• 08Oct

    Top tips to shop smart

    Cash loans No Comments

    Let’s face it; times are tough and saving is near impossible for many. With interest rates being at a record low, returns are minimal and everyday living costs are slowly creeping up.

    The outlook is bleak, but it’s not all doom and gloom – you can make your money go further by shopping smart. Here are a few top tips to make the most of your money.

    Promotions

    Instead of parting with your cash, why not give up your time for some free goodies. You could write reviews of products, participate in marketing surveys, sign up to focus groups in favour of getting gifts, vouchers and free stuff.

    Kellogg’s, for example, opened a pop up store in London’s Soho last month where they were giving away free packets of their newly launched Special K Cracker crisps in return for a mention on Twitter.

    Vouchers

    Through such dark times of austerity has come the glorious birth of vouchers and discounts. From leg waxes to Legoland adventures, you can now find discounts and vouchers for almost anything.

    Take advantage of this by downloading a free voucher app to your smartphone so you can have vouchers on demand wherever you go.

    Buy own brands

    Can you taste the difference between branded goods and non-branded goods? If not, why pay more for it? It’s significantly cheaper to store branded goods.

    Nearly a quarter of Brits on average incomes have in fact done the switch from branded to non branded to make their money stretch further, according to Axa’s Big Money Index.

    If you think you might struggle with everyday living costs, you may be thinking about a payday advance.

    If an emergency has left you short, this may be useful, but be careful – it does need to be repaid within the month to avoid high interest rates, and isn’t a long term solution as a result.

    Tags: , , , , ,

  • 05Oct

    Ease the pressure on your household finances – by scouting out free stuff!

    Payday Loans No Comments

    Kellogg’s has been giving away its newly launched Special K Cracker crisps for free all week, in return for a mention on social media site Twitter. 

    The company opened a pop-up shop in Soho, London, which allowed customers to try the new range crisps for free, before asking them to post a review on Twitter.

    The low calories snacks would normally cost around 60p, but Kellogg’s hoped the publicity stunt would increase awareness of the product, which has steered the firm into the savoury snack market for the first time.

    The pop-up shop closes the same day (28 September), but there are plenty of other ways to go about finding free things:

    • If you reckon you’re better off staying at home this weekend because you’re lacking in funds, think again! There are plenty of things to see for free, including country houses, beautiful gardens and local museums. If you can get yourself to London, there are a plethora of exhibitions, galleries and exciting events which do not cost a penny.
    • If you’re in town picking up some necessities, why not pop in your local Boots? Beauty stores often give away free samples of products such as perfume and moisturising creams, especially if a new product has recently been launched.
    • Got a popular blog? Or contacts in the media? Sometimes companies are willing to send out free items in exchange for a review. This benefits firms as they will get more exposure.
    • Is there a birthday coming up in the family? Or an anniversary? If you’re planning on going out to celebrate, let your server know what you are celebrating. Restaurants will sometimes give out free drinks or desserts in the event of a special occasion, so it is always worth a try!
    • Haircuts are notoriously expensive. However, if you offer yourself up as a hair model for trainees, you are likely to get your haircuts for free – or at least at a reduced price. There is always a supervisor watching over, so you needn’t worry about any hair-related disasters.

    If hunting down free items is not going to be enough to pull you out of a financial emergency, you could take out a payday advance as long as you know you’ll be able to repay it when you get paid – although it is always worth trying to budget beforehand, and avoiding it if you think you won’t be able to repay on time..

    Tags: , , , ,

  • 25Sep

    Money-saving tips for property hunting overseas

    Uncategorized No Comments

    Although the UK enjoyed a whole week of sun at the beginning of September, it was long overdue. And as Britain plunges into winter we’re unlikely to see the sun at its hottest for quite some time now.

    This summer’s miserable weather sent Brits swarming overseas on the hunt for some sunshine and mild weather, leaving tourism businesses in the UK only half as busy as they would be in an average year.

