Bigger bills for energy, council tax, water, broadband, mobiles mean that for many of us our money runs out earlier each month and we have to use credit cards to buy essentials.

Credit card interest rates average a frightening 24.65%. And the debt can soon get out of control if you don't pay off credit card in full each month.

£71.5 billion is currently owed to UK credit card companies and it can literally take decades to pay back if you make minimum payments on credit cards.

It is time to break the debt cycle.

Interest-free credit cards are readily available to people who have a track record of paying credit cards and other bills on time. It is worth using an eligibility checker to find out if you can borrow and pay no interest.

Employers can also provide interest-free loans or salary advances.

Cutting interest can save hundreds of pounds a month, but interest-free deals can be dangerous if you don't adhere to the strict rules.

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Fraud accounts for more than 40% of all crime in England and Wales. On one Monday morning I was contacted by three different people wanting to steal my money.

All of us are vulnerable, especially if you are busy and start the week with hundreds of emails waiting for you.

Every day I hear from intelligent, competent people about the scammers who have tried to defraud them.

If you use email, telephones or social media the fraudsters find out very quickly when you are involved in a new business or activity.

We need to trust no one, secure our devices and beware of any generous offers.

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April is an expensive month. Water, energy, council tax, broadband and mobile bills all increase during the month. But it does not have to be a done deal. You can cut hundreds of pounds from your household budget and may actually be able to get a tax gift if you are one of the two million eligible couples who have not claimed the marriage allowance. It can be worth more than a thousand pounds.

Water bills are going up but about 40% of households can save money by opting for a water meter. If your home has more bedrooms than occupants a water meter is likely to be cheaper than if the water company estimates your bills.

Fixed price energy bills are once again likely to be cheaper than the price cap. Even the energy regulator recommends customers to go for a fix. It takes minutes to check out the market and apply for a better deal.

Look after your money. No one else will.

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