The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

The humble loaf of bread is one of the few privileged items to attain 'essential' status in our shopping list. Despite our fondness of this ancient staple food, it would appear most of us are quite happy with the poor quality modern rendition that we find gracing our shelves. Stuffed full of preservatives, mass produced and severely lacking in flavour - no one would argue it is anything but a poor imitation of true artisan bread.

The real stuff is expensive though, or is it? What if I told you you could bake real, delicious bread at home and save a penny or two in the process? You will need to spend some money up front, but not as much as you might think.

A decent small bread maker can be bought for as little as £60. That is a manageable upfront cost for a lot of people, and the ingredients themselves work out to pennies a loaf.

You will find you can make a tasty full sized loaf for as little as fifty pence. Now, I know you can buy a loaf in the supermarket for not a whole lot more than that, but the two products aren't even really comparable. The point is, you could be eating vastly superior bread for a fraction of the price. Granted, you will have to put a little effort into making it, but it really couldn't be simpler.

They are easy to clean, require little to no input (just measure out the ingredients and chuck them all in at once!). Let it do its thing and voila, perfect bread every time. If you really aren't fussed by quality bread then by all means continue buying cheap loaves in the supermarket. If you are partial to a freshly baked loaf then I guarantee you will fall in love with baking your own bread.

It will take you a little while to start saving after your initial investment, and I don't pretend that this is the money saving tip of the century, but this isn't just about the money. It's about flavour, health and delicious bread - the money saved is a welcome bonus!

52 Week Challenge - Saving Money The Easy Way

In a world where temptation greets us at every corner it can be difficult to save money. Making that initial commitment and giving up those little luxuries might seem like a daunting task, especially if you are struggling already, but there are ways you can make it more manageable.

One such method is the 52 week challenge. I'm a huge fan of this approach as it allows for almost anyone to save a considerable amount of money in an easy and sustainable way. Here's how it works. Week one you put just £1 in a jar or saving vessel of your choice. Week two you put away £2, week three, £3, week four £4, week five ... well, I'm sure you see the pattern emerging here. Continue doing this for a whole year and by the end of it you'll have saved £1378. That's a decent amount of money to most people. The best part is that it starts out really easy, and the incremental steps make it relatively easy to stick to.

Some people scoff at this method and say "well, why don't you just save £26 each month, or as much as you can afford rather than using this chart" It's a valid point, and if you have the means and the will power to save in this manner then by all means do so. The beauty of this method is that it eases you in to the idea of saving. It's really well suited to those that have never saved before, and those that think they simply can't save.

Having said that, this method isn't perfect. Life is full of surprises, some good, some bad and the truth is we all have those unexpected expenses such as the car going wrong, or a boiler conking out. Don't worry too much if you don't meet your target for a certain week, make it up in following weeks if you can - or not at all. You'll still have a healthy sum at the end of the year and perhaps more importantly you will have proved to yourself that saving perhaps isn't as hard as you might have thought.

Even little things like going without that overpriced coffee in the morning, or staying in some weekends goes a long way. When you have saved enough to earn a nice holiday or to pay off those lingering debts I guarantee you won't regret it!

Another criticism of this method is that it requires you to save the largest amount of money around Christmas time, which for most of us is the hardest time of year financially speaking. That's a valid point but who says you have to start in January? You are free to start whenever suits you. It is just a guide after all, not a religion.

The Reverse 52 Week Challenge

This take on the method simply reverses the chart so that you start off paying in the largest amount and slowly decrease your contributions. This plunges you in at the deep end and eliminates the manageable curve in saving. If this appeals to you more then by all means go for it!

Get Creative

Tailor the plan to suit you, maybe a monthly plan suits you better, maybe you can afford to put away more than the method suggests, double, triple, even quadruple it if your circumstances allow for it. Give yourself breathing space. You might find it easier to just put as much away as you can each month, depositing the suggested amounts whenever suits you rather than simply increasing week on week.

5 Reasons a Start Up Business Could Fail

Although the economy appears to be picking up, with some economists predicting market growth that would have been unbelievable just a couple of years ago. The current jobs market is still hard and unpredictable, perhaps this is why more and more people are starting their own businesses. 

Do you have a inclination and an entrepreneurial spirit? If so here are five common mistakes to avoid making when starting your own business...

The Top 8 Money Saving Tips for Students

The National Student Money Survey 2013 has revealed that 80% of all students worry about their finances whilst at university.

If you take the plunge and choose to attend a traditional university it is a time of mixed blessings. You have the benefit of being young and aside from school, have the least amount of responsibility of your entire life. However, you’re probably not employed (or at least not very lucratively), own few home furnishings, and would rather stay up until dawn than address “adult” tasks like food shopping or laundry.

