Friday 14 August is Financial Awareness Day. Its main purpose is to encourage people to learn more about budgeting, saving and investing. With the summer holidays starting to wind down, it's a good moment to get ahead of what's coming next, rather than letting September catch you out.
Whether that's back to school costs, an appliance that's on its last legs, or just wanting a fairer way to spread a cost, here's how Fair for You can help.
Your credit score isn't the whole story
A lot of Financial Awareness Day advice focuses on checking your credit score and it is worth knowing where you stand. But a credit score is only a snapshot. It can't see the full picture of how you are managing money day to day.
That's why, when you apply for a loan with Fair for You, we don't rely on your credit score alone. We look at how you're managing your money right now, alongside your credit history. This is so more people get a fair decision.
Want to see what you could borrow first? Our loan calculator won't affect your credit file.
Getting ready for back to school
Uniforms, shoes, bags, stationery, laptops, PE kits - the back to school list can feel like it grows longer every year, and it has a habit of arriving all at once, right as the summer budget is already stretched thin.
For a lot of families, this is one of the more expensive weeks of the calendar. It's easy to underestimate just how quickly the smaller items add up alongside the bigger ones, particularly if there's more than one child to kit out.
If there's a bigger item on the list this year, maybe a laptop or tablet for schoolwork, or a proper desk setup for homework - you can apply for a loan on that individual product directly through our website. With free delivery available, the item can be delivered straight to your door.
Thinking about this now, rather than scrambling for high-cost credit once September actually arrives, can take a lot of the pressure off the whole back to school period. It also means you're choosing the loan on your own terms, rather than under pressure at the till.
When something essential breaks
It's an unwritten rule of household budgeting that things break at the worst possible time. A washing machine or fridge freezer giving up rarely happens when there's spare cash sitting around waiting for it. That's exactly the kind of unexpected cost that can push people towards high-cost credit, or worse, a loan shark, simply because it feels like the only quick option available.
Fair for You offers loans on individual household essentials - from fridge freezers and washing machines to cookers and beyond - so you're not left choosing between going without something you genuinely need, and taking on debt you can't manage.
Items are delivered direct to your door, and in many cases we can also arrange free installation, along with removal and recycling of whatever you're replacing. This means there is less to think about at a moment that's already stressful enough.
With all our loans for household items, you choose how repayments work for you: weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly or monthly. If your circumstances change partway through, you can talk to us about adjusting your repayment schedule, rather than falling behind and letting it spiral.
What makes Fair for You different?
Unlike a Buy Now Pay Later provider, Fair for You was built specifically to make credit fairer for people who are often turned away by mainstream lenders - not as an afterthought, but as the whole reason we exist.
You can browse our range of products and apply for a loan on the specific item you actually need, rather than being pushed towards borrowing more than that.
Every application goes through an affordability check, but a poor credit history on its own won't automatically rule you out. We're just as interested in your current circumstances as we are in your credit file. This means we're able to say yes to customers that other lenders might turn away without a second look.
As an ethical lender, we'd always encourage you to compare your options before committing to any form of credit. Every lender sets its own repayment terms, eligibility rules and costs (including APR), so it's genuinely worth checking what else is out there before you decide what's right for you.
Got debt or money worries on your mind? Our Debt & Money Matters page has support and resources to help.
Fair for You loans are subject to eligibility and affordability checks. Missed payments may affect your credit file. Only borrow what you can afford to repay.
Subject to individual retailers' terms and conditions.