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Munching at meetings. Do you do it?

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I read a great blog recently on why meetings can be tough to tackle on the BBC Business website 

Everything from colleagues bursting in late, to nothing being decided, (think  classic ‘W1A’ BBC comedy for this!),  or endless handouts being passed round,  are all bound to have you snoozing in your seat.

And I’ve one more to add to the list……eating at meetings!

If there’s free food on offer in the form of bacon butties at a breakfast meeting or a buffet spread at a lunch meeting, then it can be tempting to pop along on the chance of getting a free feed, especially if you’re on a tight budget.

But do munching and meetings really mix?

I never munch at meetings

However amazing the spread on offer, when it comes to munching at meetings, I make a rule that I never eat.

Let’s be honest, there’s nothing worse than thinking you can take a big bite of a sandwich during a quiet moment, only to find the attention’s suddenly back on you and everyone’s waiting for you to speak!

Frantically trying to gulp down a huge mouthful of sandwich is never a good look quite frankly.  After all who could forget the classic Ed Miliband bacon sandwich eating incident a few years ago?

A ‘working’ sandwich

I was once invited to one of these.  Last time I looked, sandwiches certainly didn’t do much in the way of work, but it was ‘PR’ speak for a casual lunchtime meeting.

I was invited along as I was about to work on a media campaign with one of the company’s clients and we were chatting over the final details.  

Learnt my lesson that day as no sooner had I decided it was safe to tuck into a sandwich, than someone decided to ask me a couple of questions.  So cue much hand waving, silence around the table along with world record breaking eating!

Since then I’ve adopted the ‘no eating’ rule which seems to work quite well, though can mean you miss out at times.

Goodbye to afternoon tea

On another occasion I spent an hour hosting a round table event one afternoon with the most amazing spread of cakes and scones laid out over the table.  During the event I could see people around the table starting to tuck in, and the cake display rapidly diminishing.

Ok so I had been told that the event was very informal, but still, let’s be honest, being caught with jam and cream round your face after diving into an overfilled scone is never a good look, however informal the event!

So liquid lunches all round for me at meetings from now on………

 

 

 

 

What does the Budget mean for the pound in your pocket?

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Missed the Budget?  Still scratching your head over what it all means for the pound in your pocket?

Here’s my one minute guide to five things I’ve pulled out that’ll make a difference…..

You’ll pay less tax from April

Right now you can earn £11,850 a year before the tax office take a bite.

But from next April you’ll be able to earn £12,500 before paying a penny in income tax.  Means an extra £130 a year in your pocket.

And for higher rate tax payers, from April, you’ll be able to earn £50,000, (instead of £46,350), before the 40% tax rate kicks in.

Beer, cider and spirits frozen

Duty is frozen on this little cocktail of drinks but expect to pay a few pence more on a bottle of wine.

Pump prices

Fuel duty is frozen for the 9th year in a row so you won’t pay more at the pump.

But of course with the competition out there, it doesn’t mean prices will stay the same and you’ll still need to shop around for the best price.

Save on car repairs

Ok so the £420 million the Chancellor’s setting aside to cover sorting out the nation’s potholes won’t go directly in your pocket.

But, if the roads get fixed, (and clearly this won’t be overnight!), then it could well save you money on tyres and car repairs.

Cheaper premium bonds

Savings rates are still pretty pants, so you may well be tempted to stash  your cash in Premium Bonds for a chance to win a million.  And if you needed more persuasion then any winnings are tax free!

£100 was the minimum you could put in, but yesterday the Chancellor slashed that to £25.

Have I missed anything out?

This is just a very quick look at the stuff you might want to know instantly.

But of course there was an awful lot of other promises including money for the NHS, Air Ambulance, money for schools and more, plus help for the high street with a third off business rates for small businesses and money to help implement Universal Credit…..

 

 

 

 

 

Melbourne: Sue’s tips on ways to see the sights & save money

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Melbourne is a stunning city and I’ve been lucky enough to go there twice so here’s my tried and tested tips on ways to make the most of it without going for broke.

Free trams 

Hopping on a tram makes for a super easy way to get around the city.

Make the most of the free tram zone that covers the city centre and means you can hop on and off at all the major sites.

Or take the more touristy but eye catching City Circle tram. Once again totally free with stops near  sights including Old Melbourne Gaol, Flinders Street Station and the Melbourne Aquarium plus the shopping delights of Bourke Street Mall, the Block Arcade on Collins Street and Queen Victoria Markets which I love.  And don’t miss the Laneways which are packed with quirky cafes, shops and some amazing street art.  You can easily spend a day here just enjoying getting lost!

