Economiser
Does a wedding really have to cost £20,000? How to tie the knot without breaking the bank
Filed under: Economiser, Weddings, Budgeting & Planning
When you first get engaged, you're in a whirl of excitement, but as you enter the wedding planning stage you need to face the unwelcome truth that unless you're really clever about it, your big day is going to cost you very dear.The average cost of a wedding has ballooned to £20,000 - but you can have a great wedding on a much smaller budget.
Here are some tips for planning your big day and getting a better deal on food and drink, wedding dresses, flowers and entertainment.
E.ON becomes latest supplier to cut gas prices - by £3.50 a month
Filed under: Economiser, House and Home, Budgeting & Planning
E.ON has become the latest gas supplier to cut its prices – but by just £3.50 a month. You can buy a pint of beer with the saving, but not much else. Gas bills will come down by 6% from the end of the month, which means the average annual household bill for those paying by direct debit will drop by £42.
However, the energy giant is not cutting its electricity bills. It admitted that of its 5.5 million customers in the UK, many won't benefit from the cuts as they either get only electricity or are on fixed-rate deals. This means only about 1.9 million E.ON customers will actually benefit from the price cut.
Ten top ways to get free stuff online
Filed under: Economiser, Entertainment
Everyone loves a good freebie. It's amazing how much free stuff you can find online if you take a good look - there are websites that essentially allow you to furnish your home for free, spice up your wardrobe, watch the latest films at the cinema or pick up some extra cash.James Daley, editor-in-chief of Which? Money Quarterly, says: "If you know where to look, there's plenty of freebies to be found online. The variety of offers is vast, and if your finances are stretched, then now's the time to get searching."
The money experts at consumer organisation Which? found the following top 10 freebies.
Baby Boom Special: How to shop cheaply for a baby
Filed under: Economiser, Fashion, Families
Getting your baby fully kitted out can get quite expensive, especially if you can't count on many hand-me-downs from other people and/or are very fashion conscious. The cost of clothing your child and keeping them amused for the first five years can run into thousands of pounds, according to the National Childbirth Trust (NCT).
There is a bewildering number of websites and shops out there, so where do you start?
Many people don't trust price comparison sites - do you?
Filed under: Economiser, House and Home, Budgeting & Planning
Price comparison sites are supposed to make things easier for us – not harder. But while more people are using them to shop around for the best car or home insurance cover or savings accounts, many find them utterly confusing and don't trust them to find the best deal, according to consumer organisation Which?.
What's gone wrong? And which comparison sites can you trust, if any?
How to find cheap city breaks
Filed under: Economiser, Travel
Beat the winter blues and escape on a quick city break. If you can put up with the cold and wet weather, there are some good deals to be had in the UK. Otherwise look further afield for some much needed vitamin D.Here is a round-up of city breaks and weekend getaways that won't break the bank.
Bad financial habits to give up for Lent
Filed under: Economiser, Saving, Budgeting & Planning
Remember those New Year resolutions? Have they already become a distant memory?Here is another chance to make a go of it. Do you never open your bills until you're threatened with fines and court summons? Are you someone who accumulates loose change until it fills several jars at home? Or do you go on spending sprees all the time? Read on...
Which bad financial habits should you give up for Lent (and beyond) and what should you be doing instead?
How much can you save by giving up drinking and smoking for Lent?
Filed under: Economiser, Food and Drink
I've surprised myself by seriously considering giving up booze for Lent because I want to test my own willpower. (I've never given up anything for Lent so this will be a challenge.) Another reason is the fact that pubs and bars feature quite prominently in my bank statements. I also want to see whether I can lose weight that way.
Smoking is another habit that is clearly bad for your wallet and becoming more unappealing socially (not one of my vices).
How much can you save by giving up drinking and smoking for the 40 days of Lent?
Top 10 products that save you money and save the planet
Filed under: Economiser, House and Home
I'll admit it. I'm one of those annoying people who's super-keen when it comes to saving the planet. My house is full of energy saving lightbulbs, my recycling bag always has more in it than the rubbish bag, I always use public transport or walk....
I'm sure plenty of you are advocates of energy saving too, but lets face it the most important thing to all of us right now is saving money. The two go hand-in-hand most of the time though, so with a bit of help from Nigel's Eco Store, here are the top 10 products for saving the planet and saving you money.
Second hand cars - get a bargain not a banger
Filed under: Economiser, Fraud
Consumer Direct has revealed that their most commonly received complaint - for the fourth year in a row - is customers having problems when buying second hand cars.
In fact according to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), a fifth of those buying a second-hand car from an independent source had problems with it after the sale.
So if you do want to buy a second-hand car, here are a few things to watch out for, and some handy hints to make sure you really are bagging yourself a bargain.
