Nurses warned to watch finances as cost of living increases
RCN urges members to budget, ask for advice and check entitlement to benefits as cost of living rises faster than pay
Budget, plan for all possibilities and ask for advice. That is the advice from the RCN on how nurses can keep on top of their finances in this economic climate.
RCN welfare support adviser Claire Canning suggests nurses ask ‘what if?’ when thinking about their finances.
Regularly review budgets amid rising living costs
Ms Canning said: ‘Things might be brilliant now, but ask yourself: “What if my partner got sick? What if I lost my job? How would I manage financially?”’
Nurses should regularly review their budgets amid rising living costs, she added.
‘Things are not staying static. Utility costs are going up, the price of petrol is going up but wages are not,’ she said.
Nurses should seek advice and check benefit entitlements
Ms Canning added that if nurses are struggling financially, they should seek advice before it affects relationships, work and mental health.
She said this is particularly important for nurses affected by the government’s decision to end the £20 a week uplift in universal credit.
She also urged nurses to check if they are entitled to benefits.
‘There is a common misconception that people think they might not qualify for benefits,’ she said. ’Often they do, for example if they have childcare costs, are single parents or working reduced hours.’
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