    While some people may be thinking about booking a holiday this autumn or winter in order to escape the wind and rain, others may even be considering investing in property abroad, where better weather is practically guaranteed. With this in mind we have created a brief money-saving guide to searching for properties abroad:

    • Properties around the world are falling in value at this very moment. Look around for the cheapest locations that tick all the boxes on your property wish list. Bulgaria, Spain and Greece are good bets at the moment
    • Do your research. It is important not to rush the process as buying property abroad requires more time and research than buying property on home soil. Keep your objectives clear: are you looking for a property to enjoy over your retirement or as a holiday home, or is it an investment?
    • Be aware of exchange rate movements, as rates need not move significantly to affect the value of your purchase. It is worth speaking with a foreign exchange specialist before making a decision, as this could result in fewer problems and a lower overall cost
    • Think carefully about the risk to reward ratio. Buying a property overseas may be an exciting prospect, but it pays to bear in mind that investing in foreign property may come with major risks.
    • Remember: if you need fast cash amid an emergency financial situation, you can always take a payday advance into consideration – as long as you know you will be able to pay it back quickly.

    Tags: , , , ,

  • 12Sep

    From checkout chills to supermarket savvy: how to save money on your food bill

    Uncategorized No Comments

    With food prices threatening to increase owing to heavy rain in the UK and – on the opposite end of the scale – the worst droughts for 50 years in the US, we tell you how to be supermarket savvy in our top tips:

    • Make a list before you go – by doing this, you are less likely to overspend and purchase items that you do not need. If you hit the supermarket without a pre-written list, you may find yourself picking up products on the basis that you ‘might’ need them, which can add up pretty quickly and give you a bit of a shock at the checkout.
    • Take advantage of reward cards – For example, Tesco offer a Clubcard while Sainsbury’s have a Nectar card for customers. Every time you make a purchase and flash your plastic at the checkout, you will gain points, which are converted into vouchers – which are increasingly targeted at the specific items you have a tendency to buy.
    • Know when and where to grab a bargain – Often as the day winds to a close, food items that cannot be shelved the next day are heavily reduced in order to encourage sales. While it is not advisable to transfer everything with a yellow sticker from the shelves to your trolley, by approaching bargains sensibly, reductions can have a significant effect on your overall bill. It is also worth making a mental note of where the ‘reduced aisle’ or section is.
    • Ask for reductions – if you spot a food product which is very close to its sell-by date, or a day past its ‘best before’ date, it could pay to check whether the item can be reduced. After all, if you don’t ask you don’t get. If the item is very close to its expiry date, put it in the freezer to enjoy at a later date – and bask in the glory of reducing your grocery bill even further.

    If you are concerned about your rising grocery bills, it may be tempting to turn to a same day loan; however, they are generally designed for emergencies, and are generally an expensive way to deal with regular budgets.

    Tags: , , , ,

  • 06Sep

    Dodgy cars set Brits back over £55 million

    Cash loans, Payday Loans No Comments

    With the relentless recession bearing down on the UK, Brits are doing everything they can to cut down costs and save pennies – including buying used cars. However, dodgy used cars topped the list of the ten most complained about consumer issues between April and June this year, Citizens Advice Bureau consumer service warns.

    Citizens Advice reported that their callers purchased a whopping £55 million worth of used cars from independent dealers but according to research, between April and June 2012 there were over 12,000 complaints about second hand cars bought from independent dealers.

    Around two thirds of the complaints claimed the car was faulty, while one in ten complained that salespeople imparted misleading information regarding the vehicle.

    So what can consumers do to protect themselves?

    • Fully inspect the car – make sure you spend sufficient time checking the condition of the car. Do the seatbelts work? What about the headlights? Is the paintwork in good condition? Make sure you go through everything thoroughly to avoid any unwelcome surprises once you get home.

    • Take it for a spin – taking the car out for a test drive is essential as it will give you a chance to check out the brakes, clutch, and steering. It will also help you identify any glaring problems: such as the car pulling to one side or a strong smell of petrol.

    • Check the mileage – the average mileage per year is around 10,000 and if it is much higher than this, the car could be more likely to encounter problems in the future. On the other hand, if it is suspiciously low it may well have been tampered with.

    • Have a rough price in mind – by doing this you will be better equipped to determine what makes a good deal. Stay in the know by scanning second hand advertisements in the paper or using online guides to used car values.

    • Investigate the vehicle’s history – you can make checks through the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency), an MOT or a private history check. This will go some way to preventing you from purchasing a car that is being sold illegally.

