In Hampshire, thousands of £s goes unclaimed by people who do not realise they are entitled to benefits, tax credits and other help. You can get advice and help from the organizations listed here. Why not check whether you’re entitled to a benefit you’re not receiving?

You can get help and advice on claiming benefits from Community Legal Advice

If you’re out of work, seek help for work or retraining.

Make a shopping list and stick to it! Don’t go food shopping when you’re hungry!

Keep food a little longer (provided it’s within its use-by date).

Buy loose goods rather than pre-packed.

Rather than pay extra for ready-made foods, consider buying raw ingredients and cooking yourself!

Multi-buys look attractive, but often end in food being needlessly thrown away.

Heating our homes is one of the major household expenses. Have you considered seeking a cheaper energy supplier? You can sometimes pay less if you bundle your gas, electricity and phone from the same supplier.

Properly insulating your home helps reduce your energy bills. There are many grants available to keep down the cost of new insulation.

Beware scams and get-rich-quick schemes – if things look too good to be true, they probably are!

Beware loan sharks! If you’re finding it difficult to obtain credit, think about using a Credit Union. If a Loan Shark approaches you, report it to the Loan Shark Hotline: 0300 555 2222.

Take care if you are approached by debt management companies. Many of the solutions they offer are available elsewhere free of charge.

Look carefully at the interest rates on any loan you’re considering.

The cost of motoring seems to rise every day! Here are few tips to save you money:

• Buy your petrol at the cheapest garage

• Change the way you maintain and drive your car to save fuel

Don’t buy the first product you see – shop around and be prepared to haggle over the price!

Your local library has copies of Which? magazine to point you to the best buys.

Don’t be tempted to buy cheap fakes – they won’t last long and could be unsafe.

If your purchase is over £100, think about paying by credit card as you will have additional protection if the supplier goes bust.

When eating out, beware discretionary service charges – they aren’t obligatory and you don’t have to pay them if you are not happy with the service. You are free to leave a tip of any value you wish.

You can hire out a DVD from your local library from as little as £1.

If you’re getting rid of household items why not recycle them?

If you’re thinking about having work done on your home, why not consider using a Buy With Confidence approved trader who won’t rip you off?

When buying at supermarkets, look out for the ‘unit prices’ (£ per kilo etc) which will help you compare value for money between brands.

‘Sale’ price reductions look tempting, but make sure they really are value for money.

Check your till receipt to make sure you’ve not been overcharged for your purchases.