Posts Tagged ‘ budgeting ’

Buried Treasure: A guide on how to reclaim forgotten accounts

19/01/2012
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Buried Treasure

We’ve all experienced the joy of finding cash down the back of the sofa or in an old coat pocket. Now multiply that feeling and imagine the loose change as lost bank accounts worth a substantial amount of money. For many it would seem inconceivable that bank accounts could be lost or forgotten about, but it happens more frequently than we imagine; moving address and a change in personal circumstances such as getting married, divorced or widowed are main factors. It is estimated that up to £1 billion is sitting dormant in accounts in the UK in the form current and savings accounts, premium bonds, pension schemes and insurance policies. Banks do try and trace the owners of accounts...

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Three New Year’s Resolutions for the Fiscally Minded

20/12/2011
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Resolutions

Tis the season my friends… At this time of year it’s customary to eat as much turkey as is physically possible, lavish each other with expensive gifts, drink large quantities of whatever happens to be left in your drinks cabinet (normally something horrible like Cointreau) and then 6 days later repent everything and promise that this year will be the year you sort your life out and get back to the gym. With Christmas soon to be here and gone it’s time to set out your agenda for 2012 and start formulating those all important New Year’s resolutions. Most people tend to stick with the same old mantras of ‘I will go to the gym at least once a...

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Planning for your new financial year

18/11/2011
By
Saving Money

We all have New Year’s resolutions, but they are often not worth the paper they are written on or the hard drive they are saved on. Saving into an ISA at moneysupermarket can be a start. From a financial point of view, we all plan to spend less in the coming year but often circumstances make it difficult for us to adhere to our plans. With the world economy the way it is and many European countries bordering on default, saving must be at the top of the list. It is always a good idea to compare ISAs at moneysupermarket and other such comparison sites so you know that you have the best savings vehicle for your circumstances. Financial...

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5 Things You Should Know about Investing in Silver

16/11/2011
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Investing in Silver

Everyone seems to be interested in investing in gold, but silver prices are on the rise as well. While silver may not be as expensive as gold, it’s still a valuable investment. Of course, there are a few things you need to understand about this precious metal before spending your hard earned cash. Here are just five things you should know about investing in silver. Understand the Weight of Silver Weights can be rather confusing when it comes to precious metals, but you need to understand them. Not understanding how silver is weighed can lead to a poor investment. When purchasing silver, you may see it listed by troy pound, which is 12 troy ounces. Before you make your...

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Budgeting Tips for a Spectacular Holiday

31/10/2011
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Budgeting Tips

No matter how wonderful they turn out, the holiday season always seem to bring a lot of stress. While we all enjoy the holidays, not having to worry about them financially would make them even brighter. There are many things that can be done to create a spectacular holiday without the existence of enormous bills to deflate us after and create the mood commonly known as the holiday blues. In order to budget for a holiday, planning is a must. First figure out everything you will need in order to pull off your version of the perfect holiday. Here are a few tips to help you save while still out performing yourself as usual. Decorations – If you are...

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5 Top Tips for Managing your Finances

03/10/2011
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managing personal finance

How to Get a Better Grip on Your Finances Managing personal finance is tricky, but a careful blend of money saving and understanding your spending habits can really help you. Reduce those credit card bills and ease the strain on your finances with these simple tips: Use shopping lists Shopping lists can allow you to budget what you spend at the shops every week. Most people buy the same things every week, so you’ll have an idea of what those products cost. You can total that and work out what you are really spending. Using a shopping list and avoiding deviation can reduce your impulse purchases and really make sure you aren’t overspending. Plan your shop around what you...

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The best budgeting software to help you manage your personal finances

28/09/2011
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manage your finances

When it comes to managing your finances, staying on top and staying in control are crucial. Whether you want to maintain a big money share portfolio, monitor multiple savings accounts or simply keep a close check on your grocery spends each week, keeping accurate budget reports are crucial for keeping track of how your money is performing and where it is going. For many people, the idea of budgets and spreadsheets fill them with dread, but luckily there are now a host of online and desktop software solutions which can keep accurate records of your finances. There are many different options for personal finance tools for both PC and Mac users and the best ones can really help to...

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The Great Balancing Act: Self Knowledge and Self Budgeting

19/08/2011
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What is the key to a healthy bank balance? The answer is contained within the question itself, balance. Balance is needed to enjoy a healthy relationship with money (and when I say a ‘healthy’ that’s exactly what I mean, as it is now well documented that financial concerns have a huge effect on our physical well being.) Achieving this balance doesn’t necessarily involve filling up your savings account, tightening your belt and waiting for a rainy day, just as it doesn’t involve gratuitous indulgence. What’s sought is an ability to enjoy putting money to a responsible use. Reaching this goal may mean altering your financial behaviours. However, in order to do this you will first require a level of...

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To Budget or Not to Budget that is the Question

07/07/2011
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budget

We’ve all been enticed by that “awesome new what-cha-ma-call-it” before. So what is it that gets us to pull out our wallets and hand over our hard earned money instead of putting it away into savings? A lot of it has to do with the emotional appeal of whatever it is we’re considering purchasing. In the heat of the moment however, budgeting doesn’t always seem like the best route. After all it would mean passing up the must-have object. In order to make a clear decision on whether or not to live on a tighter budget and save we have to remove ourselves from the temptation to buy. Go home and think it over before you make a purchase....

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8 Ridiculous Ways People Try to Save Money

16/05/2011
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save money

There’s no shame—in fact, many would say it’s financially wise—to live an inexpensive lifestyle. Clipping coupons, buying items on sale, cooking food at home, bringing the leftovers to eat for lunch at work the next day, and shopping at secondhand stores are all simple and unobtrusive ways to save a lot of money in the long run. The line that differentiates “frugal” from “cheap,” is a thin one, however, and you’d be surprised at just how far people are willing to go to save a few dollars. Here’s a list of especially ridiculous ways people try to save money: • Eating food out of the dumpster. Many people try to justify this by explaining that groceries throw out unsold...

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