Money management course?

[hibbledobble]

Does anyone know of one of these? Or how to help someone who is very bad with money?
Thank you

Some community and children's centres run budgeting courses, if often slightly disguised as making money go further, healthy eating for less etc. CAB et al will help with planning household budgets.

The moneysavingexpert site is brilliant. Sign up to the weekly email to learn loads over time and also look at the articles about budgeting. There's loads to learn and it will take time.

Why are they bad with money? Debts, or poor impulse control, or maybe dyscalculic and can't figure it out? Or doesnt understand modern life? Will need different solutions.

A friend is severely dyscalculic so despite having a good degree in an essay subject, she can't look at numbers and figure out which price is more expensive, so has all bills etc on direct debits with a support service as a contact, and gets a certain sum out each week. When it's gone, it's gone. She tends not to eat much on the last couple days, usually after buying a present for someone that was stupid artisan hippy price rather than a couple quid. Getting her to avoid certain shops seems to be the only answer...

notcitrus due to living beyond their means, and spending all the money they earn instantly, then falling into debt quickly if earnings change. An inability to budget/save/plan ahead, combined with high spending. I'm not sure how to help.

No difficulty with numbers afaik.

As well as a budgeting course, they need a complete change in mindset, which may be very difficult or impossible.

They need to work out what their regular bills cost and make sure they get paid first.
They need to work out how much is needed for essential food and travel and make sure money is available for this.
They need to put aside some savings to cover irregular and unexpected expenses including money to cover reduced/lost income.

Only after all the above is covered should they consider money to be available for spending on non essentials.

Maybe get their salary paid into an account where all the essential payments are paid from. On or shortly after payday, a standing order moves the calculated amount for irregular/unexpected payments and general savings into a separate account that is not touched unless absolutely necessary.

A second standing order to move money for food and fuel into a separate account, to be only used on these items and a third standing order into another account that can be spent freely, but when it's gone it's gone.

If they can trust themselves not to spend all their food and travel money on unnecessaries, these two accounts can be combined. Fairly simple to set up and run but the the remaining fun money may be a lot less than what they're used to and it takes discipline not to touch the bills money or emergency money and that sounds like the main issue.