Finances

How to Recover from a Bad Financial Situation

November 8, 2022November 8, 2022 JayneLeave a comment

When you find yourself in a negative financial situation, it can be pretty demoralizing and you might not know what you should do next to turn things around. It’s a situation lots of people find themselves in and there are certainly no easy answers.

But if you’re feeling lost and unsure right now, you should remember that money is never the most important thing in life and there are always steps you can take to rectify the situation if you want to. So read on now and learn more about how to recover from the financial situation you find yourself in.

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The Benefits of Car Leasing

August 9, 2021August 9, 2021 JayneLeave a comment

When it comes to being a motorist, there are a lot of expenses to consider. Aside from the initial purchase price of a car, there’s the tax, insurance, MOT costs, maintenance, fuel…it all adds up. There are, however, cheaper ways of running a car, such a leasing, so we’ve teamed up with Car Lease Supermarket to talk to you about all of the benefits of leasing a car instead of buying outright. Here are a few of them:

You’ll Get More for Your Money

When you lease a car, you usually find you’re driving a better vehicle than you would if you had bought one. This is because, with a car lease you only pay the car’s depreciation for the lease period, not the value of the car (because you don’t own it). As a result, your monthly payments are usually lower compared with other forms of finance, so you can lease a better make, trim or option.

You’ll Always Have a Newer Model

After the initial lease period ends, you will be able to exchange the car for a brand new vehicle. This means that you will be able to reap the advantages of having a new car on a regular basis, allowing you to get the maximum benefits of fuel economy, performance and safety. It also means that you will be able to avoid massive depreciation costs, as you do not own a vehicle that is likely to be rapidly losing value.

You’ll Reduce Your Monthly Outgoings

Apart from fuel and insurance, when you lease a car you know exactly what motoring is going to cost you because your expenses are rolled into one – monthly payments, Road Tax and breakdown cover. And if you include a maintenance package, your ability to budget becomes even stronger because you’ll know what’s going out of your account all in one go.

Cheaper Maintenence

Leasing provides much lower maintenance costs than other forms of buying. This is because the person leasing the car does not retain ownership, so general maintenance costs are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty period. If the car being leased requires servicing or repair, the costs will be covered; this usually includes tyre and exhaust replacement.

No MOTs to Remember

Generally speaking, lease car are less than a year or two old, and cars don’t need to be MOT’d until they’re three years old. This means that it’s unlikely that you’ll ever have to worry about MOTs with a lease car because you’ll have upgraded to a newer model before it’s even due.

Bonus Tip

If you really don’t use a car that much but still need one to get around occasionally, why not think about using All Transportation Network to book reservations for chauffeured transportation? You’ll be travelling in serious style and saving yourself a whole lot of hassle.

Money

5 Tips to Save on Electric Bills This Summer

May 27, 2020October 12, 2022 Jayne2 Comments

Photo by Myicahel Tamburini from Pexels

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Summer is on our doorstep, but we are likely to spend it indoors this year. Due to the current lockdown, we might not be able to make the most out of local parks and beaches for a while. If you are confined at home, there are tips you can count on to see your money go further, without having to change up your lifestyle too much. Best of all, the tips below can help you enjoy your time indoors a little more!

Leverage natural light

As summer approaches, we can start to enjoy longer days, more hours of sunlight, and later sunsets. With all this natural light, it would be a pity to switch lights on during the day. And, ultimately, this might cost you quite a lot more than just letting the sunlight come through the windows.

However, for the best results, you might need to reevaluate your window coverings and curtains. Heavy drapes might prevent your windows from working at their best. Instead, for the summer, opt to switch to a lighter option. This alternative allows the light and fresh air to change the atmosphere of your rooms.

Switch to a better lighting system

Even if you are trying to limit the usage of lights, we rely on them for most of the day. However, some tricks can help you reduce your energy bills. Start by switching to a more sustainable lighting scheme and low consumption light bulbs.

It could be that you need to update your lighting system completely. If this is the case, once you have found the perfect lighting system for your needs, you will want to get in touch with a professional electrician in your area, who will be able to quickly and safely install your system into your home, which should hopefully save you money for years to come.

Moreover, if you often end up working late, invest in task lighting, which allows you to switch off the primary source of light and stay focused with just a small lightbulb. Additionally, it might be worth considering swapping to LED lights which are much more efficient than your standard bulb.

Use air conditioning mindfully.

As summer approaches, temperatures also start to rise. If your outdoor space is limited and your windows don’t seem to allow enough fresh air in, you are probably thinking to invest in a proper air conditioning system. While this is an excellent idea, you should Compare Energy Prices and implement other forms of air-cooling appliances, such as fans.

