Awful April: Rising Costs and How to Manage Your Budget

We're halfway through April which brings longer days, daffodils, and… bigger bills?

Daffodils are up but so are our bills

If you’ve opened your council tax letter, checked your energy bill, or just bought your usual from the supermarket and done a double take at the till, you’re not imagining things. April has quietly become the month when everything creeps up. Except most people’s wages.

At Your Pay Your Way, we’ve heard from people who are feeling it. Council tax has gone up and energy prices have shifted again. Even the TV licence is now £5 more. And just when we thought we’d caught a break with inflation slowing down, food prices and fuel are still stubbornly high. For many of us, it’s the sting of doing everything right—budgeting, cutting back, even working extra hours but still falling short

This is often called “squeezed middle” syndrome but the truth is it’s hitting everyone from students to pensioners, working families to those on benefits. It’s not just about budgeting better (though we can help with that), it’s about recognising that this squeeze isn’t your fault. And you’re not alone in it.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed this month, start small:

• Look over your direct debits. Is there anything you don’t use anymore?

• Are you on the cheapest energy tariff you can get?

• Have you checked if you’re eligible for any council tax discounts (single person’s discount or disability reduction)?

• Are you making shopping lists so that you aren't spending on food that will be wasted?

• Do the kids need a fiver a day for lunch while you're struggling to top up the gas meter?

If money worries are affecting your mental health, reach out, whether it’s to us, a friend, or a local support organisation. Shame thrives in silence, but there’s no shame in struggling when the system keeps shifting the goalposts.

At Your Pay Your Way, we’re here for the messy middle - the times when you're doing your best but still can't catch a break. Whether you're dealing with rising bills, low pay, or simply trying your best to get ahead but coming up against it, you’re not alone.

Let’s talk about it, share tips, vent when we need to, and support each other through another “Awful April.”