Did you know that there are a lot of courses that will help you get back to work, that are free if you are on low incomes?
On Monday I signed up to a web design evening course that will help me get a job when I go back to work, but is free because I am on council tax benefit.
It is worth looking into as there are also courses that can be done free in some areas regardless of income. Such as in the Telford area you can do classroom assistants courses for free and hygine courses too. These might be helpful if you are thinking of going back to work in the near future and want some help.
Friday 29 June 2007
Thursday 28 June 2007
An Evening Out
Tomorrow night I am having my first evening out without the kids for a long time. However because I am on a tight budget I have decided to just either go to the cinema or have a meal not both. I think the novelty of an evening out will be so great that it won't matter if I have lots of activities lined up or just one, it will still be special. I will have the added bonus of it not costing too much.
Wednesday 27 June 2007
Saving Money when buying new things
When you want something new, do you just go to a familiar shop to buy it, or do you shop around. If you go onto the internet and compare the prices in different shops you can often save yourself a lot of money. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy online and pay postage than it is to go into your nearest shop, especially with expensive purchases.
You might also consider getting the item second hand as often they can be as good as new and at a fraction of the cost.
You might also consider getting the item second hand as often they can be as good as new and at a fraction of the cost.
Monday 25 June 2007
Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #9 - Current Account Interest
These days a lot of current accounts are giving you interest on your money. This month I got 86p interest from my account with Smile. I know it doesn't sound like much, but this money adds up. I would make about £10 in a year which can't be a bad thing.
Sunday 24 June 2007
Making money from your blog
My sister told me about this document about making money from your blog. It has lots of interesting ideas and is written by someone who has made $11,000 from his blog in one month. Click here to take a look.
Thursday 21 June 2007
Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #8 - BOGOFs
For those not familiar with BOGOF it stands for Buy One Get One Free. This is something that supermarkets tend to do from time to time as well as other offers, such as 2 or £2 and other similar things.
These are a great way of saving money and it is well worth stocking up on things when the prices are favourable like that, especially when its on something that lasts a long time.
However beware. Make sure that you aren't tempted by the offer without thinking about if you actually need the item or checking whether the stores own brand is cheaper. There is no money to be saved if you buy something you don't really need, or something that isn't cheaper than what you normally buy.
These are a great way of saving money and it is well worth stocking up on things when the prices are favourable like that, especially when its on something that lasts a long time.
However beware. Make sure that you aren't tempted by the offer without thinking about if you actually need the item or checking whether the stores own brand is cheaper. There is no money to be saved if you buy something you don't really need, or something that isn't cheaper than what you normally buy.
Saving your extra cash
If you do have some extra money remember that just leaving it in your current account isn't going to get you any extra money on it. If you put it in a savings account you will get a higher rate or interest and ISA's are even better as you aren't taxed on your interest.
I have a mini cash ISA and use it just like a savings account. Putting in money when I need it and taking it out when I have to spend it. It is with the same bank as my current account so the money transfers immediately so it is easy to access it should an emergency come up.
I have a mini cash ISA and use it just like a savings account. Putting in money when I need it and taking it out when I have to spend it. It is with the same bank as my current account so the money transfers immediately so it is easy to access it should an emergency come up.
Wednesday 20 June 2007
Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #7 - Post
When you send things through the post do you always consider the cheapest option. If you get your birthday cards ready a day early then you can send 2nd class instead of 1st.
Parcels are worth looking into first. Remember that if they are only paperwork or books they can go as printed papers to foreign destinations and this is much cheaper than going standard air or surface mail.
It is really worth remembering as you can save a lot of money by being a bit more organised.
Parcels are worth looking into first. Remember that if they are only paperwork or books they can go as printed papers to foreign destinations and this is much cheaper than going standard air or surface mail.
It is really worth remembering as you can save a lot of money by being a bit more organised.
My Lot
My Lot is a website where you can get paid for expressing your opinions and takign part in discussions. It is a lot of fun and is a great community where you can make some nice friends. It doesn't pay a lot but if you have free time and are looking to make some money it is a good place to start. The only thing you need to get paid is a paypal account.
Tuesday 19 June 2007
Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #6 - Shopping
Because of where I live, if I want to go to big shops or specialist ones I have to travel quite a distance. Today I had to buy a new tablecloth and the cheapest place to get one is over 8 miles away. So to make the most of the trip I bought some other things in the shop that I was planning on getting next month and popped in another shop on the way as I don't pass it very often.
It might not seem like much but trying to save petrol like that (especially in a fuel guzzling car like mine) really adds up.
It might not seem like much but trying to save petrol like that (especially in a fuel guzzling car like mine) really adds up.
