‘How can I deal with my growing debt problems?’

For many the uncertainty brought about by the spread of the pandemic has led to depression and anxiety about how they will survive financially in the months to come.

While coronavirus and redundancy scored the most hits on our National Website in the early days of the pandemic, debt is now a concern for a growing number of people.

One example was Joe*. He was a young man who lived alone in private rented accommodation. He had no family close by. He had not seen work colleagues to chat to for a long time and his personal friends were key workers in relatively safe full time occupations – Joe didn’t feel he had much in common with them at present and didn’t want to talk to them about his difficulties.

In March Joe had worked from home and then had been furloughed. Now he faced redundancy. When he had been working, Joe spent most of his money on rent and some basic furniture, so he had no savings to speak of. He’d been trying to keep up the payments on his rent but had started to fall behind with other bills and it would only be a matter of time before he couldn’t afford the rent either.

Joe was getting very anxious and depressed about his situation. He didn’t know who to ask so he turned to his phone and typed in ‘HELP WITH DEBT’. Citizens Advice was one of the organisations listed– he’d heard of them – seen them giving interviews on TV.

Joe clicked onto Citizens Advice website and found:

collecting information about your debts,
check if you have to pay the debt,
work out which debts you have to deal with first,
contacting creditors – with template letters to help
check if you can increase your income,
reduce your regular living costs,
check your options for getting out of debt,
make a plan to pay your debts.

Joe was getting more optimistic by the minute! He could read this and follow the steps for himself and he could speak to an adviser as well if he needed to.

He got all his paperwork together and contacted his creditors. He was surprised to find that his creditors were pleased that he had contacted them and explained his problems at an early stage. He said that he was preparing a budget and intended to check with Citizens Advice that he had done everything correctly and could go ahead and agree a repayment plan which was affordable.

How our advisers helped Joe

Joe looked up his local Citizens Advice website and was pleased to find that he could make a phone call to an adviser for free, impartial, confidential advice. He explained what he had done, asked if there was anything he had missed in his budget. The adviser ran through the checklist with him and ensured that he was receiving his full benefit and redundancy entitlement, then together they worked out Joe’s repayment plan.

Like many others, Joe felt relieved and less stressed after using Citizens Advice.

*Name has been changed to preserve client confidentiality

Contact Citizens Advice Waverley

By phone FREE on 0808 2787 980 to speak to an adviser

By Email: Use the enquiry form at https://waverleycab/org.uk/enquiry-form

Office locations: www.waverleycab.org.uk/get-advice/face-to-face/

Self Help: www.waverleycab.org.uk

Home schooling again? Here’s how

Many parents enjoyed teaching their children at home during the first lockdown, but for others, the prospect of having to dust off their teaching skills again fills them with dread.

What programme of work should they follow? Should the children guide the learning or should it be imposed, with the parent in the role of a conventional teacher? How can they keep their child engaged in learning? What should they do when concentration fades?

A group of former primary school teachers have come to the rescue with Learn at Home Packs. Each one contains eight lessons with teacher-led teaching input videos, parent-friendly friendly lesson plans, slideshow presentations and printable worksheets.

Oli Ryan of educational resource gurus PlanBee said: ‘We hope these packs will take some of the pressure off parents who are new to home schooling. They’re designed specifically for mums and dads, so there’s no educational jargon. Educating your children at home can seem a pretty daunting prospect, but with these packs, we think we’re helping with the heavy lifting.’

The packs cover interesting and unusual topics such as forensic science, Italian culture, women’s suffrage and even include simple easy-to-follow cookery lessons.

‘We wanted to make sure that the lesson packs were educational, but interesting and fun, too,’ says Oli. ‘We’ve made sure they cover topics that children are unlikely to have learnt about in school previously – hopefully it’ll all be new to them!’

PlanBee have put one of the lesson videos up online for FREE, so you can get a taste of what’s included in the packs. And there are lots of free teaching resources for parents here.

