A total of £100 million will be made available to households that meet the requirements. This will be the second round of cash up for grabs after the initial £120 million the government made available earlier in the year was understandably very fast to go.
Friday, 10 October 2014
Green Deal Home Improvement Fund Re-Launched
Homes across the UK will be able to apply for up to £7,600 to pay for new boilers, double glazing and wall insulation from November 2014 as part of the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF).
A total of £100 million will be made available to households that meet the requirements. This will be the second round of cash up for grabs after the initial £120 million the government made available earlier in the year was understandably very fast to go.
A total of £100 million will be made available to households that meet the requirements. This will be the second round of cash up for grabs after the initial £120 million the government made available earlier in the year was understandably very fast to go.
Friday, 3 October 2014
Our Top 9 Winter Energy Money Saving Tips
It may still be sunny and it's not yet freezing cold weather, but if you've received your latest quarterly energy bill, to borrow a phrase from Game of Thrones, you'll know - winter is coming!
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As the months approach where your heating will be on full force, the energy companies adjust your bills to cover the extra energy usage. So if you're concious of saving money, it's important to ensure your energy is the cheapest it can be for the amount you use.
1) Don't ever think that "all energy companies are the same" - there are BIG differences with price and service levels. If you're prepared to switch providers then you could make savings, so it is worth investigating the tariff you're on.
2) The energy sector is extremely competitive and companies are fighting to offer you the cheapest 'fixed' price deals. It is possible to cut some bills by over £200 a year. The average usage cost varies by region and amount used, generally the cheapest fixed rate is from Extra Energy and will cost someone with typical usage £991 a year, fixed until 31st October 2015. If you were to compare that to a big six standard tariff you're looking at around £1,180. With the EDF Blue+ price promise you can get a fixed rate until 31st March 2016 at £1,040.
3) Before doing a comparison, you should understand that the cost will be different depending on where you live and what you use. The prices we've already mentioned are just averages, so you may well be below or above these consumption levels. Doing a comparison means you can not only make saving but often get cash back for switching. Log on to a comparison site, put in your location and bill info and see if you can get a better deal. Ofgem has more info at goenergyshopping.co.uk, or cheapenergyclub.com has a special ‘top pick fixes’ comparison.
4) The levels of service you will receive vary greatly between providers, its a VERY competitive market place, so if you're not happy switch. You're already likely to be paying a lot of money to your provider so make sure that at least the service is good.
5) Are you on an electricity-only tariff or Economy 7? Those with no gas can still get all the tariffs above – and all comparison sites allow you to compare electricity only. If you’re on Economy 7 it can be far trickier, see mse.me/eco7 guide for how to work out your winner.
As the months approach where your heating will be on full force, the energy companies adjust your bills to cover the extra energy usage. So if you're concious of saving money, it's important to ensure your energy is the cheapest it can be for the amount you use.1) Don't ever think that "all energy companies are the same" - there are BIG differences with price and service levels. If you're prepared to switch providers then you could make savings, so it is worth investigating the tariff you're on.
2) The energy sector is extremely competitive and companies are fighting to offer you the cheapest 'fixed' price deals. It is possible to cut some bills by over £200 a year. The average usage cost varies by region and amount used, generally the cheapest fixed rate is from Extra Energy and will cost someone with typical usage £991 a year, fixed until 31st October 2015. If you were to compare that to a big six standard tariff you're looking at around £1,180. With the EDF Blue+ price promise you can get a fixed rate until 31st March 2016 at £1,040.
3) Before doing a comparison, you should understand that the cost will be different depending on where you live and what you use. The prices we've already mentioned are just averages, so you may well be below or above these consumption levels. Doing a comparison means you can not only make saving but often get cash back for switching. Log on to a comparison site, put in your location and bill info and see if you can get a better deal. Ofgem has more info at goenergyshopping.co.uk, or cheapenergyclub.com has a special ‘top pick fixes’ comparison.
4) The levels of service you will receive vary greatly between providers, its a VERY competitive market place, so if you're not happy switch. You're already likely to be paying a lot of money to your provider so make sure that at least the service is good.
5) Are you on an electricity-only tariff or Economy 7? Those with no gas can still get all the tariffs above – and all comparison sites allow you to compare electricity only. If you’re on Economy 7 it can be far trickier, see mse.me/eco7 guide for how to work out your winner.