Making the most of your skills
Whether you be an arty person, practical, enjoy being with children or have skills in other areas, there are always ways we can make the most of our skills and potentially make money from them.
My skills are in web design which is why I try to make money from blogs and websites. I also enjoy looking after children so do some childminding and work voluntarily at a nursery. (This might not sound like a way to make money but it will help me with my CV once I want to go back to permanant work as well as hopefully getting me a good reference).
If your skills are in arts and crafts why not try painting pictures to sell, making cards, designing flyers for people etc. If you have good people skills there are telemarketing jobs you can do from home. If you enjoy walking perhaps leaflet delivery will work for you. If housework is your thing you might be able to take in ironing or do cleaning, often people are sympathetic if you take a young child along as long as they behave.
There are a lot of jobs out there that might suit your skills you just need to sit down and think about what you are good at.
My skills are in web design which is why I try to make money from blogs and websites. I also enjoy looking after children so do some childminding and work voluntarily at a nursery. (This might not sound like a way to make money but it will help me with my CV once I want to go back to permanant work as well as hopefully getting me a good reference).
If your skills are in arts and crafts why not try painting pictures to sell, making cards, designing flyers for people etc. If you have good people skills there are telemarketing jobs you can do from home. If you enjoy walking perhaps leaflet delivery will work for you. If housework is your thing you might be able to take in ironing or do cleaning, often people are sympathetic if you take a young child along as long as they behave.
There are a lot of jobs out there that might suit your skills you just need to sit down and think about what you are good at.
Monday 18 June 2007
Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #5 - Presents
I am sure that from time to time we all struggle to be able to afford to buy presents for people. Some months my daughter has 2 parties a week and there are lots of presents to be bought.
What I do is keep my eye out for bargain toys and other presents all the time and buy them when they are cheap. Then I have a stock of things, and if I get an unexpected party or birthday that I hadn't budgeted for, I usually have something ready to give.
I also get cheap cards when I can find them. If I see some pretty cards at bargain prices I will buy several of them. And with wrapping paper I buy it from markets rather than shops where it is much cheaper. You might not be able to get Spiderman or Barbie on the paper but it is 10p a sheet rather than £1.
What I do is keep my eye out for bargain toys and other presents all the time and buy them when they are cheap. Then I have a stock of things, and if I get an unexpected party or birthday that I hadn't budgeted for, I usually have something ready to give.
I also get cheap cards when I can find them. If I see some pretty cards at bargain prices I will buy several of them. And with wrapping paper I buy it from markets rather than shops where it is much cheaper. You might not be able to get Spiderman or Barbie on the paper but it is 10p a sheet rather than £1.
Entering Competitions
I know competitions are down to chance a lot of the time, but if you enter enough you are going to win something every now and again. However there are things you need to take care with. Often competitions charge for you to phone or text them, but you can sometimes enter on the web for free, or post entries so just pay the price of a 2nd class stamp rather than a first class one.
There are lots of competition sites on the Internet that you can go in for. I must say I haven't had much luck with them, but have won odd prizes. However I didn't spend much time doing them. Perhaps others know of good online sites to try on.
There are lots of competition sites on the Internet that you can go in for. I must say I haven't had much luck with them, but have won odd prizes. However I didn't spend much time doing them. Perhaps others know of good online sites to try on.
Sunday 17 June 2007
Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #4 - Own Brands
When buying things in the supermarket have you ever stopped to compare your usual brand with the supermarkets own brand or a cheaper version of what you use.
Ok, some items don't compare and it is worth paying more for extra quality (for me loo roll certainly comes into this category), and sometimes you like to pay more for ethical reasons (like I buy environmentally friendly items and things that aren't tested on animals).
However for me things like baked beans, fruit and veg, crisps, tinned fruit etc doesn't vary that much and you can save loads by trying a cheaper brand. I must admit there are some shop brands that I don't like at all, but most are fairly similar to the orginals and save you a lot.
Ok, some items don't compare and it is worth paying more for extra quality (for me loo roll certainly comes into this category), and sometimes you like to pay more for ethical reasons (like I buy environmentally friendly items and things that aren't tested on animals).
However for me things like baked beans, fruit and veg, crisps, tinned fruit etc doesn't vary that much and you can save loads by trying a cheaper brand. I must admit there are some shop brands that I don't like at all, but most are fairly similar to the orginals and save you a lot.
Selling on Ebay
Have you ever looked in those boxes of junk cluttering up the spare room/attic/gargage/shed etc and thought that any of it could be worth money.
It is a good thing to have a look through your boxes and take out anything that could be valuable. It could be old books, jewellery, ornaments, toys, clothes etc.
