Have a clear out at home and make some extra cash.

When was the last time you had a clear out of your cupboard, drawers, and wardrobes, or even up in the attic? When money is tight, many people take the opportunity to have a good clear out and sort their belongings out to identify items which could be sold.

You don’t need to sell things that you still need or use, and we don’t suggest you sell precious items with great sentimental value, but most families will have items that are in good condition, that are no longer needed.

Now is the time to have a good clear out. The weather is still cold and it will prepare you for the coming spring. Check your local press to see dates of car boot sales or table top sales. These are great events to attend. It usually costs no more than £10 for a space at the sale, and you can take all your items and sell them on! Most people are pleasantly surprised by how much they can recoup by attending a table top sale or car boot sale.

E-bay is also a popular choice for selling items online. It’s best to get to know this site before you start selling. Watch similar items and see how much they are sold for. This will give you a much better idea on how to price your items and whether to sell them or put them up for auction.

When you are selling previously owned goods, you need to make sure they are clean and in good condition. Most people want items that have come from smoke free homes. Often people are looking for brand new items that may have been unwanted gifts.

Simply having a clear out, is a great way of making money quickly and easily. Good quality toys, kitchen gadgets never taken out of the box, and unworn items with the labels still attached. These are all things that can easily be sold for a decent amount of money.

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Beware of internet scams!

Recently, there has been a shocking increase in internet and email scams. Be very wary of these practices. There are many terrible stories of people who have been taken in by these crooks and lost money in doing so.

Email scams are particularly popular amongst the crooks. You may have heard of the emails asking for money to be sent to another country. While extremely shocking, most people know these are not genuine emails. However, some scams are extremely clever and much harder to spot. Thousands of people have been receiving emails and calls from companies claiming to be attached to the Inland Revenue. News of this scam has been reported widely on the news, and in the papers.

Phishing scams are an attempt to get your personal details from you in order to more easily commit identify fraud. The problem here is that if successful, the culprits can cause a great deal of damage to your credit rating and online reputation.

Be extremely careful with your personal details, especially bank account details, your full name, and date of birth. If a company asks for these details then be cautious and report the email. If it is genuine the company will contact you to confirm it. Banks and other financial institutes never ask for your personal details via email and they will never ask for your passwords.

Do not fall for any company claiming to offer you something that seems almost too good to be true. Take some time to look into it. Search the company name online and check to see if it is a scam. Although scams are appearing on the internet every day, fortunately they are also identified as scams just as quickly, so a quick search will reveal them for you.

Stay safe when you are online, only deal with reputable companies, and never share your information online.

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Saving money at the supermarket is easier than you think.

Supermarket shopping is becoming more expensive. Millions of shoppers are changing how and where they buy their groceries in order to cut down on expense. Here are some tips to help you get the maximum trolley load for your money.

Consider trying an alternative store. There are two or three excellent supermarkets that are much cheaper than the leading chains. Part of your decision has to be travel distance too. Many people travel further for cheaper shopping, forgetting that the fuel costs are increased. So, before you make the change, think carefully about how far you will need to travel to shop in the store of your choice.

If you can’t easily get to a cheaper supermarket like an Aldi or Lidl, then consider ordering your groceries online. This can save you a massive amount of money in a year. By setting yourself a strict budget and ordering online, either weekly or fortnightly, you will see a huge drop in your supermarket bills.

Supermarkets are designed to make it easy for us to spend. The stores are set up to encourage us to spend more and buy additional items we were not planning to purchase. These extra items can add up to a significant amount over time. And it is so easy to be taken in by the clever marketing and discount displays.

Buying in bulk can save you a lot of money too if you are clever. Items that last for a long time should be purchased in bulk wherever possible. For example, dried goods like rice, pasta or grains will keep for long periods so can be bought in bulk for much cheaper prices. Toilet tissue, cleaning products, washing powders, pet foods, are also items that last. You can save as much as £10 on each weekly shop by buying certain items in bulk once or twice a month.

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Should students have a credit card?

This is a question which is being hotly debated on a number of parent forums online. The question of whether a university student should have a credit card is not an easy one to answer. Statistics indicate that the majority of 19 year olds can easily access a credit card when they open a student account.

Here are some things to consider if you or your child is considering a credit card.

Firstly, having a credit card is good, if it is used correctly. It can be a source of emergency money for a student who is away from home. It is also a necessary part of life and as such, the sooner a young person starts to build themselves a good credit record, the better it will be for them as they get older.

The downside however, is that credit cards provide a temptation to spend that many young people find it difficult to resist. Peer pressure and the temptation to buy those concert tickets or the latest jacket can render a credit card useless very quickly once it reaches its credit limit.

