Category Archives: Making Money

Looking to make a little more money on the side – maybe you’re looking to set up your own business? Check out our useful range of articles and guides in this category.

Making The Most Out Of Your Money

Making The Most Out Of Your Money

Find out how you can make the most out of your money and avoid credit card and payday loan debt.

Unfortunately, since the financial crash (what credit crunch?!) back in 2008, British people have been feeling the effects. Unfortunately this has resulted in a growing number descending into credit card and payday loan debt as a result of not making the most of the money they do have.

On the face of it – it seems pretty difficult to make the most of your money during this time of “economic uncertainty”. Oddly enough there are things you can do to make your money work harder for you… but what?!

Check Out The Budget Supermarkets

Personally I’ve started doing some of my grocery shopping at the local Lidl or Aldi. Did you know that you can make significant savings by shopping at the budget supermarkets like this? What’s useful about these two stores in particular is the ability to bulk-buy – similar to a wholesaler but for consumers – not businesses. So if you need to do a big shop then you could make significant savings by shopping at a budget supermarket. Don’t get me wrong – I still pop into Tesco or Morrisons for quick buys but if you’re looking to do a big shop then try out Lidl or Aldi and compare what you spend to some of the other retailers out there. You might be surprised.

Invest Your Money Sensibly

There are bank accounts out there that can help you make the most out of your money – through high interest savings accounts and current accounts that will actually give you cashback every month that a set amount is paid in (usually over £1,000 a month).

In addition to this you could consider looking at opening an Interest Savings Account (ISA) to help boost your investments.

Earn More Money

Easier said than done isn’t it?! Ok – to help keep your financial health in top form it’s worth considering an additional job or, if possible, look at taking overtime in an existing job. Boosting your income could make all the difference to your financial situation and help you to meet monthly bills and charges. It could also help to prevent you turning to the likes of payday loans and credit cards to help meet payments and descend into debt.

Sell Sell Sell!

If possible look at selling some of those unwanted items you have lying around the house. These could be unwanted Christmas gifts, an old TV or out-of-date computer. Remember – your trash might be other people’s treasure so it’s worth popping along to your local car-boot sale or auctioning these items on EBay. Worth bearing in mind though that you may find a face-to-face sale at your local car-boot sale to be far more effective – never underestimate face-to-face. Online shopping isn’t always the be-all and end-all!

Tighten Your Purse Strings

Try to spend less – by setting a monthly spending budget for the year (that you stick to!) could help you to control your cash-flow and could mean that you have a little more left over at the end of the month or even the end of the year. Certainly worth considering.

Five top tips to improve your finances

1. Put some money aside for a “rainy-day”.
Putting money into a savings account is always a good move, especially now, in an uncertain economy with job security looking less likely for many. Setting money aside should the unthinkable happen can certainly benefit you and allow for paying rent/mortgage repayments and bills.

2. Cut costs.
Take a close look at your incoming funds and any outgoings you may have. Consider going out less, this could potentially save you hundreds of pounds over a few months! It’s also possible to reduce utility bills and car insurance if you’re looking in the right places…

3. Get a credit report.
Checking your credit report to help identify what accounts you really need and those you could settle and close is an excellent way of improving your credit score, highlighting any false information or errors in your credit history, such as a wrong address, old defaults or missed repayments on old loans.

4. Pay on time.
If you have any loans or credit cards its imperative that you keep up-to-date with any repayments you need to make. Any missed repayments and defaults will be highlighted on your credit score for a minimum of 3 years.

5. Protect your I.D.
Keep a close eye on your credit report for any unfamiliar or suspicious looking entries. Especially for accounts you didn’t open, sudden increases in money you owe or even new financial applications you didn’t make. Anything like this could mean you’ve been a victim of identity fraud.

What is cash4gold and can it really help me?

Running out of credit and running up debt? It can prove difficult to make ends meet in such a fragile economy, where economic recovery and growth still appears some way off.

Selling scrap gold and silver or jewellerey to cash4gold type businesses may be the way forward, especially with the price of gold being so high at the moment.

Did you know that gold is probably the World’s most demanded resource, consequently you will find that the price offered for your gold will always be a premium value.

So if you are looking to pay off some of those outstanding bills, pay-off your credit card or fix your credit rating then you could completely avoid turning to a payday loan or consolidating your debt with a debt management plan by selling off some of that old jewellery, broken gold or silver.

