Money Helpdesk - Personal Finance - Scotsman.com Q My husband lost his job recently and we are really struggling to make ends meet. This is very difficult for us, as we have always been people who have coped, and paid our way in the world. My husband and I were both brought up to do that, and we are trying to bring our daughters up to do the same. But it's very hard for us at the moment and we need help. We have more money going out than coming in. Specifically, I am worried about our gas bill. We've tightened our belts and have prioritised our money to make sure we pay the mortgage, and daily essentials like food. But one thing we've had to neglect is our gas bill, and we've fallen into arrears on that. We are now receiving final demands - something I've never experienced before - and I am worried we may be disconnected. With two young girls and with winter coming up, that's unthinkable. Christmas is going to be hard enough without that. GL, Orkney A Citizens Advice Scotland says: "The first thing we would want to do is sit down with you and go over your finances in detail, to see whether you are entitled to any help that you are not yet getting. It's amazing how often that is the case. But you mention fuel bills specifically. It's good that you have prioritised your outgoing payments and you are right to have prioritised the mortgage, but it's important to give equal priority to fuel bills because they are an essential, not a luxury: you need to be able to stay warm, and cook your food. If you go and see your local CAB adviser they will give you specific advice that suits your personal situation. The main thing is that you need to contact your fuel supplier as early as possible and come to an agreement about how to pay off the arrears. They are usually more helpful than you might expect.. If you have a consumer issue that you would like tackling, contact Claire Smith on 0131 620 8511 or e-mail csmith@scotsman.com.