Travel Money Tips Online
May 14, 2009
- Book Online Only. Booking online can save you time and money. Most travel operators offer discounts if you book online, as opposed to over the telephone or in a shop.
travel - Book off-peak and mid-week if possible. Friday, Saturday and Sunday generally attract an additional supplement. You’ll also find that hotels and flights are much cheaper during the off-season, so try booking just before or just after a major holiday season.
- Book flights well in advance. Typically, there will be cheap and expensive deals for each flight, and it is usually the case that the best bargains go on a first come, first served basis.
- Get the best currency rates. If you are using traditional currency it is important to look for the best rates. Avoid changing currencies at airports, ferries and hotels as they are unlikely to offer the best rates.
- Try day trips. Day trips offer a unique opportunity to explore a new country, as well as providing a fantastic way to entertain the family.
Best money-saving websites UK
May 12, 2009
Freecycle is like a locally-based & Free Ebay.
Easy to navigate and use, this website offers simple searching to find the best available deals on credit cards, loans, savings accounts, broadband, energy providers and insurance.
Gumtree.com started back in March 2000 when a local classified ads and community site decided to connect people who were visiting the city or for people who planned to move here.
Pick up the very latest discount vouchers for use at gadget retailers.
Money Saving Expert gives you the info you need to save cash.
Money Magpie has tips on how to earn on the side, boost your income and make the most of your dosh.
Tips great things you can get free online
March 8, 2009
‘The best things in life are FREE’
Art & Entertainment
Free Cinema Tickets
Get to see the latest movie screenings free with free movie ticket websites. However the tickets are on a first come basis and usually run out after a few days.
Free TV Tickets
Many top TV and radio shows offer free tickets to people who want to be part of their studio audience.
Top sites for cheap designer fashion online
March 8, 2009
Online discount stores
- Brandalley.co.uk is still one of the best-known online designer discount shops and it has goods up to 70 per cent less than the original ticket price.
- Koodos.com stocks more than 160 brands, including Prada, Chloe, Dior, and Juicy Couture with discounts of up to 80 per cent. Alternatively, rather than splurging as soon as this season’s must-buys hit the stores, wait for a month or two and it may turn up on.
Alternatives to zero rate savings accounts online
March 7, 2009
Government bonds Online (Gilts)
Gilts involve lending money to the Government. This is generally seen as a safe investment option as the Government is unlikely to be unable to pay your money back.
Index-linked savings certificates
Another offering from National Savings & Investments, these are effectively 3 or 5 year bonds paying interest of a full percentage point above the retail prices index. All returns are tax-free and are guaranteed by the UK Treasury.
Zopa.com is a popular peer-to-peer lending website puts people with money to invest in touch with borrowers who need a personal loan.
As a lender, the interest rate that you obtain on your cash varies depending on the category of borrower you lend to – A* being the lowest risk, offering the lowest returns, and Y offering the highest returns – and whether you lend for three or five years. The longer you are prepared to lock away your money, the higher the return, ranging from an average of 7 per cent for the lowest-risk three-year loan to as much as 12 per cent for high-risk five-year loans.
Corporate bonds
Corporate bonds offer the most attractive risk/reward characteristics of any asset class, however investors should remember that corporate bonds are much riskier than cash, due to the possibility of companies going bust and defaulting on payments.
Find property prices online
February 12, 2009
Check if are you buying or selling your property at the right price? Search for property sales prices via postcodes.
How to make your savings go further
February 8, 2009
1. High interest current account. If you’re drip feeding regular payments from a current account into a regular savings account, then make sure that you’ve chosen a high interest paying current account to earn the maximum amount of interest possible.
2. Pay off your debts. It’s always wise to pay off any personal loan or credit card debts before you start saving, however, you may incur an early redemption charge when paying off a personal loan so it’s worth checking first. The cost of interest on debts is usually much higher than the interest you’ll earn on any savings.