6) If you're moving house, most fixed rate deals you have are portable, so if you move you can take them with you.
7) If you're on a prepayment meter don't think you're locked into one provider. It's possible to switch even if you're in debt as long as its no more than £500.
8) Another way to cut costs is paying by direct debit, this knocks around £70-90 a year off your bill. The provider will estimate your annual usage and divide it by 12. It is essential to take regular meter readings to make sure you aren't overpaying though.
9) And finally don't worry if your struggling to pay the bill. Help should be available, if you're seriously behind with your payments act immediately before the higher winter energy bills kick in. British Gas, EDF and Npower and several other providers often give grants to help people who're struggling.
Wednesday, 1 October 2014
Escape The Rat Race, Go Freelance!
It's 10am, you're settling into your morning routine, performing the same mundane tasks you have done day in day out for months, or even years. The robotic, hollow nature of your 9-5 existence is painfully apparent, but you put it the back of your mind. You think about the weekend, those brief few hours where you are free to do as you please with your hard earned cash. Your job is just a fact of life, an unfortunate necessity. A means to an end, you power on through. Who knows, if you keep your head down maybe, just maybe, you'll get that pay rise at the end of the year.
Lunch time, and you are dining on your home made sandwiches (got to save those pennies!), this is the highlight of your day. You glance over at your boss, who is thoroughly enjoying sumptuous feast from the nearby delicatessen. Anger starts to build inside you, your own pitiful home made sandwiches begin to mock you. This just isn't fair, this isn't the dream you were sold. Is this all you will amount to? The peak of your achievement in life; nothing more than disposable accessory to another man's dreams.
Lunch time, and you are dining on your home made sandwiches (got to save those pennies!), this is the highlight of your day. You glance over at your boss, who is thoroughly enjoying sumptuous feast from the nearby delicatessen. Anger starts to build inside you, your own pitiful home made sandwiches begin to mock you. This just isn't fair, this isn't the dream you were sold. Is this all you will amount to? The peak of your achievement in life; nothing more than disposable accessory to another man's dreams.
Tuesday, 16 September 2014
10 practical tips to save money on driving
Driving is expensive. Cars are expensive to buy, insurance is expensive (check out our blog about saving money on car insurance). Then, after all that, there's still tax and fuel to worry about!
Whilst we all know that the real way to save on fuel is to walk or to cycle, sometimes that just isn't practical. So, rather than suggesting that everyone moves to within walking distance of their work, we've compiled a short list with some tips on how to drive as cheaply and ecologically as possible.
The first five points in this blog relate to techniques to use whilst driving. They focus on using as little fuel as possible whilst also remaining safe.
2. Keep in the highest suitable gear – Driving at lower engine speeds helps to keep fuel consumption to a minimum. As a very general guideline, aim to shift to a higher gear at between 1800 and 2000 revolutions per minute (RPM). Don't forget to keep safe though. keep in mind that depending on the car and the driving conditions this might not be suitable.
3. Close your windows if travelling at 60mph or more – The aerodynamic drag on your car of an open window at speeds of 60mph or more adds to your fuel usage. Keep your windows closed at high speeds.
4. Slow down – Those speed limits are there for a reason! Avoid excessive speeds. Driving at 85mph uses approximately 25% more fuel than 70mph.
5. Smooth acceleration, gradual braking – This is about anticipating the road ahead. Pull away steadily and smoothly and start decelerating early so breaking doesn't have to be abrupt.
The next five point relate to the upkeep of your vehicle.
6. Check your tyres regularly – It is recommended that at least once a month (and before long journeys) you check that your vehicles tyres are at the correct pressure. Under-inflated tyres are not only dangerous and but also increase your fuel consumption. While you're there you should check the level of tread on the tyres, this is not only to ensure your vehicle is legal to drive but also because worn out tyres can be hazardous.
7. Cut excess weight – Keep only necessary items in your vehicle. We've all been guilty of leaving stuff in the boot for too long, but the extra weight will be costing you petrol. Travel light wherever you can.
7. Cut excess weight – Keep only necessary items in your vehicle. We've all been guilty of leaving stuff in the boot for too long, but the extra weight will be costing you petrol. Travel light wherever you can.
