Tips for Saving Money on a Family Holiday.

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:19:23 +0000

The family budget, and its size, is the determining factor of most family holidays. Having a wonderful trip away with your nearest and dearest needn’t be a meagre affair with some careful planning beforehand.

Accommodation and travel are usually the most expensive elements of a vacation so booking ahead will save you money which means more cash in your pocket for spending on treats and family activities. Book your digs, flights or ferry a year in advance if you can. There are usually good deals to be procured if you book in the winter after Christmas. This window of time also allows you the chance to save up for the aforementioned holiday treats and entertainment.

When considering your mode of travel – try to avoid hitting traffic at its busiest. This will save you petrol and any associated energy spent on worrying whether or not you will make it to the airport or ferry on time. Driving long distances, especially with children on board, can be a stressful experience if stuck behind lorries and tour buses for miles on end. The most fuel efficient speed to drive is a constant 60mph. Motorway service stations can be a convenient way to get something to eat and drink. My personal favourite is Tibshelf Services off the M1.

Unfortunately, however, it comes at a great price in the UK. Thinking ahead and stocking your boot with water, juices and wholesome snacks and rolls can save you a packet when the tummies start rumbling.

Upon ‘dropping anchor’ at your destination you can continue being sensible with the kitty whilst still getting the most out of your time together. Entertainment and activities needn’t be expensive and much fun be had with nature trails, building sandcastles, sunbathing and ball games – costing you little or no money. One of the most exciting parts of staying in distant countries is the discovery of local cuisines. Family holidays in Spain can lead you to some wonderful towns and villages, enabling you to experience the native dishes. This can be done so much cheaper if you go self-catering. This means of keeping the family fed may suit parents with small children who need their staples.

This is an Al Fresco Holidays sponsored post by +Sarah Clarke. For more information on family holidays around Europe visit http://www.thomsonalfresco.co.uk/

Kids Easter Activities

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:24:17 +0000

With the Easter holidays upon us we need to be prepared to spend some quality time with the kids, or at the very least to devote some time to keeping the kids happy and out of trouble.

Easter is a special time for children and it goes much further than its Christian traditions and pagan origins. It means Easter bunnies, Easter egg hunts, fun days out with the family, and time off school. The time between Christmas and Easter, with its dark evenings and with little to do, can seem interminably long when you are young. It is not surprising that kids tend to let off steam during the Easter holidays and preferably all of that pent up energy needs to be channelled into fun and worthwhile activities.

Easter can be an expensive time too, so what is needed are some kids activities that do not cost a fortune and will not break the budget. Here are a few suggestions.

All kids, and even kids of all ages, enjoy an Easter egg hunt. Throughout the country you can find Easter Egg Trails that take place over the Easter weekend. They are organised by the National Trust and can cost just a couple of pounds to enter. Entrants get a number of clues that when solved should lead them to the location of a chocolate Easter egg and the whole family can join in.

Taking kids for a swim is a great way to tire them out; it is good for them too. There is also a special scheme called Sporting Change and which is run by the Asda chain which allows kids to take place in a sport such as swimming during the holidays for free. You just need to download a voucher from the internet.

Over Easter some major cinema chains are screening special films for kids. The ticket prices start at just one pound for a morning performance. It really is an excellent offer that the kids are sure to enjoy.

Easter is the time of year when the fields become full of lambs and many farms hold open days where kids and families can see the lambs and other animals whilst learning about farming and the environment. If they are lucky they might even get the opportunity to ride on a pony. Quite often the cost of admission is free, though sometimes a small entrance fee is charged.

If you live in London (or if you are visiting the city) then it is still currently free to visit the many museums that are found there. The kids would love the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum and be totally engrossed in the many interactive exhibits in the Science Museum.

Eating out can be expensive, but there are several restaurant chains where kids can eat for free during the Easter holidays and others with very low prices for set lunches. Visit one of these for lunch and the whole family can enjoy the experience; you will find the special offers on the web.

Easter Egg Trails this Easter at National Trust Properties

admin — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:22:10 +0000

If you are looking for something fun this Easter then Cadburys and the National Trust have joined forces to bring some magic to Easter weekend by running Easter egg trails across the trusts 245 properties.

To join in the fun with your family visit www.eastereggtrails.com where you can find the nearest National trust trail, details of how to participate and tips to make it a great weekend of fun.

Five tips to improve mobility at home

admin — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:06:13 +0000

If you’re wondering what you should do to keep your muscles in shape, then you should read further the much needed 5 tips to increase mobility at home.

