I need to raise $3000, so I am offering for sale Handmade Cornish Friendship Bracelets $5 each.
Abstract Cornish Art, Original Acrylic/Oil On Canvas, ready to hang, Pearl Moon Over Bodmin Moor $200, Lanyon Quiot $200 can ship anywhere, extra for shipping via tracked, insured courier service. Photos of Artwork to follow. Payment via Google Checkout. Will post pics and checkout link tomorrow. +44 07964 837698
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Monday, 13 April 2009
How to Start a New Business Doing Freelance Work
How to Start a New Business Doing Freelance Work
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dustin_Heath]Dustin Heath
If you like the idea of working for yourself? Most businesses will require you to carry inventory or buy a lot of supplies. If that's not something you want to deal with then you may want to learn how to start a new business by doing freelance work. Freelance work can usually be completed using things you already have in your home. If you do have to by any equipment the start up costs will be very minimal.
First, you should decide what type of freelance work you would like to do. There are many options out there. You could be a graphic design artist, a writer, a photographer, or even a virtual assistant. Most freelance work will only require you have a computer and access to the Internet. However, you will need more equipment to be a freelance photographer and you may need some specific software programs.
Once you decide which direction you would like to go in, you need to build a portfolio. This is pretty simple. If you are going to be a photographer, start taking pictures. If you want to be a writer, start writing. What you are doing is compiling samples of your work to show potential clients. You will also need a resume. Since you have yet to have your first client, your resume should focus on any skills or experience you have pertaining to your field. Remember you are just learning how to start a new business, perfection takes time. The only thing left to do before the work starts is to setup some sort of checks and balances where your finances are concerned. A good rule of thumb is to set back 20% from each job for taxes and track all of the work you do.
After your resume and portfolio are complete, it's time to land that first client. Remember, the first client is the hardest one to get. You should prepare yourself for rejection in the beginning and you may even set your rates a little bit lower until you gain experience. If you are still not confident, you may consider doing a couple of jobs at no monetary cost. This means you would take on a small job in exchange for being able to list the experience on your resume and a reference if they like your work. Learning how to start a new business with freelance work isn't difficult. Once you land that first client though, you're in business. Now go out and land some more!
Dustin Heath recommends that you visit http://www.BizOppEZ.com to learn how you can start your own home-based business earning multiple streams of income with a [http://www.HomeBusiness.us]Plug-In Profit Site - Complete Money Making Site Setup FREE!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dustin_Heath http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Start-a-New-Business-Doing-Freelance-Work&id=2208148
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dustin_Heath]Dustin Heath
If you like the idea of working for yourself? Most businesses will require you to carry inventory or buy a lot of supplies. If that's not something you want to deal with then you may want to learn how to start a new business by doing freelance work. Freelance work can usually be completed using things you already have in your home. If you do have to by any equipment the start up costs will be very minimal.
First, you should decide what type of freelance work you would like to do. There are many options out there. You could be a graphic design artist, a writer, a photographer, or even a virtual assistant. Most freelance work will only require you have a computer and access to the Internet. However, you will need more equipment to be a freelance photographer and you may need some specific software programs.
Once you decide which direction you would like to go in, you need to build a portfolio. This is pretty simple. If you are going to be a photographer, start taking pictures. If you want to be a writer, start writing. What you are doing is compiling samples of your work to show potential clients. You will also need a resume. Since you have yet to have your first client, your resume should focus on any skills or experience you have pertaining to your field. Remember you are just learning how to start a new business, perfection takes time. The only thing left to do before the work starts is to setup some sort of checks and balances where your finances are concerned. A good rule of thumb is to set back 20% from each job for taxes and track all of the work you do.
After your resume and portfolio are complete, it's time to land that first client. Remember, the first client is the hardest one to get. You should prepare yourself for rejection in the beginning and you may even set your rates a little bit lower until you gain experience. If you are still not confident, you may consider doing a couple of jobs at no monetary cost. This means you would take on a small job in exchange for being able to list the experience on your resume and a reference if they like your work. Learning how to start a new business with freelance work isn't difficult. Once you land that first client though, you're in business. Now go out and land some more!
