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Fixed Rate Business Gas: What’s the Score?

by jmichelsen on May 7, 2013

Any business owner will know that keeping their overheads as low as possible is one sure-fire way of seeing profits and an increased turnover. While some outgoings are unavoidable, such as the rent of the premises, others can be reduced if you have a little know-how and can make a huge difference to your monthly budgets.

 

One major way to improve your overheads is to sign up for the best energy tariffs for your business’ circumstances. Whether you’ve moved into new premises recently, or it’s been a while since you looked into the unit cost of your energy, now would be an ideal time to see what you’re spending and whether you can reduce it. It’s a particularly problem with new office space – since moving your business to the new site, you may not have had chance to look into the energy being supplied there or the meter readings have been estimated and are, therefore, inaccurate.

 

Take a moment out of your day (or pop it in the diary for your PA to look into) and manage your energy provision so that it is beneficial to you and your business pocket. business gas from British Gas is one of the most competitive suppliers in the UK at the moment and definitely worth a look if you haven’t already. With plenty of perks involved in what they do, you could be saving money in no time.

 

One of the popular elements of gas provision is the option of fixed rate business gas that ensures competitively priced business gas that will be a constant price over the next one, two or three years.

 

Sure, the downfall of fixed price tariffs is ‘what if the standard unit cost goes down?’ and yes, if it does drop, you will be paying over the odds until the end of the plan, but the way things are going, energy prices may continue to rise and a fixed rate plan will ensure your payments don’t.

 

Over 500,000 businesses in the UK choose the fixed rate plan for their company and it’s easy to see why. Find out more information via the British Gas website, today.

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Back to basics: budgeting the food shop

by jmichelsen on May 2, 2013

A supermarket’s job is to make us spend as much as possible – they are able to do this by placing attractive products in strategic positions in and around the store. Years of market research has turned the humble supermarket into a empire of consumerism – from tasty smells and enticing promotions to magazines and sweets placed by the till, supermarkets today boast a number of sales tactics. These impulse buys are used as a way in which to encourage customers to make one last buy. They can lead to money problems down the line.

Other ways supermarkets use clever tactics to make us part with a little extra cash include placing the most expensive products at eye level and creating a store layout that makes us walk from one end to the other instead of sidestepping certain isles. Many shoppers are attracted to the words ‘discount’ and ‘promotion’, however the truth of the matter is, such promotions will often make you invest in more than you actually need, thus spending more money in the long run.

If you have a large family and require many necessities, taking out a short term loan from websites such as www.everyday-loans.co.uk can help you get back on your feet.

Enquire about trade down product suggestions.

There are a number of supermarket comparison sites online, many of which offer a ‘trade down’ option. This option is usually based on a certai

n theory. This concept compares all of the products in your basket with that of popular products housed at other supermarkets, thus allowing this simple yet effective tool to inform consumers of the lowest priced products on the market at present.

Invest in supermarket ‘own brands’

A number of consumers will go out of their way to purchase branded shower gels, food products, washing powders and clothing – quite simply because they believe them to be the best on the market. The truth is we are actually paying for the packaging, which can in fact add a few extra pounds to the  price. 

By buying supermarket ‘own brands’ you can save a great deal on your regular shopping trips.

Grow your own

Growing your own vegetables is easier than you may anticipate and can be accomplished both in the garden, in pots placed on a windowsill or alternatively, in an allotment. Regardless of where or what you choose to grow, this is a great way to save money on food produce. Growing your own vegetables is also a fun pastime for both the kids and yourself; it can teach the little ones a great deal about where each vegetable comes from and also what they look like.

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Managing Your Debt: A Real-Life Example

by Libby Balke on April 22, 2013

I have a friend named Sam. Right now, Sam’s finances are in big trouble. He’s buried in debt, and wondering how to get out of it. I’m hoping all of you can help him when it comes to managing debt with some practical advice.