Weekend Walk: Thursley (Boundless) to Haslemere (6 miles)

This hilly, circular walk has some interesting views. The walk was submitted by Guildford Rambling Club and appears in the January issue of VantagePoint. However, due to COVID, there is now a small diversion, so please use this version! (www.guildfordramblingclub.org.uk)

From the car park, continue along the road as it dives under the A3. Walk about ³/4 mile, passing Begley Farm, to reach Boundless Farm*. Just before the farm gate turn right through a barrier into forestry commission land and take the left hand track to run along the back of the farm ignoring all turns to the right. Reach a T junction with a barrier. Go through it onto the access track of a large house. Immediately to your left is a 2 way signpost, both options being to the left. Take the right-most choice and walk through to High Button Road. Turn right and walk along the roads which climbs up, passing, on your left-hand side, Hurthill Copse, to reach its end by High Button Cottage.

Continue forward on a path up through trees, still climbing. Eventually reach a post with yellow and blue arrows. Pass this and in 15 metres reach a small stubby post. This time break away left for 5 yards to a T junction with a track which you follow to the right. Climb up and continue straight on, going straight through several signed cross paths and ignoring other lefts and rights. Eventually drop down and, at the bottom, arrive at a junction. Go straight on, through a metal barrier onto a wide track which soon becomes a tarmac road. About 200 yards further on, take a footpath left. Just passed “Ormiston Lodge” the track forks, Choose the right hand fork to mount a track.

Follow this track uphill until it reaches the top and bends sharply left. Here, take a path right then immediately left along a fence. (Do not take the downhill path)This emerges through a screen of trees to a cross path. Continue straight ahead to reach a lane where you turn right and emerge at a bend in a road. Turn left down Weycombe Road and walk about 1/2 mile down the road, passing three roads on your left the last being Bartholemew Close and taking the next turn left into The Spinney. Follow this road past a small cemetery and take the marked footpath on your right between two fences to reach a railway bridge. Turn left to cross it and then cross the road right, into Pathfields, to walk past some houses and reach Chestnut Avenue car park.

To get to the centre of Haslemere, cross to the far right corner and exit through an alleyway. Reach the road and turn left to walk down to the High Street. There is a pub more or less opposite and there are cafés to the left. To get to a picnic spot, cross the High Street and walk left. Turn right and walk up Well Lane. At its end, find the old town well and the grassy picnic area and benches can be found on the right.

After lunch return to Chestnut Avenue car park. Leave through the back corner of the car park following the Greensand Way and retrace your footsteps back to the railway bridge. Cross and turn left to go over the railway bridge. Go right, beside St Bartholemew’s church, uphill along High Lane. Continue up until, just past the Pine View Close / Weydown Road crossroads, take a footpath left and drop down through trees to another road and turn right. After 150 yards, take an un-named lane left, opposite Inval Lane. Walk up to the dead-end at the top, by Deer Path Cottage. Turn right and follow the path straight to a 4 way signpost.

Take a bridleway left and continue ahead on this wide path as it twists and starts to climb. Ignore a fork right and, just beyond it, enter NT land again through a gate. Follow this wide path up into trees and at a junction, fork left and keep going until passing through another gate. Immediately thereafter reach cross-paths. Take the path second left, and climb steeply up onto Gibbet Hill, with its monument to a murdered sailor and a trig point and, of course, splendid views. Go past the monument to pick up the tarmac Quiet Road and follow it right for ¾ mile to its end and beyond. A lane merges in from the left. Either:

For views into the Devil’s Punch bowl, turn left just beyond this point up a track signed “Unsuitable for motor vehicles”. Continue up and over the top and on until encountering, on the right-hand side, a green metal barrier. Here, turn right. Follow the path down and on until reaching a T junction with a wide track. Turn right and walk through to the starting car park. Or,
continue forward down the wide metalled lane, Punchbowl Lane, to reach the starting car park

* Due to covid restrictions it is no longer possible to walk through the farmyard

DISTANCE: 6 miles
OS MAP: Explorer 133
GRID REFERENCE: 899 378
STARTING POINT: The small car park in Boundless Road, near Thursley. From Guildford/London turn off the A3 for Thursley turn right and cross the A3. On the other side turn left then quickly left again down the start of the slip road up from the A3. A short way down here, turn right into Boundless Road. Drive about a mile to find a small car park (Punch Bowl Lane CP) on the right, immediately before the road dives under the A3.