Dustin Heath recommends that you visit http://www.BizOppEZ.com to learn how you can start your own home-based business earning multiple streams of income with a [http://www.HomeBusiness.us]Plug-In Profit Site - Complete Money Making Site Setup FREE!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dustin_Heath http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Start-a-New-Business-Doing-Freelance-Work&id=2208148
3 Proven Strategies to Lose Weight Fast
3 Proven Strategies to Lose Weight Fast
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Carolyn_Hansen]Carolyn Hansen
How long have you been searching and searching for the answers to get rid of that excess body fat that has been hanging around for what seems like forever? You may have already discovered by now or are in the process of realizing that starving yourself, spending hours in the gym or endless long, slow, boring cardio type activity doesn't quite add up to fat loss.
You have worked so hard and have got so little in return following the above old fashioned weight loss model. You probably are tired all the time, feel weak and irritable and have convinced yourself you just don't have the genetics to have a lean, toned body.
But still you keep trying and keep doing the same thing and you keep expecting different results. Sounds crazy right?
Well if you keep up this unworkable strategy you probably will go crazy so let's focus on new better ways to lose that body fat. New ways that focus on your metabolic health and what actually happens after an exercise session as opposed to the old way of focusing on what happens during the session. This involves the state of your metabolism which is your body's engine and determines whether you burn body fat or store body fat every minute of the day.
Here are the three main strategies that will boost your metabolism and allow you to lose body fat in the quickest and easiest way possible.
1. A proper exercise program is first on the list, one that contains at least 60% strength training exercise. You need to be concerned about your percentage of lean muscle tissue compared to your body fat percentage as the rate your body burns or stores fuel is largely a function of how much muscle tissue you have on your body and how hard it works.
This alone could alter the way your body burns fuel as if you haven't been working your muscles with proper strength training exercise it is likely that you have simply become under muscled. This means that your body's engine is smaller and burns less fuel. Even a few pounds loss of muscle tissue can cause you to become overweight.
By toning your muscles does not mean you will get big muscles. You will not even notice the difference. But you will start to notice the difference in the size of your waist, hips and other places that are already larger than they should be with all that body fat. They will shrink and become smaller as you lose that fat. Muscle tissue is your very best friend and will give you that lean, toned tight looking body that you dream of.
2. Interval Training: The rest of your exercise program should contain 1-2 sessions each week of short burst activity. This type of training burns more calories and elevates the metabolic rat more than any other form of cardio exercise. This means that you continue to burn more fat after your exercise sessions that you did before it, especially when compared to long slow activity.
Although it takes less time it is way harder to do this type of exercise, so you need to build into it. An example of short burst training would be 8-12 seconds of all out sprinting then 30 seconds to one minute of walking to recover. Repeat 8- 10 or more times.
3. The last piece of the puzzle is eating 5-6 small meals every 2-3 hours throughout the day. These meals should have at least 20-30 grams of protein as the base then add lots of raw and cooked vegetables. Add a small amount of complex carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, or sweet potatoes. Prepare these meals the night before and take them with you wherever you go.
There you have it - these three strategies will work 100% guaranteed for you to lose body fat. It will not be perfect (nothing ever is) but continue to work at improving these areas and over time you will not believe how effective they really are.
Do you want to discover the secret to rejuvenating your body, regaining lost vitality and improving the quality of your life? Download my free ebook "I've Found the Fountain of Youth - Let Me Show You Too!" [http://www.over50looking30.com]Health Related Fitness
If you are looking to lose weight permanently go to [http://www.fitnessweightloss.com]Fitness Weight Loss for the solution.