Sam’s Situation

Sam’s done the math, and expects to make about $29,000 this year. He’s also taken a good, long look at his expenses, and expects to spend about $34,600. That’s a deficit of $5,600 for 2013 alone, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his debt; right now, Sam owes about $167,000 on various accounts, like his student loans, mortgage, and credit card.

He’s not even thinking ahead at investments or annuities.

Sam’s Options

In talking to Sam, it’s pretty clear he thinks he can get rid of all his debt simply by cutting costs. I’m not sure that’s really all that feasible. Looking at Sam’s income, his annual expenses, and his debts, cutting costs would be like robbing Peter to pay Paul: ineffective. So much of his income goes immediately to paying down debt that he really doesn’t have all that much wiggle room in his budget in the first place – there’s basically no discretionary spending he could trim at this point.

I think Sam needs to take a different approach. If he could get a second job and bring in some more money, he’d be able to stop running his household each year at a deficit, plus he’d have extra money to put toward paying down debt. I think that would be the most effective use of Sam’s time and money.

Of Course, This Is An Analogy…

If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m not talking about my “friend” Sam, but about my “Uncle Sam” – aka, the Federal Government – and its current debate over deficit reduction. You have those on the right who think cutting costs is going to get us where we need to be in terms of managing debt; then there are those on the left who want to eliminate our debt by simply increasing revenue. Most Americans – myself included – think we need to do both:

“Overall, what do you think is the best way to reduce the federal budget deficit — by cutting federal spending, by increasing taxes, or by a combination of both?”
 
    Cutting
spending		 Increasing
taxes		 Combination
of both		 Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

3/1-3/13

 35 5 56 5  
 

2/6-10/13

 32 3 59 5  
 

1/11-15/13

 33 3 61 3

(Source: CBS News, courtesy of Polling Report)

I used this analogy – using the same ratio of revenues to expenses to debt currently estimated for FY 2013 by the Federal Government – to take the politics out of the equation. If your family was in a similar situation to Sam’s, how would you handle it? Would you cut costs and call it a day? Or would you try to find a way to bring in more money at the same time that you trimmed our budget? And would you want the government to do the same?

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The New Home Mortgage Insurance Relief Package

by jmichelsen on April 16, 2013

The recovery from the housing crash four years ago makes home insurance all the more important if you are a homeowner struggling to keep up with the mortgage payments.  Federal housing agencies such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are offering relief packages for homeowners who now owe more on their homes than the properties are actually worth due to the collapse of the housing market.

When the housing bubble burst near the end of 2008, people were unprepared for the fallout from the credit crisis.  The value of homes plummeted along with the sharp rise in unemployment, but the mortgage balances remained the same.  However, without significant income, people struggled to make the mortgage payments.  The terms of the agreed upon home loans remained the same even though the market was worth significantly less than the years prior to the collapse, which left millions of Americans with few options other than foreclosure or bankruptcy.

As a result of the increasing number of foreclosures and mortgage defaults, the government recognized that the privatized mortgage insurance market was falling short of protecting Americans from the bulk of the financial collapse.  Home and mortgage insurance was for a long time used as a bailout condition after homeowners were forced into bankruptcy, and used the liquidation as the only way to leave a depreciated home behind to start over.  But the government at last listened to calls from across the country to reform the home mortgage insurance industry, and help out the most underwater homeowners.  The system reform in all likelihood will increase low home insurance rates from their current levels as regulators take on extra properties.  But the changes will ultimately help the people most in need over the long term.

If you kept up to date with your mortgage payments but struggled once the housing market went bust, you can apply for what is called a deed-in-lieu transaction.  This option means that Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae will take on the remaining balance of your mortgage, which allows you to walk away from the remaining financial obligations.  However, in doing so, you will also have to vacate your home, and allow the banks to resell the property.

Although the situation isn’t ideal, if your home is no longer worth what you paid but the mortgage is still valued at the pre-collapse home assessment, the deed-in-lieu may be your best option.  In one way, allowing the banks to take your home is likely something you never wanted to see happen.  On the other hand, if the property losses were more straining, both mentally and financially than the home was worth, then change could be a good thing.