In many instances you can apply, send off the gold or jewellery and have money in your account within days… much like a payday loan except you don’t have to pay anything back!

Related articles:

What is a credit rating and how does it effect me?

Payday Loans – how can they help me?

Cash For Gold – What’s The Deal and What Are The Alternatives?

Cash For Gold

Cash For Gold - What's The Deal and What Are The Alternatives?

Cash For Gold - What's The Deal and What Are The Alternatives?

When you’re short of cash, don’t or can’t turn to an overdraft, credit card or payday loan, it can be difficult working out where you can obtain cash in a hurry. Which is why Cash for gold might be worth considering.

Fortunately, with the price of gold on the increase, there are an increasing number of companies looking to buy unwanted gold items, broken jewllery or, in some cases, other precious metals. The nice thing is you don’t have to pay for postage, packaging or any other fees – they simply value your gold and make you a cash offer.

If you decide to take it they can either send you a cheque or deposit money directly into your bank account. However, if you decide not to – they send you your item(s) back – no one loses out. It really is as simple as that.

Recycling Companies

Money For Mobile Phone Handsets

However, there are alternatives to cash for gold, such as mobile phone recycling companies, such as Mazuma Mobile who will give you money for an old or unwanted mobile phone.

All you need to do is enter the details of your mobile phone handset into the website and they will tell you how much money you could get for it. If you are happy with the price you simply post your mobile phone(s) to them, free of charge, and they send you a cheque or deposit money into your bank account.

If you have a number of old mobile handsets to dispose of then this kind of website could be perfect for you.

Money For Old CDs, DVDs and Video Games

Alternatively you could look at the likes of musicMagpie, a company that offers money for your unwanted CDs, DVDs and even video games. All you need to do is scan or enter the barcodes on them into musicMagpie and they will tell you how much you could get for them. If you’re happy with the price you post them, free of charge (the company pays for postage), to them and they send you a cheque. Nice and easy.

So there are a number of companies out there that offer these great deals and they could prove to be a perfect alternative to a payday loan or credit card… except you don’t need to repay anyone any money. Check out some of these great deals for yourself:

Get cash for old CDs, DVDs and Games

Cash 4 Gold – Is It A Scam?

As the price of gold has risen so have the numbers of cash 4 gold companies across the UK.

As the price of gold has risen so have the numbers of cash 4 gold companies across the UK.

We all see cheesey, cheap and nasty advertising for cash4gold (or their competitors) all over day-time television. It’s almost tempting to believe that the whole thing is a scam – you send them gold and other precious metals and they send you a cheque.

Does this sound too good to be true to you? I don’t blame you – there is a lot of hype surrounding this at the moment and it can certainly be difficult working out facts from fiction.

So… what is the catch?

Oddly enough – this isn’t one. There are actually companies out there that buy gold, silver and platinum from people who no longer have use for their jewllery. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that whatever the company offers won’t be a high value sum – at least not what it’s actually worth.

In spite of this there are benefits to selling gold, apart from the fact that many gold companies will offer you more money than your local pawnbroker or jeweler (you may need to give them a nudge in the right direction – you don’t always need to accept the first offer). It is certainly worth considering if, for example, you’re faced with loan debt, maybe you’ve lost a job or you’re struggling to pay off your credit card. Selling your gold for cash is not a bad rote to consider, especially if you have a fair bit you wish to dispose of.

Why Is Cash 4 Gold Such A Big Deal?

Well cash for gold used to be relatively low-key previously, however, with the World’s economy taking such a dive in recent years the demand for, along with the cost of gold has grown. This is largely due to the investment potential of precious metals over hard currency (let’s face it – it’s not as “hard” as it used to be).

In addition to this, in recent years, emerging economies such as China and India have both looked to gathering as much gold bullion as possible. In fact China’s gold stock exchange is expected to be the main global gold commerce centre, ahead of the USA and UK. So, let’s face it, your broken or unwanted jewellery is in high demand and, hopefully, you’ll get a good price for it.

But I urge you to start selling now if you’re thinking about it – who knows when the gold bubble could burst?! 2012 / 2013 maybe – when the global economy starts growing again? I don’t know – I’m not an investment banker or stock-broker – I’m just a guy with an opinion.

Which Cash 4 Gold Companies Are The Best?