Carolyn Hansen is a certified fitness expert and fitness center owner who coaches clients to look and feel younger. In her nearly 30 years of fitness and bodybuilding competition experience she has helped thousands of people start their journey towards being strong, fit and youthful at any age.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carolyn_Hansen http://EzineArticles.com/?3-Proven-Strategies-to-Lose-Weight-Fast&id=2207855
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Carolyn_Hansen]Carolyn Hansen
How long have you been searching and searching for the answers to get rid of that excess body fat that has been hanging around for what seems like forever? You may have already discovered by now or are in the process of realizing that starving yourself, spending hours in the gym or endless long, slow, boring cardio type activity doesn't quite add up to fat loss.
You have worked so hard and have got so little in return following the above old fashioned weight loss model. You probably are tired all the time, feel weak and irritable and have convinced yourself you just don't have the genetics to have a lean, toned body.
But still you keep trying and keep doing the same thing and you keep expecting different results. Sounds crazy right?
Well if you keep up this unworkable strategy you probably will go crazy so let's focus on new better ways to lose that body fat. New ways that focus on your metabolic health and what actually happens after an exercise session as opposed to the old way of focusing on what happens during the session. This involves the state of your metabolism which is your body's engine and determines whether you burn body fat or store body fat every minute of the day.
Here are the three main strategies that will boost your metabolism and allow you to lose body fat in the quickest and easiest way possible.
1. A proper exercise program is first on the list, one that contains at least 60% strength training exercise. You need to be concerned about your percentage of lean muscle tissue compared to your body fat percentage as the rate your body burns or stores fuel is largely a function of how much muscle tissue you have on your body and how hard it works.
This alone could alter the way your body burns fuel as if you haven't been working your muscles with proper strength training exercise it is likely that you have simply become under muscled. This means that your body's engine is smaller and burns less fuel. Even a few pounds loss of muscle tissue can cause you to become overweight.
By toning your muscles does not mean you will get big muscles. You will not even notice the difference. But you will start to notice the difference in the size of your waist, hips and other places that are already larger than they should be with all that body fat. They will shrink and become smaller as you lose that fat. Muscle tissue is your very best friend and will give you that lean, toned tight looking body that you dream of.
2. Interval Training: The rest of your exercise program should contain 1-2 sessions each week of short burst activity. This type of training burns more calories and elevates the metabolic rat more than any other form of cardio exercise. This means that you continue to burn more fat after your exercise sessions that you did before it, especially when compared to long slow activity.
Although it takes less time it is way harder to do this type of exercise, so you need to build into it. An example of short burst training would be 8-12 seconds of all out sprinting then 30 seconds to one minute of walking to recover. Repeat 8- 10 or more times.
3. The last piece of the puzzle is eating 5-6 small meals every 2-3 hours throughout the day. These meals should have at least 20-30 grams of protein as the base then add lots of raw and cooked vegetables. Add a small amount of complex carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, or sweet potatoes. Prepare these meals the night before and take them with you wherever you go.
There you have it - these three strategies will work 100% guaranteed for you to lose body fat. It will not be perfect (nothing ever is) but continue to work at improving these areas and over time you will not believe how effective they really are.
Do you want to discover the secret to rejuvenating your body, regaining lost vitality and improving the quality of your life? Download my free ebook "I've Found the Fountain of Youth - Let Me Show You Too!" [http://www.over50looking30.com]Health Related Fitness
If you are looking to lose weight permanently go to [http://www.fitnessweightloss.com]Fitness Weight Loss for the solution.
Carolyn Hansen is a certified fitness expert and fitness center owner who coaches clients to look and feel younger. In her nearly 30 years of fitness and bodybuilding competition experience she has helped thousands of people start their journey towards being strong, fit and youthful at any age.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carolyn_Hansen http://EzineArticles.com/?3-Proven-Strategies-to-Lose-Weight-Fast&id=2207855
Quick Tips to Potty Training Your Toddler
Quick Tips to Potty Training Your Toddler
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kate_Marie_Wilber]Kate Marie Wilber
Potty training a toddler is one of those steps in life that many parents dread. They look forward to the days when they will no longer need to buy diapers, but look at potty training as a long and complicated process. Most of the reasons for this dread of a normal stage in a toddler's life are all of the horror stories that other parents tell of potty training.
