Helping Your Household Budget Go Further This Autumn
As the evenings draw in and the weather gets colder, many of us start to notice household costs creeping up. From the weekly food shop to heating, travel and other everyday essentials, autumn can be an expensive time of year.
For unpaid carers, these financial pressures can feel even harder to manage. Caring for someone can affect how much you are able to work, while the caring role itself can bring additional costs. When money is already stretched, even small savings can make a difference.
The good news is that there are practical steps you can take to help your household budget go a little further, as well as financial support and discounts that you may be entitled to as a carer.
Start with everyday expenses
One place to start is by taking a fresh look at your regular household spending. MoneyHelper recommends reviewing costs such as broadband, mobile phone contracts, water, energy and transport to check whether you could be paying less. Shopping around or speaking to your existing provider about whether they can offer you a better deal could help reduce some of your regular bills.
Your weekly food shop is another area where small changes can add up. Planning meals before you go shopping, checking what you already have at home, making a shopping list and finding ways to use leftovers can all help make your food budget stretch further.
And it is not just your regular bills where you may be able to make a saving. As a carer, you could also have access to discounts on some of the things you already buy or enjoy.
Make the most of carer discounts
Discounts for Carers is a free UK-wide discount scheme open to both paid and unpaid carers. It brings together offers from more than 2,000 brands, covering everything from supermarkets and shopping to eating out, travel, days out, technology and wellbeing.
Once you've joined, you can browse available offers and access discount codes, cashback, discounted gift cards and selected in-store savings. As offers change regularly, it is worth checking the site whenever you are planning a purchase or day out to see whether you could make a saving.
Check what support you could be entitled to
If you live in Swindon, Swindon Borough Council has information about support with the cost of living, including help with food, energy, Council Tax, water bills and emergency financial assistance. You can also find information about Carer's Allowance and other support available to unpaid carers.
For 2026/27, eligible carers can receive £86.45 a week in Carer's Allowance, while the earnings threshold has increased to £204 a week after permitted deductions. If you have checked your entitlement before, it may be worth checking again, particularly if your circumstances or income have changed.
To make it easier to find the right support, we have put together a full list of support and services, covering a range of local and national organisations that can offer financial, practical and other support.
You don't have to manage alone
Money worries can add another layer of pressure to an already demanding caring role. At Swindon Carers Together, we understand that managing household costs is just one of the many things carers may have to think about.
If you provide unpaid care for a family member, friend or neighbour, you don't have to manage everything alone. Whether you're an adult carer, parent carer, or young carer, information, advice and support is available to help you in your caring role.