Dry January

This month is Dry January, when lots of people around the UK stop drinking alcohol for the month and try to address the effects of overindulgence during the festive season.

If you have not yet joined in, it is not too late! Drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of high blood pressure, some types of cancer, weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other long-term conditions. Whether you are taking part in Dry January or not, Heart Research UK wants to help you manage your drinking habits for a healthier you in 2021.

Understand alcohol units
Alcohol content varies between different types of drink and different brands of similar drinks. Check the labels so you know exactly how many units are in each serving of your chosen tipple. Go online to find easy-to-use unit calculators to help you track your intake over the week and compare drinks. Alcohol units | Alcohol Change UK

How much can I safely drink?
For men and women, the maximum recommended alcohol units each week is 14, spread over 3 or more days. If you are pregnant it is recommended that you do not drink alcohol at all. Drinkaware provide assessment tools that you can use to track the amount you are drinking: www.drinkaware.co.uk/tools

Stay on track
Try to keep yourself on track by regularly reminding yourself of the health and financial benefits of cutting down on drinking. Avoid temptation by removing alcohol from your home or hiding it away. Even if you are not seeing friends and family in person, you can connect with people online who are also trying to cut down or quit drinking to provide support and motivation. By telling other people about your intention to control your drinking, you are more likely to stick to it.

Manage your drinking during the pandemic
Many people have increased the amount of alcohol they consume at home during lockdown and it may sometimes feel that there is little else to do. Instead of drinking, focus on positive activities, such as setting physical activity goals or learning a new skill.

Alternatives to Alcohol
Develop your taste for alcohol free alternatives, such as reduced calorie soft drinks and squash, herbal teas or water with slices of lemon, lime, mint leaves and ice. Try making your own mocktails or mix things up with some sparkling water or tonic water as an alternative to alcoholic bubbles and garnish with chunks of fresh fruit to add colour.

Reward yourself for your success
Decide on a reward that will motivate you to achieve your goal and keep reminding yourself about it whenever you are tempted to have a drink. Avoid using alcohol as a reward.

Getting help when needed
If you are consuming more than 14 units a week, take steps to address it. You can get support by visiting: www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-support/

Design your diet and enjoy the fruits of your labour

Mulled wine, fluffy snowflakes, hot chocolates & Christmas movies (plus rising utility bills as we try and stay warm). Yes, the next few months have plenty going for them but as the colder temperatures descend on us and the longer nights become the norm, looking after our immunity should be at the top of our wish list this year (no… I don’t think Santa can grant that wish).

The onset of the Covid-19 global pandemic has brought health and immunity to the forefront of the nation’s mind and coupled with colder months, we tend to spend more time indoors, which also provides the ideal breeding ground for other viruses like the flu to spread. Don’t forget, the lack of sunlight also has it’s role to play in making us more susceptible to illnesses. How did this turn from oh so joyous to doom and gloom? Well lucky for you, there’s plenty you can do to stay healthy whilst also enjoying the odd cup of eggnog by the fire.

Stay with me to learn about certain fruits that are bursting with vitamins and nutrients to help give you that oomph to you get through this winter.

POMEGRANATE: Did you know this means apple with many seeds?
Native to the middle east, & packed with antioxidants – already a winner. Who doesn’t love these? Especially since they will protect you from free radicals (the bad guys) with the added bonus of giving your skin that extra youthful glow. Also high in potassium and fiber, these fruits have recently caught the social media limelight but have been around for years. Its edible seeds (known as arils) can be added to salads for that extra crunch or eaten solo and are the perfect combination of sweet and tart. Alternatively, they can be added to your diet via juice, though if store bought, watch out for those added sugars.

GRAPEFRUIT: Child of a sweet orange and pomelo accidentally bred together
Initially called the forbidden fruit and one of the ‘seven wonders of Barbados’, it’s packed with Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for keeping your immune system in tip top shape, helping with healthy eyes, skin and mucus membranes, while Vitamin C helps build collagen and also helps with iron absorption, buh-bye low immunity. Personally not one of my favourites, but mixed in with some Greek yogurt and a drizzle of manuka honey and its rather more tasty.