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Saving Money for a Down Payment

by Libby Balke on April 13, 2013

My husband and I are in the midst of attempting to save $40,000 over the next ten months, as we prepare to move back to my hometown and buy a house there. We are committed to putting down at least 20% on our next mortgage; we are also committed to buying a “forever” house, which is going to cost a mint back where I grew up. That $40,000 – on top of what we’ve already saved over the past six months or so – will go to our down payment and closing costs.

Saving money only gets marginally easier when you have a big, long-term goal at the end of the rainbow. Because we likely won’t make our purchase until the tail end of 2013, it means we’ll be funneling all of the extra money from our monthly budget over to our housing fund. That leaves our previously-budgeted “fun money” as our only source of discretionary income for the rest of the year.

The temptations are everywhere, though, and they are relentless. They come in the form of my husband, asking if he could take me away to a night at an upscale hotel – with dinner on the town – to celebrate my birthday next month; they come in the form of my daughter, who wants to attend a pricy ballet camp this summer; they even come from my own wants, like the new wardrobe I’m desperate to have to replace clothing I’ve been wearing since I was in high school.

I’ve been working on a strategy to compete with these urges and temptations at spending money when I really should be saving money. It all boils down to asking myself this question:

“How much house could I buy with that?”

Let me show you what I mean…

My Daughter’s Summer Camp

My daughter’s only four years old, but already she has visions of grandeur. One of her friends at school has been talking about a ballet summer camp she attended last year. The camp is located in the next town over, and wouldn’t require her to spend the night or anything. But the 5-day program comes at a premium: $200.

While I’d love to say yes to my daughter – and, in a different time, I would – I paused and instead asked myself, “How much house could I buy with that $200?”

By adding $200 to our down payment fund, it would be like adding $1,000 to the purchase price (I’m using the 20% down payment equation, here).

My New Wardrobe

I am very blessed to be the same weight – and roughly the same proportions – that I was in high school. On one hand, this is great, because I can still wear my high school wardrobe; on the other hand, this is bad, because I am still wearing my high school wardrobe. So instead of dressing like a grown up, a lot of my clothes are holdovers from the 1990s. The result is that I wear a lot of flannel shirts and short sundresses that are not age-appropriate. I’d love to be able to ditch my old duds and start from scratch, but I’ve priced it out: I’d likely spend about $500 just to upgrade what I currently have.

How much house could I buy if I put that $500 into my down payment fund? Adding $500 to my down payment would be like adding $2,500 to the purchase price.

The Weekend Getaway

Last year, my husband and I took a weekend getaway as a combination birthday/anniversary present. We pooled our resources, and spent about $800 for a few nights away in a ritzy hotel, along with nice meals while we were gone. It was over the top, but any couple with kids can tell you that spending some time on your own is necessary now and then to maintain you sanity.

We’d like to do it again this year, but I can’t overlook the fact that adding that $800 to our down payment fund instead would increase our buying power by $4,000.

In all, I could spend about $1,500 on my daughter’s ballet camp, my new clothes, and a weekend away with my husband, or I could boost my purchase power for our next home by $7,500 by saving the money instead. At this point in time, saving the money seems like a no-brainer.

What tactics do you use to keep yourself from spending money and saving it instead?

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Spains Exciting PortAventura Theme Park

by jmichelsen on April 4, 2013

PortAventura is Spain’s most celebrated around the world subject stop spotted in Salou, Catalonia, and has very nearly 4 million guests yearly. Provided that you’ve been dreaming of an occasion that you’ll never overlook, PortAventura is the ideal objective for you.

This astounding stop comprises of six distinctive regions that are planned to take guests into totally new worlds. Case in point, Mediterrania, the doorway zone of PortAventura, is well known for replicating the Catalonian air particular to seaside towns. The Mexico region is outlined around the Mayan style, while SesamoAventura is the youngsters’ most beloved range on account of the similitudes with the characters from the acclaimed show Sesame Street. Far West is a territory that is well known for its western figures and structures, China draws in through its prevailing way that is comparable to the Great Wall of China, while Polynesia is one of the regions where you can unwind by viewing interesting shows.

