Christmas Spending Habits Visualised

Last month, Payplan conducted a study into Christmas spending and asked 1,000 people about their finances in the run up to the festive season. The survey found that many people rely on credit cards, overdrafts and, for some, even payday…

The Payplan guide to getting married on a budget.

While your wedding day can be one of the best days of your life, the cost of getting married can easily spiral out of control, especially if you get caught up in the excitement and keep adding things to your…

Things to do this half term for FREE!

It only seems like last week that the kids were packed off back to school, but half term is just around the corner. Trying to think of fun things to do with them is difficult, especially when you are on…

How to get rid of unwanted Christmas gifts

Christmas is a time for giving and receiving – and whilst gift giving comes with the best of intentions, not everyone gets it right. Every year, British households are inundated with presents that may be unwanted and often go unused.…

3 quick and simple Christmas decoration ideas for you to try at home!

Why not get creative this year and try some homemade Christmas decoration ideas? These ideas are simple, cheap and fun to make with your family.

National Stress Awareness Day – How to combat debt stress.

Today marks National Stress Awareness Day and while, officially, the focus is on stress at work, at Payplan we feel that it should also include debt stress.

Top 5 tips for staying out of debt as a student.

Moving out of your family home into university halls of residence is a huge step for most students – not only is it the first time you are living away from home, but it is also the first time you…

Protect my PC for free

As we all know, budgeting often comes down to the smallest and obscurest of things. There are opportunities to save in every aspect of your life at home and, while it may not seem like a particularly damaging expense to…

Top tips to cut impulse buying.

When you are out shopping it is easy to get carried away and give in to all temptation. In these tough economic times giving in can have knock-on effects and consequences that ruin your carefully constructed budget. This latest blog…

Are we a nation of Shopaholics and “Comfort” spenders?

As a woman I am well aware of the dangers that "comfort" shopping can bring. A bad day at work, bad mood, row with the other half or general stress from life; anything can trigger that feeling of emptiness that…

Back to school on a budget

It is that time of year again as we pack the children back off to school. On one hand we are relieved to have a bit of peace and quiet and a bit of normality back, but on the other…

Planning a wedding on a budget.

After recently getting married I know too well that weddings can cost a fortune and the budget can soon spiral out of control. You only have to look in some bridal magazines to see they average the cost of a…

The Real Cost of Driving

There is no hiding from the fact that the cost of driving is going up. From fuel to insurance to on-going maintenance - driving a car costs us hundreds of pounds each year.

Dealing With Debt and Divorce

In spite of all the good intentions you might once have had, sometimes two people in a married relationship simply have to accept that it’s the best for both parties if the relationship is ended and the marriage dissolved. A…

5 ways to make money from your home.

The cost of living is going up - sometimes it seems by the second - which means that some people are struggling to cope. Not surprisingly, many people are turning to new and inventive ways to increase their income.