The best way to use a credit card is to understand that whatever you use it for in a month you will need to clear by the following month. This keeps the interest charges at a minimum and it helps to build the amount of credit on your card.

For students, this usually means relying on parents to help them with budgeting and on most occasions it is the parents who help out with the money for credit card bills. This is not always possible though, especially these days. Money is tight for everyone.

We aware, if yourchild runs up credit card debt you could be liable to pay the outstanding amount. It is a difficult lesson to learn, but learning how to deal with money and handle credit is a necessary part of life today. And the sooner a young person understands how it works, the better it will be for them.

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Save a fortune as you treat yourself!

Have you noticed an increase in companies offering huge discounts on a variety of goods and services? One company which is increasingly popular amongst British shoppers is Wowcher.com. This site offers a whole host of goods and services at discounts of up to 70% of the original price.

The concept is simple, you just register, adding your shopping preferences and your location, and the site does the hard work for you. It will give you a daily list of special offers in your area, for the goods and services you are interested in.

Goods covered include, fashion, home and garden, leisure and tourism, cosmetics, going out and more. So the next time you are looking for the latest fashion item, or you feel like a night out with friends, save yourself some money and check out what offers are available.

On most days there will be discounted offers for leading restaurants posted online. Discounted tickets for beauty treatments and luxury goods are also very common offers. And the savings you could make are significant. One recent restaurant offer, gave couples a three course meal at a well-known restaurant for the price of one.

Another offer let shoppers purchase the latest design of handbag from a leading fashion chain for a fraction of the high street cost. Often there are offers on holiday websites that let families enjoy a holiday for half price!Whatever you are interested in, there is no doubt you will find an offer to suit.

Get into the habit of surfing each day to look for offers on the goods and services you need, or want. It is a great way to enjoy the finer things in life, have a great social life, or purchase your heart’s desire, without having to pay full price.

There are a number of companies offering discount offers, so go online and do some searching. You will quickly find one that matches your interests and budget.

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Cut down on the amount of petrol you are using.

Increasing numbers of people are turning to alternative methods of transport, just to try and keep their fuel costs down. As you will know, petrol has almost doubled in price over the last ten years. For a small car with a 1.3 litre engine, it once cost around £40 to fill up the tank. Today, that has jumped to an average of £76! It is no wonder people are struggling to make ends meet. The cost of living has risen dramatically and yet our wages have not increased to match the rise.

Here are some ways to cut back on fuel.

Shop once a week, rather than making many trips back and forth every few days. Lots of small journeys can use just as much fuel as long trips. In fact, when driving in heavy city traffic, fuel consumption can increase because you spend more time in the lower gears, stuck in traffic.

Car-pooling for the school run and the drive to work can save a significant amount of money. And with the use of social media, it will not take long to post a message and team up with other parents or workers who are keen to car pool with you.

Walk! National statistics suggest that on many occasions, we will drive a short distance instead of walking. It takes five minutes to walk a mile at a reasonable pace. Why not make a pledge for yourself - for all journeys of 1.5 miles or less, you will walk, not drive.

Studies indicate that just ten minutes of walking a day can improve your health by reducing risk of heart disease, keep your bones strong and your lungs flushed with fresh air. So, get out of the car, save money, be kinder to the planet by reducing your carbon emissions, and get healthy as you walk!

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Taking the family out on a budget

If you have a young family, you will understand how important it is to spend time together enjoying fun activities. For many of us however, it is an expensive treat that is hard to budget for. These days, it can cost around £60 plus for a family of four to enjoy a trip to the cinema! Here are some tips to help you enjoy fun times with your family without breaking the bank.

Picnics – the weather does not need to be perfect to enjoy a picnic! Kids love picnics, even if they are in a car. You will save a lot of money by taking your own food and refreshments with you on a day out.

Museums, galleries and exhibitions – These are all usually free entry attractions. Give your family a day of enjoyable culture and something different to look at by visiting a museum or local gallery. You will be amazed by how much fun it is. Keep an eye out on local press and online for family deals and free activities for the kids. Most museums will do this type of promotion, especially during the school holidays.

Walk! – Get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Take a ball, or a kite, and a rug, some crisps, and a camera, and then have fun! It won’t cost anything and you will all get some much needed fresh air, exercise, and enjoy yourselves while you make special memories together.

Keep moving and stay positive - In today’s world of internet, reality TV, and superficial fame, it can be easy to forget the simple pleasures in life. Don’t sit there wishing you had the money to enjoy time with your family, get up, get out the door and explore, even a stroll around a park or around town can brush the cobwebs away. You will have fun and it won’t cost you a thing!

