Member Article

Dorset housebuilder banishes the “blues” this January in partnership with Solent Mind

As the country marks Blue Monday (15th January), Dorset developer, Barratt Homes, has teamed up with Solent Mind to offer some top tips to help keep the January “blues” at bay.

Falling on the third Monday of the year, Blue Monday is often referred to as the most depressing day of the year. Various factors such as weather, debt, and time since Christmas can lead to feelings of sadness, low motivation, and a lack of energy. And, during the darker months of winter, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is affecting around two million people across the UK.

Leading housebuilder, Barratt Homes, knows how important it is to look after our mental health, and successfully partnered up with mental health charity, Solent Mind, last year. To help people across the region keep their financial worries at bay, the developer has shared some useful tips.

Tammy Bishop, Barratt Homes Sales Director, said: “After an expensive festive season, many people may be worried about money, and for those hoping to buy a new home in 2024, it could be an extremely stressful time.

“We have worked with Solent Mind on several mental health campaigns, and it is something we constantly work on as a business to ensure both our staff and the community are living well mentally – especially during the home purchasing process.”

Tips include:

Check your credit score A strong credit score makes you more attractive to mortgage lenders. You can check yours online via the two main credit reference agencies, Experian and Equifax. Ensure all the information they have for you is correct, and if not, ask them to change it.

Manage your payments and spending For those people who have an existing credit card or loan, it’s important to keep up with the minimum repayments and not get too close to the credit limit. And if you are struggling with repayments, you can speak to your lender about a payment holiday. This won’t affect your credit score.

Register on the electoral roll Lenders want to know that you have a ‘stable’ lifestyle, that you’re in full-time employment and live at a fixed address, so make sure you’re registered on the electoral roll.

Get your paperwork organised From bank statements to payslips, you’ll often need to provide a large amount of information when applying for a mortgage. So, get your paperwork in order.

Mandy Wiltshire, Workplace Wellbeing Training Team Manager at Solent Mind, said: “For some people, the darker and colder months of the year can be a bit challenging. Many of us experience the ‘winter blues’ where our mood is affected by the changing seasons and weather. And if these feelings are interfering with your everyday life and keep coming back at the same time of the year, doctors might call this seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or seasonal depression. SAD affects around 2 million people in the UK and can affect people of any age, including children.

“If you are trying to deal with this on top of purchasing a property – which is a well-known cause of high levels of stress – it can become overwhelming. Key symptoms include sleep problems, overeating, irritability or feeling generally down or unsociable. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, make sure you are taking time to address how you’re feeling and reach out to us at Solent Mind if you need any further support.”

Barratt Homes is building new homes across the region. It’s dedicated to making the house buying process as easy as it can for its customers. The developer is also committed to protecting the mental health of its workforce and offers regular workshops in partnership with Solent Mind.

Blue Monday 2024 is on 15th January. It’s a chance to acknowledge and address feelings of sadness and depression that some individuals may experience, especially during the winter months. It serves as a reminder to prioritise mental health and seek support if needed.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Barratt Homes .