9 Ways to Save Money on your Wedding

Following on from our last post, we hope the valentines night went well! If your're lucky, maybe your valentines night has resulted in an impending wedding? If that's the case we have put together a list of some the ways you can make your day magical and not cost the earth....

1) Social Media and Wedding Magazine are not your Allies!

Much of the wedding stuff you will find online and in the magazines are not realistic. Its seems these people can afford £40k wedddings, I'm not sure who they're are, but they aren't people I've ever met. It's great for them if they can, but don't feel bad if your wedding cannot match these expectations. So put down the magazines, log off the internet and talk to someone who's wedding you've been to and loved. You'll have a much more realistic expectation of costs and might even be able to get some tips on where you can save cash.

2) Budget and Stick to It!

It is essential to make a budget for your wedding (and married life for that matter) and stick to it. The easiest way to make a budget and not spend obscene amounts is to place your money into the things you value the most. Then, after your favourites are covered you can cut out other stuff or minimise. If you're a couple really into music or food, invest in those things. Get great food or an amazing live act for the reception. 

3) Write an Event Plan

It might seem like there is a lot of writing suggested so far, but this is a tip definitely worth taking on board. You should write out clearly how your wedding day and the events leading up to it will unfold, in great detail. There will be many hidden costs you haven't considered, from parking to breakfasts, if you have it all written out you won't miss a thing.

4) Think Outside the Box

Your wedding doesn't have to conform to the norm. They don't all take place in the summer and everyone you've ever met for a few minutes doesn't have to be invited. The same can apply to stag and hen dos, receptions and decorations. Thinking outside the box can save lots of cash and make your wedding unique.

5) D.I.Y

If you're not into the traditional wedding it is relatively easy to think outside the box and cut costs. However, if you can't bare to ditch the wedding traditions, get creative! You (or your friends) could D.I.Y a lot of the items associated with weddings. From decorations, invitations and even get some friends to play/dj at the big day. There is so much you can do.

It is also worth considering that doing it yourself isn't always the cheapest, buy if its cheaper.

6) Don't use the "W" Word

Anything associated with the word "wedding" magically doubles in cost. From dresses to venues and more. Search for stuff without the "W" word and see how the price tumbles.

7) Honesty

Explain your budget to the vendor and a bit about yourselves. There is every chance people will knock their prices down or be more accommodating. No one will work for free, but prices are negotiable and if you're super nice you never know!

8) Get EVERYONE on board

I'm sure you have a lovely set of friends and a supportive family. They will be over the moon about your wedding, so let them help you pull it all together. From the D.I.Y decorations to the music, let everyone add their little touch. It really involves everyone in the big day and they will probably be pleased you asked.

9) Its Just ONE Day.

It is massively important and day you may have dreamed about all your life, but it is just ONE DAY, it is not worth getting into massive debt over. Keep it simple and most importantly make sure you enjoy it!

How to have a Special Valentines Day without Breaking the Bank.

Showing your affection for you partner is not about how much you spend on them. It's worth remembering diamonds and five star meals don't make your gesture more meaningful or thoughtful. Having the means to pay for expensive gifts and experiences does not relieve the giver from expressing love personally, nor does it relieve the recipient from returning such love personally.

If you're worried that you can't afford to give

your partner a Valentine's Day to remember, you need to realise the best thing that can come from a Valentines Day is your partner knowing that they are absolutely loved, cared about and wanted. You don't have to spend an extortionate amount of money to do this, it may be a cliché, but its the thought that counts.

Love is not about Consumption. With the marketing drive that now surrounds Valentines Day, it's easy for couples to get caught up in the retailers profit motivated ideas of romance. We should all know that love isn't about the goods you give, it's about what you give by the way of time, attention, and acknowledgement. None of these qualities can be purchased. Once you realise this and take it on board completely, you can still come up with inspiring valentines ideas for your partner, that don't cost the earth.

Minimise don't do without. One of the tricks to making the day cheaper is to still indulge in your traditional valentines days activities but reduce them. For example, instead of giving her a dozen red roses, give her one. Or, a small yet special bar of chocolate rather than a whole box of expensive ones. Rather than going out for an expensive meal, turn your hand to cooking your partners favourite dish and put some real effort into the presentation. It is possible to participate in the essence of the Valentine's Day without spending a small fortune.

Make it yourself. Homemade cards are always more meaningful than purchased ones. It says that you don't just care about what's written inside, but also "I took the time to make this because I care enough about you to give that time." Cards like this are likely to be kept and treasured for a lot longer than a shop bought card. For other gifts draw on your own skills, for example, if you're a keen gardener give them something form the garden, if you're a cook make them their favourite meal or if you're a music obsessive give them a mixtape of songs that mean something to you both. There are plenty of examples, so get creative!


