If you have no money and are struggling with your bills then the credit crunch is the stuff that nightmares are made of. You may have no idea how you are going to get by from one month to the next and may also have no idea whether you will still be in your home this time next year. However, a little frugal and sales savvy shopping can save you a lot of money and undoubtedly help to prolong your current financial status as keeping your heads above water. After all, retail outlets are suffering just as much as consumers are.
You can make killer savings using the following shopping tips:
1 - Credit Cards - You may not be able to apply for credit at the moment but you can certainly make the most of your existing credit cards. Some providers are offering huge interest discounts that you can take advantage of. One of mine has recently had a 0% deal on balance transfers for existing customers. Check out what you have at your disposal!
2 - Groceries - Discount supermarkets offer incredible bargains so if you have never shopped there before then now is the time to do so. You an halve the cost of your weekly shopping by going there. However, if you would prefer not to then check out the bargains several stores have for you because the savings are out there just waiting for you!
3 - Household Items - If you need to do any home improvement work then you may have been putting it off but if you do have a little extra cash at your disposal then now may well be the time to take advantage. For example, if you need a new kitchen or bathroom sink but not the whole until then you can find exactly what you need at a majorly discounted rate. You could find discount Kohler sinks that fit into your existing decor, thus saving you money but improving your home. You have to really assess what you want and need though to make sure that you only spend what you need to spend.
4 - Clothing - There is no better time to purchase goods that you need from clothing stores because many are really struggling. You have to look into how much you can afford to spend on what you need and shop around a lot to be able to find the bargains that are out there. However, there is no reason why you cannot save upwards of 75% on this element of your life.
5 - General Bills - Look at your financial products and agreements to see if you can find a better deal. Mobile phone providers, insurance providers and various other companies that expect you to pay monthly bills can always be beaten on price so look into your options to ensure that you can ultimately pay the lowest possible bills and still retain great service.
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Saturday, 24 January 2009
Easing The Transition - Save Money When You Move Home
I've been toying with writing this post for a while now given the fact that it may seem a little insensitive. Respossessions in the UK are up to a rate of one every 10 minutes. I use this as an example of a typical rate at the moment because it is the highest in the world at this moment. Although the rates in the United States are high they are not quite as high just yet. With families losing their homes, many can barely afford to move at all but it is possible to start the new phase of your life as you mean to go on.
For example, most people hire expensive moving trucks complete with man power in order to move but that is not necessary at all. Instead, you could hire a truck to drive yourself, which is much cheaper, or get quotes from several companies that offer discount moving packages. You should lso begin to think about what you need and what you do not need when you move. Box up things that can be taken to a junk sale or be sold on eBay separately to the rest of your stuff when moving as it will be much easier to find.
If you are in fear of losing your job if you take time off then go to work as normal and move over the course of a few days. Taking the essentials first if you are to stay in your new home or the items that are not needed first if you are remaining in your old house while moving will help to ease the transition, especially if you are the victim of a repossession. You will be losing nothing by doing this and will maintain a good level of income without the added risk of losing your job for taking time off.
I'll be posting more hints in the coming months about similar topics because of just how hard times are at the moment. Stay tuned folks!
For example, most people hire expensive moving trucks complete with man power in order to move but that is not necessary at all. Instead, you could hire a truck to drive yourself, which is much cheaper, or get quotes from several companies that offer discount moving packages. You should lso begin to think about what you need and what you do not need when you move. Box up things that can be taken to a junk sale or be sold on eBay separately to the rest of your stuff when moving as it will be much easier to find.
If you are in fear of losing your job if you take time off then go to work as normal and move over the course of a few days. Taking the essentials first if you are to stay in your new home or the items that are not needed first if you are remaining in your old house while moving will help to ease the transition, especially if you are the victim of a repossession. You will be losing nothing by doing this and will maintain a good level of income without the added risk of losing your job for taking time off.
