Archive for July, 2010


Hot weather means time to save


Friday, July 30th, 2010

In the summer there’s no excuse to be wasting energy - days are long, there’s lots more to do than sit in front of the TV, and it’s definitely not hot enough to have to use any serious forms of air conditioning. Today we at 247Moneybox.com have brought you a few tips that you can use to save yourself some money.

1. Avoid pre-rinsing your dishes. It doesn’t sound like much but it could actually save you up to £30 on your yearly bill! Especially avoid pre-wash settings on your dishwasher unless your dishes are really bad.
2. Install a programmable thermostat. This may have some steep upfront costs, but it is a real long-term cost-saving device. The thermostat should automatically and efficiently keep your house at the right temperature.
3. If you need to tumble dry, make sure you get a tumble dryer with a sensor to tell you when to stop drying (and stop wasting money). Also make sure you clean the lint filter, as this will make the machine more efficient.
4. Make sure you aren’t using hot water too much; the appliance which uses the most energy in the house is actually the water boiler, so make sure you only heat water at certain times when you actually need it.
5. If you do need air-conditioning in the UK, make sure the air conditioner is a relatively new one. New air-conditioning units can use up to 30%-50% less energy.

So if you are worried about either the environment or saving money then make a start on cutting down your bills.



Beat the banker


Monday, July 26th, 2010

It’s outrageous when banks charge you for unexpected bank fees. We at 247Moneybox.com thought we’d offer some helpful tips to beating steep bank charges.

Check your last few bank statements. With these statements in hand, try and find what type of banking user you are. Once you’ve worked this out, change your account for one which will best suit your banking habits and needs.

Of course the best way to avoid banking fees is to simply avoid becoming overdrawn. There are a number of ways to do this. First of all, some banks offer a text service which will message you when you are getting close to becoming overdrawn. Another idea is to use payment methods which will save you some money, and internet banking may allow you to find the cheapest deal. Paying online may also avoid a transaction fee.



Cars with the best MPGs


Monday, July 5th, 2010

Keeping up with our motoring theme here at 247Moneybox.com today, we’ve decided to show you a few of the best cars when it comes to saving some money on your fuel bills every month. These cars will keep on going, and provided you keep them in fuel efficient shape – pumped up tyres, careful driving (see our blog of 1 July) – you should be able to save yourself a bunch this year.

HONDA Insight, Petrol-Hybrid, 83.10mpg; except for a horse cart this is the most fuel efficient transport around today.

After the Honda it all looks pretty French for the rest of the list – looks like our friends across the Channel have been getting busy about saving fuel.

CITROEN C2 1.4 Diesel  68.90
CITROEN C1 1.4 Diesel M5 68.90
RENAULT Clio 1.5 Diesel M5 67.30
B CITROEN C2 1.4 SensoDrive Diesel 67.30
CITROEN C3 1.4 Diesel 67.30
RENAULT Clio 1.5 100 Diesel M5 65.80
RENAULT Clio 1.5 65 Diesel M5 65.80
CITROEN C2 1.4 Diesel M5 65.70



Make sure you’re paying the right amount of council tax


Friday, July 2nd, 2010

At 247Moneybox.com we know that council tax can be hard on your finances, and it is important to ensure that you are being charged the right amount. This follows the news from The Telegraph that 17 neighbours from Birmingham were able to claim a refund of £49,000 from their local council after successfully challenging their council tax bands. This kind of query is definitely worth pursuing, as the money owed by the council gets backdated to when you first started living at the property. Properties just next door could be in different tax level bands, so make sure you check it out.

The way to do this is simple. Just go to the website of the council tax list at the Valuation Office Agency, www.voa.gov.uk, then enter your postcode and find and compare the addresses of your house and the other houses on your street.

However, be careful as you are merely challenging what band your house is in, which could potentially lead to your house being re-valued into a higher band.



The best ways to save fuel this summer


Thursday, July 1st, 2010

Motoring in the last few years hasn’t been cheap, so today we thought we’d bring you a few ideas on how to save fuel. Having watched Clarkson do a round trip to Scotland and back using only one tank of fuel, we at 247Moneybox.com are amazed at how much money fuel-efficient driving can save you every year. Using the tips below could save you up to 50% on your annual fuel bills.

First of all, turn off air-conditioning or any other features which may use up fuel. Admittedly, during this summer it has been difficult to do this step. Make sure you don’t open the windows, as the drag and negative effect on the car’s aerodynamics will actually cost you more on the forecourt than keeping your air-con on.

Drive slowly and use cruise control on motorways. The difference between 70mph and 80mph is significant on the fuel tank. By leaving your car on cruise control the computer will be able to work out how to maintain your speed using the least amount of fuel possible.

Continuing from the point above: drive consistently. Try and predict the traffic and where you will need to slow down ahead. You can get a minor in a driving test nowadays if you unnecessarily accelerate to a red light, and you will equally be getting a minor to your wallet every month as well.

Keep in the highest gear possible — an obvious point when wanting to save petrol, however be sure to not labour the engine as that may use up extra fuel.

Finally, avoid taking a cold car anywhere. Cold cars are thirsty cars, so if possible try and get a lift with a friend; this will have the obvious advantage of cutting down costs completely!