• 23May

    These days, money is split into two broad areas. The first is the more traditional method of tangible, physical money. The second is banking and other ‘digital’ areas; the regions where you don’t even see the money in question. Each has its own merits and benefits, but understanding these can facilitate saving money or spending wisely.

    Physical Cash

    The one advantage to actual money is that it’s arguably easier to keep track of. Once you’re out of money, you’re out. Wallets don’t easily give out an overdraft, so you could use this to monitor your money better.

    For instance, let’s say you want to spend £50 in a week. You could take a card and make various micro-transactions, or just take out £50 at the beginning and survive off of the actual money. With tangible cash, when it’s gone, it’s gone; whereas simply relying on the card requires more track-keeping, making for easier slip-ups.

    Digital Money

    At the other end of the spectrum is the money which you might never see. Not all the money exists in corporeal currency, so this is something that’s arguably only going to become more important. The main benefit for such money is that it allows for ease of use. It’s easier to carry a card than it is to carry all your money.

    Likewise, this is easier for those important expenses, such as bills and loan repayments, that can’t be avoided. Automatic options, such as direct debit, ensure that even if you forget on the day, payments are still made (should you leave the money where it is).

    Of course, it’s already been said that weak-willed spending can lead to this money becoming depleted, but savings accounts and other methods can help combat this. Nonetheless, understanding the right approaches to each, and how it helps you with your actual money, may improve your situation.

    It’s always worth knowing what you can do in the case of emergencies, though – even if you plan, something like car repairs or emergency plumbers can necessitate extra cash. In these situations, a payday advance could tide you over until payday, as long as repayments can be made quickly so interest doesn’t mount up.

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  • 23May

    When dealing with finances, it sometimes helps to separate and understand certain aspects through categories. This lets you identify when something is of a certain nature, which can help to determine your course of action. In this case, it sometimes helps to understand when something is a short term or long term issue.

    Short Term

    Short term issues are something that are often more immediate. Sometimes a simple payment can resolve the problem, without any further payments or regular commitments.

    Of course, this can sometimes happen unexpectedly. When this happens and you need to resolve the problem but don’t have the money, you may want to consider payday loans. These loans can be really useful in an emergency if you don’t have the funds to cover essential expenditure and you cannot wait until payday. They’re designed to be repaid quickly, so the interest doesn’t mount for long.

    Sometimes you’re seeking to cover the costs, stop them from getting out of hand, or simply resolve an issue that can’t be ignored or left until a more convenient time.

    Long Term

    On the other hand, you have long term plans. These include scheduled and regular payments, investments and other matters that generally require regular commitments. These often result in having to dedicate regular parts of your income to the matters, and don’t have a quick solution in sight. This is the kind of area where dedicated financial planning, rather than borrowing, is more useful.

    Likewise, you can also argue a dynamic between long and short term financing. Short term emergencies and expenses can often get in the way of long term plans. This is where learning to balance the various needs at hand becomes all the more crucial.

    Not Everything

    Finally it should be noted this is no golden rule; there are always occasions which fall somewhere in the middle. There are many short term expenses, for instance, that aren’t an emergency or necessary expense. Knowing when something needs your attention and money, and when it can wait, all depends on your personal situation, but identifying the right matters is a skill crucial to any shrewd saver.

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  • 23May

    Living off a frugal budget or lifestyle is never that easy. Even when trying to make savings, at times it seems we are more easily drawn to the act of spending money rather than saving it.

    Consumption is a strong impulse in today’s world and this doesn’t help when it comes to your finances. As such, it might help to provide some strong motivation or be aware of extra advantages and options. Whilst the peace of mind from a debt-free lifestyle, or having spare money ready, is its own advantage, it sometimes just isn’t enough.

    Small Rewards

    If you’re into the habit of saving money, you should find a way to reward yourself. For instance, if your goal each month is to save £100, what would happen if you saved £120? That extra £20, or at least some of it, can be used to reward yourself.

    Of course, if you’re saving for a specific goal already, this might be an encouragement in itself. Charting this out can provide a better way to track your success. Sometimes having a goal in the future is a bit ambiguous, but physical proof of progress is more substantial to the human eye.