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How to save more than £1000 in the blink of an eye

It seems like a lot but this article show you how easy it easy to save more than a £1000 in one year without having to try too hard or be deprived of the necessities.

Coffee – Did you know that the average worker spends an average of £5 per day on coffee alone? That’s not even lunch or snacks. Just a take-out coffee in the morning and then one during the day, and this is just the average. Research indicates that many people will have three take-out coffees a day. When you consider that one medium Cappuccino costs around £2.60, three coffees adds up to £7.80, in one day! If you work a five day week for 48 weeks in the year, that could add up to a massive £1872! So, why not take a flask to work? Or get together with some colleagues to buy a jar of coffee, some team bags, sugar and milk. The money you save buying designer coffees could pay for your holiday next year.

Ready meals – So many people purchase and eat ready meals. It is understanding bale, not everyone has the time or energy to cook a meal after a hard day at work. But here are some sobering figures that may encourage you to cut back on ready meals and consider a more nutritional home-cooked option. The average price of a ready meal today is £2.25 approximately. This price was the average from a sample of twenty-five different ready meals. For a family of four, that comes to £9.00, for one meal. Instead, you could buy a pack of mince beef, a jar of bolognaise and a packet of pasta for less that £7.00, feed the entire family in less than half an hour and pocket the £2.00 saved. Let’s say you cook a meal for three nights a week, for an entire year. You would save a massive £312. This is a significant amount of money, especially when you consider what could be done with just over £300. At the moment, it’s possible to purchase a brand new family saloon for £275 per month. Or, looking at the statistical averages, £300 per month is what families spend in total on mobile phones, telephone, broadband, and TV channels. And all you would need to do to save this amount is cook a simple meal three times per week.

We’ll be sharing more ideas for saving money in the coming weeks. Let us know your tips for saving.

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Eat well, for less.

Are you on a healthy eating plan after the excesses of Christmas and New Year? Here are some simple tips to help you eat well for less money. Diet foods and ready meals can be extremely costly and at this time of year especially, produce that is out of season can cost more.

Cook for fun and health – Consider making a huge pot of chilli or bolognaise and then freeze portions of it to be used during the week when you are busy and too tired to cook. After time you will build up an excellent freezer store cupboard of wholesome home-cooked meals that will have cost a fraction of the price when compared to a ready meal. It does not need to cost a lot of money and you can cook at the weekend when you have time. It is fun and the whole family can help.

Reduce the amount of fat you use – avoid frying, and consider grilling or steaming. Investing in a steamer will save you a fortune in energy bills from using all the rings on your cooker. A good steamer will let you cook three or four vegetables, potatoes and fish or meat all at once. It saves you time, energy, and is much healthier than frying food. Consider one-pot cooking too. It uses the same principle and cuts down on the amount of gas or electricity you are using.

Eat more raw fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetable are not expensive. In fact, they are much cheaper than processed foods, frozen foods, and even fresh butcher meat. They are packed full of vitamins and minerals and are filling and tasty. A simple vegetable curry can feed an entire family of four and costs as little as £4 to make.

By getting creative, and thinking about preparing healthy, tasty, and simple food, you will be able to enjoy a healthy diet and save money too.

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Consider supermarket shopping online to save money.

A recent report published in the news this week, says that increasing numbers of us are shopping online. Even grocery shopping is now being done online and the high street shops and big chains stores are seeing a significant drop in the numbers of shoppers visiting their stores.

You can save yourself a significant amount of money if you shop online. Here are some simple tips that could save you a lot of money. And just imagine what you could do with a little extra each month!

Supermarket online shopping is increasingly popular, so is EBay. In fact, all the online retailers offering significant discounts and goods at a cheaper rate are experiencing huge growth.

Buying your groceries online can save you a small fortune. Firstly, you will save on the fuel you would spend driving to the supermarket. Now, this may not seem like a lot, but over a year, if you cut down that fuel use, it will be significant. And statistics show that most people drive for between ten minutes and forty minutes just to get to a supermarket or high street. That is a significant amount of fuel on an annual basis! Ordering your groceries and goods online will also save you from being tempted by the blatant multi-buy offers that we are all bombarded with when we walk into a supermarket or store.

There are temptations all around us when we are in a shop, so buying online keeps you focussed on your shopping list, and on what you need. Set yourself a budget and stick to it. You will find it much easier, and if you go slightly over, you can adjust your list, whereas at the check-out most people tend to just pay and leave.

Shoppers have saved as much as £100 on their shopping per month, simply by ordering online.