8. Air conditioning – use air conditioning sparingly as your engine has to work harder to power the air conditioning machinery. If driving at low speed, open the window instead.
9. Remove unused roof boxes and bars – Roof boxes can be a great way to extend the storage space in your vehicle, but they create a huge amount of drag. Drag means that your engine will have to work harder and that means using more petrol.
10. Only start your engine when you're ready to leave – Modern engines don’t need to be warmed up, so idling before you start a journey simply wastes precious fuel.
Friday, 5 September 2014
Back to School Money Saving Tips
Kitting the kids out ready for Back to School can cost a small fortune. There seems to be a list as long as your arm of essential kit to buy. To help, we have put together some fab money saving Back to School tips, which can make the start of the school term a little easier on your wallet.
Back to school tips:
Stick to a list - Write down a list of everything you need. Then don't veer from your list. There
will be plenty of pretty extras crying our for you to pick them off the shelves (and little voices pleading too) so resolve not to budge and stick to your guns.
Do an inventory first - Before you hit the shops, check if you have any items on your list around the house. It can be tempting to just head out and buy the whole caboodle brand new but it's worth a look first. Have you got pencils and rubbers hiding in drawers? Have you got t-shirts and jogging bottoms that you can use as gym kit? Can last year's lunch box be washed and used again?
Pre-loved can be as good as new - All it takes is a quick clean and nearly new items can be as good as new but will save you a small fortune. Our Nearly New boards are a great place to look for expensive items, such as school coats, logo-ed uniform and blazers, branded P.E kit etc items. If you don't see any listed then post a 'wanted' ad and you might be in luck. Before you hit the shops with your credit card, make it your first port of call.
Check the charity shops - Try charity shops near your child's school, which often have uniform in stock.
Does the school have second hand uniform sales? Ask other mums (or on the noticeboard) to see if they do. Often there are fab second hand sales near the start of term, selling hand-me-down and unwanted uniform and you can find some real bargains.
Hunt down bargains - At the end of the summer holidays supermarkets and high street stores are often tripping over themselves to tempt you with cheap uniform deals and BOGOFs. If you find a multi-pack going for a song or a great deal then buy in the next size up too and stock up.
Buy plain and jazz things up - Plain supplies are often much cheaper and you can add your own personal touch with stickers, badges and colourful doodles. Pound shops are a good hunting ground for plainer items, which you can then customise. Use fabric marker pens to add dots or doodles or pictures to a pair of plain white plimsolls or stickers to transform a plain lunchbox or water bottle into a one your child will be excited to show off to his friends.
Stock up throughout the year - Whenever you spy things in sales or going for a bargain then stock up throughout the year. Make a drawer of 'spares' for when your child goes up a size in clothing or you need to replenish pencil box supplies.
Biro power! You can buy some really colourful and fancy labels but if you want to save a few more pennies on the last leg of your Back to School buying trip then you can use a biro or fabric marker to write your child's name on washing labels and on their pencil cases and lunch boxes instead.
Good luck!
Back to school tips:
Stick to a list - Write down a list of everything you need. Then don't veer from your list. There
will be plenty of pretty extras crying our for you to pick them off the shelves (and little voices pleading too) so resolve not to budge and stick to your guns.
Do an inventory first - Before you hit the shops, check if you have any items on your list around the house. It can be tempting to just head out and buy the whole caboodle brand new but it's worth a look first. Have you got pencils and rubbers hiding in drawers? Have you got t-shirts and jogging bottoms that you can use as gym kit? Can last year's lunch box be washed and used again?Pre-loved can be as good as new - All it takes is a quick clean and nearly new items can be as good as new but will save you a small fortune. Our Nearly New boards are a great place to look for expensive items, such as school coats, logo-ed uniform and blazers, branded P.E kit etc items. If you don't see any listed then post a 'wanted' ad and you might be in luck. Before you hit the shops with your credit card, make it your first port of call.
Check the charity shops - Try charity shops near your child's school, which often have uniform in stock.
Does the school have second hand uniform sales? Ask other mums (or on the noticeboard) to see if they do. Often there are fab second hand sales near the start of term, selling hand-me-down and unwanted uniform and you can find some real bargains.