I'll be posting more hints in the coming months about similar topics because of just how hard times are at the moment. Stay tuned folks!
Monday, 19 January 2009
New Car Vs Old Car: Your Cost Effective Guide!
If your car is on its last legs, like mine, then you may be tempted to get a new one. I had to go to the garage last week to have a new exhaust because mine was falling off. It didn't cost that much, less than I thought actually, but I was starting to wonder whether it was worth getting a new car. I cannot really afford one but the numerous repairs are getting incredibly costly and very tiresome. As a result, I got to looking around to see what the cheapest option for me was and I was rather surprised.
The car industries in the UK and US are struggling but the fact remains that a lot of people cannot afford to buy a new car. However, if you happen to have a friend that is a mechanic or know of someone that could use a little extra money then you can purchase car parts on the Internet at a greatly discounted rate. Don't forget that suppliers of parts are struggling too so they are selling their products on at a much lower rate than they would have been this time last year. You can even find Ferrari parts at a hugely affordable rate.
There is an alternative to giving someone in need a few dollars for replacing a car part. You could actually learn yourself. Simple jobs like changing a tyre, replacing parts in the engine that are not complex to do and even repairing body work are outlined in numerous manuals. However, I do not recommend that you attempt these repairs if they are incredibly complex or you do not feel confident doing so because going even slightly wrong could cost you your life.
However, if you do want to get a new car then now is the time Yo can purchase brand new cars and used ones at incredible prices. Showrooms cannot shift their stock and, as such, are putting huge offers in place. A showroom local to me is offering a buy one get one free deal at the moment and others have low prices that I thought I had dreamt up!
Whatever you decide, you can save a lot of money at the moment so be aware of the opportunities that are open to you!
The car industries in the UK and US are struggling but the fact remains that a lot of people cannot afford to buy a new car. However, if you happen to have a friend that is a mechanic or know of someone that could use a little extra money then you can purchase car parts on the Internet at a greatly discounted rate. Don't forget that suppliers of parts are struggling too so they are selling their products on at a much lower rate than they would have been this time last year. You can even find Ferrari parts at a hugely affordable rate.
There is an alternative to giving someone in need a few dollars for replacing a car part. You could actually learn yourself. Simple jobs like changing a tyre, replacing parts in the engine that are not complex to do and even repairing body work are outlined in numerous manuals. However, I do not recommend that you attempt these repairs if they are incredibly complex or you do not feel confident doing so because going even slightly wrong could cost you your life.
However, if you do want to get a new car then now is the time Yo can purchase brand new cars and used ones at incredible prices. Showrooms cannot shift their stock and, as such, are putting huge offers in place. A showroom local to me is offering a buy one get one free deal at the moment and others have low prices that I thought I had dreamt up!
Whatever you decide, you can save a lot of money at the moment so be aware of the opportunities that are open to you!
Saturday, 17 January 2009
Saving For Your 2009 Vacation
2009 is set to be a difficult year for many families. With individuals losing their jobs every day and other people living in fear and thus spending as little money as possible, a high percentage of people will not see the benefits of going away for a vacation during the summer months. When you can save money for a rainy day, enjoying the sunshine seems to be less of a priority but there are ways around that.
Already there are plenty of travel deals available because travel companies are feeling the credit crunch just as much as any other company out there. They operate in the retail sector and so people will be spending less money there so you can pick up some major bargains. However, if you choose to book now then avod putting it on the credit card and paying in installments because you are simply building up debt when the market is unstable. Always try to pay for holidays outright so the expense is gone and you can budget around it.
Having said that, if you have got the money to pay for it then you may want to use a credit card. This may sound a little contradictory but if possible pay for your vacation with your credit card and then pay the bill off in full. This is because your credit card provider would have to cover the cost of your vacation should your travel company go bankrupt. They are legally obliged to give you your money back so it gives you that peace of mind.
