Colleague Wellbeing

Financial toolkit

"Financial Wellbeing is about feeling secure and in control. It is knowing that you can pay the bills today, can deal with the unexpected, and are on track for a healthy financial future." - Money and Pensions Service 

We have gathered a variety of support resources below to help you look after your financial wellbeing. 

MoneyHelper is available to make your money and pension choices clearer by cutting through the complexity to explain what you need to do and how you can do it. You can  chat to MoneyHelper for free advice and support via phone, webchat, text or web form. Useful tools and support include:

  • Budget Planner Tool: This free Budget Planner puts you in control of your household spending and analyses your results to help you take control of your money. It’s already helped hundreds of thousands of people.
  • Budgeting and managing your money: Advice on running a bank account, planning your finances, and cutting costs.
  • Help with scams: Advice for spotting, avoiding and recovering from scams.

See 'your pension' section for specific support about getting proactive about your pension. 

Here are a few websites that can help you proactively look at your finances during the cost of living crisis and beyond:

  • StepChange provides free, impartial and non-judgmental advice. Visit their website or call them on 0800 138 1111 (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm/ Sat 8am-4pm) to take the first step towards taking back control of your finances. They also have a range of web resources you can explore including:
  • Spectrum Life is our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which is a confidential, neutral service provided by an external company to support colleagues at the University. Two of the support offerings they provide include financial and legal advice. 
  • Find a free debt advisor with MoneyHelper, either in person, online or over the phone. 
  • MoneyHelper also offer a variety of 'money troubles' support including dealing with debt, managing your money in uncertain times and scams.
  • National Debtline provides free and independent debt advice over the phone and online.
  • The NHS Web Pages have information and advice on coping with financial worries.
  • Turn2us is a national charity providing practical help to people who are struggling financially, including a helpline. 
  • The Citizens Advice Bureau has advice and resources to help with financial matters, including debt.
  • The charity Mind has a money and mental health section on its website, which includes advice on how to manage debt. Mind also did a great feature called 'cost of living crisis' recently. 
  • Mental Health & Money Advice offers information and advice for anyone struggling with money because of mental illness, or whose financial situation is affecting their mental health.
  • The Pay and Benefits Office provides advice regarding the pension schemes operated by the University. Learn more about your pension here.
  • MoneyHelper provides a host of support with your pension. They also provide free, impartial, specialist support on the phone (0800 011 3797) or via live chat here. If you're aged 50 or over and have a defined contribution pension pot, you can get free guidance from Pension Wise. Pension Wise is a government-backed service that helps you understand how you can take money from your pension pot. Book your Pension Wise appointment with MoneyHelper here. 
  • Check your State Pension forecast on Gov.UK's website.  
  • Citizen's Advice provide a variety of pension support including types of pension, pension income drawdown and preparing your finances for retirement. 
  • The University of Exeter's financial benefits and discounts include My Lifestyle (our new benefits platform), salary exchange schemes, Totum pro card, staff sports centre membership reduction and other discounts. If you have any queries about these benefits and discounts please contact Pay and Benefits at payandbenefits@exeter.ac.uk. 
  • Free food for staff and students 24/7 at the Foodsave Community Fridge at the Forum Library, Streatham Campus- Located just inside the library foyer, the community fridge is restocked daily with surplus food from local businesses, so you can help to reduce food waste by helping yourself to free food.
  • Super Saver Meals - We are subsidising hot meals for staff and students. You can get a nutritionally balanced, hot meal for £2.25 at the Streatham campus: Super Savour Kitchen, in the Barisca outlet in The Terrace, first floor Devonshire House - available 11:00 – 15:00, Monday to Friday and St Luke's campus: Cross Keys' Dish of the Day, choose your hearty topping on a baked potato with a salad garnish - available 11:30 - 14:30, Monday to Friday. Check out daily deals on our Cornwall Campus web pages.

There is a significant link between money and mental health as each factor can really affect the other. For example being in debt can make you feel very anxious and if you are already experiencing depression you may lack motivation to manage your finances. To explore this link further do visit this webpage created by the mental health charity Mind.