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Monthly Archives: March 2012

What you need to know about changing ISA limits

Saving into an ISA is a complete no-brainer, as any interest earned is free of income tax. I, like many people, used to think that ISAs were complicated products, but they’re not. They are just like other savings accounts, except they also act as a great way to keep the taxman at arms’ length. Under… Read more »

Living with debt: Looking after emotional health

If you are struggling with debt, it’s perfectly normal to feel anxious, stressed or down. Recent studies suggest that between 50 and 90% of people with problem debts experience some level of emotional distress as a result of their financial situation. Danger signs include changes in behaviour, such as becoming withdrawn or not wanting to… Read more »

When should you tip?

Recently, I was ordering a bottle of beer in a bar and got my change on a little silver dish. This isn’t the first time it’s happened – wine bars and cocktail bars seem to do this rather a lot. But there’s a part of my that begrudges tipping for a bottle of beer being… Read more »

Mother’s Day gift guide: 10 gifts for under £10

Every Mum deserves a good treat on Mother’s Day, but when money is tight it’s hard to find something original that won’t break the bank. That’s where the gift guide guide comes in. Here’s my top ten Mother’s Day gifts that’ll cost you £10 or less: 1. Roses You can’t beat flowers for Mother’s Day,… Read more »

TotallyMoney Blog Carnival #58

This week’s TotallyMoney Blog Carnival was hosted over at Skint in the City. We’re still on the look-out for a few more carnival hosts later this year. You needn’t have hosted a carnival before to take part, and we’ll help you get started! If you fancy hosting, check out our information pages for more details. This… Read more »

Are money challenges good for you?

This month I am undergoing a self-imposed shopping ban. This means, while I am still allowed to spend money on going out, food and regular household expenditure, I am not buying clothes, shoes, cosmetics or… well, anything really until the 24th of the month, when it will be exactly one month since I stopped shopping…. Read more »

Get growing!

If you fancy yourself as a bit of a green-fingered goddess, then now is the time to make the dream a reality. To be reaping the rewards of fresh, home grown fruit and veg by the summer you need to get started now. Spring is officially here, so get outside, plant some seeds and get… Read more »

Living with debt: Don’t despair

While much attention is given to post-Christmas debt in January, the start of March is actually the peak time when people find themselves having a debt crisis. Just ask any debt charity or counselling service. If you didn’t meet your credit card, mortgage or loan repayments at the end of December, the late fees, charges… Read more »

Could your procrastination lose you your job?

A little tweet here, a couple of personal emails there, some internet shopping over your lunch break even though your report is late, they’re all little things but they add up. Most of the time, we don’t even notice that we’re doing them. Or, we’re kidding ourselves and pretending that we’re actually working. The thing is,… Read more »

7 ways to cut the cost of childcare

The cost of childcare is an obsession among working mothers, and with reason: hardly cheap to start off with, the average cost of nursery places for under-twos rose by six per cent last year. Here are some suggestions for reducing the financial burden: 1. Rope in the grandparents An increasingly popular option, though obviously one… Read more »