If you do want to get away for a few days in 2009 then start saving now. The more money you have, the less you have to worry about how you are going to pay for it. That will definitely be the key idea for 2009 - budget every single day and save for anything you may want because now more than ever it is important not to be in debt!
Already there are plenty of travel deals available because travel companies are feeling the credit crunch just as much as any other company out there. They operate in the retail sector and so people will be spending less money there so you can pick up some major bargains. However, if you choose to book now then avod putting it on the credit card and paying in installments because you are simply building up debt when the market is unstable. Always try to pay for holidays outright so the expense is gone and you can budget around it.
Having said that, if you have got the money to pay for it then you may want to use a credit card. This may sound a little contradictory but if possible pay for your vacation with your credit card and then pay the bill off in full. This is because your credit card provider would have to cover the cost of your vacation should your travel company go bankrupt. They are legally obliged to give you your money back so it gives you that peace of mind.
If you do want to get away for a few days in 2009 then start saving now. The more money you have, the less you have to worry about how you are going to pay for it. That will definitely be the key idea for 2009 - budget every single day and save for anything you may want because now more than ever it is important not to be in debt!
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
My New Frugal Living Blog
A quick one today to introduce my new blog to the world - The Frugal Life.
As one of my New Year's resolutions was to save enough money to kick start our mortgage fund, I have decided to start a new finance blog in addition to this one. Instead of dicussing finance in general, this is going to contain lots of tips for frugal living. Please check in when you get a moment to see just how my tips could help you to save money!
Thanks!
As one of my New Year's resolutions was to save enough money to kick start our mortgage fund, I have decided to start a new finance blog in addition to this one. Instead of dicussing finance in general, this is going to contain lots of tips for frugal living. Please check in when you get a moment to see just how my tips could help you to save money!
Thanks!
Monday, 5 January 2009
Cut Your Energy Bills And Save Money This Winter!
Judging by the snow in my backyardat the moment I would say that winter has well and truly arrived... and that is before I even set foot outside! I normally love winter, especially if I can sit in a nice home and look at the frost and snow! However, with the temperature being as low outside as it currently is and energy bills as high as they currently are I am really not enjoying this winter at all!
One of my resolutions this year is to be as frugal as possible and that is what I intend to do, starting with my energy bills. Obviously an energy bill is a debt priority so it must be placed above all other debts, but that is not to say that you cannot save money because you can. The follwing ideas should help you to save a little money right away.
* Remove any clothing or towels that you have on radiators and keep obstructions away from them as far of possible. Of course, if you are drying clothes then just remove them as soon as they are dry. Anything on or in front of the radiator will make it work harder to heat the room by preventing the heat already generated from leaving the immediate area. If you remove the obstructions then your heating will automatically become more efficient and cost you less.
* Make sure any draughts caused by draughts in doorways are blocked up because heat escapes extremely quickly. If you have no draught excluders then use newspaper! It works wonders because we do that throughout the winter. Alternatively make your own draught excluder with old towels and material you have lying around.
* Switch the heating on for an hour and then off for an hour when you are in your home. Your home will hold the heat for that long and you halve your heating bill!
* Place a second quilt on your bed so that you are nice and cosy at night. Unless you are old or ill, this will keep your warm enough to switch the heating off or turn it right down. You can also put layers on or invest in an electric blanket. A good electric blanket will heat your bed without using as much energy so you can keep it on for an hour at night and then sleep well without breaking the bank!
* Only use energy efficient standalone heaters in your rooms. Most independent heaters use more energy than the central heating does so invest in an energy efficient heater or rely on the central heating system instead.
* Finally the obvious - always shut doors behind you. Shutting outer doors will keep the heat in and keeping inner doors shut will localise it so rooms feel warmer than they otherwise would. This way, you can turn heating down or switch it off for an extended period of time.
One of my resolutions this year is to be as frugal as possible and that is what I intend to do, starting with my energy bills. Obviously an energy bill is a debt priority so it must be placed above all other debts, but that is not to say that you cannot save money because you can. The follwing ideas should help you to save a little money right away.
