In the know

HELP WITH home improvements

There is financial support out there, so check if you’re eligible

If you are on a low income, there are grants available to make home improvements and buy white goods. Use online grants checkers, like turn2us.org.uk or lightningreach.org, which match your info to any grants that you can apply for.

Find your nearest charity or furniture project offering secondhand appliances, furniture and IT equipment at reuse-network.org.uk and there’s lots on offer at freecycle.org and ilovefreegle.org.

There’s also help with home improvements for low income, disabled or elderly households through your local Home Improvement Agency via foundations.uk.com. They can assist with decorating, DIY or building flat-pack furniture.

Did you know?

According to Fair Fix, recent research shows that a new boiler could see you secure a buyer more quickly if you’re thinking of selling up, as well as achieve a higher price for your home.

SPRING CLEAN YOUR FINANCES

Ayesha Ofori, founder of Propelle, specialists in women building long-term wealth, has these top tips

• Tackle your finances head on

Don’t bury your head in the sand. Allocate time to sit down and look at your bank accounts, spending, saving and investing. Make sure you know what’s coming in and what’s going out.• Cancel unnecessary direct debits Prioritise what you spend your money on and get rid of anything you don’t ne