Don’t fly out on a Friday and back on a Sunday
For a weekend away, flights are much cheaper travelling out on Saturday morning, and returning on a Monday. Friday evening flights are always the priciest.
Better still, if you can get the time off, go Thursday to Tuesday. If you’re going for longer, flights on Wednesdays are about the best way to access the almost-free deals.
Benefit payments to arrive early this Christmas – what should you expect?
Certain benefits are being paid early this Christmas.
If you are set to receive your cash on the following dates, your benefits will be paid on December 22.
- December 23
- December 24
- December 25
- December 26
Any payments that are expected on December 30, 31 or January 1 should come on Friday, December 29.
Don’t waste food
Sainsbury’s estimates that British households throw out 914m potatoes, 733m tomatoes and 728m carrots each year. One in five people say they don’t really know how to cook.
Top tips? Never head to the supermarket without planning your meals for the week, and don’t get sidetracked down the aisles buying stuff you don’t need and that will probably end up in the bin.
Jamie Oliver posts free budget recipes for families along with shopping checklists on his website.
Set (realistic) goals
It’s easier to stay on track if you set an achievable financial goal. Goals often revolve around clearing debt or saving money. Here are some examples:
- Pay off a credit card in full
- Clear all non-mortgage debt
- Save £1,000
- Reduce debt by £1,000.
Difficult goals are easier to give up on than realistic goals. If you achieve your objective early, you can always move the goalposts later.
Plan your finances for the year ahead
Get off to a good start by making a financial plan for the year. This can be as simple or as complicated as you like. The important thing is to account and plan for any changes to your income or outgoings throughout the year.
For example, if you’re expecting to take part in ongoing strike action, your income may take a hit. Try to reduce your unnecessary expenses in these months. If you’re planning a wedding or intending to try for a baby, you may want to start saving in advance.
Make a monthly plan of your income and outgoings for each month. You can also plan how much you’ll save or invest every month. And don’t forget to budget for fun activities, too.
Time to end the home insurance rip-off?
Many homeowners have a naive loyalty to the home insurance policy sold to them years back by the bank or building society when they took out their mortgage. Some are charged as much as £1,000 a year for insurance that can be found for £250 with a few clicks on a comparison site.