Personally I’ve always found Ramsdens to offer the best prices for any gold I’ve looked to sell. The main reason I recommend these guys is simply because they’re a British company (unlike Cash4Gold) and have been established for over 50 years.

However, there are a number of other cash 4 gold firms out there who could also offer you a good price for your gold. Take a look at a few of these guys and make your own mind up:

GotGoldGetCash at Ramsdens today

CashForGold2day

Image: Idea go / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Ten Top Tips For Making More Money

Ten Top Tips For Making More Money

Ten Top Tips For Making More Money

Are you feeling the financial pinch as a result of high inflation, tax and VAT increases and pay freezes? Well there are a number of things you can do to help make a little more money.

Check out our top ten tips and see if they can help you make a little more cash to alleviate some of that financial burden:

  1. Get a cashback credit card

    Cashback credit cards are a great way of making a little money back on any purchases you make on your credit card. However, bear-mind that you should be clearing the balance of your card every month to qualify for this.

  2. eBay and other online auctions

    Using online auctions such as eBay to sell unwanted possessions is a great way of making a little money on the side as well as help to declutter your home. It’s also worth bearing in mind that you can set a minimum price on the product to help ensure you make the amount you want.

  3. Paid online surveys

    Taking part in paid online surveys can be a nice way of making easy money in the evenings, as long as you don’t mind filling out pages of market research polls. Some companies will pay you good money (£100 in some instances) for your participation in a survey.

  4. Rent out a room

    If you have a spare bedroom in your house then you could consider renting it out. Under the “Rent-A-Room” Government scheme you can effectively rent out a room in your house and pay no tax on any income you make on it. There are of course some exceptions to this – for example, if you charge a large monthly fee then you may have to pay some, however, for anything up to £350 a month this is tax free.

  5. Sell unwanted mobile phones

    Have you got a couple of unused mobile phones lying around at home? Then consider trading them in and getting some easy money for them. A decent smartphone could fetch around £80 or more!

  6. Benefits

    Are you getting the benefits you’re owed? It’s worth bearing in mind that, if you have children, you could be entitled to a little tax relief in the form of child tax credits and even working tax credits. So get some forms, fill them out and see if you’re entitled to them – it could be well worth the effort!

  7. Online shopping cashback opportunities

    Using online shopping portals such as QuidCo, GreasyPalm and TopCashBack will actually pay you to shop through them. You essentially earn a percentage of the commission the company makes through offering special deals on their websites.

  8. Get another job

    If you have a bit of spare time in the evenings or at weekends then why not consider working a second job to make a little more money? We appreciate that working a second job isn’t everyone’s idea of fun but it might help to alleviate some of that financial burden. It’s also worth bearing in mind that you don’t have to do something you dislike – why not combine a hobby or interest you have with a part time job? Consider coaching at your local football or rugby club, for example!

  9. Tutoring

    Are you a teacher, a university graduate or simply an expert in your field? Then you could consider becoming a tutor to help bridge the gap until payday. Simply advertise in places that parents and students are likely to look – e.g. on Campus, in the library or in the local paper.

  10. Blogging

    Start a blog and write about something you find interesting and want to share it with the rest of the world via the web. You could look at setting up a free blog on Google’s Blogger and monetising it by putting adverts (such as Adsense in place) to help you make a little more money.

If your favourite method of making a little extra cash isn’t on this list then please feel free to leave a comment below!

Image: Graeme Weatherston / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Cash For Gold Leads To Increase In Crime

The unprecedented rise of cash4gold companies throughout the UK has pushed up the levels of crime, according to a number of MPs.

The MPs expressed their concern at the increasing popularity of pawnbrokers and cash for gold shops offering to buy gold and silver jewellery, and they believe that it is leading to a rise in burglaries.

Following the severe impact the Global recession had on the UK more and more consumers are looking to sell unwanted or broken jewllery to cash for gold smelting firms and pawn brokers to raise some badly needed funds. Many people are struggling to get credit cards, loans or mortgages in the current economic climate so many are turning to other forms of finance.

Unfortunately it appears that this has resulted in an increase in burglaries as thieves attempt to cash in on this boom period for the industry.

Katy Clark, Labour Party MP, has called upon the Government to introduce tougher regulations for the industry to help reduce the “resulting crime.”

Ms Clark commented:

“I call on the Government to work closely with trading standards departments and to introduce tighter regulations on cash for gold businesses in order to bring about a reduction in resulting crime.”