out of the city thinking it's cheaper,
so, now we have to pay extra for transport?
Have you compared the price between
driving to work and using public transport?
Yes, we did.
That's the reason I car share with somebody else now.
I can't do it because I have to drop my daughter to school
and pick her up, so,
most of the stuff you can say is grocery and our bills.
Do you feel like these challenges
are putting pressure on your relationship as parents?
Definitely,
because he's the one who says yes to everything for her
and I know I'm like we have to see our budget also.
Yeah but, it's difficult to say no to our daughter,
not to her.
Never feel bad for saying no.
We have to financially educate our children
teaching them fun ways of saving
like a jam jar saving so,
like a little jam jar, fill it up to the top
once they've filled it they can maybe use it
and then giving them a little budget as well,
while we have to budget as adults,
they have to budget in there to get what they want.
Now, is the time,
If we teach them, then they will value the money
and value the things what they are getting.
So it's good.
Have you heard of the 50, 30, 20 budgeting rule?
No.
It's where 50% of your wages
goes into your bills
and then 30% goes on to your wants
and then 20% goes into your savings account.
You can set yourself a goal**.
So, on the Barclays app* you set a category on what it is,
so it could be a holiday, it could be a rainy day.
The most fantastic thing about this is
you can actually track your progress.
Yeah,
definitely, we'll give it a try.
We will try it, definitely.
It was lovely meeting you both.
Thank you so much.
No problem. Good luck.
There’s so much more to family finances than simply paying the bills. Ashufta and Yakub sit down with our Money Mentor Punita to chat through every aspect of their spending and saving, from savvy bulk-buying with their family and community to teaching their daughter good money habits. Looking for more family finance ideas? Try our five money saving tips to see if you could save hundreds – or even thousands – of pounds a year.
Let's talk loan to value ratio, in 20.
If you have a £20,000 deposit on a £200,000 house, you're paying 10% of the value, and need to borrow £180,000.
Which means your loan to value ratio is 90%.
Lenders like a lower loan to value ratio, and could give you a better interest rate.
So the bigger your deposit, the better, which is something worth bearing in mind.
If you’re new to the world of mortgages, there’s one thing you’ll realise pretty quickly – it’s like alphabet soup. There are lots of confusing acronyms you’ll need to know. Let’s start with LTV, aka Loan-to-Value. Money Mentor Punita explains what it means and why it’s so important. Don’t forget to check out our financial acronyms guide. Just a few minutes’ reading, and you’ll be up to speed with all those tricky terms.
Let's talk agreements in principle in 20.
Agreements in principle are something you've probably heard of.
They’re the first step in the mortgage process, And give you an indication on how much a bank would be prepared to lend you.
Based on your income, spending and debt.
They come with no guarantees, but they won't affect your credit score, and they can also help sellers take your offer more seriously.
The very first step towards buying a home is getting your Agreement in Principle (AiP). Confusingly, it’s sometimes known as a Decision in Principle or a Mortgage in Principle. But whatever you call it, our Money Mentor Nicky explains what it is and why you need one. It’s really easy to apply for an AiP with us – it should only take a few minutes and then you’ll get an instant result.
Instant access savings accounts are perfect for saving smaller amounts.
Usually you get a lower interest rate, which can change, but you can access it when you need it.
For instance, if your boiler breaks down.
Fixed access savings accounts give you a fixed rate, so you'll know exactly what you'll get in return.
But withdrawals are restricted.
If you're a Barclays Blue Rewards customer you could open a Rainy Day Saver account.
You just need to choose the type that's right for you and your circumstances.
I hope that helps.
Would you rather have instant access to your money… or the chance to earn more interest? If you’re not sure which savings account will work for you, we’ll help you figure out the best place to put your hard-earned cash. Our Money Mentor Jo explains it all.
Let's talk credit scores, in 20.
Credit is money You need to borrow from a lender.
and your credit score is a three digit number that tells lenders how well you've repaid credit in the past.
The higher your score, the better your chances of you getting a mortgage, a credit card, or even a new mobile contract.
Got it?
Score!
We’ve all got a credit score – but what does it mean and why does it matter? Well, it has a big impact on your future plans, from getting a mortgage to leasing a car. Our Money Mentor Punita explains more about what a good credit rating can do for you. Did you know there are lots of ways to boost your credit score? Check out our guide to looking after yours.
