Q: "I was made redundant last month and I've already started to fall behind on my bills. I'm looking for work, but is there anything else I can do so I don't end up in debt?"

A: There are steps you can take to avoid your bills from building up.

First, check that you’ve been paid any redundancy money you’re entitled to - you might get statutory redundancy pay and possibly contractual redundancy pay if you’ve been in the job for two years or more. This should be evident on your final payslip, but if it’s not, contact your employer. If you were in a trade union ask for their help.

Then look at ways to boost your income. See if you’re eligible for benefits with online benefits calculators available on the Turn2Us or EntitledTo websites. You will probably be eligible for Jobseekers Allowance and you may also be eligible for housing benefit, council tax reduction, child tax credits and working tax credits, depending on your family circumstances. If you live in certain areas you may have to claim Universal Credit instead but if you’re not sure, check with Citizens Advice locally.

You could also check if you can make savings on your bills, for example by switching to a cheaper gas or electricity or mobile phone deal. Ask the council if you can spread council tax payments over 12 months instead of the usual 10. If you’re really struggling to pay council tax, ask the council about applying for an exceptional hardship payment.

Now look at how much money you have coming in and compare it to your essential spending. Priority bills include your rent or mortgage and council tax, and should be paid first as there can be serious consequences for missing payments.

If you own your home, contact your mortgage lender to see if you can negotiate on your monthly repayment. If you’re seriously at risk of losing your home because you can’t keep up mortgage or rent payments, contact the council’s homelessness reduction team. They may be able to help you, especially if you have children.

You could also see if your credit card provider will negotiate on repayment amounts to give you some breathing space. But try to avoid payday or logbook loans: you will end up running up more debt.

For further help understanding managing your money, contact your local Citizens Advice.