    If you need to replace or repair your vehicle at short notice, a same day loan could help with any emergency money-related difficulties; however, it does need to be paid back once you get paid to avoid it becoming a more expensive way to obtain credit.

     

    Tags: , , , , , ,

  • 29Aug

    How to keep rail fares down to a minimum

    Payday Loans No Comments

    Rail fares are poised to rise by a massive 6.2% in January, higher than had been predicted by financial analysts.

    The greater-than-expected rise comes after officials announced a shock rise in inflation. The retail prices index (RPI) figure for July – which is used to work out how much season and saver tickets are permitted to increase in 2013 – rose from 2.8% to 3.2% the previous month.

    The figure, released by the Office for National Statistics, came as a surprise to the City, which had expected the rate to remain at 2.8%.

    The average fare increase is calculated by adding 3% to RPI, although some tickets can be hiked by a further five per cent on the condition that some other fares are slashed.

    The results are an increase of over 11%, which will be enforced on 1 January 2013. Angry commuters said that fares were increasing faster than salaries, sparking concern that ordinary people would be unable to use the railway system.

    Taking the following points into account could help you to keep your rail fare low:

    • Book in advance – Network Rail are obliged to set the timetable 12 weeks in advance. To get your hands on the lowest fares, try to book that far in advance – 12 weeks before travel.
    • Buy multiple tickets for one journey – An Anytime day return from London to Penzance can cost in excess of £250 but buying four singles (London to Plymouth, Plymouth to Penzance, Penzance to Plymouth and Plymouth to London) can reduce the price to a fifth of the original, to £50. Another point to bear in mind is that two singles are often cheaper than a return.
    • Travel off-peak – In a manner similar to airlines, rail companies reward those happy to travel when there is least demand. The hours may not be terribly appealing, but the low price certainly will.
    • Email alerts – You can sign up to thetrainline.com, which emails an alert as soon as cheap advance tickets for a particular journey are released on sale.
    • Getting to and from the station – For a cheaper overall journey, cycle or walk to the station rather than driving and shelling out a small fortune for daily parking.

    A payday loan could potentially help with any money-related difficulties you may have regarding commuting expenses in an emergency, although it does need to be paid back when you get paid to avoid it becoming a more expensive way to get credit.

    Tags: , , , ,

  • 29Aug

    How to bring down your fuel costs

    Payday Loans No Comments

    The oil and petrol price boom is set to continue as Brent crude rose $1 at one stage on Wednesday, hiking the cost of a barrel to $113.

    The rise was provoked by weekly data from the US government that showed a decline in stock levels at American refineries.

    Supply issues are partly to blame for the fact that Brent blend has risen by more than 25% since the end of June and spiked to $112.56 earlier in the week.

    With North Sea output and crude stock in the US dwindling faster than expected, and a recent fire at a Chevron refinery in California, high fuel prices look set to stay for quite some time.

    Steering around expensive petrol prices by using the following tips could help save money:

    • Use public transport to get around. Buses usually run every 10-15 minutes, trains often stick by their schedules to the second – and with rail cards or bus passes you could make even bigger savers in the long run.
    • Take advantage of rewards cards. Some companies, such as AA, offer rewards cards, which can significantly reduce the cost of fuel through a points system.
    • Drive at the speed limit. Although driving at 30mph down a long straight road can be frustrating, all vehicles actually lose fuel economy above 55mph.
    • Carpool. Taking it in turns with a colleague to drive to work effectively doubles your fuel economy for the trip and slashes petrol costs in half.
    • Make the most of technology. By using laptops and phones to replace driving to a business meeting or even the shops, you could make substantial savings.

    Tags: , , ,

  • 22May

    The 5 secrets of a budget holiday

    Payday Loans No Comments

    As the Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday approaches, many Brits are already planning their break abroad. Many, however, fear that the travel expenses will leave them in the red. The following tips will help you to enjoy a great holiday on a budget.

     Are holiday packages really worth the price?

    The answer to this question is “it depends”. If you are on holiday for at least 7 days and are visiting “traditional” destinations such as Greece, Italy or Spain, booking an all-inclusive package will probably be cost-effective. In destinations with a less established tourist trade, travel agents and tour operators will try to bring their prices down as much as possible to attract holidaymakers.

