List your monthly income, fixed bills and regular spending in a household budget planner, then compare your total outgoings with what you have coming in. Check bank statements and receipts so you include less obvious costs, such as subscriptions, takeaways and annual bills, and divide yearly expenses by 12. Update the planner weekly and group spending into categories to spot where you could cut back or set a realistic savings target. If your budget shows you cannot cover essential bills, contact a free UK debt advice charity such as StepChange or Citizens Advice.