If we observe, we’ll find that knee is commonly, the most injured joint in the human body. If we consider that when we simply walk or move up and down on the stairs, the pressure across the knee joints is four times the body weight. This isn’t surprising; simply because, everyday wear and tear of the body muscles can in turn, end up hurting the mobility of the body.

In order to get heart-healthy benefits, it is essential to get the heart rate up. Similarly, there are dozens of activities one can do at home to help the movement of heart. Whether it is a well-maintained exercise program or just a part of your daily routine, all physical activity adds up to give results. It’s not difficult to follow these exercise tips at home, at work place, and of course at play to increase the amount of physical activity in one’s life. If you are struggling with mobility of course, you could get chair lifts for stairs – these can help you get around the house easily.

5 tips to increase mobility at home and help start a heart-healthy exercise regimen:

Do aerobic exercises 30 minutes a day as they offer excellent way to increase the heart rate.
Climb the stairs instead of using the lift or escalators or take a brisk walk while getting to your car by parking it to a considerable distance.
One can also do any moderate-intensity exercise like swimming, jogging, Pilates and yoga which is equally good.
You can also definitely count in those mundane house chores like mowing the lawn, vacuuming, or running the short errands.
Before exercising, make sure to perform a variety of walking, skipping, lunging, kicking, bending and twisting movements in a combination of two or more.

However, for adults who are 65 years of age or older and or any person suffering from chronic conditions or limited mobility you may want to invest in Stannah stair lifts.

Is a Self-Certification Mortgage Good for my Family

admin — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:16:57 +0000

Self-certification mortgages or self cert mortgages are the ones which allow borrowers to self declare or to self certify their annual earnings. Originally, these self cert mortgages or self certification mortgages were only made for self employed people who used to run small business but they were not capable of providing the traditional evidence of their three year’s income.

But, nowadays these self cert or self certification mortgages are no longer readily available. And the credit crunch has caused the lenders to be a bit more reluctant in taking any kind of additional risk in terms of a loan with no proof of income being available. This can be an issue for many families who make up some of Britain’s millions of self-employed workers.

In UK, its FSA the Financial Services Authority who is the whole sole, and FSA has proposed that all the borrowers have to prove their income which has put an end to self certification mortgages. And the self employed borrowers need to submit almost two years of accounts proof of their earnings and even some lenders asks them to show a proof of three years also.

All that is needed to get the self certification mortgage is a good credit history and past income proof. Just as you would look to get car insurance quotes online, if you shop around and look online you can still find the right mortgage deals.

A good tip for any self cert mortgage borrower is to seek the advice and utilizes the skills of a professional advisor or mortgage broker. As he is the one who will help you in finding the best deal from the entire market to suit your needs, plans and budget. It’s also quite risky and if you don’t seek advice you may suffer or else will miss out on some good options.

Keeping on top of your finances after – & during – divorce

admin — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:20:51 +0000

Whether you’re staying with the household or moving out, the intrinsic stress of divorce will be lessened if you can quickly adjust to your new financial situation. Separation is associated with an often confusing jumble of emotions, from grief to relief, but a drop in income usually receives a more straightforward response – worry!

Although not every divorce leaves you worse off, you will at least be contending with legal fees, if not alimony and child support. If you’ve left the household, you are probably now responsible for your own rent, bills and groceries. Even if you feel well off, it’s always worth checking that you’re getting the best value for money, wherever you spend it. If you’re feeling broke, don’t despair – there are many ways you can potentially ease the burden.

Work out exactly what you’re earning and spending. Some people find their finances so terrifying that they simply ignore the whole topic, even getting angry if someone mentions it. Oblivion might seem tempting if you’re very worried about debt, or you don’t really want to stop treating yourself to daily lattes or new clothes. But if you do feel this afraid of your bank statement, you probably have a debt problem lurking in your future. Take it from me – it’s much, much better to just bite your lip and do the maths now, than wait until your bank starts charging you £30 a pop for Direct Debits it can’t pay out.

You need to account for everything – birthdays, holidays, religious festivals, as well as your weekly grocery, entertainment and travel spend. How much do you actually spend over a year?

Then compare it to how much you earn, after tax of course. Don’t panic if you’re left with a negative number – there’s an excellent list of potential solutions to work through, maybe even some you haven’t thought of already.

To increase your spare cash, make sure you:

- aren’t paying too much tax (call the HMRC – they’re actually very helpful)
- are getting all the benefits you’re entitled to (including Tax Credits and single person’s Council Tax allowance)
- have the cheapest utility deals. Comparison websites like Moneysupermarket are good for this.
- aren’t still food shopping for two (or more) if you needn’t be.
- pay off debts before trying to fill up a savings account
- stay tidy; messy people lose things and end up replacing them unnecessarily. A good sort-out can make you realise that you already own most things you need.
- know exactly how much debt you’re in, and to whom. Forgotten debt can build interest fast.
- cancel unused subscriptions and Direct Debits, like gym, magazines, and websites
- plan your meals and make a shopping list before you go to the supermarket. This trick cuts my food bills by at least 50%, because it means I’m not seduced by special offers, or pies.
- join the library. If you love books, magazines and films, your local library is a brilliant money-saver. It’s free to join, with on-going costs varying from 20p for a book reservation, to £2 for a DVD rental. They often have a lively kids’ section, too, with toys and books for the little ones.
- sell unwanted belongings on eBay. This might only bring in £20-£40 a month, but it can make all the difference.

Head for a Hookah

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:02:56 +0000

Carhiremarket.com is the best place to pick up a cheap car rental and set off for an appointment with a hookah in old Istanbul. This must be the quintessentially Eastern contraption, the ubiquitous backdrop to every movie set in the Orient, and it has a fascinating history.
Although there are a few cafes in London where you can order a hookah for an after-dinner puff they are all over the place in Turkey and they offer aficionados an exotic alternative to cigarette smoking. It has to be pointed out however that they are considered just as bad for your health. But they’re great fun to watch, and there has always been a strong social element to them, and even a recognised etiquette.
In the Turkish nargile version, water fills a main vessel and acts as a filter to cool down smoke that is introduced from a smoking cup. As the smoke passes through the liquid it becomes moisturised and so does not irritate the throat.
The tobacco used with hookahs comes in a variety of flavours. In the traditional versions, sugar-based syrup and fruit extracts are mixed with long strips of tobacco, and added smoothness is provided by the cooling action of the pipe. The pipes are often smoked in special nargile lounges, and ice is frequently added to the water. The most common flavours are raspberry, orange and peach.
Two of the traditions associated with the Turkish nargile are that in a private house only the head of the household was allowed to light it, and in a nargile cafe only the owner of the establishment.
Etiquette is something you can’t get away from in Turkey, and this extends to nargile smoking. The nargile cannot be placed on a high table; it’s normally set on the floor or on a very low table, although even then it should only be placed on a low table if its pipes are too short. It is also considered very bad form to pass the pipe from hand to hand. The smoker has to place it on a special saucer provided and pass the saucer around. Cigarettes should also not be lit from burning nargile coals, which is considered to be the very height of bad form.
The atmosphere is another important element in nargile smoking, and it is usually carried out either in private homes or in the calm, quiet and relaxing environment of a nargile cafe. It’s also usually done in the evenings, after the day’s hustle and bustle, reclining in a comfortable chair or on a couch. Bright light is unacceptable, with faint diffused light preferred instead.
If this all sound a bit precious, you have to remember that Turks and nargiles have been joined at the hip for centuries, and that nargile smoking is an important facet of the culture here. In every small town and village, and even in the big cities, the cafes are still crowded to capacity each evening with men in flat caps chatting, drinking strong black tea, playing backgammon and puffing away on pipes. It’s a familiar sight in every settlement you drive through.

John has enjoyed travelling since he was a young boy when his parents first took him to visit family overseas. Since leaving home, John has tracked down family all over the world and regularly jets off to faraway lands to see distant relatives.

Reduce the cost of Motoring

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:19:43 +0000

Motoring today is an expensive business and if you’ve got a family you’ll want to avoid spending more than you need to on it. Fortunately, it is possible to cut down on the cost of driving in a number of ways, such as changing the type of car you have, the way your drive it and also by finding cheap car insurance.

Vehicles and driving
Owning more than one vehicle costs more in terms of fuel, insurance and other expenses. If your family has more than one car, it might be possible for you to get rid of one of them. You could switch to public transport or share lifts with friends or colleagues in some situations, for example.

Exactly how you drive can play a part when it comes to your fuel bills. Try not to over-rev the engine as you drive and ensure you change gear quickly as you move off. Accelerating rapidly and driving too fast can have adverse effects on your fuel consumption. Consider driving at close to 50 mph where possible as this uses 15 per cent less fuel than you would driving at 70 mph.

You should also be aware that some factors affect your fuel consumption other than your general driving habits and make of car. Just because you drive a bigger vehicle, it doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference to your fuel consumption. The size of your car doesn’t make it automatically non-efficient.

The type of petrol you use isn’t always that important, either. You may save money by using unleaded petrol rather than Super, unless of course the vehicle you drive specifies Super.