The same is true for shopping for all kinds of goods. You are more likely to find a bargain, and will have the time to compare prices if you buy online.

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Are you thinking about a summer holiday?

At this time of year, many people start thinking about getting away from the bad weather and heading towards sunnier shores. As a result, travel agencies and holiday companies always advertise in early January, keen to take advantage of the trend to book a holiday after the Festive season.

Weekends, Friday nights in particular, are also known in the travel trade, as one of the best times to encourage people to book last minute get away deals. They are at home, with their feet up and a glass of wine, feeling a little bored, and before they know it, they have booked a holiday!

You can take advantage of this selling tactic to find yourself some excellent bargains. Look for cheap holidays and flights early in the week. The last minute deals not sold at the weekend will be even cheaper, especially flights that are scheduled for only a few days away. If you are flexible about when you can leave, it’s a great way to find a cheap flight or package deal.

For longer holidays, look for bargains just after a big sales push. For example, if you start looking for a romantic Valentine’s weekend away at the moment, it will cost you a lot more money. Make a decision with your partner to go just after Valentine’s Day or later in February and you will see a dramatic change in the price for the same holiday.

There’s a popular saying within the travel industry – no one really knows how much a plane tickets costs. And it is true. It can literally vary from day to day. Sometimes it can change within the hour! If you start to watch the travel industry, and get to know when they promote, and when they are offering bargains, you will soon learn the best times to look and buy. And you will also start to recognise the real bargains too.

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Have a clear out and make a little extra cash with E-bay.

At this time of year many of us are feeling the pinch. Increased expenditure during the festive season will have put a strain on our finances. In addition, January is traditionally a gloomy month. People are back to work and the weather is cold, miserable and dank.

Here is a way of beating the January blues, cheering yourself up, and making a little extra cash. Have a clear out! You will be amazed at the items in your home that could easily be sold via E-bay or at a table top or car boot sale. Many of us will have unwanted Christmas gifts, or we will need to have a clear out to make way for the new items we acquired at Christmas.

E-bay is an excellent way of selling single items or small batches of good quality items. It is not expensive, and it is a great way to recoup some money. One mistake many people make is to charge too much for their items. Remember, selling second hand or used items on E-bay usually involve an auction. People are looking for bargains. If you set the price to high, or are too greedy, you are less likely to get success. The most popular items will go for a reasonable amount of money anyway, but you will notice many people selling bags and shoes that match the retail price! Unless they are sure these items are genuine, and really brand new, many people will not bid on them.

People who buy supposedly brand new designer items for knock-down prices on E-bay are not always getting what they pay for. The rating and feedback system on E-bay is very good, so you will soon start to develop an eye for the real bargains. This will help you decide how much to sell your own items for. Keep the prices reasonable and fair.

Start with a few simple sales and see how you get on before adding more. Within a week or two you will find things starting to sell and the money will trickle in!

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Two simple tips to help you save money in the sales

The January sales are in full swing again! At the moment, the shops are full of bargains, all tempting us to spend even more money. But how can you tell if an item is really a bargain? Do some items appear to be bargains when really they are not? Here are some simple tips to help you save money during the sales.

If you go shopping during the sales, it can be very easy to be attracted by the banners advertising huge discounts and the savings that can be made. The first rule of sales shopping is, never buy anything you do not need, or were not looking for in the first place. Shops are very clever at making us all ‘think’ we need the items they are displaying. For example, if you know you are looking for boots, have had an eye on a pair and you see them, finally discounted, then that’s a bargain! However, if you don’t need them, weren’t looking for them and only buy them because they are advertised as 50% off the normal price of £100, the truth is, you haven’t saved £50, you have spent £50 unnecessarily!

Another good tip is to keep an eye out for real deals. Supermarkets will offer buy one get one free items, or they will encourage you to buy two and get three. Keep an eye on these offers, they can represent real savings for you, however, what’s the point of buying three packs of fresh produce if they are going to go to waste and end up in the bin? You will start to notice that many of the ‘BOGOF’ offers rarely include long lasting store cupboard items. Most often, supermarkets will offer items that are fresh, in season, and in plentiful supply, e.g. cheap! And that’s why they can afford to sell them at an offer price.

If you have a freezer and plenty of room, these bargains can save you money, but don’t be tempted to load up your trolley with offers simply because they appear to be bargains, you could end up putting most of it in the bin. And that is a huge waste of food and money.

Don’t fall for the sales hype that shops and supermarkets bombard you with. If you are savvy, you will spot the real bargains and be able to save yourself money on the items you really need.

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What can you do if you are away from home and run out of money?