Venturing beyond the ‘free’ tram zone?   You’ll need a Myki  card which costs $6 and pre-load it just like you would an Oyster card.

Espresso & St Kilda

Having done the backpacking thing once before, this time round I went for Espresso Apartments and found a great place just round the corner from buzzy Acland Street Village in St. Kilda

Once you’ve done the city, St. Kilda is a must and this laid back beach suburb is also home to the Esplanade Market every Sunday from 10am.

Fairy Penguins

One popular trip out of Melbourne is to Phillip Island to see the Fairy Penguin parade at sunset.  You can see the little penguins swimming to the shore and making their way up the beach to their nests but it can be a long and expensive day trip and pretty busy.

So I’d suggest heading for the St Kilda breakwater at sunset where you can watch the penguins swim home to their nests in the rocks for free.

Pop in to Ramsay Street 

If you’re a Neighbours fan make sure you head out of the city to visit the real life ‘Ramsay Street’.

The guys at Bunyip Tours  organise a great tour and if you book a weekend trip you’ll not only get to see the real life Ramsay Street, aka ‘Pin Oak Court’ but also get a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the exterior sets at the Nunawading Studios complete with backstage gossip, (especially if you get Gerry as your guide!), and photo opportunities outside the Lassiters complex, Harold’s Café and Fitzgerald Motors. It’s an amazing trip but will set you back $85 while the ‘Street Tour’ is $59.

But for a budget trip jump on public transport and see the street for yourself. Pin Oak Court is in the Melbourne suburb of Vermont South so you can catch the train from Flinders Street Station to Glen Waverley, jump on a bus to the top of Weedon Drive and third of the left is Pin Oak Court.

Marcus gives ‘easy access’ accounts a run for their money

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The American investment bank Goldman Sachs may not be somewhere you’d think of going to open up a savings account.

But its new Marcus account, (named after one of the bank’s founders), has been  topping the ‘best buy’ tables as it pays 1.5% a year on savings from £1 up to a whopping £250,000.

The account’s been available for a couple of weeks and right now it tops the list of ‘Easy Access’ accounts at Moneyfacts beating Tesco into second place which has a 1.4% rate.

So here’s five things you need to know about Marcus

It’s an ‘easy access’ account.  This means you can pay in and withdraw your money as many times as you like.  No limits on withdrawals and you can save from just £1.

It’s a variable rate, so it can go up as well as down and the 1.5% rate includes a 0.15% bonus for the first year.

It’s online and phone based.

No hoops to jump through with any regular payments, direct debits or the like.

Your savings are safe to the tune of £85,000 under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Are you happy to have Waitrose drivers in your home when you’re out?

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Waitrose is to trial a new delivery service which means you can have your groceries delivered and packed away while you’re out.

Its ‘While You’re Away’ service uses Yale smart lock technology, which means eligible customers can set a ‘one time’ access code for the driver, which is then deleted post delivery. 

When I read about this idea, my first thought was how well it would go down with home insurers?   Surely giving a total stranger the code, (effectively the key), to your home and allowing them in when you’re out, wouldn’t go down well?

And yes, I know that all the drivers will wear a ‘chest-cam’ so the entire delivery is filmed, and customers can view the footage, but to my mind there’s a whole list of potential problems with this idea.

How busy are you?

Most supermarkets now offer ‘one hour’ delivery slots and deliver 7 days a week, from around 8am through to 11pm, so is anyone really that busy that they can’t manage to be in for just one hour to have their shopping delivered?

Pets

Pets would be a big worry in my book.  I’m not convinced our cats would take kindly to a stranger marching in, or more to the point, would they see their chance to make a bid for freedom and dash out while the door was open?

You can hardly expect Waitrose delivery drivers to take on the role of cat and dog sitter and be chasing pets around to shut them in different rooms so they can’t escape.  And if your dog is a little territorial, how are they going to react when a stranger comes through the door?

Fridge etiquette

The deal is that drivers will stock your fridge and freezer, but leave the rest of the groceries on the side.  Now I’m guessing if you’re happy for a stranger to come into your home and open up your fridge, then you won’t be too fussed which shelf stuff goes on or how it’s stacked?

And unless you leave specific instructions on what you want put where, then you may have to do a little fridge shuffle when you finally get home.

What about stuff you want to reject? 

We regularly get our shopping delivered, and with the sheer number of deliveries, there is the occasional torn bag, an egg that’s cracked or something arrives with a super ‘short shelf life’.

