Don’t be short of cash while you are on holiday and away from home!

All the schools are off for their summer holidays and families all over the UK are heading for their annual vacations. Some are going towards sun, sea and sand while many have opted for staying and holidaying right here in the UK.

Whatever your plans are for this summer, make sure you take enough cash with you to cover all the expenses you are likely to need while you are away.

It’s easy to think you have put aside enough holiday money for each day, but it can very easily run out if you don’t consider all the types of expenses you could incur while you are away enjoying yourself!

Even if you have pre-booked accommodation which includes meals, it is always best to allocate a daily amount for food, whether this is for lunches while you are out and about, or special meals out at lovely restaurants to sample the local cuisine. You want to enjoy yourself while you are on holiday, not be struggling to manage.

Budget for holiday shopping too! When you are wandering around a new place, its lovely to buy a few things, mementos for your home or presents for loved ones. The problem is you can end up over spending and using up precious budget which was for other aspects of your holiday. One way is to save a special separate pot of spending money, just so you can treat yourself and splash out while you are on holiday. It’s a great way to do it. And you can start saving for it as soon as you book to give yourself plenty of time.

If you do get stuck short of money while you are away from home, you can consider a short term payday loan. As long as you have access to the internet and have all your details so you can complete the application, you will be able to apply for it from wherever you are.

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Dealing with your financial paperwork can help you stay in control and avoid mounting debt

Making ends meet and covering all the monthly expenses is not easy for any of us. For most of us, although we are employed and working hard, it can take real effort and sometimes, some juggling of cash, to make ends meet and to get all the bills paid each month. At times, it can feel like all we do is work to pay bills.

Do not be disheartened though. Staying in control of your finances and being aware of your financial position can help you to stay in charge and avoid serious problems like mounting debts.

One of the easiest ways to stay in control is to get into the habit of dealing with all the paperwork as and when it comes in. While it may be tempting to shove it in a drawer or in a cupboard, out of sight is not out of mind. Unopened bills and financial statements will only prey on your mind and add to your worries, not diminish them.

Staying in control means knowing exactly what the situation is and even if you are not in a position to deal with everything right now, if you know what is happening and communicate with your creditors, you are more likely to find solutions you can manage and stay on top of everything.

It is common for people to hate dealing with their personal paperwork. After spending all day in the office working hard for your employer, the last thing many of us want to do is deal with our own paperwork too! However, being in control, filing everything carefully and responding to communications form companies will help you to manage everything much more efficiently.

Even if you feel as though your bills are mounting, being aware of what you owe and knowing where all your paperwork is will help you to manage your money and deal with items and bills a step at a time, in a methodical and realistic way.

Very few of us can spend the afternoon just paying all our bills. If only it were that simple! By having a simple filing system and prioritizing your bills, creating direct debits for your regular bills and by keeping an eye or your income and your expenditure, you are more likely to know how things are going with your finances, and far less likely to be caught by surprise by a nasty bill.

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Saving a little money each month can help you get through life’s little emergencies

Times are still tough! The papers are saying the UK is slowly recovering after a double recession, and that’s good news, but for most of us, we are still feeling the effects of the recession and the boom days seem far away. The cost of living is high and wages have not increased with inflation. It is no wonder so many of us are finding it difficult to make ends meet. For most people, the money runs out before the next payday and it can be an extremely difficult cycle to break!

Most of us know that making do with what we have is the answer when money is tight, however, that’s not always possible when even the basics are a struggle. Some simple changes to how you spend your money can make a real difference and they could help you make your regular wage last a little bit longer.

If you are a regular follower of this blog, you will have read about setting budgets before. It is something we always recommend. Setting a budget for your weekly shop, your fuel expenses and other bills helps you stay focused and makes it a little easier to spread your monthly wage across the entire month.

When you set your budget, try making some savings on what you normally buy so you can reduce the weekly amount as much as possible. The goal is to set a budget for each week which gives you a little emergency money each week, but also, it gives you an amount you can save each month. If you stick to your budget, and don’t spend the extra, you can use it to add to your savings, or you can treat yourself a little at the end of the month.

Let’s start with the weekly grocery bill. Think about how you can save some money. Changing to slightly cheaper brands, buying in bulk for certain items and even considering a different store are all ways you can save a little money and shave another few pounds off your weekly shop.

If you are strict with yourself and stick to your weekly budget, you’ll be amazed how quickly you manage to build up a spare pot of cash in savings. This can be your emergency fund. Once you have it, then you can consider saving for bigger items like a holiday or a new car.

The choice is yours, but even a pound saving a day can make a massive difference. Consider this; saving just £15 per week for an entire year will give you a little nest egg of £780! Now, think about what you could do with nearly £800!

Being motivated enough to save some money each week can make you feel great, help you deal with unexpected emergencies and save you money in the long run.

In the meantime, if you do need emergency cash, you always have the option to consider a short term payday loan if it is the right option for you.

Start saving today and you will soon be on your way to financial freedom.

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Even when the sun is shining, financial worries can cause a huge amount of stress

Money worries are one of life’s biggest sources of stress. It can affect every part of life if it is not dealt with, health, relationships and work life can all be affected in a detrimental way because of financial pressures or stress due to debt problems.

If you are feeling like this, don’t think you are on your own. Millions of hard working British families are still struggling. The sun is shining at last and we finally have the summer we’ve been waiting for. It may seem as if everyone is having a wonderful time while you are working hard trying to pay bills and meet your commitments. But you really aren’t on your own; you are in good company!

There has been a lot of good news in the media recently, Our Andy Murray won Wimbledon at last, the economy is picking up and we have a new Royal baby due any day now! Why not add to the positive feeling by planning some positive changes for your finances so you can reduce stress and feel more in control. Being free to enjoy life is a goal for all of us, and part of that is having our finances in control so we don’t worry so much.

The first step toward dealing with financial worries is to get your spending under control. While that may sound easier said than done, it is possible to make savings, cut back and simplify life without depriving yourself of a good quality of life! We have many readers who have systematically saved significant sums every month just by being stricter with their monthly budgets, cutting back on unnecessary spending and changing spending patterns.

Recently I re-vamped by monthly budget and found an extra £100 per month to save, simply by changing and reducing my family mobile phone contracts, reducing my fuel consumption by planning my week more effectively and ordering items online rather than going into town for items.

Once you work out your weekly or monthly budget, stick to it. Try and incorporate a little emergency money into your budget too, even just fifty pounds can make a huge difference if you are caught short. But, if you don’t need it, save it! Then you’ll have a little emergency fund which will start to build up.

The next step is to create yourself some realistic and achievable goals; things to work toward. This can be saving for a treat or a goal to reduce certain debts. Every month that you have dealt with another stress will leave you feeling better and more in control.

By reducing your spending, staying in control and within budget and re-organising yourself, you can start saving, dealing with debts and make yourself much happier. The main thing is not to be defeated and to try not to worry. The stress and worry can, over time, make situations feel much worse.

And remember, if you are caught short and need some extra short term cash, you will have the option of a payday loan to consider if you feel you need it.

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