PortAventura is extraordinary for both kids and grown-ups, being regularly packed with families from everywhere planet. Through its extraordinary differences, the group out of date of this park determines that each visitor will discover an ideal spot or movement to appreciate. Get your PortAventura tickets from AttractionTix, and let the fun start!

Each of the six specified ranges offers an extensive variety of attractions comprising of rides or shows. For instance, SesamoAventura incorporates monorails, water merry go rounds, roller napkins and drop-towers configured for kids, and two shows featuring the acclaimed characters Elmo, Bert and Ernie.

Different attractions are the occasions that happen hinging on the time of year, for instance the Spring shows. A standout amongst the most renowned worldwide shows is FiestAventura, known for its buoys and water impacts. Halloween and Christmas are moreover partied about with uncommon occasions that surely succeed in pulling in sightseers. Therefore, you can visit this park whenever you need, regardless of the period. Buy PortAventura tickets from AttractionTix today, get primed for the middle of the year time of year, and decide to investigate one of Spain’s above all alluring topic stops!

PortAventura characteristics such a large number of attractions, that its essentially difficult to visit every last one of them in one day. That is the reason vacationers who stay at one of the adjacent inns that aren’t on location, have access to three-day tickets for PortAventura. It normally takes three days to investigate all the wonders of PortAventura Theme Park. Guests who decide to stay at an on location lodging will have considerably more profits while going by PortAventura.

Also, you can encounter remarkable minutes in one of the inns, shops and restaurants spotted around there, for example Hotel Caraibe, Costa Caribe Shop or Reggae Café.

With everything taken into account, PortAventura is a stunning occasion spot that can profit to numerous types of persons, if they’re adolescent or old, single or wedded.

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Who Is Your Budget Role Model?

by Libby Balke on April 2, 2013

Now that my family and I have been living under our new monthly budget for a few weeks now, we’re starting to get in the swing of things. I’ve got Mint.com sending me all the text and email alerts I can handle (I could probably change my account settings to get fewer alerts, but at this early stage of budgeting, I find them oddly comforting, if somewhat annoying), letting me know when I’m about to go – or have already gone – over budget.

During that time, I’ve had the chance to talk about our new budget to a few of my family members and close friends. It’s amazing what you can learn about budgeting from being open about it with those close to you. For example, it wasn’t until I talked to my best friend, Jeni, that I realized I’d completely forgotten to include our family dog in our budget. Since my dog eats, requires monthly grooming (she’s a bichon; I can’t handle all that hair on my own), and needs a monthly heartworm pill, this was a pretty big oversight; I’ve added $60/month to my budget to compensate.

But it was my conversation with my mom and dad about the budget that proved to be a real eye-opener.

My Parents’ Monthly Budget

My mom and dad, to my knowledge, have never adhered to a monthly budget. It’s kind of ironic, because everything I remember about learning to budget came from them; yet, they never made their own budget public knowledge – at least to me.

That’s not to say my parents didn’t have budgeting priorities. There were certain things they really cared about, and other things that fell to the wayside. For example, my mom has never been a big fan of cooking; her idea of meal planning involves picking up a menu at a restaurant downtown. On top of that, my mom and dad have decidedly different ideas of what constitutes a tasty meal. Eating out a few nights of a week, I honestly believe, has kept my parents’ marriage alive and well for nearly 38 years.

This is just one quirk of my parents’ budget, but it’s not the only one. And the more my parents and I talked about making a budget that I realized the apple hadn’t fallen all that far from the tree.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Like my mom, I’m not a fan of cooking; I buy a lot of prepared meals from the ready-made section of the grocery store, as well as a lot of simple foods that can be easily assembled at mealtime. While eating out 4-5 days a week like my parents isn’t really feasible for our budget right now, taking the kids to a restaurant once a week is a lifeline for me; it honestly keeps me sane.