The good news is that each experience with teaching a toddler to use the potty is different. Your sister may have had a hard time with her son, but your daughter may pick up on it right away. To make sure that you have the best potty training experience possible with your child, it is important to use these quick tips.
Tip One
Decide if your toddler is ready to begin potty training. There is not set age that every child is ready to begin potty training. Your child will begin to give you clues about whether they are ready to begin to learn to use the potty. Some of the clues to look for is that your toddler is following you into the bathroom and interested in using the potty, she goes somewhere private when she has to go in her diaper, and if she wants to be changed as soon as her diaper is wet.
Tip Two
Get yourself the potty chair that will make your child excited to use the potty. It is important to make potty training a positive experience for your child. One way to do this is by choosing a personalized potty chair that shows your child's unique personality. An example of this would be if your little girl is into princesses then getting her a special throne potty chair will make her much more eager to use the potty chair.
Tip Three
Gradually introduce your toddler to the idea of using the potty chair. Many children will not want to sit on their potty chair when they first see it. That is ok. Let your child explore the seat as you explain to her what it is for.
Once she gets comfortable with the potty chair, you can move to having her sit on it. The slower that you take potty training with your toddler, the better the results that you will see. You cannot rush the time that it will take her to get use to using the potty.
Potty training does not have to be a scary time in the life of your toddler or you. There are many things that you can do to make the transition from diaper to potty and effortless one. The most important thing to remember through the whole process is patience. This will make every step and every tip go smoothly as your toddler learns to use the potty by herself. Once she has made the transition, you will be amazed at the thought that you were ever worried about this stage in her life.
When your child is ready for potty training, make it fun with this selection of confidence boosting [http://www.barefootbella.net/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.catalog&categoryID=162]potty training seats from [http://www.barefootbella.net]http://www.BarefootBella.net. They're perfect for the prince or princess in your life
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kate_Marie_Wilber http://EzineArticles.com/?Quick-Tips-to-Potty-Training-Your-Toddler&id=2195535
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kate_Marie_Wilber]Kate Marie Wilber
Potty training a toddler is one of those steps in life that many parents dread. They look forward to the days when they will no longer need to buy diapers, but look at potty training as a long and complicated process. Most of the reasons for this dread of a normal stage in a toddler's life are all of the horror stories that other parents tell of potty training.
The good news is that each experience with teaching a toddler to use the potty is different. Your sister may have had a hard time with her son, but your daughter may pick up on it right away. To make sure that you have the best potty training experience possible with your child, it is important to use these quick tips.
Tip One
Decide if your toddler is ready to begin potty training. There is not set age that every child is ready to begin potty training. Your child will begin to give you clues about whether they are ready to begin to learn to use the potty. Some of the clues to look for is that your toddler is following you into the bathroom and interested in using the potty, she goes somewhere private when she has to go in her diaper, and if she wants to be changed as soon as her diaper is wet.
Tip Two
Get yourself the potty chair that will make your child excited to use the potty. It is important to make potty training a positive experience for your child. One way to do this is by choosing a personalized potty chair that shows your child's unique personality. An example of this would be if your little girl is into princesses then getting her a special throne potty chair will make her much more eager to use the potty chair.
Tip Three
Gradually introduce your toddler to the idea of using the potty chair. Many children will not want to sit on their potty chair when they first see it. That is ok. Let your child explore the seat as you explain to her what it is for.
Once she gets comfortable with the potty chair, you can move to having her sit on it. The slower that you take potty training with your toddler, the better the results that you will see. You cannot rush the time that it will take her to get use to using the potty.
Potty training does not have to be a scary time in the life of your toddler or you. There are many things that you can do to make the transition from diaper to potty and effortless one. The most important thing to remember through the whole process is patience. This will make every step and every tip go smoothly as your toddler learns to use the potty by herself. Once she has made the transition, you will be amazed at the thought that you were ever worried about this stage in her life.
