I have been reading a lot of forums on various sites recently as a result of my quest to pick up hints and tips on how to save money but have come across quite a few posts that have disturbed me a little. I was quite surprised to find that people seem to be cancelling their home insurance to try and save money on their monthly outgoings. I cannot stress strongly enough just how important it is NOT to cancel your home insurance. This may sound a little preachy but home insurance is actually more important than ever at the moment, and the 7 reasons below will give you an idea as to why!
1 - Crime rates are rising dramatically as a resut of the credit crunch. Recent crime figures showed a rise in robberies and home invasions, much of which has been attributed to people getting desperate t feed their families and thus turning to the one way they have left to make money. If you are the victim of a burglar then how are you going to replace the contents of your home if you do not have home insurance?
2 - Most mortgage companies only offer mortgages on the condition that you take out home insurance at the same time. This protects their investment should a tree fall through your home or a car crashes into your living room. You never know what may happen but if you cancel your home buildings insurance then the likelihood is that your mortgage company will demand full settlement of your mortgage and repossess your home if you cannot afford it.
3 - Home insurance will cover your mobile phone if it is stolen and you do not have mobile insurance in most cases so think about ho you would pay for a new phone and unauthorised calls should you lose it.
4 - Home insurance will give you peace of mind that no other insurance product will because it will keep your family and their belongings safe. Imagine telling your children that not only have they been the victims of crime but you cannot replace their toys and computers.
5 - If you have any valuables like Sony laptops,Chanel watches, antique books or art then you would have made a major loss if they go missing. Items like that are difficult to replace anyway but you can guarantee that they would be the first things to go missing. Home insurance will protect them.
6 - Personal possessions can be covered outside the home but if you do not have home insurance and leave your bag on a bus or something then you will undoubtedly be out of pocket.
7 - With the risk of flooding in some areas being as high as it is and flooding also taking place in areas that are not considered to be at risk, can you really take the chance that it will not happen to you? How would you clear the water and et your home back to normal without an insurance company to help you? Of course, you also have the added problem that you may not find another insurance company should your home flood.
My message - please do not cancel your home insurance unless it is your last resort to save money because life is more uncertain than ever and cancelling your insurance could cost you a lot more than a few pounds every month!
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Clothing Tips: Avoid Cheap Rubbish & Save Money In The Long Term
Quick rant today really... and a quick tip for people looking to save money during the credit crunch. A week ago I went to a well known British clothing store that is famous for its cheap garments... and one that has become increasingly popular since the start of the credit crunch. I'd heard a lot about this store although I had never shopped there myself previously but as I needed socks and underwear I headed to the huge outlet. Never again! Now I do normally buy underwear from M&S and I love my Thorlo socks (which I highly recommend by the way) so I am used to high quality but this clothing was ridiculous. The seams on the underwear are already unravelling and have only been washed once. The socks miraculouly developed a hole the first time my husband wore them.
My advice - do not buy cheap rubbish to save money. Instead, invest a little in high quality but affordable products that will stand the test of time and thus save you money throughout the course of the recession!
My advice - do not buy cheap rubbish to save money. Instead, invest a little in high quality but affordable products that will stand the test of time and thus save you money throughout the course of the recession!
Monday, 16 February 2009
Join The Craze: Create A Vegetable Patch!
My husband swears that he is getting old and I joke that all he needs is a pipe and slippers. The reason? He has just installed a vegetable patch in our back garden, planted potatoes, onions, cabbages and carrots, and saved us a lot of money over the years in doing so. This may sound crazy but growing your own vegetables can really lower your food bill and provide you with excellent crops for a range of meals. We grew a few potatoes last year and it saved us around £15 in all, but it was on a little patch by our fence. My husband has extended that so we can grow a lot more this year.
This may sound daft but if you are looking for ways to cut down on your bills then saving on your food shopping by growing fresh vegetables is one way to do it. If you own your own home then you may want to consider using a pvc fence installation to separate your garden from the vegetable patch but if you rent like we do then you can just use a few fencing materials you have spare. For example, we had some plastic netting, much like chicken wire and a few wooden stakes to work with and they actually fence off the area quite well. They are also easy to take down if you move in the future.
There is nothing to planting the seed potatoes and onions or sowing the carrot and cabbage seeds. You cannot really go wrong. As such, you can start saving money from this summer when you can literally sit down at the table and enjoy the food you have grown with your own hands after making your bank balance a little more comfortable.
This may sound daft but if you are looking for ways to cut down on your bills then saving on your food shopping by growing fresh vegetables is one way to do it. If you own your own home then you may want to consider using a pvc fence installation to separate your garden from the vegetable patch but if you rent like we do then you can just use a few fencing materials you have spare. For example, we had some plastic netting, much like chicken wire and a few wooden stakes to work with and they actually fence off the area quite well. They are also easy to take down if you move in the future.
There is nothing to planting the seed potatoes and onions or sowing the carrot and cabbage seeds. You cannot really go wrong. As such, you can start saving money from this summer when you can literally sit down at the table and enjoy the food you have grown with your own hands after making your bank balance a little more comfortable.