Hunt down bargains - At the end of the summer holidays supermarkets and high street stores are often tripping over themselves to tempt you with cheap uniform deals and BOGOFs. If you find a multi-pack going for a song or a great deal then buy in the next size up too and stock up.
Buy plain and jazz things up - Plain supplies are often much cheaper and you can add your own personal touch with stickers, badges and colourful doodles. Pound shops are a good hunting ground for plainer items, which you can then customise. Use fabric marker pens to add dots or doodles or pictures to a pair of plain white plimsolls or stickers to transform a plain lunchbox or water bottle into a one your child will be excited to show off to his friends. Stock up throughout the year - Whenever you spy things in sales or going for a bargain then stock up throughout the year. Make a drawer of 'spares' for when your child goes up a size in clothing or you need to replenish pencil box supplies.
Biro power! You can buy some really colourful and fancy labels but if you want to save a few more pennies on the last leg of your Back to School buying trip then you can use a biro or fabric marker to write your child's name on washing labels and on their pencil cases and lunch boxes instead.
Good luck!
Friday, 22 August 2014
6 Shopping Hacks for the Money Concious Fashion Lover
1. Get cash back on purchases.When purchasing items online instead of purchasing directly through the sellers website, click to the company via a cashback site and you get paid for it. Although it does sound too good to be true, all parties benefit: the referrer gets a commission on your sale from the retailer, the store gets your business and you get cash back on your purchase. Find a list of various cashback sites here.
2.Ask for a discount.
Store managers usually have the ability to give up to a 15% discount on an item at their discretion, so if you're going to ask make sure you're speaking to the manager first! If the item is slightly defective and you believe you could fix it at home, tell the manager you would like to take it if you can have a discount. If you’re too embarrassed to ask for a discount directly, ask about upcoming promotions or sales. Try the line, “I’d love to remain a loyal customer, but I don’t have the budget for this now.”
3. Find out when the best discounts happen.
If you know retail, you know that certain items go on sale during very specific months, as long as you're prepared to wait you'll be sure to bag a deal. For example buying summer items in July and August will lead to massive discounts.
4. Don't buy stuff online straight away.
If you aren't in a hurry to purchase the items, put them in the websites shopping cart and leave them for a few days. Several retailers will email you a coupon code to entice you to go back and spend. It's in no way guaranteed buy doesn't hurt to be patient!
5. Get to the front of the queue for discounts.
Most stores usually do their reductions and mark downs on a certain day of the week. Make friends with someone at the store, and if you're lucky they'll let you in on the day this goes into effect. Armed with this knowledge, you can be the one to come back with a haul of goodies first.
6. Check out the price of items, even after you've bough them.
Almost all stores will refund you the difference if the item you recently bought is reduced, especially if they want to keep you as a customer and maintain a good image. If you bought an item at full retail price and it goes on sale within a certain time period (check individual store policies), you can get the difference refunded. There are several apps available that can keep you alert to prices changes in items you're after and can be useful in this occasion too.
Monday, 18 August 2014
7 Money Saving Tips for Students
The chances are if you're a student, you're poor. Unfortunately, unless you invent Facebook from your halls, the two go hand-in-hand. Plus if you're going to go out 4 nights a week and spend all your money on junk food, the student lifestyle can be detrimental in more ways than one.
To help us make your money go further, we've put together some handy tips to get the most out of your student loan...
1) Travel Cards
The 16-25 Railcard is designed for young people in full-time education (although all students should be eligible). It gives you a third off rail journeys all across the UK and can be purchased for one or three years at a time. It also allows you to gain partnership offers and competitions, including west-end theatre discounts and holiday offers.
A one-year card costs £30, and a three-year card costs £70. You can buy it at: www.railcard.co.uk. This is worth looking into even if you're not a student as there are various deal for people travelling in pairs or groups.
Most big city bus operators also offer travel cards, they may not be specifically for students, but they offer a discount by buying for a month or a year at a time. If you travel into university by bus, it's almost guaranteed that the travel cards will save you cash in the long run.
2) Watch TV for Free
The BBC license fee stipulates that you must pay the license fee if you watch or record television as it is broadcast. This means you don't need a license if you're just watching on-demand TV over the internet. The simple way around this is to buy a cable and connect your laptop to your TV, you can then get lots of free, good-quality viewing without spending anything. There is loads of amazing TV content that you can watch on demand through your laptop, from paid services like Netflix to all the terrestrial channels catch-up services. If you happen to have a license already, make sure you claim back a quarter of the fee for the summer months you're probably not in the house.