When your child is ready for potty training, make it fun with this selection of confidence boosting [http://www.barefootbella.net/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.catalog&categoryID=162]potty training seats from [http://www.barefootbella.net]http://www.BarefootBella.net. They're perfect for the prince or princess in your life
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kate_Marie_Wilber http://EzineArticles.com/?Quick-Tips-to-Potty-Training-Your-Toddler&id=2195535
Sunday, 12 April 2009
10 Ways To Save Money!!
Ten Ways To Save Money, Very Simple, Useful Tips that You Can Employ Effortlessly Every Day. Put the Cash You Have Saved Each Day Into A Moneypot/Piggybank....You'll Be Amazed At How Quickly It Mounts Up!!! Pay Off A Bill With It, Or Simply Treat Yourself or Your Family to Something that Would Have otherwise Gone On the dreaded Credit Card!!!
Number 1:
Do you spend money every day on your lunch at the local cafe/bar/canteen? DONT!! Go to your local supermarket and stock up on bread, cheese/ham whatever it is you like in your sandwiches. You can easily make your own sandwich fillers, eg: egg mayonnaise, very easy to make and it's fairly cheap too. Make your/your families lunch up at night to save rushing in the morning. Stuck for lunch boxes? Get down to your local pound shop and you can pick up lunch boxes/food storage containers for a few quid. Potential saving per day for a family of 4: 15-18 pounds!!! Savings for a single person: between 3 and 6 pounds, depending on where you eat!!
Number 2:
Cut out the morning latte/cappaccino, buy a flask and take your own. Or if you have a kettle in your workplace, take in your own tea or coffee to make up at work. Potential saving per day: 1.50-3 pounds
Number 3:
Ditch the Friday night chinese takeaway and make your own from scratch. Ingredients can be bought from any local supermarket, butchers and greengrocers. If you make a bulk load up, using your handy food storage tubs you bought earlier, you can put next Fridays in the freezer!!! Check my blog later for a economic chinese recipe. Potential savings per week: 20-25 pounds.
Number 4:
Shop around for the best deals on the high street. DONT impulse buy!!! Go away and think about the new dress/ jeans/ shirt you just seen...give it an hour at least...if it's meant to be, you'll still want it. A good tip would also to check to see if you can get it cheaper online...but try it on in the shop first!!!Potential saving per week: anything from 10 pounds to 200 pounds!!!!
Number 5:
Online auction sites..a great way to shop and save pounds at the same time. Generally 10-15% cheaper on new items. Check sellers feedback first, including their returns policy. Potential savings per week: 10-40 pounds, depending on what it is you are buying.
Number 6:
Baby Clothes-recycle!!! Young babies are often deluged with lots of lovely new outfits...which unfortunately do not get the wear deserved as they grow so quickly. Alot of the time, you have so many new outfits for the new addition that some of them shamefully never get to have the tags removed!!! Sell your unused/unwanted baby clothes through your local paper, on online auction sites or to me at my shop!! Mamas' Baby Shop, Causewayhead, Penzance, Cornwall. Recycle your money to buy things you now need for your baby. Potential saving per week: 10-20 pounds depending on how often you need to re-clothe your little bebe!!
Number 7:
Buy second hand!!! If you look, you will find, apart from in my shop, good quality, hardly used clothes, some designer labels for a few pounds each. Local charity shops and Car Boot Sales are a goldmine for brands such as Gap, Next and Quiksilver. Even Online Auction sites have a great selection of preloved, good quality clothing. Don't be proud-once they are on you or your child, it is only you that knows they were second hand, or preloved as I like to call it. And, you'll be dressed to impress on a tiny budget with those pounds in your piggybank and not someone elses!!! New pushchairs are one of the biggest money drains. You pay big money for the latest trendy pushchair, only to find it has depreciated quicker than a Rover once out of the shop. Go for good, quality makes, under 2 years old and in good condition, nine times out of ten you will be able to get back over half of what it cost you, if you come to re-sell it, whereas brand new at 600 pounds will give you a return of only 150 pounds when you sell it. Think COST PER USE!!! Do ensure that the pushchair is safe and all parts are working correctly. Look for the safety registration, this should be both the european safety standard as well as the British Safety standard for Fire retardant material on UK pushchairs. You will find this on a label usually underneath the pushchair seat. Potential weekly saving: 10-60 pounds on clothing, 400 pounds on pushchairs.