Live more sustainably

Deciding to live more sustainably this summer has excellent benefits, among which the opportunity to save a little more on electricity. Some tips to reduce your footprint include:

Taking shorter showers
Turn off unnecessary lights
Unplug electronics that are not in use
Let your dishes air-dry
Use lower temperatures settings on your appliances
Buy fresh food that won’t need much refrigeration or cooking

Make the most out of your garden

Staying indoors for such a long period might have forced you to find new ways of entertaining yourself and your little ones. However, having the TV on all day long or charging your phone multiple times can end up being costly. Instead, if you have a garden or small terrace, opt to make the most out of it. Dinners al fresco and sunbathing afternoons can be an excellent way to turn off the lights in your home for a few times and forget about the TV!

Kids

Back to School Budgeting – Save Money This Summer

May 18, 2020 JayneLeave a comment

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It’s been a strange year for many families. The kids have been at home, the grown-ups too, and it just seems odd thinking about going back to a normal routine of school and work. With the summer coming up and schools rushing to reopen, it’s come to that time of year again to stock up on back to school supplies.

The average parent spends £230 on school uniforms alone every year, not to mention PE kits, stationery, books, and lunches. With all parents in the same boat, there must be ways to cut these costs down. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to save money on school supplies this year.

Second-hand Uniforms

Many parents use social media groups to swap uniforms. Facebook is a good place to do this, or you can advertise in school. It’s better for little kids who grow so quickly before their uniform is even worn. It’s also a good idea to swap books and revision guides. There are many apps and websites for swapping second-hand items in your local area if you can’t find anyone.

Make a Realistic Budget

It’s a good idea to write a checklist of only essential items and see what you already have at home. You can then make a realistic budget for what you actually still need to buy. Budgeting apps can help your with this as well. Explain to your kids that a new pencil case every year might not be that necessary. Think about where you can cut a few costs. For another quick and easy solution to any financial situation, check out payday loans.

Factor in Hidden Costs

Don’t forget about extra-curricular activities that you might need to budget for as well. Things like sports clubs and music lessons can set you back a bit. For lunch costs, you could set up an account and plan it with your children so they’ll know what to expect. If you’re looking for inspiration there are plenty of cheap lunch box ideas online. Get creative with leftovers and fun treats. Home-cooked food is much better for them than prepared meals anyway, besides being a lot tastier.

Shop in Sales

It’s hard to rely solely on second-hand items so when you do need to do some shopping, give your self some time to wait for the sales. Take into account your child’s growth in that waiting time, don’t forget. Supermarkets often have crazy cheap offers in the summer, and you’ll be able to find deals online as well. Here are some more tips and tricks for buying school uniforms.

Determine a Savings Timeline

If you plan how much you’re going to spend on school supplies you can start developing a timeline and save up with plenty of time in advance. Put aside a piggy bank for school funds. School stuff costs a little more nowadays due to technology being implemented into their studies. Plan ahead a little for your children’s education to make sure they don’t go without.

Adulting

Does Running The Family Car Have To Be So Expensive?

March 16, 2020 JayneLeave a comment

For most families, the act of running a car is an essential one. It’s also one of the highest monthly costs they have to pay out. The good news is there are some ways that you can reduce these costs and have more money in the family budget for fun and days out. Read on to find out what they are.

Reduce your purchase fees

Usually, the single most significant cost related to running the family vehicle is the monthly amount you need to pay towards its purchase or lease. In fact, the vast majority of families choose to pay for their cars on finance rather than buying them outright.

Of course, what that means is you must look for a used car dealer like London Motor Company that can offer the best value for money finance deals. In fact, finding a finance specialist means you end up paying less, and make the entire process of buying a car a lot simpler and easier as well.

Reduce your insurance

Next, if you are looking to keep the running cost of your family vehicle low, you must choose your insurance carefully. Of course, there is a delicate balance that you must strike here between keeping the price low and also being covered for every likely eventuality. Otherwise, you could end up in a situation where you do not have coverage, and this could cost you big.

With that in mind, doing a little shopping around and using comparison websites is the best idea. Then you can be sure that you are not paying a penny over what you need to.

Reduce your fuel

Similarly, the cost of the fuel you put into your family car will have an effect on how much you pay out over all as well. With that in mind, there are two things you can do here. The first is to reduce the amount of fuel that you use by cutting down on unnecessary journeys and driving economically.

Additionally, making an effort to look for the cheapest petrol stations is well worth the time it takes. The reason is that it can cut vast amounts off of your monthly bill.

Reduce your maintenance costs

It is also essential to keep your vehicle clean and running safely, especially when it’s the primary way you and your family get around. However, that doesn’t always mean you have to pay out for expensive professional services.

In fact, when it comes to detailing your car, you can do a professional job yourself from home. All you need to do is invest in a few tools, then follow the advice in the video below. This being a tactic that could save you a real fortune over time.

The same goes for some of the more basic maintenance tasks as well. Like changing the oil, checking your tires, and even replacing things like the windscreen wipers. Although, when it comes to functions that have an impact on the safety of your vehicle, it’s always best to get professional assistance, no matter the cost.