Budgeting Advice Doesn’t Work When There’s Nothing Left to Budget

We often hear well-meaning advice about budgeting — how careful planning can help people get by, even on low incomes. But what happens when there’s simply nothing left to budget?

In theory, budgeting is about making your money stretch. In practice, it assumes you have enough to begin with. But when your wages don’t cover your rent and bills, when your benefits are delayed or deducted, when prices keep rising but your income doesn’t, there’s no way to “budget better.” There’s just not enough. 

We support households in around 50 towns and villages across West Northumberland — from as far west as Slaggyford on the Cumbrian border to as far north as Byrness, right on the Scottish border. We’ve seen need growing across the whole region, but Prudhoe stands out. So far this year, nearly one in three households we’ve supported have been in Prudhoe — more than any other town we serve. 

We’ve helped: 

• 204 adults and 145 children 
• Delivered 1,441 food parcels 
• Provided emergency support including supermarket vouchers, baby supplies, hygiene items and fuel top-ups to 48 households
• And worked 1:1 with residents facing complex issues like insecure work, benefit sanctions, chronic illness, debt and isolation 

This isn’t a short-term spike. It’s a sustained rise in hardship. In the last eight months alone, we've had 38 new households contact us for support. For many of the people we support, it’s not about mismanaging money — it’s about not having enough of it. 

​You can see that reality in Paula’s story → Watch the video below. 

​Paula and her husband Joe have five children. They’ve always worked hard to support their family, doing everything right. But when Joe lost his job and Paula was on maternity leave, everything changed — fast. With two babies at home and no entitlement to Healthy Start vouchers due to the two-child limit, even buying formula became a source of panic. 

​“We went from just about managing to feeling like everything was slipping through our fingers.”

​When Paula came to us, we couldn’t provide formula directly — but we didn’t turn her away. Instead, we gave her supermarket vouchers so she could buy what her family needed. 

​“It was the difference between feeding our babies and going without something else we needed.” 

This is what the cost-of-living crisis looks like. Not financial mismanagement — just not enough to go around. 

We’ve been working in Prudhoe for the last 12 years, starting at the Sure Start Centre, then the Methodist Church, the Spetchells Centre, and now through our helpline and delivery service. Over the years, we’ve adapted our approach, but the goal remains the same: to be there when people need help most. 

We’re able to keep showing up in Prudhoe thanks in large part to the long-term partnership and ongoing support of Prudhoe Town Council. Their recent funding has helped us meet growing demand and respond quickly to residents’ needs. 

Poverty is often hidden in towns like Prudhoe. But it’s real, and it’s rising. And while advice about budgeting might work for those with enough, what people in crisis really need is understanding, support, and practical help. 

That’s where our Outreach Pilot is so valuable. We work one-to-one with residents in Prudhoe and across West Northumberland, offering practical help with benefits, housing, debt, and essential costs. We speak to people over the phone and meet them in their communities, taking time to understand what’s going on and what kind of support might help. 

It’s personal, flexible, and built on trust — because when life is overwhelming, the right support at the right time can make all the difference.