    Make the Most of Deals and Offers

    Likewise, part of an affordable lifestyle is knowing when and when not to spend money. When it comes to offers, deals and promotions, this is often a grey area for some. A deal is a deal, but it’s not money saved unless it’s something you were going to spend anyway.

    As such, this should be used in a similar fashion to motivating yourself via rewards. Always view these as additional expenses, not savings. If you can afford them, or want to open up the room to do so, they can be very rewarding. This way of thinking encourages more saving rather than spending and, again, can be utilised as motivation.

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  • 21May

    Lately there’s been more than a fair amount of discussion involving wages, support and general living costs. If it’s not living off £50 a week, it’s topical news regarding raising the national wage (if only by less than 20p an hour – but those pennies add up).

    So, whilst it’s nice to talk about the future and more idealistic money, right now we have to make do with the money we’ve got. As such, here are a few tips that might help make those few pounds go further.

    Pool Resources

    It’s very easy to fall into a trap where you end up paying for everything. If you live with a house or flat mate who excels in coming up with excuses, you’ve likely encountered a prime example of these situations.

    If everyone is benefiting from the expense, then everyone should pay. If it turns out you’re paying more than your fair share overall, speak up. Your money isn’t going to last if it’s being eaten up by other people taking advantage.

    Push the Boundaries / Standards

    When budgeting and cutting costs, reducing the shopping bill is one of the first things to do. The best way to do this is to be open to new ideas. Whether it’s shopping somewhere cheaper or moving to non-branded goods, sometimes there is nothing but bad stigma attached to cheaper items.

    Some items don’t vary much in quality depending on the price. Don’t get stuck with the idea that cheaper goods means lower quality; sometimes you are just paying for packaging.

    Motivation

    Finally, whilst it’s easy and simple to discuss the financial matters like this, it’s another thing to put it into practice. Part of this is due to a lack of motivation. If you have a goal, this can serve as a great way to chart your success, but for a lot of situations, such as when you’re cutting back simply to make living costs more affordable, there’s not much of a goal.

    You can help counter this by reminding yourself you’re out of debts, or finding a way to reward yourself in some small way. Whatever you do, it certainly helps to find a way to push yourself, rather than relying on the money to magically do all the work.

    If all else fails, and you need some money fast, a sameday loan may be an option to look into. They’re short term loans designed to be repaid quickly – as long as you don’t borrow more than you can afford to repay, they can be a convenient way to deal with short term debt.

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  • 21May

    If there’s one thing many banks seem to be pushing for lately, it’s savings accounts. These include the various forms of ISA going around.

    Like any other decision regarding your money, this is about finding something that’s right for you. These accounts often limit the access you have to your own money, whilst others do not at the expense of interest. So, are there any benefits to each?

    Restricted Access

    Many banks restrict or limit the access you have to your savings. Often, this gives you a better interest rate, but can impose limits or penalties when it comes to taking money out early. However, it could be argued the downsides are offset by more rewarding interest rates.

    Of course, anyone who’s tried saving money before will also know how hard it is to save money when it’s right in front of you. Putting money away like this takes dedication, and being unable to access it is the best way to ensure it isn’t spent. In other words, this could be handy for someone who doesn’t completely trust themselves.

    Open Access

    On the other hand, you might want an account that has free access, whenever you want, to your money. This may come with a much lower interest rate, but it ultimately comes with much more freedom.

    The main arguable downside, then, is this isn’t a ‘true’ savings account if you start treating it like a second account. Yet, if you have good self control, it’s a good way to safely isolate spare money you’ve put aside (generating some interest along the way) as well as providing some spare financial reserves should anything go wrong or you find yourself in need of money.

    Additionally, these accounts are more flexible. There may be a reduced, if any, minimum input, for instance. Not everyone can designate a set payment plan for anything – life does like to throw unexpected surprises.

    If you have no flexibility with your finances and every last penny is going towards bills and other mandatory payments, you may have been unable to build up reserves, meaning you are left unprepared for financial emergencies.

