Tag Archives: saving money

Plan early to keep holidays on budget says Loveholidays.com

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20130714-132550.jpgTravel and saving money rarely goes together but don’t let that put you off, we got Love Holidays to give us some tips. Recent media stories* have highlighted that holidays are potentially stretching the budgets of the average UK holiday maker by over £200, however loveholidays.com has the answer to keeping budgets in check.

 

The online travel agent suggests there are five easy steps to keeping a budget in check:

 

  1. Book a holiday early and pay for it in instalments
  2. Purchase holiday extras such as transfers or hold luggage at the time of booking
  3. Double check everything you do to ensure your dates, names, departure/arrival airports etc. are correct
  4. Book all-inclusive or half-board accommodation to keep down the cost of dining out
  5. Stay in hotels that are located in the centre of resorts or within easy walking distance of the beach and attractions

 

Alex Francis, MD of loveholidays.com commented: “Blowing your budget is something that really need not occur if holidaymakers are sensible in their planning and purchasing when they book.  It’s all about taking time to carefully select the most appropriate holiday and booking in advance to ensure there is time to plan and organise.

 

loveholidays.com also offers its users a ‘lowest price promise guarantee’ meaning that they are the cheapest option available for breaks to hotels and destinations featured by the company.

*Caxton FX claims: One in five Britons blows their holiday budget, with an average overspend of £211

*Thomas Cooks raised correction fees for airline tickets: £30 each way for any spelling changes made online, up from £20, and £50 over the phone. At the airport the charge is £100.

 

High Fashion Without The High Prices

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It’s hard work trying to stay ahead of fashion trends these days. One minute it’s all about pastels, the next it’s all about prints, and then before you know it, somehow tie-dye has made a comeback.

Aside from running out of space to house your growing fashion collections, the downside in trying to keep up is the undoubted effect it has on your bank account.

But, instead of spending a fortune on buying new item after new item from your favourite stores, there are ways you can still get the high fashion look, without paying the high fashion prices.

How? Well, here a few tips that’ll help to make all of those jumpers, boots and dress a little more affordable:

Customize

Do you ever see an item of clothing in the shops and think, “I could make that?” Well, time to get your needle and thread out!

Customizing any existing clothes is the perfect way to stay ahead of trends. Many new trends are often adaptations of old ones – so dig out any old clothes sitting in the back of your wardrobe, grab some sequins and studs, and you’ll be right on trend for this season!

Check Online For Deals

Searching online through voucher discount sites is one of the easiest ways to save money on new fashion trends.

The Internet plays host to a wide range of voucher discount sites who offer money off a wide range of products and services – and fashion is often one of the easiest category’s to gain money off your favourite stores.

By simply typing in what you’re looking for, for example ‘New Look, Dorothy Perkins or Missguided promo code’ you’ll be able to find you a list of codes that’ll either save you money, reward your spending or even give you money off delivery costs!

Charity Shops

No-one ever seems to shop in charity shops anymore, do they? But I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve said to someone “that’s a lovely top, where’s it from?” and heard the reply “ah, just from a charity shop”.

You’ll be surprised what good quality items you can find in charity shops these days, and for a fraction of the price of the high street retail stores, you can’t complain if you find a bargain!

Helping a charity, saving money and looking fashionable all in one go? You can’t complain with that, surely!

Cheaply Does It.

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With the recession kicking in people are looking for ways to save money, or make some more. Of course the best way to save money is not to spend any, but that is not convenient or realistic sometimes. At the moment inflation is kicking our butts and it costs a bomb just to go to work. If you are lucky enough to have a job.

So, what to do? There are a lot of coupon sites now. You can check for a leapfrog coupon so you can save money on little fun things, or just things you need. If you save money then you save time. So combine things that are educational and entertaining at the same time. Buy any kids or nephews/nieces you have an educational fun toy or products for their birthdays.

Entertainment can be done cheaply. DVDs can be bought cheap and cheap tickets can be found last-minute.

Another way to save is to buy in bulk. The more you buy the cheaper it usually is. If you don’t buy a lot of stuff on your own then you can go shopping with friends and then it will be cheaper for you all.

Only shopping in sales is a good way to save. Never waste your money by buying something full price. You just don’t need to nowadays. Shop online and compare prices. Also make do and mend with the things you have.

Another good way of saving is to buy expensive stuff. No, really, that old adage that if you buy cheap you buy dear is true. Buying expensive stuff will last longer and work out cheaper in the long run. Buying an expensive pair of shoes and getting them resoled regularly and polishing them yourself will make any outfit look great. You will never look literally down at heel. Also, when you buy expensive shoes you can wear high street clothes and still look stylish and well dressed.

Libraries are incredibly underused, dust off your library card if you have not used yours recently. There are tons of books, but also DVDs and CDs.

Scour charity shops for clothes, books, CDs, things for your home. Or do a swap shop. If you need to see a chiropractor then maybe think of doing a skills exchange with someone else. Everyone has something to offer someone else. Whether that is something you do as a profession or as a hobby.