But there are other ways where our financial tendencies overlap.

When I made our monthly budget, I only put $50 a month aside for clothes for our entire family. That means I’m spending $600 a year on clothes for the four of us, including two kids who seem to grow out of their wardrobes every other week. My husband and I continue to wear clothes we’ve had since college; I actually still wear a few dresses I’ve had since high school. If you were to take a look in my mother’s closet, you’d see a sparse array of simple clothing; she buys classic pieces and wears them for years. My dad is much the same way. Their clothing budget is basically nonexistent.

My parents also make an annual vacation a priority. They don’t budget for it – at this point in their lives, they’ve got enough disposable income that spending $2,000 a year on a trip isn’t a lot of money (ha! I wish!). But each year, you know they’re going to take a trip somewhere. Their vacations are rarely lavish or exotic; my dad – a meat and potatoes type of diner – is also a fairly simple vacationer. You’ll typically find them at the beach, taking a road trip across the U.S., or visiting a holiday mecca like Disney World, where they’ll be heading this year. My husband and I also plan for a family vacation every year; last year, we went to Disney World, and this year, we’ll be heading to one of our favorite beaches.

Having a Budget Role Model

I never really realized growing up how much I was learning about budgeting from my parents – like I said, they didn’t really talk about having a budget in the first place. Yet, I ultimately adopted a lot of their rituals and habits about spending their money on the types of ancillary expenses that sometimes get left out of a budget.

There are pros and cons to having a budget role model. If they’ve managed their money effectively – as I believe my parents have – then you are learning a positive example from those closest to you. Of course, if you’re surrounded by spendthrifts and other unseemly role models, you may learn what not to do with your money.

Did you have a budget role model? Was that person a positive or negative example?

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Budgeting: Managing Money

by jmichelsen on March 26, 2013

 

It’s very easy to talk about ‘budgeting’ or to tell someone to ‘budget’ various finances into consideration, but what does it exactly involve? Saving money is, at the best of times, easier said than done.

Here are a number of tips and information that should prove useful for anyone seeking to better manage their money. There are a wide range of circumstances and situations where you may find yourself needing to budget your expenses, making this a skill that is always worth having just in case.

Limiting Expenses

First and foremost, budgeting is a method of making the most of what you already have. Very few people can generate extra income when they need it, which is why when an emergency comes up more and more turn to short term solutions like payday loans. These loans should only be used in an emergency.

But smart budgeting, instead, opens up extra money through smaller expenses.

The first step to do this is to break down your expenses and have a detailed awareness of how much money goes where. Before you can budget anything, you need these figures to compare. How else do you know you’re saving money if you can’t chart or measure how much is actually being saved?

Identifying Collapsible Costs

So what costs can be cut or collapsed? In short, this depends on your lifestyle. Shopping is a prime example. If you like to over-spend on your groceries, this is an area that can easily be cut down. When in need, living off of less expensive food is a very small price to pay for the money it will save. Likewise, clothes shopping and other unnecessary shopping is much easier to cut from a financial perspective, even if willpower may be another problem altogether.

Likewise, the various bills you get charged are another area. These costs, such as utility bills and other charges, are often unavoidable, but not changeable. Smart living, such as relying less on heating and electricity, and cutting down usage on a daily basis, can save you money. This daily amount, no matter how small, builds up over the month. As long as you make sure your provider isn’t overcharging you (read your gas and electricity meters) you can easily notice these savings.

Self-Control

Finally, this sort of budgeting is something with a long term plan in mind. Budgeting over one month doesn’t generate much money. The more you need, the longer you’re going to have to budget. As such, having strong self-control and willpower to not fall back on your plans is essential. It’s all too easy to stop saving, but this only makes any money situation worse.