With a doorstep delivery, you can reject it and send it back for a refund, but if it’s already been delivered and unpacked, chances are you may not even notice any problems until you come to eat the stuff.  And if you’re not there to ask, then the driver is going to have to make the decision for you.

I’m all for anything that makes life that little bit easier but I’m not convinced on this idea from Waitrose.  But hey, who knows maybe they’ll be inundated with customers queuing up to take advantage of this service post trial……..

 

Does shopping at outlet malls actually save you money?

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Factory outlets and outlet malls all promise big discounts of up to 70% but can you really bag a bargain?

I love a bargain but I’ve always been a bit sceptical about outlet malls and never found the bargains live up to the hype.

In fact I actually came away out of pocket on one occasion when I left empty handed, but having shelled out for coffee or lunch during my bargain hunting day.  And when it comes to eating and drinking at these places, there’s usually no cut price deals in the cafes or restaurants.

On a recent trip to Manchester for a travel feature, I popped into the Lowry Outlet at Salford Quays.  Spying the Cadbury shop I whizzed in hoping to snap up some cheap chocolate, only to find the prices flagged up were actually more expensive than some supermarket deals.

So I did a little investigation and you can read my full feature for LoveMONEY.com  here

Happy to wave goodbye to Vodafone

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I’ve just waved goodbye to Vodafone.  Regular billing problems coupled with the fact they couldn’t come close to competing on the best deal I’d found all contributed to the breakdown of our relationship.

To be fair to Vodafone, the one person in the company who does get problems sorted promptly is their chief executive, or one of his team.  When I’ve got fed up with Vodafone’s customer service I’ve mailed their chief exec direct, after finding his contact details on this wonderful website which shares names and emails of heaps of top company bods.    Once I’ve mailed things always seem to be sorted on a very speedy basis.

The sums don’t add up

One problem I’ve found is that whatever deal you agree, it never seems to tally with what’s on your bill, so last time round I took to asking for text confirmation of the deal as proof of what we’d agreed.

So it wasn’t without a smile on my face that I rang Vodafone’s ‘disconnections’ department to finally pull the plug as I’m now happily out of contract.

Told them I was leaving as I was unhappy with the service and got my ‘PAC’ code to transfer my number,

Just let me go…….

But despite being elusive and hard to get hold of when I’d had problems, Vodafone took to mounting a ‘Keep the Customer’ campaign with several phone calls.  Missed them both, but traced them back to Vodafone plus a further email sharing the neews that they now had a ‘better’ plan for me.

If ever I needed proof that Vodafone can’t do its sums, this is it.   The ‘deal’ they  were offering was twice the price I was paying before I left, but not for double the data or anything else.  In fact it’s a worse deal in terms of what I’d get for my money than the one I was on before deciding to switch.

Funny enough Vodafone’s email tells me that they’ll ‘transfer’ me on to this new deal by August; so good luck with that as I’ve already left and taken my phone number with me!   So that’s a double no thanks Vodafone and goodbye……..

Prague – see the sights & save money

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Prague is a stunning city but there’s lots of ways to see the sights and save money.

I’ve made a one minute video version below or read on for my top five moneysaving tips.

Getting around

If you want to use the city’s buses, metro or trams you can buy a 30 minute ticket for 24 Czech Koruna, that’s just over £1.  Or if you want a longer trip; go for the 90 minute version at around £1.50 or an all day pass that comes in at around £4.

Getting from the airport into the city is cheap and easy. We took the 119 bus from the airport to Nádraží Veleslavín and with two short metro trips we were in the centre of the Old Town within an hour and all for around £1.50 which is the price of a 90 minute ticket.

Plus these ‘all in’ tickets work on Prague’s Funicular Railway too, which is worth a trip, and takes you to the top of Petrin Hill  for some stunning city views.

Prague Castle

Well worth a visit and it’s actually free to get into the Castle grounds and gardens H But if you want to go inside the Old Royal Palace or get further than the entrance of St. Vitus Cathedral you’ll need a ticket.

Ticket prices start from around £3 for the Castle Picture Gallery up to around £15 if you want one that gets you in pretty much everywhere.

We went for ‘Circuit B’ which costs the equivalent of £10 and gets you into four of the main sites including both the Cathedral and Old Royal Palace.

And getting there is easy.  Hop on the number 22 tram that takes you to within a five minute walk of the Castle.

Free tours

Tours can eat into your  holiday budget so why not take a free walking tour of Prague.

These free tours meet every day at the bottom of the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square.