Number 8:
Try to shop only when you have to. Make a list and stick to it. The best way to plan ahead is to plan all the meals for the week. List all the ingredients that you will need. Buy some of your shopping in places like a weigh-inn type store, where grains, sugar, flour etc is all bought loose, ie you scoop what you need into bags, so this limits packaging also. Go to your local greengrocers towards the end of the day, some do quite alot of reduced veggies/fruit, things like mushrooms which are expensive, you can pick up a bag for 20p or so, but you'd need to use them that day/next day. Buy supermarket own label-often as good as the branded lines and usually 10% cheaper. Never shop in just one shop, hunt around for bargains, end of day clearances. NEVER, EVER, shop when you are hungry!!!!Potential saving per week: single person-15 pounds, family of 4: 20-25 pounds.
Number 9:
Check that your electricity and/or gas supplier is currently the cheapest/best deal. This also applies to telephone and broadband supplier. Shop around, use the internet, comparison sites will be able to give you the low down on the cheapest suppliers based on your locality. It may only be a few pounds but it all adds up!!! Keep checking periodically as prices do change often. Make sure you are getting value for money.
Number 10:
If you have a car, ditch it and walk to work!!! Take a train, bus or cycle. Check to see if there is a car share that is either running within your university/workplace, if there isn't, then create one!!! Car sharing can also be incorporated into the school runs, if there are 3 or 4 mums/dads together. You don't need to do this every day, but small changes such as walking on the school run 2 days a week, walking to the local shop, small trips that really could be done on foot, should be done on foot. You use more petrol on short trips than you do longer ones. Try and incorporate a series of trips into one long trip. Make changes where you can. If you are able to, sell the car and get a scooter instead. 15 pounds per year road tax!!! 5 pounds to fill the tank. Potential savings per week: 10-15 pounds or more.
And Finally.....
whatever you do to save money, enjoy the experience and be creative!!! Be sure to treat/reward yourself and your family for being thrifty and nifty!!! Penny pinching doesn't have to be boring!!!
Number 1:
Do you spend money every day on your lunch at the local cafe/bar/canteen? DONT!! Go to your local supermarket and stock up on bread, cheese/ham whatever it is you like in your sandwiches. You can easily make your own sandwich fillers, eg: egg mayonnaise, very easy to make and it's fairly cheap too. Make your/your families lunch up at night to save rushing in the morning. Stuck for lunch boxes? Get down to your local pound shop and you can pick up lunch boxes/food storage containers for a few quid. Potential saving per day for a family of 4: 15-18 pounds!!! Savings for a single person: between 3 and 6 pounds, depending on where you eat!!
Number 2:
Cut out the morning latte/cappaccino, buy a flask and take your own. Or if you have a kettle in your workplace, take in your own tea or coffee to make up at work. Potential saving per day: 1.50-3 pounds
Number 3:
Ditch the Friday night chinese takeaway and make your own from scratch. Ingredients can be bought from any local supermarket, butchers and greengrocers. If you make a bulk load up, using your handy food storage tubs you bought earlier, you can put next Fridays in the freezer!!! Check my blog later for a economic chinese recipe. Potential savings per week: 20-25 pounds.
Number 4:
Shop around for the best deals on the high street. DONT impulse buy!!! Go away and think about the new dress/ jeans/ shirt you just seen...give it an hour at least...if it's meant to be, you'll still want it. A good tip would also to check to see if you can get it cheaper online...but try it on in the shop first!!!Potential saving per week: anything from 10 pounds to 200 pounds!!!!