Take Time. Time is the ultimate romantic gesture. If you're a workaholic who is usually busy all the time, it will mean a great deal if you choose to spend the whole day with your partner. Spend time together doing things that have nothing to do with work, raising a family or the household. Banish the mundane! Make sure your focus is on each other and you can thoroughly concentrate on yourselves for the day. If you have kids try to find a babysitter, however, if you can't involve the children in helping with the' day for the parents'.

A special night in. A night in together can not only be a better experience, it can be a way to beat the valentines crowds. With so many people having the same idea not only can it be expensive, it can be claustrophobic too! 

Make a meal in which shows the extra trouble you've gone too, it doesn't need to be expensive, just spend time making it more complicated than the usual daily meals. Check for special recipes online and put in that extra special effort. Watch a film you'll both love, get some snacks and relax.  

Rounding the night off. If you really want to round off the night (and you don't find it too cheesy), put on some warm clothes and go out to check out the night sky. Find somewhere on the outskirts of town and go stargaze, remember to bring blankets, snacks and something to drink to complete the experience.

How to make money on your old Mobile Phones

Are your old mobile phones sitting in a draw unused? Did you know they could be a source of cash? There are close to 80 Million discarded phones sitting unused in the UK. So we've put together a step by step guide for getting cash back for your phone.

Old Mobile Phone Buying Companies

These are companies that will take your old phone and give you cash in exchange. They are usually very fast, web based companies and will let you know their valuation for your handset by filling in a questionnaire on their website. If you're happy with their offer, they will send you a jiffy bag so you can post it to them for free. Their offers are usually better than any trade in on the high street or second hand electronics shop.

What phones can you get cash for?

It needs to be in decent working condition, have no more than mild cosmetic damage, a working battery and can be switched on.

If the phone is in pretty good condition but has say a faulty battery, see how much you would get for a fully working model and it might be worth replace the battery to get that amount.

You don't need to send the charge, but they will recycle it for you if you do.

What else do you need to know?

These companies don't accept responsibility for non-delivery, this is an important point if the phone is valuable you should make sure its delivery is insured. This can be done by sending it 'Recorded Signed-For' delivery, the amount it costs depends on the weight and value of the item you are sending.

When sending the phone off, make sure it's charged, switched off and has the Sim and Memory card removed. Also make sure you have turned off security settings and any other features which could hamper its testing. It is also essential to wipe all your private data and to reset the phone to factory settings.

Around 20% of phones get rejected at the testing stage. If your phone is rejected you will be offered a reduced fee, which you could then either accept or request that your phone is returned.

What about Damaged Phones?

The very least that these companies will do is recycle your phone, but it is still worth checking how much they will offer you. However, the price you receive will be a lot less (10-50% of the working price).

What Damage Effects the value?

You will get less money if the casing is damaged, it is pin lock or doesn't power up.

If the phone is physically broken, unresponsive, water damaged or has a cracked screen, mean you will probably get nothing at all.

What other options are their?

A phone buying company isn't the only option, they are the easiest and most convenient, but not necessarily the most profitable.

eBay

In the 21st century everyone should be aware of the benefits of eBay, opening up the opportunity to sell your second hand (or new) items around the globe. There is a thriving market for old handsets, if it is listed effectively and honestly you could earn up to 30% more than using a phone buyer site.

This does take a bit more effort than just sending it off to a phone buying site, so balance out the extra time you will spend doing it with the guaranteed money from a phone buying company.

Check how much your handset has been going for on eBay and that should give you a rough indication of its worth and whether you want to proceed.

Selling it to a Friend

Another relatively stress free alternative is to sell the phone to a friend, around 10% on top of what you would get from a phone reseller is usually the best practice.

You Don't Need a New Phone

With the constant advances in technology and pressure to upgrade from your phone provider, it is worth remembering that you don't have to have a new phone. You can get your phone unlocked from its network legally and then you're free to use any contract or package you wish. Don't forget to shop around for the best deal.

Charity Deals

There are a lot of schemes that will collect your phone and donate a cut of the cash you would've received to charity. To be brutally honest, if you're earmarking your cash for charity the best option is to cash the phone in yourself and donate the whole amount to the charity of your choice. If you use Gift Aid as well, it can reclaim its tax back.

Trade Ins 

If you're after a new phone, speak to the company you're getting the new one from (this mainly applies to high street retailers) they may be able to give you a good price for your old phone, even if the recycling companies aren't willing to.

What do the recycling companies do with the phones?

Once the phones are tested, if they're in good working condition they're sold abroad in Africa, South America and the Far east. Some of them will probably even be resold on eBay if they're particularly high value, so please be aware that you should be able to get more money for these yourself. 

If your is phone of a lower class then it'll be broken down and sold as components. If it is broken or completely worthless, these companies will dispose of it in an environmentally friendly way.

It is important to remember though, that you cannot just discard your phone in the rubbish, there are various parts of the phone that can be bad for the environment. So it is essential that it is disposed of in a safe way.