* Remove any clothing or towels that you have on radiators and keep obstructions away from them as far of possible. Of course, if you are drying clothes then just remove them as soon as they are dry. Anything on or in front of the radiator will make it work harder to heat the room by preventing the heat already generated from leaving the immediate area. If you remove the obstructions then your heating will automatically become more efficient and cost you less.
* Make sure any draughts caused by draughts in doorways are blocked up because heat escapes extremely quickly. If you have no draught excluders then use newspaper! It works wonders because we do that throughout the winter. Alternatively make your own draught excluder with old towels and material you have lying around.
* Switch the heating on for an hour and then off for an hour when you are in your home. Your home will hold the heat for that long and you halve your heating bill!
* Place a second quilt on your bed so that you are nice and cosy at night. Unless you are old or ill, this will keep your warm enough to switch the heating off or turn it right down. You can also put layers on or invest in an electric blanket. A good electric blanket will heat your bed without using as much energy so you can keep it on for an hour at night and then sleep well without breaking the bank!
* Only use energy efficient standalone heaters in your rooms. Most independent heaters use more energy than the central heating does so invest in an energy efficient heater or rely on the central heating system instead.
* Finally the obvious - always shut doors behind you. Shutting outer doors will keep the heat in and keeping inner doors shut will localise it so rooms feel warmer than they otherwise would. This way, you can turn heating down or switch it off for an extended period of time.
Thursday, 1 January 2009
My 2009 Financial Goals & Wishlist
Well, 2009 is here at last and I have been counting down the days to get to New Year's Day. 2008 was a stinker for me in more ways than one but I've set a few financial goals for this year. I may not be able to achieve them thanks to the creit crisis here but I will do my absolute best (determined to succeed by extremely realistic all at the same time!).
#1 - First of all, I hate the house that we're renting at the moment and want to have a good deposit for a mortgage saved by the end of the year. of course, we will have to save for all of 2010 as well but this year will be a good start. I want £5,000 saved if at all possible.
#2 - Second, one of my loans finishes in June this year so I'd also like at least 2 credit cards fully paid off. My plans went a little awry last year as a result of unemployment so I am determined that they will get better this year!
#3 - Earn at least £750 from my various survey sites, ashback shopping and selling old stuff after the clear out I'll begin at the start of next week. I know I have more than enough stuff to sell so I can but try. The best survey site links and places to make extra cash are listed in the sidebar if you're interested.
I've set these three goals because they are nice and simple and, I feel, attainable.
On a more unrealistic note...
I also want one of these tv furniture units from Import Advantage. I was browsing and found them the other day. The units are gorgeous - shame $2000 is a little out of my budget... but hopefully not for too long because I will be getting one when I can! I'd also like a cottage with real beams still in place and a new car... guess I'll have to keep on dreaming!
Happy New Year!
#1 - First of all, I hate the house that we're renting at the moment and want to have a good deposit for a mortgage saved by the end of the year. of course, we will have to save for all of 2010 as well but this year will be a good start. I want £5,000 saved if at all possible.
#2 - Second, one of my loans finishes in June this year so I'd also like at least 2 credit cards fully paid off. My plans went a little awry last year as a result of unemployment so I am determined that they will get better this year!
#3 - Earn at least £750 from my various survey sites, ashback shopping and selling old stuff after the clear out I'll begin at the start of next week. I know I have more than enough stuff to sell so I can but try. The best survey site links and places to make extra cash are listed in the sidebar if you're interested.
I've set these three goals because they are nice and simple and, I feel, attainable.
On a more unrealistic note...
I also want one of these tv furniture units from Import Advantage. I was browsing and found them the other day. The units are gorgeous - shame $2000 is a little out of my budget... but hopefully not for too long because I will be getting one when I can! I'd also like a cottage with real beams still in place and a new car... guess I'll have to keep on dreaming!
Happy New Year!
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