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Turning down the pressure on financial stress

3 September 2012
Turning down the pressure on financial stress

“Our bills are the big Australian secret, people just don’t talk about their finances.” – Ros Turner, Moneycare financial counsellor.

The Salvation Army is encouraging Australians to take control of their finances during Moneysmart Week with a free money management program called “You’re the Boss”.

Designed by The Salvation Army in conjunction with Virgin Money, You’re the Boss helps people to identify personal financial stress and offers practical advice on how to deal with it.

“The program promotes self-efficacy,” says Kristen Hartnett, a financial counsellorwith the Army’s Moneycare service.

“We can’t control everything, however let’s do the best we can with those things we can manage. Things like the food bill - we can make significant differences in being efficient with our food bill or with our utilities and cost of transport.”

The Salvation Army’s Moneycare operates in NSW, ACT, QLD, Tasmania, Northern Territory and Melbourne. It offers a free and confidential financial counselling service for people facing difficulties with things like budgeting, credit and debt issues, and repossession. It also works to provide education to the public about financial literacy so that people can make changes or seek help before debt gets out of control.

In Dalby, south-west Queensland, Moneycare recently facilitated a “Bring Your Bills” day and encouraged anyone feeling overwhelmed or financially stressed to come along and talk through their finances with professionals.

“They may just be in too deep, they may just have gotten their last electricity bill and they can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel,” says Dalby Moneycare financial counsellor Ros Turner.

“Our finances are one of our most personal issues so the first step is just to get people talking about the fact that there is an issue and that there may be a problem in the future if we don’t work on it now.”

People who attended also had access to a range of other services such as Centrelink representatives, a Salvation Army Home and Energy Saver Scheme worker and other Salvation Army personnel who were able to assist with food items and household goods.

“The miracle is that out of these scenarios that people are struggling with – we sit there and devise options together and then work with them on how to move themselves forward,” says Ros.

The Salvation Army recently released a report on the economic and social impact of cost of living pressures. It revealed 71 percent of people felt stressed about their future, while 52 percent of people surveyed said they had gone without meals and nearly half had been forced to sell or pawn possessions in order to make ends meet.

Kristen says people shouldn’t feel ashamed about asking for help. “We are living in a society that places more and more demands on income. There is more advertising to encourage consumption and there are very targeted and sophisticated marketing campaigns designed to encourage people to spend more money,” she says.

“We’re asking people to work out what is important to them, what is of most value in our lives and let’s pursue those things and then do the best we can with the resources that we have in other areas.”

The “You’re the Boss” money management program is available for free download at salvos.org.au/moneycare

To find out more about Moneysmart Week, check out: moneysmartweek.org.au

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The Salvation Army acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures; and to elders both past and present.

The Salvation Army is committed to ensuring the provision of safe and inclusive environments for children, young people and vulnerable people where they feel respected, safe, valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. The Salvation Army is a child safe organisation.