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From Struggling Alone to Regaining Control: My Journey with Talking Money

By Rachel

I’ve lived in Bristol all my life, always close to my mum. But after she passed away, everything changed. My benefits situation took a turn for the worse, and suddenly I found myself paying bedroom tax while also caring for my adult son, who has disabilities. It became impossible to keep up with all the bills each month, and I relied on the food bank. There, someone mentioned Talking Money to me, and that phone call turned out to be a lifeline. 

At the time, I was dealing with a lot of health issues spinal problems, high cholesterol, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Walking any distance was difficult, and even at 53, I needed to use a stick to get around. The stress of not having enough money made things even worse; I was battling anxiety and depression, sometimes feeling like I just couldn’t go on. 

A listening ear 

I had no one to talk to, and my confidence was at an all-time low. It took every ounce of courage I had to call Talking Money. I didn’t expect much — I honestly thought no one could help me. But everything started to change from the moment I spoke to Nick, one of their advisors. He listened to my whole story, not just the financial part, and made me feel understood for the first time in a long time. 

Nick helped me address my immediate crisis of not having enough money by applying for discretionary grants and charitable funds. He then guided me through the process to apply for disability Personal Independence Payments (PIP). This took a long time as Talking Money had to appeal my case to an independent tribunal. This eventually brought success; but whenever I hit a bump in the road, Nick was on the other end of the phone, ready to help. He even arranged for me to get a tablet to access information online and keep track of my benefits. 

Practical support 

Now I can cover my bills for the first time in a long while. I’m eating better and no longer sticking with the cheapest options, like pizza and chips. I’ve also gained the confidence to ask a neighbour for help without feeling embarrassed. 

I can’t fully express how much Talking Money has changed my life. Not constantly worrying about paying my bills has been an enormous relief. Nick was incredible — always just a phone call away and took care of all the paperwork. He understood that my financial issues were impacting every aspect of my life. Thanks to his help, I finally feel like I have a chance to get my life back on track. The team at Talking Money have basically been amazing, amazing, amazing!