At this time of year, many of us are travelling to and fro, visiting friends and family. It’s also a time of year when the weather can be unpredictable, and travel arrangements can change within minutes. For many people, the need for some additional cash at these times can be difficult to cope with.

We received a letter from a customer who told us how a Payday loan had helped them in very unusual circumstances. We wanted to share it as a way of letting you know that if you need it, the financial help is there for you.

Last year, as many of you may remember, there were a few extremely stormy days when the weather was particularly disruptive. One customer was travelling from the south of the country on a pre-planned journey of over 500 miles. Unfortunately, during a flood, theyincurred damage to the fuel line and had no cash to pay for it to be fixed until two days later when they would be paid.

The customer was able to access the website, apply for a payday loan and receive the funds within the hour, all from their mobile phone! And the money they needed arrived before the vehicle rescue service did! The customer was able to arrive safely at their destination thanks to the rescue vehicle that was paid promptly. Their car was fixed the next day, and two days later they repaid their short term loan.

This is an example of how the need for money can suddenly crop up. But it is also an example of how you can use a Payday loan to help you when you really need it. Although it may not be the best option for everyone, for the majority of hard working people who receive a regular wage, and who have an active bank account, a Payday loan provides a quick and simple solution.

To be able to access the money you need, simply by using the internetvia your phone, means that wherever you are, whatever the time is, if you are short of cash, you can access a Payday loan to help you. So if you are stuck in a storm this year, or find yourself short of money while away from home, don’t worry or stress. A Payday loan can help you if you need it. Visit at http://doshdelivery.co.uk/

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Saving is a great way to prepare for life’s financial emergencies.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all had a healthy nest egg to use if we needed it? Sadly life is not like that, and for most hard working families, our monthly income barely stretches for the whole month. However, even families who have a fairly modest income can set aside a little money each month in order to gradually build a nest egg of emergency cash.

Saving money is not as difficult as it may seem and often your little pot of cash can grow much more quickly than you imagined it would. Here are some tips to help you start out on the road to successful saving.

One tip is to open a savings account and put a little in every week or every month. You need to be strict with yourself. Often if you make it too easy to access the money, you may be tempted to dip in to it time and again and this will not let the savings grow.

Try to cut back on some unnecessary expenses, or to reduce your expenditure in a month. Then with the money you save, put a little away. Even £25 per week can add up to a significant sum over time. Most successful savers say that saving a third of their wage works best. This is not possible for everyone. Young families and the high cost of living mean that the majority of us need to use the bulk of our income just to live! However, if you are working and earning a regular wage, there will be an amount, even if it is small, that you can stash away for a rainy day.

If you find you are short of cash and don’t have savings, don’t worry. You could be eligible for a short term cash advance on your wages. They are simple to apply for and you could have the money you need within an hour of submitting the application.
 

The important thing to remember is that there are options available to you. If you need to borrow a little money you can do so, and then when you are back on track it will be a good idea to start saving.

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Worrying about money is uncomfortable and stressful. Be positive and remember that help is available.

We have all experienced money worries at one time or another. Being short of cash is not difficult. In fact, recent studies suggest financial problems can be as stressful as other major life events like moving home, losing a job, or the end of a relationship. Although there may not appear to be an answer to your money concerns, staying calm and focusing on the positive will always help a solution to reveal itself.

We help hundreds of people every month who are experiencing a sudden shortage of cash, or an unexpected financial emergency. By offering short term cash advances, we are able to help our clients address their immediate cash shortages until they are next paid.

Turning to a Payday loan for a short period of time may not be the best option for everyone. But for many hardworking people, it is a simple and effective option that they can use to access some emergency cash very quickly.

To be eligible for a Payday loan, you should be in employment, and earning a regular wage which is paid in to an active UK bank account. The application process is simple and can be completed online within minutes. All you are required to do is confirm your income, name, and date of birth. You will also need to provide your permanent home address, employment and employer details, and your banking details. Once you have submitted the application, you will receive a response within minutes.

We all understand the importance and advantage of having savings, but this is not always easy to achieve. And at this time of year, it can be especially difficult to cope with every day expenses while covering all the additional costs that the Festive season demands!

Payday loans are just a little helping hand when you need it. They are short term loans for an amount which suits you, that can be easily repaid when your wage is paid in to the bank. If you are careful, choose a reputable lender, and calculate how much you can afford to borrow, then you will have no problems, and this form of short term loan will be a useful source of help for you.

We do not recommend Payday loans if you are struggling with long term debt problems or have an extremely low income. It is always best to think very carefully before entering into any form of credit agreement. The best lenders will provide all the necessary information for you so that you can make the best decision for yourself and your family.

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