Would you like to improve your everyday skills?  The BBC has launched a brand new website: BBC raw (www.bbc.co.uk/raw).

BBC ‘raw’ is going back to basics, starting with sections on money and computers. The information on money is especially useful in the current ‘credit crunch’.

So, ask yourself this question: do you consider yourself to be a:

• Spendaholic
• Money muddler
• Risk taker
• Money manager
• Super saver

To find out what type of spender you are, log on to the BBC raw website (www.bbc.co.uk/raw).

raw money is full of great tools to give you more confidence in dealing with your money, for example a budget planner and saving tips (try this one: Pick a coin to save, £2 or 20p or coppers. Put them into a special jar or piggy bank and watch your money grow).

You can tailor the website to make it relevant to you, by choosing from a range of life stages, for example setting up a home or redundancy. You can chart your progess on each module and then print off a certificate at the end to prove that you have completed the course.

More modules will be added at a later date, including literacy, numeracy and work place skills.

Need more help?

Money:  

• Call the raw phone-line 0800 0150 950 for information on where to go for financial advice
• National Debtline: 0808 8084 000; offers help over the phone
• Consumer Credit Counselling Service: 0800 1381 111; provides free & impartial advice to people with debt problems
• South West Illegal Money Lending Team: 0300 1234 247; for problems with loan sharks

Reading:

Check out our Quick Reads a new collection of easy to pick up books written by top authors.

Look out for the Six Book Challenge 2010!  It may help you to build your confidence in reading.

Writing:

Tell your own true life story through the BBC 'My Story' website and your story may be published and made into a short film.