Rooftop views

If you want rooftop views over Prague you can head for the Old Town Hall Tower but you’ll pay 250 CZK for the view; which is around £10.

We escaped the crowds to enjoy both views and beers from a different angle at the T-Anker bar  This hidden gem is on the top floor of the Kotva department store, just a five minute walk from the Old Town Square.   Plenty of beer to try but I’d recommend their own one which works out at just over £2 a pint.

Cheap eats and drinks

In case you didn’t know, the Czech Republic is famous for its beers, so worth popping by the Prague Beer Museum  to sample the local brews as they’ve got 30 different ones on tap.

You can order a selection of ‘taster’ sizes of the  local brews as well as the full sized versions and there’s plenty of snacks including some delicious fried cheese that won’t break the bank.

 

 

Nice – see the sights and save money

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Nice may look pretty fancy but there’s plenty of ways to see the sights and save money.  I’ve just been there to see a friend for a couple of days and absolutely loved the place.

And it’s easy to get there.   It was just a two hour easyJet flight from Luton and if you jump on the number 98 bus at Nice airport, you can be on the beach in around 10 minutes.

I’ve always been a cabin bag kind of girl, (unless my hold luggage is included in the ticket price!), and if you’re happy to travel light, then I reckon Nice has got to be one of the easiest weekend breaks in terms of speedy arrival so you can enjoy every minute and won’t waste several hours trekking to and from the airport.

So here’s my tips on making the most of your time and saving some cash along the way….

Getting into town

Pick up the 98 bus at the airport which goes all the way along the seafront, or Promenade des Anglais to give it its correct name and it’ll set you back just six Euros.

Nice airport is so close to the centre of town that you could actually walk it.  Yes it saves money, but unless you’re happy to do around an hour’s walk in the heat and got super small cabin luggage youmight regret it.

See the Statue of Liberty

Yes, I know, I haven’t got my countries muddled up.  You really can see a smaller version of this iconic statue outside the Opera House on the Quai des Etats-Unis. 

In fact most people miss it, as it’s not that big, (around four feet high), but well worth stopping to take a look.

And in case you didn’t know, the designer of the world famous statue was French; one Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi.

Best view over Nice

Head for Castle Hill if you want a stunning panoramic view over Nice.

You can climb the steps or get a free ride in the lift, which is slightly hidden away, but saves your energy in the heat.  Long story, but don’t expect a castle at the top as that’s long since gone but it’s a beautiful area to wander round with views over Nice and you can see the port from the other side.

Most people take their snaps from the top but if you head down a few steps to the waterfall you can even get the view all to yourself.

Explore the old town

Half the fun is getting lost in this labyrinth of narrow streets packed with shops, cafes and squares with open out to reveal some stunning churches.

Stop for ice cream at Fenocchio  which has two sites in the old town.

This family run ice cream place has over 80  flavours, from the rather unusual ones like Cactus, Poppy, Beer and Avocado to some truly yummy ones with my favourites including white chocolate, both honey and nuts and Baileys.

Yes at two Euros a scoop it’s not cheap, but worth it, and if you pick up a crepe or galete for a couple of Euros, you’ll have a cheap lunch.   Or pick up some pastries from the Moulin de Flor bakery.

Food & drink

Plenty of restaurants to choose from if you want to eat on the beach.   One of my favourites is Sporting restaurant and beach  But while it’s great with  delicious food and great service, you will pay for the experience so if you want to save money you’ll have to be prepared to swap that lunchtime beach view.

So why not pick up some snacks around the Cours Saleya market as there’s plenty of pavement cafes there.  Or for authentic and delicious tapas style finger food, head for Rene Socca, which is tucked away in a backstreet in the old town near Garibaldi Square.  We shared several dishes, had a couple of glasses of wine and still had change from twenty Euros.

Watch the world go by

Nice is a fabulous place to watch the world go by.  Plenty of free seats along the Promenade des Anglais, so you can stop and take in the views, take some snaps of the iconic Negresco hotel,  (or pop in for a drink if you can afford it), or go and sit on the beach.

 

 

 

 

Jersey – see the sights and save money

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I’ve just come back from a long weekend in Jersey.  It’s the largest of the Channel Islands and in fact it’s so close, just 100 miles from mainland Britain, and a 40 minute easyJet flight from Luton airport that I can’t believe I’ve never been there before.

It’s packed with amazing beaches, fabulous waterfront restaurants and bars and plenty of culture in the form of castles, museums and heaps of history.

So here’s my top tips on ways to get around, see the sights and save money. 

