Financial fitness tips

Tips and links to local services

Help is available

If you are struggling with managing your finances or just want to be better at money management – paying bills, rent, mortgage and other debt – have savings and be prepared for the unexpected, there are steps you can take now and free services to help you find your way to financial independence and security.

Council has provided the content on these pages for information purposes only. Council is not a provider of financial assistance or counselling, and does not seek to replace professional financial advice. When making decisions about your finances it is recommended to do further research and seek professional advice.*

Take action now

Here are some steps you can take now to find your way to good financial health and security, or just be in a better position to meet future goals:

1. Keep track of your current expenses, make a realistic budget, and stick to it.
2. Decide on realistic short, medium and long-term goals that offer worthwhile rewards for managing your money better and help you to keep managing your money well over time.
3. Seek the advice of a free financial counsellor/coach on your current situation and what your options are. You don’t have to wait until you are in extreme financial hardship to access these services.
4. Create realistic medium and long-term plans for financial security, utilising the advice of a financial counsellor and information from reliable independent sources, including actions you can take under a worst case scenario, such as serious illness or loss of employment.

If you are in a financial crisis and unable to pay essential bills or fees (e.g. utility bills or school fees), you can:

1. Seek Emergency Relief assistance
2. Seek assistance through the No Interest Loans Scheme
3. Seek the advice of a free financial counsellor

Disclaimer

Information on these pages has been compiled with expert advice for the benefit of our community and has been intended as an information resource only.

While Council has made every effort to ensure accurate information in the best interests of community members, Council does not and cannot take responsibility for decisions made based on this information and the advice provided by any second or third party services linked to this site.

Decisions made and their consequences based on this information and third parties remain the responsibility of individuals making the decisions.