    If these emergencies occur, a sameday loan may be one way to relieve pressure until you get paid. Make sure that you only borrow an amount you know you can repay, as they’re intended as short term solutions only.

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  • 21May

    When discussing various financial matters, from utility bills to other services and expenses, the idea of borrowing money as a solution is never that far away. Loans can, of course, be highly beneficial.

    Under the right circumstances, and planned out in advance, borrowing money can help in a variety of situations. The key is understanding which situations require it.

    Does Acting Now Save Money?

    One of the first questions you should ask is if there is an option to save money. For instance, if something costs £100 now, but could deteriorate into £200 costs later, due to the likes of interest or accumulating bills, borrowing the money earlier (where the interest will arguably not accumulate to £200 by pay-day) can be argued – although make sure you check the interest that you’ll repay.

    Can It Wait?

    Mathematical matters aside, can the issue at hand wait? Emergency repairs are often crucial, but other outgoings can often be put on the backburner. If you start paying everything off early for peace of mind at the time, you’ll eat up all your income in loans and small debts before it even has time to rest in your account.

    If you are struggling to meet emergency unexpected costs, a payday UK loan may be one way to help tide you over until payday. They only take minutes to apply for, and you’ll receive a fast, no-obligations decision.

    Can Costs Be Cut?

    There are various occasions we may want to buy something and we go on to consider a more expensive option, simply because it’s what we want. Sometimes this isn’t a bad idea, since it may be wise to invest in quality for a longer duration, but it helps to know when this is or isn’t the case.

    Longevity, for instance, is an investment. If you have to repair something, with the option to upgrade to a solution that cuts down on future repair costs, there’s a strong argument. If, however, it’s something superficial or which offers little long-term benefit, it might not be necessary.

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  • 21May

    Whether you’re trying to save money, need to spend it elsewhere or just want to reduce your expenses, there is always something that can be cut back on. Sometimes, there are a number of expensive areas that can be cut down or removed entirely.

    To this end, here are a few such examples. Many of these can be reduced, or cut entirely, to open up extra money from a limited income or budget.

    Nights Out

    A social life is important, but a night out can easily get out of hand from a money perspective. Drink (and food, depending on your evening) can rack up due to high quantities. Depending on where you live, you may be facing taxis and other costs as well. Whilst one such event might not be too expensive, doing this every weekend could quickly eat up a reasonable amount of your monthly budget.

    Shopping

    Some people find it very difficult to stick to a budget when shopping. Clothes shopping is a prime example; when you see something on offer, it’s all too easy to tempt yourself to buy it under the illusion of a discount. Whilst it may be on offer, it’s not a true ‘saving’ if you weren’t going to previously buy it as you’ve still walked out spending something you weren’t planning to.

    Driving

    This is an arguable ‘pitfall’, since plenty of people need to drive. Or do they? Depending on where you live, public transport may be cheaper. Unless you have a specific use for your vehicle, the expensive tax, fuel consumption and other costs all add up. That said, there are other cases where it may prove cheaper, such as if you travel a lot. You might have to get out the calculator and check for yourself!

    Saving money is important, as it can mean that you don’t have to apply for payday advances in order to deal with emergencies – while we offer applications and fast decisions, we understand that the best way to deal with these things is to avoid them when possible.

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  • 21May

    If you’ve ever sat down and worked out your expenses, it can sometimes be surprising to see just where the money goes.

    This is especially true when it comes to your home. Whilst everyone knows this is an important cost, sometimes you just don’t realise it until you do some quick maths and work out the actual figure.

    Mortgage/Rent

    Very few people have free accommodation. Wherever you’re living, you are likely paying either rent or a mortgage. Whilst the prices of the two may differ highly, it nonetheless commits you to a regular payment that is far from negotiable.

    Utility Costs

    Likewise, no house is free to run either. Gas, electricity and water are some of the biggest expenses in any house. This is easier to track on utility bills, but many people still use paid meters. These may be more practical, but it’s easier to lose track of how much money goes in if you don’t keep a record.