Getting there

I jumped on an easyJet flight at Luton Airport which took just 40 mins once we were up in the air.

If you’re flexible with dates, you can bag flights from under £10, yes really!  I found some going for just £7.93 in June, so if you’re flexible with your dates you could bag yourself a return ticket for under £20.

Free maps at the airport

If you’re flying in, make the most of the free maps and island guides at the airport.  Plenty of ideas for things to see and do along with tips from the locals, so it’s a great way to start your trip.

Get the bus

You can hire a car to get around but you’re looking at around £45 a day all in.  As well as the big names, there’s a couple of smaller companies offering car hire on the island but getting around is actually really easy thanks to Jersey’s brilliant bus company  So I went for the bus option.  You’ll pay just £2 for any single trip and you can buy an all day pass for unlimited travel for £8.

In fact I don’t think I’ve ever anywhere with such frequent buses.  I never waited more than 5 minutes for one and if you’re catching one from St. Helier to get out and explore the island, it’s very easy to find the bus station as it’s just behind the Liberty Wharf Shopping Centre near Liberation Square.  And there’s a really helpful information desk if you get stuck and need a hand.

Free trips 

Check out the ‘What’s On’ guide for discounts, deals, special events and free days out.    A great day trip is to walk out to Elizabeth Castle along the causeway at low tide although you’ll usually pay £11.60 to get into the castle.

So save money by going there on Saturday 28th April when you can get in totally free from 10am through till 2pm and enjoy a whole heap of special tours and events.  All thanks to a collaboration between Jersey Heritage and Lloyds Community Banking.

Enjoy the beaches

Jersey may be just nine miles by five but it’s got fifteen miles of stunning beaches.   Two of my favourites are St Brelade’s Bay and St. Aubin’s Bay. 

You can catch the bus from St. Helier to St. Aubin for £2, enjoy lunch at one of the harbourside pubs like the Tenby and then walk back to St Helier across the beach at low tide.   It’s about a three mile walk so easy enough and only takes about an hour.

Take enough cash

There’s plenty of cash machines on the island, but as Jersey isn’t part of the UK, it means you may be be clobbered for ‘overseas’ charges if you use your debit and credits cards while you’re there.

Check any charges with your bank before you go, but there are some cards that don’t charge any extra fees when you use them outside the UK.  These include both the Santander Zero and Halifax Clarity credit card.

 

Norwich – see the sights and save money

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I’ve just been to Norwich for a couple of days.  Two of my fabulous friends were getting married there so made my first trip back in about five years.

It was a quick visit but still time to explore this fabulous city so here’s my round up of ways to see some of the city’s gems and save money.

Walk the streets

Norwich city centre is easy to get around on foot and you can pick up lots of leaflets and maps and information from the Norwich Tourist Information Centre

If you want to join an organised walk and pick up a bit of history along the way, ask at the Tourist Office as trips leave from outside and you’ll pay £5 for a 90 minute walk.

If you’re taking a solo trip and get lost, make sure it’s in Norwich Lanes as there’s no shortage of cafes, shops, bars and restaurants there.   Brunch is fabulous at the Iron House or check out No. 33 just around the corner, though this does often mean a queue.

While you’re over that way,  step back in time and walk the cobbles of the city’s most famous street Elm Hill  which is the most complete medieval street in the city.  But if you want your snaps minus the tourists you’ll need to be up early.  I headed over there early on a Sunday morning, Starbucks in hand to take mine.

Norwich Castle

Well worth a trip but tickets to Norwich Castle will set you back £9.15 for adults.  But you can get in for £2 with a ‘Twilight’ ticket if you go along just one hour before closing.  Open Monday – Saturday 10am – 4.30pm and Sundays 1pm – 4.30pm.

Norwich Cathedral

Get a free tour inside Norwich Cathedral It’s absolutely stunning and the most complete Norman Cathedral in England and tours leave every hour between 10am – 3pm from Monday to Saturday.

Free stuff

Pop in the Forum which is home to both BBC Look East and BBC Radio Norfolk as well as hosting free exhibitions and events.   Usually always something going on and it’s open every day.

Snap up some discounts

Sign up for a free Norfolk Passport for deals and discounts across the county.

This includes savings on food, drink and rooms at the stunning Assembly House  in Norwich, which is a Grade I listed building and designed way back in 1754.