Get the items and have a look on ebay. See if anything the same or similar has sold. If they have and for more than £5 then it is worth putting your items on and trying to get some money for them. It isn't worth doing it for just the odd pound or two as ebay charge you fees for listing items and you also have to go to the trouble of posting things and dealing with any queries.
I have made a fair bit of money through getting rid of old cd's, maternity clothes, baby items, books and unwanted presents. It is certainly worth a go.
To find out more about ebay go to http://www.ebay.co.uk.
It is a good thing to have a look through your boxes and take out anything that could be valuable. It could be old books, jewellery, ornaments, toys, clothes etc.
Get the items and have a look on ebay. See if anything the same or similar has sold. If they have and for more than £5 then it is worth putting your items on and trying to get some money for them. It isn't worth doing it for just the odd pound or two as ebay charge you fees for listing items and you also have to go to the trouble of posting things and dealing with any queries.
I have made a fair bit of money through getting rid of old cd's, maternity clothes, baby items, books and unwanted presents. It is certainly worth a go.
To find out more about ebay go to http://www.ebay.co.uk.
Saturday 16 June 2007
Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #3 - Utility Bills
It is difficult to know what to do with your gas and electricity with every company claiming that they are the cheapest and that you should move to them. However there is a website that will tell you the cheapest company for your circumstances if you key in your details: http://www.uswitch.com/
The most important things to remember with gas and electric are that payment meters and paying in full each quarter are far more expensive than paying by direct debit.
Also if you get both gas and electric from the same company you often save a fair amoutn of money.
The most important things to remember with gas and electric are that payment meters and paying in full each quarter are far more expensive than paying by direct debit.
Also if you get both gas and electric from the same company you often save a fair amoutn of money.
Going out for free
Although it isn't really making money, finding ways to go out with the kids without spending money really helps with the finances.
Today I took the kids to a museum. Admittedly you do have to pay for a yearly ticket for 10 museums in the area, but I already had the ticket so the trip was free. It worked well as the kids were worn out and went to bed really well, and they all had a great time and it didn't cost me anything.
Today I took the kids to a museum. Admittedly you do have to pay for a yearly ticket for 10 museums in the area, but I already had the ticket so the trip was free. It worked well as the kids were worn out and went to bed really well, and they all had a great time and it didn't cost me anything.
Friday 15 June 2007
Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #2 - Clothes
When I'm looking for new clothes I start off by searching in the charity shops. Sometimes you can find new or nearly new items at a bargain price.
If I have no luck I look on ebay. Things can be expensive on there, but there are still bargains to be had.
Next I will look in the cheaper shops like Tescos, Primark and Peacocks. It may be that they have a cheaper version of what you want that can be dressed up and no one else will know that it was cheap.
The other way I save on clothes is to wait till my birthday and Christmas and ask for either clothes or money to buy clothes. That way I can treat myself to something really nice, without feeling guilty about spending the money on it.
If you do like clothes from more expensive shops, try to wait till the sales, or give yourself a limited budget to spend so you try harder to find a bargain.
If I have no luck I look on ebay. Things can be expensive on there, but there are still bargains to be had.
Next I will look in the cheaper shops like Tescos, Primark and Peacocks. It may be that they have a cheaper version of what you want that can be dressed up and no one else will know that it was cheap.
The other way I save on clothes is to wait till my birthday and Christmas and ask for either clothes or money to buy clothes. That way I can treat myself to something really nice, without feeling guilty about spending the money on it.
If you do like clothes from more expensive shops, try to wait till the sales, or give yourself a limited budget to spend so you try harder to find a bargain.
Car Boot Sales
Ok, so this weekend might not be ideal car boot sale weather, but it is supposed to be summer.
It is amazing how much money you can make from stuff which you might otherwise have thrown away. It is certainly true that one mans junk is another ones treasure.
I really like doing car boot sales and have made £180 at my best one, but know other people who have done much better than that.
There are a few tips that I can give you:
Presentation is key - make sure that you have a nice table to display your items on, if it is grubby cover it with a cloth. Make sure you spread out all your items so they can be seen easily, but don't crowd it so much that people can't get to your table.
Don't look too professional - I know that there are some people who won't buy of stall holders who look like they do car boots sales every week. These people often go early and get bargains off other sellers and then resell them on their stall for more money. Make sure that you don't look like one of these people and loose some sales.
Talk to people when they come to your stall - you never know they might be looking for something you have to sell but might not see it unless you point it out. Also talking to people makes them more likely to buy something if they previously hadn't been sure about it.
Make sure you take food, water, sun tan lotion and a hat - in the summer it can get very hot and you lose energy very fast. Don't make the mistake of forgetting those things and having to buy them at the sale as this is a quick way to eat into your profits.