    Unlike rent and mortgages, however, this is one area that you have some control over. If you need to ease up on your expenses, or make more funds available, careful consideration in this area can lower the bills.

    Insurance

    If you want to protect your home, this costs even more money – house insurance is seldom cheap. One can argue that the more expensive the home, the more expensive the home insurance. Contents, again, can be expensive, but that depends on what you wish to protect. Nonetheless, adequate protection is another important area that can quickly eat up any remaining money.

    In short, these are just some of the biggest areas where your home can take a lot of your income – and this doesn’t even include other basic living costs, such as food and water!

    All of this budgeting can be difficult enough, but it’s worse when an emergency or an unexpected expense causes you short term difficulties. If this happens to you, a payday UK loan may be able to tide you over until payday. It’s important to apply for an amount you know you’ll be able to repay, in order to repay minimum interest.

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  • 03May

    Saving money and planning ahead is never particularly easy. This is primarily due to the fact that the maths is always against you, since you’re working with a limited income and generally increasing expenses, as well as a variety of other factors.

    One of the issues that often doesn’t get addressed, however, is the simple idea of understanding how long money is in your hands. It might not seem relevant, but it does have a strong correlation to how we treat our money.

    If we accept that money is only going to be in our account for x amount of days, one can argue this gives us all the more incentive to make sure your finances stay on track. In psychology this is often referred to as a self-fulfilling prophecy, but financially speaking it’s a general matter of long-sightedness and patience.

    Dedicated Money

    There are some people out there who are able to allocate money better than most. Most people do this when they have utility bills and rent to consider. If you know you owe £400 in two weeks’ time, for instance, that £400 often sits in your account, rather than being spent. Although it’s yours, the only incentive you have to keep it is the fact that it’s going to needed and, to put it differently, someone else already has a potential ‘right’ to it.

    If you need to deal with an emergency, however, a payday advance may be able to tide you over until payday so long as repayments can be made quickly. They’re only for short term use, so they don’t become too expensive – if you’re dealing with longer term needs, they probably won’t be suitable.

    Undedicated Money

    Let’s compare this to money that isn’t allocated for a particular purpose. This is what we’d commonly call disposable income. This is where temptation and other urges come in. Part of the problem here is that, whilst we don’t have a dedicated end-goal or limit here, we still quickly spend money nonetheless.

    Making the effort to think of this money in a much longer term may lead to more motivation for saving!

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  • 03May

    News this week has already broken regarding SSE, the energy provider, being fined £10.5 million. Last month there was news of banks not giving reliable information on ISA loans over the phone, courtesy of a Which? consumer report. It seems that information cannot always be trusted.

    With this in mind, it’s arguably more important than ever to take a more active role when it comes to your money. This can include checking figures and the accuracy of information, as well as seeking rightful compensation if something has gone wrong.

    Check Figures

    First and foremost, you should always double check everything. This should be done anyway, but recent developments only highlight the importance of this action. For example, you should always check what is going into and coming out of your bank accounts, and ensure that the amount in the bank is the right sum. If money does inexplicably go missing or go against what you’re expecting to be in there, you want to know as soon as possible.

    In a similar fashion, it’s never a bad idea to do your own research. Despite what banks, service providers and other salesmen may tell you, you always have a choice. Do some research and conclude that they’re accurate or that it’s the best option. As a consumer, you always have a small grace period with which to consider any options, so there’s no need to feel pressured.

    Seek Compensation

    Furthermore, if something should happen, you have a right to seek compensation. If there’s a banking or financial error, for instance, you don’t want to be charged money unnecessarily.

    Likewise, in the wake of the incident with SSE, you also have a right to seek compensation if you were mis-sold a service. Ofgem, the watchdog that imposed the fine, is encouraging people to do just that. If you were mis-sold the service, then claiming compensation from the company can earn some of this money back.

    If unexpected expenses or emergencies have left you struggling to cover essential expenditure, same day loans could help tide you over until payday. These may be a useful option to have at hand, so long as you are certain repayments can be made quickly to avoid them becoming more expensive.

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