Cheap sleeps

Plenty of great places to stay but if you’re on a budget head for the Travelodge 

Go for the ‘Central’ one in Queen’s Road so you can be in the city centre in seconds, close to the Castle, Lanes, Forum, markets and Royal Arcade.  Prices vary but you can snap up Travelodge rooms from £29 although you’ll usually need to stay Sunday to Thursday for these.

Save or Splurge? Spotted this bargain turntable from Aldi……

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Just spotted Aldi’s ‘ Retro Vintage Turntable which has got to be a winner at just £29.99.   Especially when I reckon it’s so ‘super similar’ to one I spotted at Urban Outfitters at £128.99.

Aldi’s version comes in lilac, cream, grey and a fabulous floral design.

It’s got a three speed turntable for everything from 7″ up to 12″ and comes all packed in a handy little portable case with built in speakers and a three year warranty.

 It’s available in store only and on ‘Specialbuy’ which means once it’s gone that’s it.  So if you want to save yourself £99 and get a great portable turntable into the bargain, you’d better be quick!

Why does everyone want feedback?

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Why does everyone want feedback?  Shop online or hand over your email address and you’re bound to get ‘follow up’ emails asking ‘how did we do?’ and wanting your feedback about the service.

Yes it’s all great that companies are keen to improve their customer service and make sure they get things right, but is constantly pestering people for feedback for online purchases while waving tiny carrots of prize draws at them really the best way to go about it?

Who reads this stuff?

Ok so if a company can persuade you to air and share your views on the promise of being entered for a prize draw, means of course they get free feedback.  But as most of these company ‘feedback’ surveys are merely a list of questions where you score or tick boxes, I’d be interested to know who really looks at this hastily given feedback or whether the companies involved really take any notice of it?

Argos want feedback

I’ve just had not one, but two separate emails from Argos, several days apart, and both asking for feedback on a recent ‘Click & Collect’ order.

Both emails claimed the feedback survey would only take a few minutes and came with the promise of entry into a prize draw to win a £500 Argos gift card.

Now you may think the chance to win a £500 gift card is incentive enough to spend a few minutes airing and sharing your views, though Argos did seem to have a rather extensive list of questions, 35 in total!  And covering every aspect of the buying process down to rating the price and product.

But oh dear, Argos made a bit of a muck up, as it clearly hadn’t updated its system, as I spotted that the promised ‘Prize Draw’ had already ended several days ago according to the small print at the bottom of the email!

Everyone’s at it!

And of course Argos aren’t the only company wanting feedback.  If I’m ever in touch with my mobile phone company I get an instant text asking me to rate their performance and only the other day when I rang to find out what had happened to my Tesco delivery, I had to decline the option of being called back to give ‘feedback’.

 

 

 

Cut the cost of car insurance

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Car insurance has hit a record high.  Policy prices are up 9% in a year and the ‘average’ premium is now £481 according to the Association of British Insurers.

The insurance industry claim there’s several reasons behind the price hike which include the increase in Insurance Premium Tax, (now 12%), along with changes to the way compensation payments are calculated for personal injury claims.

Insurers now have to tell us what we paid last year when they send out a renewal quote; so any price hike will be there in black and white.  Shopping around can save you serious money as loyalty doesn’t pay long term in the insurance industry.

But if you’ve shopped around and still think your quote’s too high, here’s how to cut costs with some savvy tricks.

Check your mileage

One in four of us guess how far we drive each year according to uSwitch , or we just stick down the same mileage every year, which can boost your bill.  Check your MOT certificate to see how far you drove last year and if you’ve switched jobs or now travel to work by train, remember to factor this in.

Insurers have different ways of doing the sums when it comes to the cost of your premium, so sticking down 10,000 a year when you actually do closer to 9,000 can save you money.

Haggle down admin charges

Most insurers will add on charges for any policy changes so whether you move house or change your car; there’s a price to pay, which can cost you anything from £20 – £50 a time, and that’s aside from any increase in premium.  So always try and get any admin fees docked.

My insurer has just waived the ‘admin charge’ it wanted to hit me with after I changed cars.  I pointed out it’s the first time I’ve changed my car in several years so after a bit of negotiation it agreed a one ‘free’ change a year rule.

Add a second driver

This can make a big difference on price, with over £100 in some cases.   With younger or older drivers, adding a second, or even third driver, can bring down the premium substantially so worth considering even if the second driver is only rarely likely to drive the vehicle, or even just in case of  emergencies.

Take off the ‘extras’

If you stick with the same insurer, you may not have actually checked your cover for some time.

If you’re retired; check you’re no longer paying for ‘commuting’ cover.  And it’s worth reviewing any ‘extras’ on your policy, so do you really need legal cover or paying more for the use of a courtesy car?