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Tips For Saving Money On Auto Insurance
Many households are currently looking to cut their monthly outgings as much as possible to make life that little bit easier in the midst of a credit crunch. As such, some individuals are cancelling optional insurance products that they hope they will not need. This includes home insurance, which I will post about a little later on, but for now I want to concentrate on auto insurance. Car insurance is a legal requirement so do not be tempted to cancel it unless you take your car off the road. Doing so could cost you a lot of money if you get caught. Instead, look to save money on your car insurance
First off, make sure that you read the policy documents for yourauto insurance becaus some companies allow you to cancel it at any time whereas others will tie you into your policy until it comes up for renewal. If your renewal time is on the horizon or you can cancel at any time, start looking around for a good provider. You should look for a policy that is comprehensive and will cover you for most events but at a low price so you can make a significant saving without compromising on quality.
Auto insurance discounts can easily be accessed as well these days so you can save money quickly and easily. Online discounts of up to 20% can be grabbed if you take out your policy online. There is also multicar discount if you have more than one car in your household and no claims discount if you have not had an accident for at least a couple of years.
Finally, when taking out a policy make sure that you have the right insurance policy. This applies with your current policy as well. My brother is now 25 but had his renewal documentation through a few days ago. The quote he was given for his renewal was still for a young driver's policy. He shoud have automatically come off that when he turned 25 so he got a better quote and a rebate. Some companies do not offer this but others guarantee it so make sure you know the ins and outs if you want to save money on your car insurance.
First off, make sure that you read the policy documents for yourauto insurance becaus some companies allow you to cancel it at any time whereas others will tie you into your policy until it comes up for renewal. If your renewal time is on the horizon or you can cancel at any time, start looking around for a good provider. You should look for a policy that is comprehensive and will cover you for most events but at a low price so you can make a significant saving without compromising on quality.
Auto insurance discounts can easily be accessed as well these days so you can save money quickly and easily. Online discounts of up to 20% can be grabbed if you take out your policy online. There is also multicar discount if you have more than one car in your household and no claims discount if you have not had an accident for at least a couple of years.
Finally, when taking out a policy make sure that you have the right insurance policy. This applies with your current policy as well. My brother is now 25 but had his renewal documentation through a few days ago. The quote he was given for his renewal was still for a young driver's policy. He shoud have automatically come off that when he turned 25 so he got a better quote and a rebate. Some companies do not offer this but others guarantee it so make sure you know the ins and outs if you want to save money on your car insurance.
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Wrap Up Warm Against The Snow... For Free!
I'm sitting at home right now looking at a beautiful picture. It's snowing and settling on the ground as it hasn't done in quite some years here. I absolutely love the snow, but then it doesn't disrupt me because I work from home so I can afford to love it. Most people can't afford to have days off work because of the snow but if you are one of them and are forced to do so then make the most of the opportunity you have to play with your children and complete chores. If you choose to do the former then you can stay warm and enjoy the snow for no cost at all!
Although playing in the snow is free, winter clothing can be very expensive. So can the food you need to prepare to heat your family up after a few hours frolicking in the snow. Taking the clothing first, use items that you already have to wrap up in and to keep your little ones warm. You ca wear a vest top, t-shirt and jumper in addition to tights, socks and jeans in terms of clothing, as well as wrapping up warm in a coat, gloves, hat and scarf. Layers are the key to keeping warm so pile on as many as you can to stay that way. Old clothes that you would never otherwise wear are perfect for use under other garments if you are playing the snow. You can also use the same trick on older children because they need to stay warm if they are to play in the snow. However when it comes to babies and toddlers that are in pushchairs or can be put back in a pushchair afterwards, you need to make that extra effort because they will be colder when sitting still. Use old baby bedding to keep them warm in their buggies in addition to the layers.
In terms of keeping warm via food, cooking up a storm in the kitchen is highly recommended. Take a look in the freezer and cupboards, finding out anything that can be used to make a thick soup or casserole. You can use old vegetables, any meats that you may have in the freezer and even canned goods like chopped tomatoes. There are some great recipes out there that require ingredients that every single household will have so follow one or experiment. You'll soon find that the whole family is happy and healthy after having fun playing in the snow!
Although playing in the snow is free, winter clothing can be very expensive. So can the food you need to prepare to heat your family up after a few hours frolicking in the snow. Taking the clothing first, use items that you already have to wrap up in and to keep your little ones warm. You ca wear a vest top, t-shirt and jumper in addition to tights, socks and jeans in terms of clothing, as well as wrapping up warm in a coat, gloves, hat and scarf. Layers are the key to keeping warm so pile on as many as you can to stay that way. Old clothes that you would never otherwise wear are perfect for use under other garments if you are playing the snow. You can also use the same trick on older children because they need to stay warm if they are to play in the snow. However when it comes to babies and toddlers that are in pushchairs or can be put back in a pushchair afterwards, you need to make that extra effort because they will be colder when sitting still. Use old baby bedding to keep them warm in their buggies in addition to the layers.
In terms of keeping warm via food, cooking up a storm in the kitchen is highly recommended. Take a look in the freezer and cupboards, finding out anything that can be used to make a thick soup or casserole. You can use old vegetables, any meats that you may have in the freezer and even canned goods like chopped tomatoes. There are some great recipes out there that require ingredients that every single household will have so follow one or experiment. You'll soon find that the whole family is happy and healthy after having fun playing in the snow!
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