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Disneyland Paris Tickets through GoSeeDo

by jmichelsen on March 15, 2013


Tired of spending your birthday at the movies with friends? Or, having dinner with your parents? Why not try something new, something magical? There are so many exciting attractions for both your family and friends to enjoy! Make sure to plan ahead when purchasing your Disneyland Park tickets to get the most savings. You can find more details about Disney Tickets here at GoSeeDo. Don’t wait! Read-on and get your friends and family to spend their next birthday at Disneyland Paris.

Parades and Live Shows

Favorite among visitors is Moteurs… Action! Stunt Show Spectacular. The motorcycle and car stunt performances will amaze you and your birthday guests. Make sure to sit in the front row and witness all the action right before your eyes! Disneyland Paris also just opened a new interactive dinner show called Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show…with Mickey & Friends. You and your friends can go back in time during the Wild West. Want to watch a parade? Try Disney Magic on Parade, a carnival dance party where you and your friends can sing and dance through the theme park. Tip: Don’t forget to check out Disney Dreams, a nighttime laser and water show.

Meeting Disney Characters?

Who isn’t excited to meet Mickey, Minnie and their friends? Grab your cameras and get ready to pose with your favorite Disney character. They’ll be so excited to meet you, your friends and family. If you arrive early enough, have a meet ‘n’ greet breakfast at the Disney Village. Or, join them for lunch and dinner at Café Mickey. Make sure your family and friends order a burger, pizza and pasta. Tip: When you arrive at the theme park, do not forget to reserve your birthday cake.

Unlimited Rides and Rollercoasters

If you love action or adventure, Disneyland Paris won’t disappoint you. Fasten your seatbelts and celebrate by riding the one of many thrilling rollercoasters and rides. Take a journey through dark caves and rushing rivers, or explore space by dodging meteorites or black holes. Be a Space Ranger and zap enemy targets at Buzz Lightyear Last Blast. Also, try visiting Crush’s Coaster, Space Mountain: Mission 2 and Big Thunder Mountain. You and your friends will have an experience of a lifetime. Tip: Save some time and grab your Fastpass tickets. Check out GoSeeDo for more info on Disney tickets. The site has loads of information on Disney’s different attractions.

Indeed, celebrating your birthday here will be one to remember. Not only will you enjoy this special day, but your family and friends will too! From dining with your favorite Disney character, to watching live show performances and riding rollercoasters, try celebrating your birthday in the most magical way…at Disneyland Paris.

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The Mobile World And Money

by jmichelsen on March 11, 2013


So the other day I was hiking around town when I got a mobile alert about my bank balance being low. I was out, busy, but it was easy to keep on top of my money situation even if this was bad news.

The world has gone mobile in a good way. We can keep up with friends on Facebook, Tweet our activities and generally stay tuned into the world around us no matter where we are. Technology is awesome.

Back to the problem at hand though. Money. What happens when you’re out and get an alert like that? The first thing I do is check my account balance and see what transactions I might have missed that drained the account. In this case, there were several from expected sources that went out a little earlier than anticipated. What to do? I wouldn’t have another pay check come in until the next week.

Friends and Family?

Sometimes borrowing from friends and family makes sense. I’ve done it as well as lent right back out to the same party. There are always strings attached, especially with family, even when they say there aren’t. Even the most generous of friends and family always expect something in return, or you get the guilt trip every time you see them as they hang the loan over your head. Is it just my family that does this? 

So friends and family are out. I’d rather not borrow from them if I can help it even for short term stuff.

Payday loans?

Payday loans are an acceptable part of our world these days. A new quick loan place opens up every couple months around here and they do fine as there is plenty of demand. Payday loans are a decent back up plan should I need some cash quick, I follow the terms of service and understand what I’m doing.

Where I was at the time this alert came through though happened to be some ways away from the nearest payday loan place. Then I remembered the technology I’m so fond of. I had heard about a cash loan place that keeps up with technology. Instead of requiring you to go there, wait in line and get your loan, you can text them your information and they can deliver a certain amount of cash almost instantly into your bank account.

How cool is that! So even if you’re out, busy and can’t stand lines, you can get the cash you need wired right into your account almost instantly via a text message from your cell

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