Number 5:
Online auction sites..a great way to shop and save pounds at the same time. Generally 10-15% cheaper on new items. Check sellers feedback first, including their returns policy. Potential savings per week: 10-40 pounds, depending on what it is you are buying.
Number 6:
Baby Clothes-recycle!!! Young babies are often deluged with lots of lovely new outfits...which unfortunately do not get the wear deserved as they grow so quickly. Alot of the time, you have so many new outfits for the new addition that some of them shamefully never get to have the tags removed!!! Sell your unused/unwanted baby clothes through your local paper, on online auction sites or to me at my shop!! Mamas' Baby Shop, Causewayhead, Penzance, Cornwall. Recycle your money to buy things you now need for your baby. Potential saving per week: 10-20 pounds depending on how often you need to re-clothe your little bebe!!
Number 7:
Buy second hand!!! If you look, you will find, apart from in my shop, good quality, hardly used clothes, some designer labels for a few pounds each. Local charity shops and Car Boot Sales are a goldmine for brands such as Gap, Next and Quiksilver. Even Online Auction sites have a great selection of preloved, good quality clothing. Don't be proud-once they are on you or your child, it is only you that knows they were second hand, or preloved as I like to call it. And, you'll be dressed to impress on a tiny budget with those pounds in your piggybank and not someone elses!!! New pushchairs are one of the biggest money drains. You pay big money for the latest trendy pushchair, only to find it has depreciated quicker than a Rover once out of the shop. Go for good, quality makes, under 2 years old and in good condition, nine times out of ten you will be able to get back over half of what it cost you, if you come to re-sell it, whereas brand new at 600 pounds will give you a return of only 150 pounds when you sell it. Think COST PER USE!!! Do ensure that the pushchair is safe and all parts are working correctly. Look for the safety registration, this should be both the european safety standard as well as the British Safety standard for Fire retardant material on UK pushchairs. You will find this on a label usually underneath the pushchair seat. Potential weekly saving: 10-60 pounds on clothing, 400 pounds on pushchairs.
Number 8:
Try to shop only when you have to. Make a list and stick to it. The best way to plan ahead is to plan all the meals for the week. List all the ingredients that you will need. Buy some of your shopping in places like a weigh-inn type store, where grains, sugar, flour etc is all bought loose, ie you scoop what you need into bags, so this limits packaging also. Go to your local greengrocers towards the end of the day, some do quite alot of reduced veggies/fruit, things like mushrooms which are expensive, you can pick up a bag for 20p or so, but you'd need to use them that day/next day. Buy supermarket own label-often as good as the branded lines and usually 10% cheaper. Never shop in just one shop, hunt around for bargains, end of day clearances. NEVER, EVER, shop when you are hungry!!!!Potential saving per week: single person-15 pounds, family of 4: 20-25 pounds.
Number 9:
Check that your electricity and/or gas supplier is currently the cheapest/best deal. This also applies to telephone and broadband supplier. Shop around, use the internet, comparison sites will be able to give you the low down on the cheapest suppliers based on your locality. It may only be a few pounds but it all adds up!!! Keep checking periodically as prices do change often. Make sure you are getting value for money.
Number 10:
If you have a car, ditch it and walk to work!!! Take a train, bus or cycle. Check to see if there is a car share that is either running within your university/workplace, if there isn't, then create one!!! Car sharing can also be incorporated into the school runs, if there are 3 or 4 mums/dads together. You don't need to do this every day, but small changes such as walking on the school run 2 days a week, walking to the local shop, small trips that really could be done on foot, should be done on foot. You use more petrol on short trips than you do longer ones. Try and incorporate a series of trips into one long trip. Make changes where you can. If you are able to, sell the car and get a scooter instead. 15 pounds per year road tax!!! 5 pounds to fill the tank. Potential savings per week: 10-15 pounds or more.
And Finally.....
whatever you do to save money, enjoy the experience and be creative!!! Be sure to treat/reward yourself and your family for being thrifty and nifty!!! Penny pinching doesn't have to be boring!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
