The best way to stay out of debt, or plan repayments if you're already in debt, is to work out a personal budget and stick to it. A budget will help you to work out how much spare cash you actually have.

A good way to begin is by using an online budget calculator. Just type in your regular bills (for example, rent and council tax) and the calculator will then work out your budget for you.

Use the budget calculator on the This is Money website
Download the budget planner from the British Bankers Association website and fill it in by hand. This might be useful if you want to keep a record of what you spend on different things.
Read a guide to creating a personal budget and managing your money on the Direct.Gov website.
Check out MoneySense, a Royal Bank of Scotland website with tips and tools for budgeting.

Quick tips for saving money

Keeping to a strict budget each month isn't always enough, especially if you're in debt. Its helpful to have a close look at your outgoings to see whether you could be paying less.

Here are a few useful tips for saving money on everthing from electricity and groceries to days out with the children. Remember, even if you only make small savings here and there these add up to big savings over time!

Get a bank account. It's often cheaper to pay bills by direct debit, and shopping online using a debit card can be cheaper too. You can now apply for a basic bank account even if you haven't been able to in the past.
Find a cheap Day Out With the Kids website
Save money by using less energy in the home go to the Energy Saving Trust website.
Visit the Money Saving Expert website for tips on how to save money on shopping, bills, banking, transport, travel and money.
Food you prepare yourself can be cheaper than buying ready meals or going to a take-away
Save in advance for Christmas and avoid starting the new year in debt.
Don't pay high interest rates
Live cheaply! The Frugal website has tips on a range of ways to save money on food, cleaning products, internet connections and more.