About This Service
It can be easy to feel a bit lost with money. We can help you navigate your finances and set a path for the future. Whether you’re struggling to pay bills, worried about debts, unable to save or juggling a tight budget, support is available to reduce the financial stress in your life.
We will invite you to our service for a Financial Conversation. We recognise that each person and household is different, so it is important to us that the information suits you. When you contact Kyabra you may be asked to share some personal information about your income and expenses; this is an opportunity for us to better understand your circumstances and identify appropriate resources to support you.
Everyday Budgeting
If bills and/or other debts are creating stress for you, we may be able to help you get on top of things by developing an individual or household budget. A written budget can provide a snapshot of your finances allowing you to make informed choices about how to spend your money on the things that are important to you.
We can support you to reassess your income and expenses when something unexpected has happened to help you get back on track.
For people with high debts or unfair contracts, we may refer you on to a Financial Counsellor or free legal service for advice and advocacy.
Savings
Our staff can talk to you about available concessions and hardship programs to ensure your money stretches as far as possible. Through our partnership with The Good Guys, NILs borrowers may receive discounts on a variety of electrical goods. We can include a savings plan in your everyday budget so that you can achieve future goals.
Wellbeing
Reducing or managing financial stress can improve our mental health, reduce tension in relationships and remove a barrier to basic needs like housing, nutrition, healthcare and education. Increasing confidence with money and having access to essential goods and services contributes to improved overall wellbeing.
We encourage you to share any financial tips or resources with others. We also love learning from community members, so please tell us about your successes and any tips you have to share. By sharing our knowledge and experience, we can contribute to community wellbeing.
No Interest Loans (NILs)
NILs is a great tool for planning for bigger purchases as it allows you to pay off at a rate you can afford with no interest or penalties.
Kyabra is part of a national network of NILs providers delivering safe, fair and affordable loans across Australia. A NILs allows people on low incomes (Centrelink payments or wages) to borrow up to $2000 for basic goods and services such as furniture, appliances, education, car registration or medical expenses.
Payments are made directly to your chosen retailer; cash loans are not available. There are no fees, charges or penalty payments when taking out a NILs – the amount you borrow is the same amount you pay back.
As borrowers repay their loans, this money is then able to be used to provide another person or family with a NILS. This “recycling” of money provides a valuable, ongoing resource for our local community.
Useful Information
If we can’t help, there are a number of other services which may be able to assist. Here are some useful sites with resources and services that we recommend: