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Finance

The Ultimate Home Saving Cheat Sheet

The Ultimate Home Saving Cheat Sheet
By | On July 28,18 | 0 Comment

Money saving tips ideas

The idea of being able to afford your own home during your twenties might seem like a million miles away for many of us, and it is something which can be difficult to think about saving for. Saving for a house  is a nightmare and it can be hard to balance paying for our car, phone and rent as well as having money left to save up. However, it can be done if you follow these simple tips.

Increase your credit score

When you come to apply for a mortgage, the lender will look at your credit history and they will want to see if you have a good enough track record to be trusted with the loan. It means that you need to spend time finding out how to increase credit score quickly to make sure you are accepted for your mortgage immediately. If you have any outstanding debts you need to pay these off before applying.

Stop partying

There are a lot of people in their twenties who are reluctant to save for a house because they want to have a fun life. However, if you want to start making your future you need to balance things out. If you go out every weekend with your friends, you can instead think about going out every two weeks or once a month instead. Reduce the money you spend on alcohol and instead put this money into a savings account to go towards your home.

Have a stay-cation

Rather than spending all of your money on a holiday abroad this year, book a last-minute cottage in the countryside and enjoy a week away from work but spending less money than you would abroad. You will notice that you can enjoy your time without worrying about cash, and any extra money you would have spent abroad can go in the savings fund!

eBay it

If you have clutter and random things in your home, the best thing you can do with it is put it up for sale on eBay for some cash. There’s no point simply throwing things away if you can get some money for it instead! Take some time this weekend to clear out your Home and think about what things you could sell on. Remember, you can also sell your old clothes so don’t forget to clear out your closet too!

Budget for food

Food shopping can be a huge cost for us to deal with each day and this can often be the biggest cost we have throughout the year. If you spend far too much on food, you might want to start thinking about cheaper meals and meals which have less ingredients in them. You can use a book like 5 Ingredient Meals by Jamie Oliver or look online and you should find some budget friendly options to try for your family. You can save any money leftover from your food shop and this will soon accumulate to help you buy a house.

***Collaborative post***
Finance, Savings

Making Christmas Easier

Making christmas easier
By | On January 01,16 | 9 Comments

Saving To Make Christmas Easier

Christmas for all of us is an expensive time of year, we dread it but look forward to it all at the same time. We dread it for the stress it causes, worrying about the expense and what to buy people and hope the gifts are right for that person. We also look forward to Christmas for many of reasons. This year we plan on making Christmas easier.

Each year we keep saying that we will budget better for Christmas to help minimise the stress a little but have never gotten round to doing so.

This year it is one of our New Years resolutions, budgeting for things will be in our top MUST DO things this year. We have big things hopefully happening this year that we hope to share with you all very soon.

We will be making Christmas easier by sticking to this savings plan.

   Christmas saving plan

For every week of the year we will add £1 in a pot.

Week one we will add £1.

Week two we will put in £2.

Week three we will add £3 and so on. Each week will increase by £1.

If Our Maths Is Right Then:

If  we have done our maths right, by Friday 9th December we will hopefully have £1,275 that is with us starting today (01/01/2016) we thought today would be a good day as any to start. Finishing on the 09/12/16 would give us plenty of time to get gifts for everyone.

We chatted over Christmas while we was home and altogether about trying Christmas in a different way this year and came up with this payment scheme and action plan. So instead of putting the money on the gifts and online ordering the money owed to the pot that week will go into the pot and we will do the gift shopping together in one go. We have never done Christmas shopping like this at all but we are keen to give it a try.

We are trying out the new Christmas savings and shopping idea because we are parents to teenagers who like to keep changing their gift list at last-minute and people suddenly treating themselves to gifts we had already bought and wrapped up for them, so with this new idea we have in mind this shouldn’t be a problem this year. We will keep an eye out on the sales and will also have a rough idea on what to get for people but will not purchase until late December to save from any last-minute changes.

Do you normally put money away throughout the year for Christmas?

Do you online shop or do you like to go to the shops direct?

family, Finance, Savings

Top Tips For Saving Money As A Family

Top Tips For Saving Money As A Family
By | On June 24,14 | 0 Comment

Family Money Saving

When your family grows to include little ones, the amount of disposable income you and your partner will have will seriously dwindle. Kids take up so much of your money, and without even realising it, sometimes! From school trips and uniforms to days out to keep them occupied, it all adds up and, if you’re not careful, your finances could be hugely affected.
There are plenty of ways in which you can save money as a family, though. If you cut costs in certain areas, you will have more cash to spare at the end of the month. Here are a few ways to start saving:

Affordable Uniforms

Head over to the George school uniform shop to kit your kids out with all of their back to school essentials. Avoid buying from specialist uniform suppliers, because you’ll end up paying a premium for gear with school emblems emblazoned on them. Most schools are happy for pupils to wear cheaper items, as long as they’re the same colour as their uniform requirements.
Shop wisely, and keep an eye out for any offers and discounts, and your money will go much, much further.

Meal Plans

With a little forward planning, you can save a bundle on your weekly shop at the supermarket. Make a list before you go to the shops so that you know exactly what you need, and don’t deviate from it – not even a teeny bit!
Sit down and create a meal plan for the week so that you know what ingredients you need to provide meals for all the family. This way, you won’t waste anything and you won’t spend on things that you don’t need.

Walk

It’s far too easy to just jump in the car and ferry the kids around to the various places they need to be. Whether it’s the school run, a trip to the local soft play or a visit to their friend’s house, if it’s nice weather, walk instead! You’ll save a bundle on petrol and car maintenance fees, and you’ll feel better and healthier, too!

Free Activities

Spending time as a family doesn’t have to cost a fortune. When the weekends arrive, you can visit attractions that don’t charge high entrance fees. Museums, country parks, forest walks – the list of free things to do is huge, and will mean you can keep your cash in your pocket for a bit longer!

Save Energy

This is one that every family member can contribute to. By being a little more conscientious when using electricity and gas, you can save a fortune on your energy bills. Turn the thermostat down by a degree or two, especially during the summer months, and turn off lights and appliances when not in use.
Saving money as a family can easily be done if you know how. The smallest savings soon add up and, before you know it, you’ll have more disposable income to play with. Holiday fund, perhaps?

*Collaborative post*