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office party (2)

Should you pay to go to the office Christmas party?

December 7, 2018
It's the season of goodwill but how far does your boss's generosity extend when it  comes to paying for the office Christmas party? Seems not very far in most cases, as just one in eight of us get our Christmas...
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Black Friday – how to cut through the hype to get the best price

November 20, 2018
Black Friday 'deals' kicked off last week with the likes of Amazon and Argos fighting to be first in the queue and now most of the big high street names are setting out their stalls. There's so much retailer hype...
afternoon tea (2)

Munching at meetings. Do you do it?

November 9, 2018
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...
piggybank (2)

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

October 29, 2018
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...
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Happy to wave goodbye to Vodafone

July 18, 2018
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...
Nice view from castle hill

Nice – see the sights and save money

April 26, 2018
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...
St Aubin (2)

Jersey – see the sights and save money

April 12, 2018
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...
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Norwich – see the sights and save money

March 28, 2018
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...
record player (2)

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

March 7, 2018
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...
feedback (2)

Why does everyone want feedback?

February 13, 2018
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...
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Macmillan Free Wills Month

January 15, 2018
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...
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Why New Year’s resolutions can dent your bank balance

December 31, 2017
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 ...
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Regifting and how to get it right, (if you’re going to do it!).

December 21, 2017
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...
house insurance front page (2)

Why it always pays to shop around for home insurance.

November 24, 2017
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...
Hotel image to make square (2)

Beat the hotel booking sites

October 27, 2017
We've probably all used the likes of Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com and Trivago at some stage. But now the big players in the hotel booking market are under the spotlight from the consumer watchdog which is about to do some digging...
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Is it ok to offer free gifts with loans and credit cards?

October 19, 2017
Spa days, hotel trips and free MOT's are just some of the free gifts being dished out by banks and credit card companies when you take out loans and cards. But is it ever ok to offer incentives like this...
Cinema shot 2

How to get the red carpet treatment at the movies

September 8, 2017
Want to get the red carpet treatment at the movies? If you love going to the movies but hate crowds and cramped seats, some cinemas are rolling out the red carpet  with exclusive lounges, free drinks and super comfy seats. ...
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Fun Father’s Day Offers

June 16, 2017
Beyond the free pints, burgers and puds how about this for something with a difference..... It's Father's Day on Sunday and most of the major restaurants and pubs are offering 'Dad Deals' with offers of free pints and lunches but...