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Bank of Gran and Grandad deposits over £37 billion to help grandchildren
As a recipient of financial help from my parents for our children, I liked this research so thought I’d share it.
At a time when estate agents are warning that house price affordability is reaching a crisis point it seems that more people are turning to their grandparents in order to get a foot on the property ladder. The Bank of Gran and Grandad has donated a total of over £37bn in funds to their grandchildren and one in ten grandparents say this money was to be spent on a deposit for a house.
The generous donations look set to continue as the research from Saga shows that a further third of grandparents are still considering or intending to give a financial gift and one in ten are considering lending money to grandchildren. The typical …
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Two pizzas or cinema tickets for £5 worth of Nectar points
Hotter than a British summer heatwave, the Nectar Summer Rewards offer in partnership with Sainsbury’s is running till 8 August, giving cardholders the chance to enjoy two pizzas at PizzaExpress or two cinema tickets for Vue for just £5-worth* of Nectar points (1,000 points).
Cardholders can make the most of the Nectar Summer Rewards offer to treat themselves to some of this year’s most anticipated movie releases, including Spider-Man: Homecoming and Cars 3, or tuck into a freshly baked pizza from PizzaExpress’ extensive menu.
Turning points into a trip to the cinema or a delicious meal couldn’t be easier – simply go into the nearest Sainsbury’s superstore to exchange 1,000 points* for a Nectar Summer Rewards voucher. Those with the Nectar app can also redeem this offer simply by tapping whilst on the move. …
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Top tips on how to be an economical and environmentally-friendly driver
I bought my car because it gives out low carbon emissions, but to my horror it’s a diesel and now they are not great in terms of air pollution, so I am very interested in eco-driving as it can save the environment and us all money – both in terms of fuel consumption and wear and tear to our cars. According to a study by Fiat (which included 5,700 drivers in five countries), eco-driving saves an average of 15% of fuel costs and greatly reduces maintenance expenses.
There could be enormous benefits to the environment too, as air pollution in the form of emissions could be reduced significantly. The European Climate Change Programme calculated a reduction potential of at least 50 million tons of CO2-emissions in Europe, which could save as much as 20 billion …
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Five ways to save money when eating out
With a whole host of fantastic eateries in the UK providing an abundance of delicious cuisines right on our doorstep, is it any wonder that the average Brit now eats out twice a week¹?
Matt Turner, Founder and CEO of tastecard, the UK’s largest dining club, shares his top tips on the best ways to save money when eating out:
Do your research when it comes to discount cards
If you’re feeling extra thrifty, do your research and find out about nifty dining discount cards such as a tastecard, which eases the strain on your wallet and makes regular dining out affordable.
A tastecard offers members 50% off or 2 for 1 off the total food bill, meaning it should most definitely take pride of place in your purse or wallet.
New restaurant openings …
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Want to permanently reduce your household bills? Invest in solar panels
We installed our solar panels back at the end of 2015, but even though the Feed In Tariff has reduced, having panels can save you money long term, so I asked solar lighting specialist, The Solar Centre, to discuss how harnessing solar power throughout your home could mean huge long-term savings.
Whilst there are many ways that you can save money on day-to-day bills, consumers are, understandably, always on the lookout for long-term ways to make substantial savings. One way of doing this, while also being more environmentally responsible, is through solar power.
How does it work?
Solar panels work by capturing energy from the sun using photovoltaic cells. The cells convert sunlight into electricity, which can be used for home appliances and lighting, thus substantially reducing household bills. Once you have paid the …
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An easier way to finding voucher codes with this browser extension – Pouch
While I love saving money, I absolutely hate searching for voucher codes.
We’ve all been there before. You are on the checkout page of a website, just about to enter in your card details, when you see the section that says ‘Do you have a voucher code?’.
So what do you do? If you are anything like me, you open up a new tab and then Google search for a voucher code for that site. Then, you are presented with an endless list of search results from voucher code websites all claiming to have amazing discounts.
Except, so much of the time when I try to redeem those voucher codes, they are ‘expired’ or ‘invalid’ or ‘not applicable to my basket’. It is super frustrating. I end up wasting so much time, and don’t even …
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Ideas for saving money in the garden
I love gardening, so was excited to hear about a fella called Peter Burkes who’s offering free gardening advice at his “virtual garden cente” www.potterandrest.co.uk. I know I have raved about Garden Compass, but you still have to pay for it, even though it’s great value for money, so this is another option.
Anyway, make over your plot on a budget with some of Peter’s tips below and then you’ll have more money to spend on other plants, products and gadgets on your wish list:
1. Always check out special offers. Garden centres are always offering deals and money off on certain plants so make sure you do your research.
2. Save money on buying canes and collect sticks and twigs now for use later as pea or bean supports.
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7 ways to help save money in the new year
So is the season to be skint! Don’t worry as you can splurge now and then cut back in the New Year and here’s some hints about how:
1. Recycle Christmas gifts
Keep all unwanted Christmas gifts that cannot be returned for a refund in the packaging and recycle to save you buying some gifts for people during the year. Be sure to make a note of who the gift was from to avoid giving it back to that person! Keep pretty bows, gift bags and packaging to reuse and avoid buying yourself – under the mattress is a good storage place to keep gift bags nice and flat.
2. Plans for leftover food
According to www.lovefoodhatewaste.com, in the UK we waste £12.5bn every year throwing away food. With a little planning, we could …
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Review of The Martin Lewis Money show
I watched last night’s show, the first in the new series, and thought I would share what I learnt:
- Switch your energy tariffs now – for a typical usage rate of £1,060 , you could switch to a fixed deal of £820. If you want longer term security, Martin mentioned the standard two year fix from isupply at £870. You can also pick a tariff no matter how much you use – Green Star unlimited usage comes in at £1050, perfect for people who are too scared to put their heating on, as they know the price is fixed no matter how long they use it.
- It’s easy to switch – five punters easily switched on the show. Paul who’d been with British Gas with 37 years, because it’s a trusted big name could save
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Five quick tips to help you save money on your beauty regime
With party season around the corner, are you ready to look your best? Here are five quick beauty tips that should save you money and time.
- At home body scrubs: You can easily get silky, smooth skin at home with a homemade body scrub: mix one part olive oil with two parts sugar or salt, then add a few drops of an essential oil (try lavender or grapefruit). Gently massage over your arms and legs before your next shower, then rinse off with warm water.
- Invest in a razor subscription: We all know how much razors can cost and we never know when to purchase a new one. The Dorco Eve 6 razor for women, from £5.45, promises some of the best razor technology around. Not only do Dorco offer exceptional value including free