And while I’d say breakdown cover is always worth having, do  shop around, don’t buy it alongside your car insurance or you may not get the best price.

Quick last checks

Don’t agree to a ‘Continuous Payment Authority’ which means insurers can just take your money each year on renewal.  You’ll often be asked about this at the point of payment, so just say ‘No’.

Can’t pay in one go?  Don’t pay in instalments as this boosts your bill by around 30%.  If it’s a stretch to fork out a lump sum,  find a credit card with a 0% deal on ‘new purchases’ to save on interest.

Check that any cheaper quote offers ‘like for like’ cover.  It’s all well and good saving money, but shaving £50 off your policy only to find your excess has doubled could be a false economy.

 

Macmillan Free Wills Month

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Thinking about making your will is never going to be easy, but without one, the law dictates who gets what, which can mean extra heartache for your family if your money, property and possessions aren’t shared out the way you wanted.

Two in three of us don’t have a will according to research from Macmillan Cancer Support and even if you have made one, it may need updating over the years, for example if children or grandchildren come along.

Let’s be honest, cost may play a part too, when it comes to getting around to making one, as it can cost around £150 a time, but making one is important if you want peace of mind knowing  your last wishes will be carried out.

Macmillan free wills month

This month is Macmillan Free Wills month which means the chance to get your will drawn up by a solicitor totally free of charge.  And there’s no rush to make an appointment this month either; you just need to register the fact you’re interested before the end of January, and then complete your will by the end of May.

The Macmillan offer means you’ve got several options, including making your will in person at McClure Solicitors, which has offices across the UK, or arranging a home visit through the GoodWill Partnership.

Obviously if you’re taking advantage of the free service, Macmillan hope you’ll support them by leaving a donation in your will, but there’s no obligation to do this, although personally I don’t think it’s fair to take advantage of the free service unless you’re prepared to leave them something.

And if you don’t manage to get around to it this month, Macmillan will also be having another Free Wills month during August.

Other ways to get free wills

Lots of other charities including Cancer Research UK , Oxfam and Mind all offer a free will writing service with the hope you’ll decide to leave them something in your will.

And if you’re over 55 you can get your will made during Free Wills month which takes place every March and October.  It’s backed by lots of charities including the British Heart Foundation and Stroke Association so you may be asked if you’d like to leave a donation to charity in your will, although there’s no obligation to do so.

Will Aid

During the annual Will Aid campaign every November, anyone, regardless of age, can have their will written free of charge.

Participating solicitors across the UK waive their usual will writing fees in exchange for a donation to charity, and  charities include the British Red Cross, NSPCC, Christian Aid and Age UK.   Once again, while they hope you will make a donation, you don’t have to.

Why New Year’s resolutions can dent your bank balance

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That extra glass of fizz at midnight may give you a horrid headache but the New Year could bring a financial hangover too.

Making New Year’s resolutions can be bad for your bank balance according to the number crunchers at TSB   It reckons we each shell out an average of £187 in our enthusiasm for a ‘new start’ on January 1st.  But one in three of us give up on at least half of our new goals by the end of January.  And nearly half of us have packed in the lot by March.

So here’s how those numbers stack up!

Getting fit

This one costs us £73 on a mix of gym and slimming club memberships and forking out on new gym clothes so we look the part, or buying fitness DVD’s so we can get fit in the privacy of our homes!

Healthy eating

Who hasn’t opened a fridge full of leftovers with post Christmas cheese and chocolate and decided to eat more healthily?  But it’s not just a case of ditching the chocolate as we splash out £42 on juices and smoothie blenders in a bid to make our healthy eating regime go the distance.

New hobbies

This can be anything from learning a new language to taking up music lessons or painting and means stumping up an average of £34 according to TSB.

And when it comes to how we’ll pay for our plans; one in five of us say we’ll rely on our credit card to fund those resolutions…….

So reckon I’ll be sticking to the ‘free’ ones and aiming, (as always!),  to do more walking, (10,000 steps a day minimum is the plan…..), drink more water (yes the old ‘eight’ glasses a day is always one of my regular resolutions too!), and most importantly to try and make the most of every minute of a brand new year.

Happy New Year to you all and hope it’s a great one for you whether you stick to your resolutions or not……

Regifting and how to get it right, (if you’re going to do it!).

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Is passing on an unwanted present plain bad manners or actually a savvy way to save money and recycle to find a new home for an  unwanted or duplicate gift? 

