Easter entertainment – through the eyes of a child.

It’s the Easter holidays and if you’re already stuck for ideas on how to keep your children entertained without breaking the bank, then look no further.We asked groups of local schoolchildren to give us their best ideas on what they…

Savvy saving

Saving is very important and it seems like everyone is talking about the best ways to do it.But if like the majority of us, you’ve barely got any money left after paying your bills and food, how can you afford…

SMART TIPS FOR A CHEAPER CHRISTMAS DINNER

 We’re racing towards yuletide and all the joy that Christmas brings. If your excitement and anticipation of the big day is a little clouded by thoughts of a hefty grocery bill, why not take a look at our thrifty guide…

Winter warmers

Christmas is just around the corner and Winter has definitely arrived.If you’re anything like me and do everything you can to keep to yourself as snug as a bug without your heating bill soaring, these tips should help.Don’t block the…

THE SECRETS TO SAVVY SHOPPING

We all like to think of ourselves as savvy shoppers, but how much do we really know about the art of retail psychology? If we know the techniques retailers are using to seduce us into spending, we’re less likely to…

Watching football? Watch your wallet too!

For 99% of football fans, supporting your side is a tragic existence. Expectation and hope being the real killer – ‘This is our year for the league…’ ‘We’ll definitely stay up with this squad…’ ‘A new striker and we’ll turn…

Day In the life

 It’s only just gone eight in the morning but the day is already in full swing when I arrive at the document handling department for the next edition of our ‘day in the life’ series.With the exception of the archiving…

Raising money savvy kids

From the moment they’re born, children learn at a rapid pace. From learning to walk and talk to making their own bed and developing good manners, they are forever picking up new skills. But when it comes to being financially…

A* BACK-TO-SCHOOL BUDGETING

Kitting out the kids ready for the new school year can be an expensive process, especially if you have more than one child of school age.After an expensive six weeks of summer trying to keep the family entertained, you may…

Goin’ to the chapel

Weddings, and all the traditions and celebrations that go along with them, are no longer just an expense for the bride and groom – they can also make a sizeable dent in the guest’s pockets too.What with the gift, travel, and finding…

Clever cleaning

All of those bottles under the kitchen sink can cost households some serious money when you add them all up.Bleaches, window cleaners, stain removers, polishes, you name it – buying branded cleaning products can be a costly business, especially when…

Our life in debt (part three)

In the final article in our living life in debt series, we catch up with John Putland who is enjoying a debt free life after completing his plan in January 2014 after eight years.John got into financial difficulties when his relationship broke…

Our life in debt (Part two)

On Monday, we heard how Christine Nichol has just completed her first year in a debt management plan.Now we meet Katy Taylor as she describes what life is like 5 years into her plan with another 8 to go.Katy’s story Katy…

Our life in debt

This week, we are focusing on three PayPlan clients who are each at different stages of their debt plans as they share the highs and lows, surprises and challenges they have faced while paying back their debt through a debt management plan (DMP) Christine’s…

Day in the life of a case officer

Kirsty Sumner – Bespoke Case Officer In the first of our ‘day in the life’ series, we take a closer look at what the role of a case officer in the Bespoke Solutions department entails, as Kirsty Sumner gives us a…

How to make your Euros last longer on holiday

You’re all packed and your holiday is paid for, but how do you make sure your spending doesn’t spiral out of control when you reach your destination?Once you’ve decided how much money you’re taking on your trip, set a budget so…

Help your child excel at school for free

(and in a way they’ll enjoy!)Children today face more distractions than ever before when it comes to studying outside of the school grounds. The World Wide Web especially provides an endless array of sites, games and social media that are…