If your vehicle is not well maintained, it will drink fuel faster than a car that’s well looked after. Keeping a clean car is a start, since a car that has built up dirt and debris will drag and cost you in terms of fuel. Check your tyres regularly and keep them inflated at the correct pressure at all times. You should rotate them on a frequent basis, too. Also watch your oil level and remember to top it up if necessary.

Drag can also become an issue if your vehicle is too heavy and will cost you more in terms of fuel. A good way to reduce drag is remove items from your vehicle so that you’re not carrying unnecessary weight. Since excess weight adversely affects your vehicle’s economy, leave only essential items in the vehicle.

Car Insurance
Another major factor in reducing your motoring costs is getting cheap car insurance. Your car insurance bill can really vary depending on a range of issues. The age of the insured drivers and the model of vehicle and its engine size are all well-known factors, but also consider any modifications you’ve made that may impact the cost of insurance. Securing your car – with an alarm for instance – can help you to get cheap car insurance, as will reducing your mileage.

While you may be forced to insure a young driver in your family and pay hefty premiums as a result, you can lessen the blow by adding a second driver to the insurance. If this second person has a solid driving record, the insurance premium may be reduced. However, do remember that the young person should always be on the insurance as the main driver, or you run the risk of invalidating your policy.

The make of your vehicle can prevent you from getting cheap car insurance. Engine size and model aren’t everything, though. How safe the car is deemed to be and how much repairs will cost can also wreak havoc with your insurance premium, so think about these as you choose a vehicle.

If you’re buying a sports car, remember that these vehicles are likely to be considered a high risk by insurers because they think they will be driven very fast and are liable to get damaged.

Your family can move home for less

admin — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:27:28 +0000

Many families are forced in to a position of needing to downsize their homes or move to a less expensive area thanks to the rising cost of living. In this case, any family needing to move will want to keep as much of the revenue raised from selling their home as they possibly can.
There are lots of costs involved in selling up and moving on. Any family thinking of selling their home to raise capital should consider the following costs that are involved in selling up:
Conveyancing fees

Anyone selling their home will need the support of a legally qualified professional. Check out larger national conveyancing firms for the best one of fees that could save hundreds on the cost of a traditional solicitor who may well charge by the hour

Estate Agents Commission

Estate agents fees can vary from 0.5% to 1.5% of the final sale price. It can be hard to budget for estate agents fees if you are not sure what the final figure will be. Online estate agents usually charge a set price to sell your home for you making it much easier to take control of the costs.

Energy Performance Certificate

Before you can put your home on the market you will need to obtain a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) The EPC tells potential buyers how much energy your home consumes which can contribute to the gas and electricity bills. The certificate must be created by a qualified person who comes to inspect your home, and the visit normally costs between £50 – £100.

It easy to see how the cost of moving can add up. If you’re thinking “I want to sell my house online” to see if you can save some money then there are some great online estate agents out there that can automate the home selling process for you without adding the cost of having a high street branch to your final fees.

Using the internet to look for the best prices for removal companies, conveyancers, handymen etc can save a lot of money during what could potentially be a stressful time. Make sure you make use of your social networks too, ask friends for recommendations if they have recently moved. It’s not uncommon for friends to ask for help via a Facebook status. It’s surprising how much friends can rally around at difficult times, and on a worldwide social network like Facebook everyone is keen to chip in with well wishes and encouragement to help you along the way.

Alternatives to a payday loan

admin — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 23:41:33 +0000

More and more people are turning to the internet to borrow money from short term loan lenders. A payday loan from one of these lenders is often the only option that people feel is available to them. Are there alternatives to a payday loan?

The first alternative is to borrow money from a friend or relative. This can be quite embarrassing and often feels extremely difficult to ask, but borrowing the money in this way can save any interest charges. For many people this isn’t an option because pride plays a huge role.

Selling belongings is a viable option if you do not need the cash within the hour, which is often promised by internet cash loan lenders. If you know you are going to run out of cash before the next payday, with planning you could find some old or unwanted items and sell them. A local newspaper can be a great channel to sell items, and often they let you sell items for free under a certain price bracket. If you have more time selling your items via auction websites like eBay can be a great way. Selling an item via eBay has much more chance of reaching a greater sale price due the wider audience. This raises competition and demand for your wares.

Approach your bank for an overdraft. Often you can apply online and get an instant decision from your bank. If you have a poor credit score overdraft applications can often be unsuccessful.

If you have it available, working overtime can be a great way to earn extra cash. If you are like me though, I work on a fixed salary pro rata so this isn’t an option. There are often ways to raise money utilising hobbies but this often takes longer to achieve.

Can you think of any more options?