KIWI: It got its name from the uncanny resemblance to New Zealand’s national bird ‘fuzzy brown kiwi.’
I can’t speak highly enough of this one, but I’ll try my best to do it justice – bursting with rich nutrients. Starting from its vibrant look, I conjure images of sitting on a tropical beach with a fruit salad topped with kiwi – pure perfection. For all those ”fitness freaks” (myself included), kiwi contains enzymes that assist in protein absorption. So if your increase your protein intake post workout, this is a great treat to help deliver nutrients to those exhausted muscles. If you are after a bit of self care in the beauty department, kiwi is known as a key ingredient in DIY face masks with anti ageing and exfoliating properties. Heck, if you don’t want to eat it, you can just apply it! Did you know, kiwis have similar amounts of potassium as bananas and a greater amount of Vit C than oranges.

Like that’s not impressive enough, it has almost twice the amount of vitamin E of avocados and nowhere near the same calories! Selling it much, am I?

These are a great addition to smoothies adding vibrant colour (to get that perfect social media pic) whilst giving you that much needed winter immunity boost. For all those mums to be, kiwi contains folate which is uber important for the healthy development of your baby, so make sure you add at least a couple of them to your trolley on your next food shop.

BERRIES: The Avengers amongst fruits
Raspberries are famous for their high fiber count which will keep your bowel movements regular, whilst emerging a clear Vitamin C winner in the race with oranges. Small & mighty, they enhance feelings of satiety and are one of the fruits that come to mind when you think of weight management. Ranking in the top ten of antioxidant fruits with the added bonus of being anti inflammatory, clearly it has one hell of a CV. Tasty enough to be enjoyed on their own with no assistance required from other food groups, they’ll be sure to keep you healthy and radiant all year round.

Let’s take a minute to appreciate the strawberry… and 59,60! Part of the rose family, they taste as sweet as they smell. Nitrate rich, means nitrate oxide rich, responsible for improving blood flow, increasing exercise performance and associated with lowering blood pressure. Also containing B6 (helps with the production of red blood cells) Vitamin K, (known as the clotting vitamin), fiber, folic acid & potassium. Impressive nutritional profile right? Literally a treasure trove of nutritional goodness, so it goes without saying it’s time to stock up on those strawberries to replenish. Plus red is a fetching winter colour, if I may say so myself. Win win I’d say. And in case you didn’t know, be sure to eat them whole, as slicing them up means exposing them to light and oxygen which can break down their Vitamin C content(always learning something new right?). Here’s a new cooking tip for you to try; roast your strawberries to enhance their sweet vibe without adding sugar for the perfect topping for oatmeal bars.

Ah and finally, blueberries. My son’s favorite. These have powerful nutritious tricks up their sleeves. The highest antioxidant (flavonoids) prowess which reduce cell damage. Yes please! Also boosts heart health and immunity. Apparently known to put you in a better mood, and with no side effects – sign me up! Pretty good by the handful but even better in the occasional baked treat. Or if you fancy it, mix them in to your salad for some crunch and flavour.

That’s all folks. Think you have enough there to get you started. This winterized fruit list will definitely help keep your immune system thriving. Incorporating these fruits in your diet by no means guarantees a one way ticket to health (aaaw shucks, now I break it to you!) but it puts you on the right track.

Remember staying active, H20-ing regularly, and being mindful of the foods (not just fruits) you eat all play a part. And by the way, If you want to have a further chat or work up a bespoke healthy diet plan, don’t hesitate to get in touch (yourhealth@mydesignerdiet.com).

Although my primary job is working within the investment banking industry for the last 10 years, I have always had a passion for health and nutrition. Having recently become a first time mum, I decided to study nutrition to ensure I could effectively incorporate the best meals and snacks for my child and family with the hope of being able to help people within the wider community with tips, advice and even consultations. As I’ve always believed and said, ‘it’s never too late to take care of your body, after all it’s the only place you have to live.

www.mydesignerdiet.co.uk