Let's talk loan to value ratio, in 20.
If you have a £20,000 deposit on a £200,000 house, you're paying 10% of the value, and need to borrow £180,000.
Which means your loan to value ratio is 90%.
Lenders like a lower loan to value ratio, and could give you a better interest rate.
So the bigger your deposit, the better, which is something worth bearing in mind.
If you’re new to the world of mortgages, there’s one thing you’ll realise pretty quickly – it’s like alphabet soup. There are lots of confusing acronyms you’ll need to know. Let’s start with LTV, aka Loan-to-Value. Money Mentor Punita explains what it means and why it’s so important. Don’t forget to check out our financial acronyms guide. Just a few minutes’ reading, and you’ll be up to speed with all those tricky terms.
Let's talk workplace pensions, in 20.
So a pension is basically an income for your retirement.
The sooner you start one, the more comfortable you should be in later life.
The good news?
If you're at least 22 and under retirement age, and earn £10,000 or more, you should already be in a workplace pension scheme.
Not sure if you are?
Ask your employer.
Got a job? Then you’ve probably got a workplace pension – which should help ensure you’ll be comfortable in later life. But it pays to be certain, so our Money Mentor Nicky explains the criteria and what to do if you aren’t sure about yours. Self-employed, on a career break or caring for a relative? Then your pension options are different – our guide explains it all.
Let's talk pension types, in 20.
There are three main types of pension in the UK.
These are paid by the government when you reach retirement age, based on your national insurance contributions.
These are set by employers.
When you pay in, they do too!
A popular choice when you're self-employed.
You pick the provider, and where your money is invested.
You can have multiple workplace and personal pensions, but you can only have one state pension.
If you’re nowhere near retirement, it’s easy to put off thinking about your pension. But if we’re going on cruises to the moon by the time you get there, you’ll want to be able to afford a ticket – and a comfortable old age, too. Not sure how pensions work? Our Money Mentor Nicky has you covered. It’s a great idea to get to grips with pensions as early as possible, so take a look at our article for lots more information.
Let's talk agreements in principle in 20.
Agreements in principle are something you've probably heard of.
They’re the first step in the mortgage process, And give you an indication on how much a bank would be prepared to lend you.
Based on your income, spending and debt.
They come with no guarantees, but they won't affect your credit score, and they can also help sellers take your offer more seriously.
The very first step towards buying a home is getting your Agreement in Principle (AiP). Confusingly, it’s sometimes known as a Decision in Principle or a Mortgage in Principle. But whatever you call it, our Money Mentor Nicky explains what it is and why you need one. It’s really easy to apply for an AiP with us – it should only take a few minutes and then you’ll get an instant result.
Southampton
“Take time to work out where your money is going. Try making several smaller changes rather than one big one – it may be easier and less noticeable.”
London
“Be aware that your circumstances are individual to you, and only you truly know what you want to achieve, how hard you need to work, and whether it’s realistic or not.”
West Midlands
“Try emptying your pockets/wallet/purse at the end of the week and putting all the coins and notes in a jar, to see how much you can save. You can do this physically or virtually.”
Hull
"When making a large purchase, be sure to search online to see if the same item is available elsewhere at a cheaper price. Check to see if there are any extras available like loyalty points or cashback via a cashback site. The little bits you save or get back can really add up."
Birmingham
“It's good to talk… Money worries big or small can have a huge impact on your wellbeing and mental health. So take that step and reach out, no matter how difficult the conversation may be - it could make all the difference.”
Newcastle
“It’s good to review your subscriptions, to make sure you aren’t duplicating any benefits and paying twice for them. Always reviewing your annual renewals, shopping around and not just rolling over things like insurance payments can be a hugely beneficial exercise to save money.”
Work out your spending and plan for your financial goals with our simple budget sheet. [PDF, 575KB]
Work out your next steps and work towards your goals with this planning document. [PDF, 507KB]
Interactive exercises to help shape up your finances – whether you want to save for a rainy day or cut out little luxuries to buy a bigger treat.
Barclays Money Mentors® don’t provide specific, personalised financial advice. Individual circumstances can vary, so we recommend that you get professional advice if you need it.