Be prepared to barter - a lot of people won't buy something unless they think they are getting a bargain, so make sure that you suggest a price that you are willing to reduce if necessary. If you aren't sure about doing this, think about whether you would rather take the item back home with you or sell it at a bit less money.
It is amazing how much money you can make from stuff which you might otherwise have thrown away. It is certainly true that one mans junk is another ones treasure.
I really like doing car boot sales and have made £180 at my best one, but know other people who have done much better than that.
There are a few tips that I can give you:
Presentation is key - make sure that you have a nice table to display your items on, if it is grubby cover it with a cloth. Make sure you spread out all your items so they can be seen easily, but don't crowd it so much that people can't get to your table.
Don't look too professional - I know that there are some people who won't buy of stall holders who look like they do car boots sales every week. These people often go early and get bargains off other sellers and then resell them on their stall for more money. Make sure that you don't look like one of these people and loose some sales.
Talk to people when they come to your stall - you never know they might be looking for something you have to sell but might not see it unless you point it out. Also talking to people makes them more likely to buy something if they previously hadn't been sure about it.
Make sure you take food, water, sun tan lotion and a hat - in the summer it can get very hot and you lose energy very fast. Don't make the mistake of forgetting those things and having to buy them at the sale as this is a quick way to eat into your profits.
Be prepared to barter - a lot of people won't buy something unless they think they are getting a bargain, so make sure that you suggest a price that you are willing to reduce if necessary. If you aren't sure about doing this, think about whether you would rather take the item back home with you or sell it at a bit less money.
Thursday 14 June 2007
Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #1 - Newspapers
This is the first of my daily guides into how to save money. These suggestions all save small amounts, some only a few pence, but they all add up and can together reduce your spending by a huge amount each month.
How many of you buy a daily newspaper and find that some days you haven't even had time to open it? Or you do look through it but only at about 10% of the total news in the paper? Have you ever thought that the same news is available on the web for free? All of the big newspapers have their own websites and all of their stories can be found on them. If they have the occasional big story that the cut down for the web to get you to buy the paper, then you can buy the odd copy.
I haven't bought papers for years and don't have a TV but still manage to find out what is happening in the news by looking on the Internet. It might only save me about 30p a day for my local paper and £1 for my Sunday Times but over a month that is a saving of over £12 a month and £145 a year. Little things certainly do add up and with that £145 I can get a weekend away instead of a mountain of papers to recycle.
How many of you buy a daily newspaper and find that some days you haven't even had time to open it? Or you do look through it but only at about 10% of the total news in the paper? Have you ever thought that the same news is available on the web for free? All of the big newspapers have their own websites and all of their stories can be found on them. If they have the occasional big story that the cut down for the web to get you to buy the paper, then you can buy the odd copy.
I haven't bought papers for years and don't have a TV but still manage to find out what is happening in the news by looking on the Internet. It might only save me about 30p a day for my local paper and £1 for my Sunday Times but over a month that is a saving of over £12 a month and £145 a year. Little things certainly do add up and with that £145 I can get a weekend away instead of a mountain of papers to recycle.
Create your own Blog
A good way of making money with no financial investment is to create your own blog. It is easy to start, just think of a topic that interests you and will be of interest to other people.
If you start a blog on blogger like I have they will automatically put a google adsense ad on the blog for you so if people click through you can start to make money. You can also create your own google account and put on your own ads, like I have. These are easy to do and I will talk about this on another occasion if people are interested.
I find that the key with a blog is to promote it and to update it regularly. Updating it is easy, and promoting it can be easy too. I find the best way is to go onto forums relevent to the blog and promote it there. There are lots of other ways too, and some good sites that can help you. If you are interested let me know and I will put the links in but I haven't got time now as the kids are fighting.
If you start a blog on blogger like I have they will automatically put a google adsense ad on the blog for you so if people click through you can start to make money. You can also create your own google account and put on your own ads, like I have. These are easy to do and I will talk about this on another occasion if people are interested.
I find that the key with a blog is to promote it and to update it regularly. Updating it is easy, and promoting it can be easy too. I find the best way is to go onto forums relevent to the blog and promote it there. There are lots of other ways too, and some good sites that can help you. If you are interested let me know and I will put the links in but I haven't got time now as the kids are fighting.
Welcome
Welcome to my new blog. I aim to help mums out there who don't want to go to work, or are unable to but need help with their finances. I have only been a single mum since December 2006 but have been used to living on a budget for a long time and I hope you will be able to benefit from the hints and tips that I am going to give you. I have some ways of saving money and some ways of making money. I hope to put on a new hint or tip every day, and woul welcome any comments from others on what they do to save.
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