Four out of ten of us admit to ‘regifting’ some of our gifts according to research from gadget insurance provider Protect Your Bubble.

Whether you do this or not is up to you, but, if you are going to ‘regift’ anything make sure you stick to the rules or you could be banished from the Christmas list next year!

So if  you are going to regift here’s how to do it and get away with it!

Take out the tags

Sounds obvious, but make sure you take off the original tags before rewrapping, tagging it and handing it over.   And check inside boxes for rogue tags too!  Several years ago a friend of mine was given a lovely box of wine glasses by her ‘prospective’ sister in law, only for her to open the box and find the original tag inside wishing the sister in law a ‘Merry Christmas’ along with a gushing message from the original sender.  Needless to say the incident didn’t go down well!

Check the expiry dates

Check dates on wrapped boxes of biscuits and chocolates and the expiry date on vouchers if you’re thinking of passing on a voucher or gift card that you can’t use.  You won’t look great if it’s later discovered that your ‘generous’ gift actually expired last year.  And as some gift cards or vouchers may only last 6 months it’s definitely worth double checking first!

Check the wrapping

Don’t hand over gifts that look like they’ve been in the back of your cupboard or with tatty shrink wrapping or you could be rumbled!  Always make sure the wrapping and packaging all looks new before you wrap it up again!

Don’t regift home made presents

Goes without saying, but don’t pass on homemade gifts, unless they’re your own creation of course!

So you can’t pass on those hand knitted socks from great Aunt Ethel or the lurid scarf  the neighbour down the road made for you…..  Home made gifts can be lovely and thoughtful if you’ve genuinely made something yourself, but if knitting isn’t your thing and you suddenly start presenting family and friends with home made creations chances are you’ll soon be rumbled………

Don’t come a cropper with ‘Secret Santa’

Check who gave you that gift before you hand it back; especially if it’s something you were given at last year’s office ‘Secret Santa’.

I’ve always been lucky with ‘Secret Santa’ and had some lovely fun gifts but if you’ve been given a matching stapler and hole punch set; (and no reason of course why you shouldn’t be super happy with this!), then don’t be tempted to pop it back in the ‘Secret Santa box next year in case it ends up back in the arms of the original present giver!

 

 

 

 

Why it always pays to shop around for home insurance.

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Two big investigations into the rising cost of home insurance have just hit the headlines.

The first comes from market research agency Consumer Intelligence claiming the ‘average’ household policy price rose by 8.5% over the last year; that’s nearly three times the rate of inflation, (currently 3%).  And another investigation out today from Citizens Advice found a third of households stick with the same provider for over five years; which means they can end up paying a whopping 70% more for their home insurance than if they bowled up to the very same insurer and went through its doors as a ‘new’ customer.

I always shop around for insurance every year, and that goes for car, home, breakdown and travel cover.  And I reckon I’ve rarely been with the same insurer two years running.   If insurers didn’t hike up their rates so much, things might be different, but shopping around each year is often the best way to secure a competitive policy price and that means money saved! 

Like it or not, it’s a fact that loyalty doesn’t pay in the insurance industry, and sticking with the same insurer year after year can mean sky high premiums.  Sad truth is that those who play the loyalty game and don’t shop around get penalised, while the moneysaving discounts, deals and offers are thrown at new customers to lure them in.

I’ve just had a renewal quote from Churchill for my house insurance and it’s a whopping 40% higher than last year!  Yet, yes you’ve guessed it, I’ve not made any claims and nothing’s changed.

Naturally there was no way I’d be accepting it, but couldn’t resist the chance to challenge it and see what their reasoning was, so I rang up customer services to ask why the price had gone up so much when nothing had changed?

First up, they tried to tell me this kind of annual increase was ‘standard’ across the industry.  Really?  ‘Over 40%?’ I asked?  I don’t think so.  After more pushing, they then decided it was down to the fact that I’d bagged a discount last year which had brought down the original price; hence this year the premium looked much higher……..  So that ‘deal’ I bagged would have cost me a whole lot more in hiked up premiums if I’d decided to stay put over the years.   Of course Churchill isn’t the bad boy of the industry, it’s just the insurer I happened to be with which is why I thought it was only fair to say so.

And when I told them that I wouldn’t be renewing and would shop around; the response was to warn me that I’d end up  having to ‘shop around’ every single year if I wanted to try and get a better price.

Yes and I’m happy to do that.  Got to practice what I preach and as you’ve guessed, of course I’ve waved goodbye to Churchill and paid literally just a couple of quid more than last year to get the same level of cover with my new insurer.  Job done!