Cost of living support: food, home and money
The rising cost of living is affecting many people across Scotland. Alongside financial pressures, it can also have a significant impact on mental health, increasing stress, worry, and feelings of uncertainty.
This page brings together trusted information, practical tools, and local support to help with money, food, housing, and everyday essentials. It also includes resources to support wellbeing during difficult times.
Let us know what works well for you. If you have any other suggestions for this page, please email ithriveedinburgh@health-in-mind.org.uk
If you’re worried about bills, debt, or everyday costs, there are tools and organisations that can help you understand your options and find financial support.
Citizens Advice Scotland’s Money Map will help you find sources of online support to:
- Increase your income
- Reduce your bills
- Ease the daily cost of living
This includes information on benefits, council tax, grants, budgeting, utilities, food, clothing and energy costs.
Learn more here – moneymap.scot
Mental Health and Money Toolkit will help you understand, manage and improve your mental and financial health.
You can use it to help guide conversations with your relevant healthcare worker about your mental health and money. You can also take it with you to any money or debt advice appointments you might attend.
Organisations
The Scottish Government has launched a Cost of Living Support hub with urgent help for money, food, and fuel, all in one place when you need it most.
Energy Saving Trust has some great information on how to understand your energy bill. They also provide some tips that could help you save money on energy.
The City of Edinburgh Council has created a page of advice and services available to those living in Edinburgh.
GOV UK Winter Fuel Payment is available to those born on or before 25 September 1956, find out if you could be eligible.
The ‘Worrying about Money?’ Guide for Edinburgh is designed to help frontline staff and volunteers, and those experiencing financial insecurity, to more easily identify and access appropriate financial support and advice.
The Advice Shop provides information, advice and advocacy for welfare benefits and personal debt. The team can also help you with benefits.
CHAI (Community Health and Advice Initiative) support people and communities throughout Edinburgh with housing, money difficulties, employability and benefits.
CAP (Christians Against Poverty) provides free support to help you get out of debt. You can book an appointment with a local advisor by calling 0800 328 0006.
Granton Information Centre (GIC) provides free, impartial and confidential advice, and information on topics such as benefits, housing, rent arrears and debt.
Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis is Good Morning Britain’s “Money Man”, watch his short videos, giving information on how to save money.
turn2us is a national charity providing practical help to people who are struggling financially. Explore what financial support you can get through welfare benefits and grants based on your circumstances.
NHS Inform have information on how to cope with money worries and the impact on our mental health and wellbeing.
Here’s a range of information and support available to help you access food when you need it, make healthy and affordable meals, and understand the connection between food and our mental health and wellbeing.
Local organisations
Edinburgh Community Food aims to help people enjoy delicious, fresh, healthy food and making sure Edinburgh’s citizens have access to an affordable and healthy diet.
Bridgend Farmhouse Community is a diverse community of people from all walks of life.
Edinburgh Food Project provides emergency food and support to Edinburgh’s citizens.
The Edinburgh City Mission‘s Care van provides food, hot drinks and advice for homeless and vulnerable people.
Food Train Meal Makers provides older people (55 years old and over) with home-cooked meals and some company once a week.
Find your local food bank on the Trussell Trust website – www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank
NHS Infant Feeding Pages provide support for families in Edinburgh with babies under 12 months who cannot afford infant formula, including information on emergency feeding help and safe feeding advice.
Guides and information
Volunteer Edinburgh has created a guide on Google Maps that marks out organisations providing food support and deliveries.
Access the map here – Food deliveries and support map
Eat Well Age Well aims to tackle malnutrition in older people. It has a range of resources on how to keep healthy and well.
Change 4 Life has lots of recipes and ideas to help parents and guardians so you can make healthier choices for your families.
Parent Club has a wide range of recipes, food planners and healthy tips.
Cooking on a bootstrap is a blog from Jack Monroe and has lots of ideas and recipes to help you eat well on a low income.
The mental health charity Mind has a guide on ‘Food and mood‘ which looks at the connection between food and our wellbeing. It also includes information on how you can eat more healthily.
If you’re worried about rent, heating, or keeping your home warm, support is available.
Shelter has a dedicated cost of living section on its website which includes information about:
- The rent freeze
- The eviction ban
- Get help with housing costs
Find out more here: Shelter Scotland – Your housing rights in the cost of living crisis
Home Energy Scotland are sharing ways to create a cosier and more comfortable space by taking control of your heating system.
Scottish Government has created an information page detailing how to stay well this winter and what practical support is available to those living in Scotland.
The BBC has written an article about how to keep warm when budgets are squeezed.
Changeworks provide energy advice and support, including information on improving your home, how to save money, and financial support available.
Edinburgh has a number of council and community-run buildings that are open to the public, such as libraries and community centre’s where you can use services and participate in activities in warm, welcoming spaces. The City of Edinburgh Council has pulled together details of where you can go – Warm and welcoming spaces
Low-cost and free activities can support both physical and mental wellbeing.
Edinburgh Leisure is the city’s largest provider of sport and leisure facilities, offering over 30 venues including gyms, sports centres, golf courses, a marina, and the world’s largest indoor climbing arena. Many activities are free for those meeting certain age or health criteria, while others are available at a fee.
Learn more or join today:
- Memberships: edinburghleisure.co.uk/join
- Concessions: edinburghleisure.co.uk/join/concessions
- Pay as You Go: edinburghleisure.co.uk/join/pay-as-you-go
Free period products
The availability of free period products in public spaces has been increasing owing to various Government Initiatives. MyPeriod map directs users to the nearest location where free period products are available. It allows a user to filter on the type of products available. There is information on where the products are located within the building and the type of products available.
