I have needed a new fleece to brave this icy winter weather with so I decided to check out Damart as I knew they did quite cheap quality clothes, on entering the site I saw there is a 60% sale on, I was shocked to find clothes selling for less than half their marked price. I also thought about getting some thermal underwear which is something I wouldn’t normally even dream of but I have been getting a lot colder this year (maybe it’s because I’m getting older) so I thought I’d check it out. The thermal range they have is huge and there are some great trendy tops and trousers that don’t conform to that stereotype image of thermal underwear. It’s also very cheap, I thought it’d be very expensive due to all the science mumbo jumbo type fabric they use but a vest top can be as little as £8.

As mentioned earlier most other shops are doing online clearance sales and have huge discounts on offer and you really can grab a stress free bargain on the web instead of having to fight to the death in the shops.

ShareThis

There are reasons for and against borrowing money from family. From the debtor’s point of view, it is an easy, interest free loan, usually with no specific payment date. It’s also a very flexible loan. However, it can be easy for advantage to be taken of the family member who has, in good faith, lent the money. He/she can be left wondering when payment will be received and becoming aggrieved when the money isn’t returned in a reasonable time frame. Grievances which last many years can happen in families when debts haven’t be re-paid as originally promised.

If you find yourself in debt, the best option is to deal with the problem yourself. If you can cut back on monthly expenditure, reducing your mobile phone costs, utilities, Sky TV subscriptions, do so wherever possible. Advise your creditor, or creditors, that you are experiencing problems at the earliest possible time and they will be able help as much possible. Some banks will allow you to take ‘mortgage payment holidays’ to help over a difficult period, until back on your feet.

If you take action as soon as you find yourself in debt and proceed to act responsibly, there are steps available to help you over this period. While lending money from family can help at this time, it’s important to re-pay to debt as soon as humanly possible.

ShareThis

So what can money bring you? Well, for a start, a sense of security. Many people are currently worried about their jobs, whether they can afford their mortgage if it goes up, and if their house is going to be worth less than they paid for it. Unfortunately, most people don’t have secure jobs or a guaranteed income, and so cannot achieve that sense of security. Those people who have a good pension and have paid for their house are in a fortunate position, as they need not worry about paying the rent or mortgage, and can relax in the knowledge that their house is theirs completely.

Money also gives you freedom to make choices. If you hate your job, find it stressful, and have enough money in the bank, you can leave and look for another in the knowledge that you can pay your bills while searching for something more suitable. If you want to take time away from working and travel for several months, or do voluntary work in an African orphanage, you can pack your bags and head for the airport. Want to change your lifestyle completely? You can move from the city to the country (or vice versa), emigrate to another country, or retrain for the job that you’ve always wanted to do.

However, money in itself cannot make you happy. It can make you relaxed, and offer you the opportunity to achieve ambitions, but you need to be secure and happy in yourself, and have goals that you are willing to work at. Lounging around on a beach might be fun for two weeks, because it represents a break from your normal routine. After a month or two, though, you would probably be as bored as if you were in your office doing paperwork. Start a beach bar, however, and keep busy running it, and the beach life will be much more enjoyable, because you are not looking for something to fill the empty time.

Living a more simple life has much to recommend it. It is very easy if you have a large income to become trapped in living up to the image of a well-off person, having to buy the ‘right’ car, furnish an expensive home, and wear the right clothes. When money is not the focus of your life, you can concentrate on more important things. The fact is, however, that we all need money in order to live. My conclusion would be that, while money does not bring automatic happiness, it does offer a degree of freedom, and allow you more options.

ShareThis

When shopping, keep a look out for special offers, sometimes you can even pick up top branded products cheaply if they are on offer. Otherwise, try to buy supermarkets own brand products and stay away from brand names. Often, the quality of the product is the same for a cheaper price. Buying things in multipacks can also help to save money in the long run.

Shop around. Try shopping at a different supermarket and see if you’re shopping works out cheaper. This could be especially helpful if this supermarket is closer to home. Look out for petrol vouchers with your shopping and find out which supermarket offers the best loyalty card system.

Create a budget for the week, month or even a year. Sit down and work out all your incomes and expenditures, this way you know how much you have to spend on yourself over a given period. If you have cash left over try and save it. This could be by having one less drink on a night out or not having a weekly takeaway, over the year this will add up to a big saving. Some financial advisers will help you budget free of charge so it’s worth arranging a meeting with one to see what advice they can offer you on saving money.

