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.
Avoid Store Cards
May 14, 2009
They are often promoted heavily in stores and can initially appear attractive, but beware there are many more disadvantages attached to them.
Avoid Store card Tips
- Excessive rates of interest
The interest on most store cards is massively more than a standard credit cards up to 30% APR.
- Pushy Sales Staff
Untrained staff get paid by commissions for signing people with little knowledge about the high interest rates
- Hiding the facts
It often isn’t very clear when you sign up in store as to what the APR or interest rate is.
- Limited Offers
Initiate offers get people to sign up and then they raised the interest rate to record highs.
- You are compiled to spend in the store
With these cards the stores guarantee that we spend on them in their shops.
- Never, ever, use a store card to borrow on.
If you have one, whatever the reason, always ensure you pay off in full
Store Card Tips and when to use them
There are some times we can profit from store cards, yet of course this is providing you never, ever, ever use them for borrowing on.
Reasons to use a store card:
- Grab the initial discount offers.
Many store cards offer a bribe for signing up at various times – such as 10% off the first time you spend on it. - Anything at the discount rate too.
Then get the discount, they get it as well and you pay off the balance in full so there’s no interest charged. - Ask friends & family if they want use the store card discounts.
- Membership benefits.
Many store cards have special store card holder evenings and offers, a bit like a membership club.
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.
Find the cheapest train tickets online
March 8, 2009
Railcards online
- 16-25 Railcard (www.16-25railcard.co.uk) - For those aged 16 to 25, or 26-plus and in full-time education, costs £24 a year, cuts a third off all standard-class fares.
- Family & Friends Railcard (www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk) - Costs £24 for one year or £65 for three years and gives one third off most adult fares and 60 per cent off most children’s fares.
- Senior Railcard – (www.senior-railcard.co.uk) Those aged 60 or over can save a third on most standard and first-class rail fares. The card costs £24 a year, or £65 for three years.
Advance fares Online
Book as far in advance as possible to get a better deal. It is normally possible to book up to 3 months in advance.
Advance tickets are subject to availability and sold on a first come, first served basis.
Try www.thetrainline.com or www.nationalrail.co.uk.
Avoid peak times
If you travel outside peak times, you can also get some great deals on first-class travel.
Season ticket online
The National Rail website has a useful calculator that allows you to check if you could save money by buying a season ticket.
Say no to 0870
March 8, 2009
Here are the average call costs for number starting with 08
- 0870 ‘National Call’. Can cost up to 10p/min
- 0845 ‘Lo-Call’. Can cost up to 7p/min
- 0871. Can cost up to 11p/min
- 0844. Can cost up to 6p/min
Vistit the website SayNoTo0870.com to search for ‘alternative numbers’ for major 08 numbers to help you work around the charges.
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.
Banking mistakes to avoid online
March 3, 2009
Not checking your statement online
It’s important that you check your statement online regularly. Most major banks offer online banking with up to the date statements.
Being careless with your online banking details
Having the same or easy to guess online banking details is leaving you open for fraud. Because all it takes is for a fraudster to crack it and they’ve got access to everything.
Paying for online purchases with a debit card
The safest way to pay online is with a credit card. If there is an fraudulent transactions online you can reclaim the money through your credit card protection scheme.
Debit card do not offer any protection scheme as your entire account cleared out. Even if you get some of the money back, payments aren’t made and direct debits bounce.
Accessing your bank account online in a public place
If you log on to your bank account from a computer in a public place, such as a library or an internet café, or you wirelessly connect your laptop to a network at a coffee shop or in an airport lounge you could be jeopardising your financial security.
Most open networks, such as those offered for free in many public places – including airports, coffee shops and even hotels – are unsecure. Anyone with access to the same network could steal information just by logging on.
Trusting any bank with more than your country banking protection
Most governments offer a level of guaranteed if a bank goes bust. To spread your risk, spread your money over many bank to avoid loss.
Staying with the same online bank
Loyalty doesn’t pay. If you want the most competitive deals you have to shop around and take your money to where they’ll look after you best.
