Money in the UK
Homes Turning Into Warzone Over Fear of Energy Bills
The energy companies have done it again. Just as the winter approaches, they have felt the need to increase their prices when consumers’ consumption is at its highest.
With an average price increase on gas of 17.4 per cent and an average increase of 10.8 per cent on electricity, energy supplier look set to rake it in again this year at the expense of the consumer.
According to research by price comparison site moneysupermarket.com, consumers are now both living in fear of turning their heating on and/or arguing amongst themselves on whether to put the heating on or simply put a jumper on.
More than 26 million adults would put on a jumper (sweater) rather than turn their heating on due to the fear of what their bills may look like in the New Year. From 13,700 people, 17 per cent said they would wait until it got really cold before they turned the heating on while six per cent cannot afford to heat their homes.
This is causing arguments up and down the country as 12 per cent admitted to rowing with a family member over turning the heating on too soon. Of those rowing, three quarters admitted that they were concerned about rising energy costs.
Scott Byrom, energy expert at the comparison site said “The temperature may be dropping, but households across the country are getting heated. Arguing over whether to switch on the heating or not seems to be hot on the agenda for struggling bill payers.”
Tips on how to reduce your energy bills
Whilst putting a jumper on may stop the heating going on for now, eventually it will get colder and you will need to turn the heating on.
Instead of arguing about the heating or being worried about what your bill may be, follow these helpful hints on how to reduce your overall consumption this winter and reduce your gas and electricity bills. Read the rest of this entry »
How to Effectively Compare Removalist Companies
Moving into a new home is an expensive prospect. With the cost of settling in looming in front, you can do well to save some money on house moving. There are many house removal companies for you to choose from and hence, there are a variety of prices on offer. Browsing around will help you select the best company. Yet, there are many removalist companies that have untrained workers and an unprofessional attitude. Moving is an easy job and they are in it to make a quick buck. These are the companies you have to avoid. Here are some tips for effectively comparing removalist companies. Read the rest of this entry »
Tips to Keep Your Electric Bill Within Budget
Are your electricity bills killing your monthly budget? After your mortgage or rent, electricity and car expenses are the next major expenses. Don’t let your electricity bills shoot through the roof, take immediate action before it is too late.
So the question arises what can you do to put a leash on your utility bill? Here are a few simple tips to slash your bills and keep them within budget. We’ll start with the easiest and least expensive first.
1) Work on your habits
Without even spending a penny, you can slash your electric bills largely just by changing certain habits. For instance: Read the rest of this entry »
6 Ways a Slow Cooker Can Save You Money
I’ve always loved autumn. It might sound cliché but there is something special about evenings by the fire and the way nature gives us a fantastic show of colour.
In addition to being a great excuse for drinking plenty of hot chocolate and curling up on the sofa to watch a movie, autumn is a great season to spend more time in the kitchen. After all, what’s better than a big bowl of hot comfort food after a long today in the office?
My latest culinary obsession is slow cooking and I’m sure all parents will be happy to hear that not only can a slow cooker help you save time but it can help you stay on budget as well.
So let’s take a look at the 6 ways a slow cooker can help you save money: Read the rest of this entry »
10 Ways To Ensure Online Credit Card Security
Shopping has never been this convenient… with the Internet boom and just a few mouse clicks, you can preview all the information you need to decide whether you’re going to make a purchase.
Are you looking for the latest novel by your favorite author? Just log on to Amazon
The other side of the equation
Shopping online may be fun and fast, but it does have its downside as well. One very distinct disadvantage to placing orders with online stores is that you don’t get to physically inspect the product you’re buying. Unlike walking into a real store, you have to trust the seller’s word that what you paid for will be exactly what you will get once it is shipped.
Another pressing issue to making online purchases is the danger of credit card fraud and identity theft. Buying stuff online means going through a paperless transaction. All you have to do to pay for your purchase is to enter your personal information and credit card details. These are highly sensitive details that can be used improperly by those who know their way around the Internet better than most of us.
There is big money to be made from online shopping, especially those that are paid for through credit cards. In the UK alone, an estimated 6.4 billion British pounds have been spent for online credit card purchases in the past year. There are a variety of benefits built into credit cards these days like No Annual Fee Cards, Low Interest Cards, and cards with travel rewards to help you earn free plane tickets.
This certainly means that a lot of people are using their credit cards to pay for products and services online, but not all of them are aware of the intrinsic dangers Read the rest of this entry »
Why Interior Shutters Can Be a Good Investment
There aren’t much bigger purchases in life than a house, and when you’re going through this process the last thing that is likely to be on your mind is selling it. However despite there being a million and one more important things to consider, it’s always a good idea to consider some sort of return from your investment.
It’s important to see a house as more than just a home – it’s also an investment. One way of adding value to your home that you may not have considered is the addition of a set of interior wooden shutters. Some people instantly write off shutters as soon as they hear the word, assuming that you’re talking about the metal window coverings that shops pull down at a night time. Whilst these are rather unattractive on the eye, the wooden shutters I am referring to are aesthetically pleasing, and in the long run can end up paying for themselves.
Although they are slightly more expensive than a number of other interior window treatments, shutters are still a logical choice for your home. They are more expensive for a reason, and when it comes to selling a house, home-owners may occasionally list these as a key feature.
One reason for this is insurance. Whilst home insurance is an inconvenience to most home-owners, it is unfortunately a cross we all have to bear. With this in mind, it’s worth noting that insurers are keen on shutters. When surveying your home, insurers bear every single detail in mind. As windows are a very easy target for potential burglars, window treatments are taken into account as a rating factor for your quote. As shutters are harder to negotiate for a potential intruder, insurance companies have been known to give cheaper premiums for homes with such fittings.
From an environmental point of view, savings can be made on utility bills if you have a set of shutters in your home. Due to how tightly the shutters hug the windows; there is barely any
space for adverse weather conditions to affect a room – something curtains and blinds simply can’t boast. As a result of this, a room is unlikely to need as much heating throughout the year, potentially saving you money on your ever-rising bills.
Looking at shutters from an aesthetical point of view, they are actually very easy on the eye. Far from the aforementioned common misconception of generic grey metal shutters, these
window treatments can be customised with different designs and colours to add a bit of sophistication to any room, and can also be made to measure for any window.
About the Author:
Pier Pischedda is an online researcher and writer, working at the moment on behalf of Shutters Direct.
Saving Up for your First Car – Top Tips
By Stephanie Staszko
Buying a first car be financially draining due to the buyer having no previous car to sell and ease the cost. Applying for a car loan is the most obvious step to funding a first car but there are other small tips that can help first time car buyers save money for their much desired automobile.