    Bookings – the sooner or the later, the better

    Cheap flights and rooms can only be found if these are booked months in advance or only days in advance. The disadvantage of this strategy is that plans can change at the last moment and disrupt your early booking dates; for last minute bookings to work you need to keep your mind open and your diary free.

    Buying foreign currency, do it cheaply

    The cheapest way of buying foreign currency is purchasing it early and online. Compare different prices and go for the best deal. Booking your travel money online actually has more pros than cons. The exchange rate is generally better, you may be able to get 0% commission, and you can get the money delivered straight to your door.

    Spending abroad, how to cut costs down

    Avoid withdrawing money from foreign cash points and pay with cash or debt cards instead. Similarly, take advantage of the current strength of the pound and travel to destinations with weaker currencies, such as the euro or the dollar.

    Back to the basics

    Simplify your holiday to cut back on costs. This means: switch off your mobile phone to relax and avoid sky-high bills, walk and discover new places instead of paying for transport and have picnics occasionally instead of eating out.

    If you have an emergency and need some fast cash, it may be worth looking at Payday Loans.

    Tags: , , ,

  • 19Apr

    Seven lessons for a cheaper shopping

    same day payday loans No Comments

    As recent study from Confused.com showed that a quarter of men in the UK never shop around to compare and find the best deals. Consequently, men end up paying more for the same services in comparison to female shoppers. How can you buy more for less?

    1. Shopping list – writing down a list of what you need to buy before you set off will help you to focus on the essentials – and therefore, to avoid overspending.
    2. Set a budget – as well as planning what you are going to purchase, it is also helpful to set a budget so you don’t end up spending more than planned.
    3. Shop in the right time – make sure you are not in a hurry or hungry when you go shopping. By shopping in a rush it is more likely that you will forget the essentials, whereas shopping while hungry may encourage you to buy more than you need.
    4. Get a second opinion – when you are shopping for expensive goods or products you are unfamiliar with, make sure you take a friend with you for a valuable second opinion.
    5. Too good to be true? – If you find a bargain, be cautious and check out what the full terms and conditions are. A good idea is to make sure you are you gauge customer service, customer satisfaction and general standards of reliability.
    6. Get it free – take advantage of voucher codes, special offers, free gifts and cashback offers. Similarly, you might find lots of interesting deals by shopping online. Consciously search for good deals and you will see how much you are able to save.
    7. Shop around – last but not least, here is the top tip: shop around. The more you research and compare products and services, the more likely you will be to end up purchasing a good deal.

    Tags: , , , , ,

  • 05Jan

    Driving in poor weather conditions

    Cash loans No Comments

    2012 has started with strong winds that are affecting many British regions. Driving in winter is particularly dangerous due to the bad weather conditions motorists may encounter on UK roads.

    Having your car break down could be a nightmare that not only ruins your plans for that day, but could also cost a serious amount to fix. Following these tips, however, could help you to avoid road incidents or, at least, make them less stressful.

    • Before you leave, remove ice from your vehicle with a windscreen scraper or de-icer. Avoid using hot water or a knife.
    • In case of incident, your mobile phone will be your best friend to call for help. Ensure that you take it with you and that the battery is fully charged.
    • Check and top-up the anti-freeze and de-icing agent levels of your vehicle. Additionally, make sure you have enough fuel for the journey.
    • If the weather conditions are very bad, avoid driving unless it is totally necessary.
    • Even if the trip may take longer, always choose roads that have been properly gritted and salted.
    • In case of incident or car breakdown, make sure you have an emergency kit in the car. Items such a heavy-duty jump leads, a tow rope, a first aid kit, a torch, a warning triangle or a fire extinguisher can be a great help.
    • In poor weather conditions you will need more time for both braking and accelerating. Therefore, it is particularly important to leave more room between you and the vehicle in front.
    • It is always recommended to bring some food and drink with you in case you get stuck on the road.
    • Last but not least, make sure you have car insurance in place so you are covered for any potential incidents. Otherwise, you might need to rely on other sources of income such as payday loans to pay for any expenses.

    Tags: , , , ,

« Previous Entries   

Search