3) Bulk Buying
If you've been following this blog at all, you should know by now that cooking from scratch is not only more fun, but also much much cheaper than buying one-off meals at the supermarket. Admittedly it is more effort and involves some trial-and-error to get it right, but it's much better for your health and your bank balance in the long run. Buying in bulk makes sense especially when you're purchasing non-perishable foods like pasta and tinned foods, which you could buy as a flat or household. It lasts longer and works out so much cheaper.
4) Your NUS Card Makes Everything Cheaper
Make sure you take your NUS card everywhere you go, it can make your money stretch further than you'd think. Many shops do discounts but don't actually publicise this fact, just make sure you always ask if they do student discount. You'd be surprised where actually does a student discount, from coffee shops to swimming pools and more. There are also several specialist student money saving and discount sites worth investigating.
To help us make your money go further, we've put together some handy tips to get the most out of your student loan...1) Travel Cards
The 16-25 Railcard is designed for young people in full-time education (although all students should be eligible). It gives you a third off rail journeys all across the UK and can be purchased for one or three years at a time. It also allows you to gain partnership offers and competitions, including west-end theatre discounts and holiday offers.
A one-year card costs £30, and a three-year card costs £70. You can buy it at: www.railcard.co.uk. This is worth looking into even if you're not a student as there are various deal for people travelling in pairs or groups.
Most big city bus operators also offer travel cards, they may not be specifically for students, but they offer a discount by buying for a month or a year at a time. If you travel into university by bus, it's almost guaranteed that the travel cards will save you cash in the long run.
2) Watch TV for Free
The BBC license fee stipulates that you must pay the license fee if you watch or record television as it is broadcast. This means you don't need a license if you're just watching on-demand TV over the internet. The simple way around this is to buy a cable and connect your laptop to your TV, you can then get lots of free, good-quality viewing without spending anything. There is loads of amazing TV content that you can watch on demand through your laptop, from paid services like Netflix to all the terrestrial channels catch-up services. If you happen to have a license already, make sure you claim back a quarter of the fee for the summer months you're probably not in the house.
3) Bulk Buying
If you've been following this blog at all, you should know by now that cooking from scratch is not only more fun, but also much much cheaper than buying one-off meals at the supermarket. Admittedly it is more effort and involves some trial-and-error to get it right, but it's much better for your health and your bank balance in the long run. Buying in bulk makes sense especially when you're purchasing non-perishable foods like pasta and tinned foods, which you could buy as a flat or household. It lasts longer and works out so much cheaper.
4) Your NUS Card Makes Everything Cheaper
Make sure you take your NUS card everywhere you go, it can make your money stretch further than you'd think. Many shops do discounts but don't actually publicise this fact, just make sure you always ask if they do student discount. You'd be surprised where actually does a student discount, from coffee shops to swimming pools and more. There are also several specialist student money saving and discount sites worth investigating.
5) Get a Job at your Favourite Shop
Do you have a favourite shop that you keep going back to time after time? If you like shopping there that much, you should try getting a job there! Most students rely on flexible part time jobs whilst they're at university to keep them afloat financially. Most importantly the majority of retail jobs will give you a great discount, jobs at Topshop for example could bag you 25% off. In some stores like New Look and The Body Shop you can get up to an amazing 50% off! If you love and know the company, this passion will probably help you in the job interview too. Make sure you research your favourite shops and find out what staff discount schemes they offer.
6) Contents Insurance
Before buying fresh contents insurance for your student house, its worth checking with your parents first. The 'contents away from home' section of your parents' policy might already cover you, or you could possibly extend it at a small cost. Although, as with any insurance its worth ensuring the full value of your items is covered.
7) Pre-Drinking is Cheaper
Even the cheapest student bars and pubs can be expensive if you drink there several nights a week. Although it might not sound exciting, drinking at home is the cheapest way to drink with your friends before a big night out. You can even make it even more fun by playing drinking games or making your own cocktails. If you want to underline how expensive it is, just think of how much a beer or a shot and mixer is at your local, and then consider the price a whole bottle costs at the off-license at the end of the street.
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