Top tips when buying a new car online
March 2, 2009
Once you’ve decided which car you want to buy, do some research online so that when you go into the dealership or speak to the vendor you are in a strong position to haggle. Look to see if there are any similar vehicles for sale elsewhere and see how the prices compare. Even if you are buying a brand new car, the dealer will have room for manoeuvre on the price.
Tip two: Decide how much you want to pay
Remember there is always room for negotiation when it comes to car prices, especially in the current climate, so decide how much you are prepared to pay for the vehicle (but be realistic) and stick to your guns. Be prepared to walk away though if this price isn’t agreed – with a bit of luck you’ll get a phone call from the seller or dealer agreeing to your terms.
Tip three: Use the internet to your advantage
As with many consumer goods, you can often find the best deals on new and used cars by shopping online. With fewer overheads and no commission to pay to salesmen, there can be extensive reductions in price if you pick up a car through an online dealer. However, even if you don’t buy outright on the internet, print off some quotes and take them into a local dealership with you – you could even ask a dealer to match the internet price. This is even more effective for used cars – if sellers think you are looking at other options they will be more willing to negotiate.
Tip four: Try and uncover the invoice price
The invoice price is the amount the dealer paid to the manufacturer for the vehicle and it should be your target to get as close to this as possible – the dealer will obviously expect to make some profit. Some car buying websites will list their invoice price so if you can point this out to a dealer you stand a better chance of lowering the retail price. Similarly, look for information on manufacturer rebates as some companies offer cash incentives to dealers to promote certain vehicles.
Tip five: Buy at the right time
If you’re not too worried about having a 2009 registration plate, then try and time your purchase well. Many dealerships look to shift excess stock ahead of the introduction of new registration plates in March and September so now could be a great time to pick up a bargain. If you’re not quite ready to make a purchase, then consider holding off until August as the ’59′ registration is launched in September. In terms of used cars, keep track of how long they have been on the market – most websites will carry a ‘date posted’ mark on used car advertisements – so you get an idea of how eager the seller is for a deal.
Tip six: Let them know you’re serious
Dealers will work a lot harder if they think they’re going to get a deal so let them know you’re there to buy a car if the deal is right. However, don’t come across as desperate to buy as this could reduce your chances of picking up a bargain – play it cool.
Tip seven: Take a test-drive with a knowledgeable friend
Just as you wouldn’t buy a pair of shoes without trying them on first, you shouldn’t buy a new car without taking it for a spin. If you’re buying a used car it’s definitely worth taking someone along with you who knows a thing or two about cars and can point out any unusual sounds or movements. Even if the problems are nothing to be concerned about it could help you when haggling for a better deal. It’s also worth checking the vehicle has a clean history – vehicle checks are available online for as little as £3.95.
Tip eight: Get the most for your current vehicle
If you have a car to sell, work to get the best price for it. Trading it in as a part exchange on your new vehicle is the easiest option, but make sure the sales adviser contacts a number of dealers for bids on it so you get the best deal possible. However, if you sell it privately, you’ll probably get even more for it.
Tip nine: Shop around for car finance
When talking at a dealership you should only negotiate on the sales price – don’t be lured in by attractive finance offers. Dealers often bamboozle prospective buyers with figures and they know how to make a car deal sound tantalizingly good, but don’t just focus on the monthly repayments. Find out how much the finance package will cost over the term of the deal. And how flexible is it? For example, what happens if you want to get rid of the car before the end on the term.
Once you are armed with all the answers, compare the cost of the dealer’s finance package with that of a standard personal loan. Use our car loans comparison tool to see what you could get from a traditional provider.
Tip 10: Shop around for extras
Many dealers throw in incentives such as car insurance and breakdown cover. On occasions their deals for these products can be attractive – several dealers even offer a year’s free car insurance with some purchases. However, you should check that the cover is adequate and ask to see examples of repayment plans without these extras. You could potentially save a significant sum of money if you shop for car insurance and breakdown cover independently.
Finally, if you need some more tips or recommendations check out our motoring forum and see if our users can help.