Around the house this winter, layer up rather than turning the heating up! Heating bills are ever increasing due to rising gas and oil prices so by wearing extra clothing you can save money on your heating bill. The same can be said for your water bill, take showers rather than baths and avoid using the dishwasher where possible. As for electricity, turn off lights when they are not being used and try to avoid leaving electrical appliances on standby.

The cost of petrol has risen massively and even a short journey now costs a substantial amount in petrol costs. Avoid driving when you can, walk or take a bike. Not only will this save you money but it’s great for your fitness! You may also want to find out how to drive more efficiently, i.e how to use less petrol. Guides as to how to do this can be found online.

ShareThis

If you recognise yourself in this, be warned. It can break families and relationships into pieces that may never get picked up again. Face up to the fact that although you may be trying to protect your partner/relationship/family by keeping the severity of the situation away from them, your deception will cause a stress of its own.

The short term relief of denial can very quickly bite you in the behind. This will happen when your situation compounds to the point when there’s no escaping it, because you’re maxed out on credit everywhere you turn and you face homelessness. This level of debt can’t be conveniently swept under the carpet; as the adage goes: “If you continually sweep things under the carpet, eventually you’ll get a crick in your neck from stooping to avoid the ceiling.” There’s also the possibility that your partner will blame you for not informing them of how bad the situation had become, or of not managing the money better.

But this is supposed to be a partnership and it the debt needs to be faced with your eyes wide open. Communication is the key, whether that’s with your partner or the bank, so stop covering it up and look it in the face. It’s the only way to resolve it. There are loads of solutons out there to help. Debt Management, Consolidation Loans, IVA, and hopefully not, but you never know, Bankrupty. The early you deal with it the less drastic the solution.

ShareThis

My partner knew I had some debt, but assumed it was in the £100s, rather than the £1000s. At the time we were talking about moving in together, and he was adamant that he wouldn’t move anyone who had more than a few hundred pounds of debt, excluding a mortgage. Finding out exactly how much I owed was a huge shock for him – and it did stop us moving in because he was worried about being expected to help pay it off, or me not having enough money to pay the bills.

Fortunately the problem has been sorted now – albeit at a cost. I remortgaged to a better deal last summer, and included a little extra to pay off the credit cards for good. Now, I’m paying the same amount each month for my mortgage, and have all my credit cards clear. They are just used and paid off every month. Now that I have a clean slate, we’re looking at moving in together again.

ShareThis

ShareThis

It is best to avoid companies that are not well known and who may contact people via phone, email or post, offering to reduce debts to a more manageable level by taking on another loan. Some people who are desperate may turn to these types of companies when they are most vulnerable.

Legitimate debt help will assist those in debt to make a budget of essential outgoings and look at where any savings can be made, as well as advising on cutting back on spending and making loan and credit card payments at a higher amount than the minimum to avoid interest mounting up.

ShareThis

List all things you have to spend money on i.e. gas, electric, mortgage, then list all the things you want to spend money on. The goal is to separate between ‘Need’ and ‘Want’ for example you ‘need’ to eat or you ‘want’ that new CD. The idea is to look at your outgoings and see where you can make cut backs, as in setting yourself a shopping budget for food.

Some examples of how to save money on groceries, household bills:
1. Ask your supermarket what time they mark down their products, and purchase these when they are cheaper.
2. Grow your own vegetables and fruit - a lot cheaper than buying.
3. Use price comparison sites to check you are not paying too much for your gas, electric or mortgage.
4. Check with your energy supplier to see if you have an economy setting, do your washing etc in the evening as it is cheaper.
5. Take a shower instead of a bath, it’s cheaper.
6. Do you really need the heating on? Can you just put on another layer of clothing?
7. Hang clothes to dry on a rainy day indoors over the bath or use a clothes airer, it’s cheaper than the tumble dryer or radiators.
8. Use natural products for cleaning its cheaper and better for your health!! i.e. vinegar for cleaning windows.

Overall just think about ways to do things on the cheap, research and you will save money and get out of debt. Think pennies make pounds and pounds make rich men.

ShareThis

Many of these loans are joined together for instance you will get part tuition loan and past maintenance loan; in other words your tuition fee is paid or part paid and you may also be eligible for a loan to cover living expenses. These loans however do have to be paid back, but usually not until you actually start work, and then they are paid back in instalments. The down side of this is it could take a very long time to pay back the loan and you do have to pay interest on them.

Grants and bursaries on the other hand tend to be given to a select few occupations, such as teachers and nurses, these do not have to be paid back, I do believe this is slightly unfair as in many ways it does push people into these professions.

It is also important to remember you have to be in full time education to apply for any of the above loans or grants, unfortunately.

ShareThis