3. Cash ISA. They work just like a normal savings account, but the interest you earn is tax-free. You can save up to £3,600 each year in a Cash ISA.
4. Switch your low interest Cash ISA. Transfer it into a higher paying Cash ISA without loosing your tax-free allowance.
5. Regular Savings account. Regular savings accounts typically pay higher rates of interest than standard savings accounts. You can make regular payments into your regular savings account from a current account. Most regular savings accounts let you save up to £300 per month, so they if you have a lump sum to save then they may not be as suitable as a fixed rate bond, notice account or internet savings accounts.
6. Fixed rate bond. If you’re happy to tie your money up for a set period of time, you can earn higher rates of interest on a fixed rate savings bond.
7. Don’t forget notice accounts. If you’re happy to tie your money up in a 90, or 180 day notice account, you can earn higher rates of interest.
8. Internet savings accounts are currently paying higher rates of interest because Financial Institutions don’t have to pay for staff or branches to manage these forms of savings accounts.
How to save money at University online
February 7, 2009
1. Look for cheaper services. Use comparison services to get the cheapest deals on mobile phones, utility bills & credit cards etc to save money.
2. Best student bank account. Choosing the right student bank account is vital. Get the best interest-free overdrafts, credit card limits, credit interest and unauthorized overdraft charges.
3. Student loan. The Government based Student Loans Company loans offer the cheapest long term loans you’ll ever. You don’t have to repay anything until after graduation and the amount you have to pay back is linked to how much you earn.
4.Use Cash. Studies have shown that paying with cash has a greater psychological impact and makes you think twice about what you’re spending your money on. Studies have also shown that people tend to spend whatever’s in their wallet, so taking out less cash from the cash point than you usually do could help stop you wasting money.
5. Get a Grant or a Scholarship. Go to Scholarship search and Educational Grants Advisory Service websites.
6. Budget. You need to sit down and set yourself a budget.
7. Make extra money. Getting a part time job or selling products
8. Being frugal Identify all the money you waste on things you don’t need – magazines, takeaways, cigarettes and alcohol etc.
9. Get a NUS student card. The NUS card available for students giving you access to a wide range of student discounts, deals and offers from high street companies
Make extra money online tips
January 28, 2009
Tips to make money online
Freelancing
Freelance workers online sell their service ranging from web designing to writing articles. You can advertise your services or bid on projects.
Trader online
You could make a profit buying / selling products on auction sites like eBay.co.uk
Online Teacher
You can became an online teacher on subjects like english or maths. As expected you must be qualified in the subject that you are teaching.
Online Mystery shopping
Mystery shopper pose as normal customers performing basic tasks and then provide feedback about their experiences. You can earn more than £10 for each shop you visit and also have food paid for for you and a friend as long as you write a report on the experience afterwards.
Make your opinion pay online
You can make quite a bit of cash from filling in surveys for people, or being interviewed face to face. Some of the quicker online surveys pay just £1 while being part of a focus group can get you up to £50. And if you have specialist knowledge you can get as much as £150 for a face-to-face interview.
Medical trials Online
Medical trials can be anything from answering questions to testing and tasting food. Of course, you get paid more for the higher-risk stuff, but you are fully informed about what is about to be done to you before they start. Pay is anything up to £100 a day for every day you are involved in treatment.
More information on Medical trials Online
Tips to claim Unclaimed Benefits Online?
January 20, 2009
Check what you’re eligible for
A rather useful little site Entitledto.co.uk does the work for you. It has a regularly updated calculator that works everything out in one go, whether you’re 22 or 72. It’s very simple to use, just input basic details about your personal situation, such as income, council tax bill, and your savings and it reveals what, if any, benefits you’re entitled to.
Check out the Citizens Advice Bureau for a one-on-one detailed benefits check up.
The calculator includes all the main benefits:
- Working Tax Credit
- Council Tax
- Housing Benefit
- Pension Credit
- Child Benefit
- Child Trust Fund
- Child Tax Credit
