Wednesday 18 December 2013

How to survive financially as a student

Your student years are going to be tough on your bank account. Read the article below to learn how to manage your student loan effectively and survive your university years without getting into a mountain of debt! It includes tips on what to look for in student accommodation, how to get discounts on bills, shopping and travel, and sneaky ways to find bargains & freebies!

Continue reading about money saving tips for students

Monday 18 November 2013

Can you get a TV Licence for free?

In the UK, you have to pay for an annual licence to watch broadcast TV, which usually costs £145.50 per year. This money is used to run the publicly-funded BBC family of television channels, radio stations and websites. Licences are given out and money is collected on behalf of the BBC by an organisation called TV Licencing, who use hi-tech equipment and 'enforcement officers' to detect if anyone is watching TV illegally.

But if you understand the rules, there are ways to get a discounted licence, or avoid having to pay altogether.

Continue reading "Do I need a TV licence?"

Wednesday 6 November 2013

Top 5 ways to boost your credit rating


Should you worry about your credit score? If you think about it, the banks are having a tough time. so they're naturally going to be very careful about who they lend money to. Your credit report and credit score tells the bank how much of a risk you are to lend money to. Read the article below to find out how to brush-up your credit report and get accepted for credit.

Monday 28 October 2013

Money Saving Roundup

In the UK, if a person dies and leaves behinds assets worth more than £325,000, their estate will be subject to inheritance tax. Inheritance tax is affecting more and more people, due in part to rising house prices. If you are concerned about your loved ones being hit with a huge inheritance tax bill, there are a number of things you can do to reduce its impact. Read more about inheritance tax.

Haggling shouldn't be scary - it OK to do it and many big name stores will give you a discount with a little bit of persuasion. Read more about how to haggle here.

Do you have any idea what your credit score is? Have you checked your credit report lately? Find out why you should in this article.

Thursday 17 October 2013

Can I claim compensation for a cancelled train?

Have you ever been late for work because your train was running late? Have you ever missed an important appointment because your train was cancelled? Situations like this can be extremely frustrating. Luckily, there are rules in place that require the train company to pay compensation to their passengers if a train arrives over an hour late. If a train is cancelled, you are entitled to a full refund.

Understand what your rights are can get confusing, however Gladstone Brookes Money Club have published an excellent article which makes it simple.

Read "Claiming compensation for a late or cancelled train"

Monday 14 October 2013

Experian Credit Report - Free for 30 days

Your credit report is one of your greatest weapons when it comes to improving your credit score and getting accepted by lenders. If you've ever felt the frustration of being declined for a bank loan, credit card, mortgage or a phone contract, then viewing your credit report can help you see where the problem is and what you can do to improve your situation.

Many companies charge a monthly fee for accessing your credit report, however Experian are currently offering a 30-day free trial. The free trial will include:


  • Unlimited access to your Experian Credit Report & Score
  • Expert advice on improving your credit rating
  • Help finding finance deals that suit your credit rating

It's free, and it could be just the thing you need to get your finances back on track - so what have you got to lose?

More info about credit scores here.

Wednesday 9 October 2013

The facts about life insurance

Buying life insurance can be tricky. How much cover do you need? Are you covered against serious illness or injuries? Who will the money go to, how quickly can they access it, and is it subject to inheritance tax? What types of cover are available?

Life assurance is a big deal, and it's important that you get it right. But without the help of an expensive financial advisor, it can be difficult. Luckily there is plenty of freely available information on-line - if you know where to look that is. There is a brilliant guide to life insurance here, and another very good article here.

Monday 23 September 2013

Some handy financial links

A few useful links to personal finance and money-saving related websites 

http://www.dotnames.com/gladstonebrookesmoneyclub.co.uk
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gladstonebrookes/9897786715/
http://www.yourwebstat.com/www/gladstonebrookesmoneyclub.co.uk#.UkBgwj-8mYV
http://money-watch.co.uk/9986/orswitchit-aims-to-get-you-a-better-bank-account
http://www.crunchbase.com/user/gbmc
http://www.gladstonebrookesmoneyclub.co.uk/


What is "Jam Jar" Banking?

With the economy still struggling, many individuals and households are finding it difficult to keep on top of their finances. When money is tight, it's all too easy to run out of cash and creep into your overdraft when it gets close to payday.

Jam jar banking is a phrase used to describe a way of managing your money so that this doesn't happen. If you imagine two jars, one labelled "bills" and the other labelled "spends". When you get paid at the beginning of the month, you add up the total cost of all your bills and other out-goings - rent/mortgage, utility bills, council tax and so on - and put that amount into your "bills" jar. The rest goes into your "spends" jar.

Now, every time a bill is due to be paid, the money is taken from your bills jar. Now you can go out and spend money from your spends jar without worrying!

This is the principle behind jam jar banking, also known as managed banking. You can do it yourself using your internet banking, or if you need help getting everything organised, there are companies that will do it for you - for a small monthly fee.

Never get charged overdraft fees again!