Archive for the ‘Money saving’ Category


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.

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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

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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.

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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!

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VAT increase - how to avoid being burnt come January


Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

With the latest government budget it looks like we’re all going to be facing VAT at 20% next year. Therefore we at 247Moneybox.com thought we might help you find a way around paying extra for food. Food alone is set to add a lot to the householder’s consumption, and that’s before even considering the impact of the tax rise on petrol, clothes and cars. However there are loopholes, and if you are crafty enough you can seriously reduce the impact of VAT.

VAT is charged differently on different goods; there are the so-called ‘essential foods’, which have zero VAT on them, and then there are the ‘luxury foods’, which, on the other hand, do have the full 20% taxed on them. Therefore our first tip would be to find out the difference and shop accordingly.

But there are inconsistencies in how different foods are categorised, so you may find it possible to keep your regular spending habits and still pay little or zero VAT. Two tips are to shop for wheat-based crisps rather than potato-based ones, and to buy freshly baked goods rather than visiting the takeaway counter, as the latter will set you back due to VAT.

So if you want to avoid or minimise VAT costs, take a little time to find out the differences between the essential and luxury foods and exploit this to your advantage.

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Unattended baggage - one of many ways to get your holiday off to a bad start (or to no start at all)


Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

If you’re not going away this summer then you will be missing out on all the hassle involved with getting away for a ‘relaxing’ break. Packing, getting to the airport on time, sorting out hand luggage and separating items into small plastic bags, making sure you have your tickets, and what to do once you’ve arrived … and don’t forget the passports! We at 247Moneybox.com thought we’d highlight some tips to help you pack and have an enjoyable holiday.

First of all, keep your documents safe. Scan them and email them to yourself. Record the last card numbers of your credit/debit cards. By having your details electronically saved you can send them to the embassy if you lose them.

Split up your valuables, so if you lose your credit card it won’t be disastrous for your holiday. Perhaps keep your card with your suitcase, or have a stash of spare emergency cash to deal with any problems that might crop up.

Bring plastic bags. These can be handy for a number of purposes and can be easily compacted to save some space in your suitcase and bags.

When it comes to carry-on luggage, make sure you have the most important documents going on the plane with you.

Hopefully these tips will help you to have a relaxing holiday, and if any emergencies do occur then you should be able to deal with them quite easily.

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Unauthorised overdraft charges - the worst culprits


Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

Recently the consumer magazine Which? investigated banks to see which ones charge customers the most for going over their unauthorised overdraft limit.

The findings were based on an unauthorised overdraft of £30 for three days, including charges for a £10 cheque on day one, a £10 direct debit on day two and a £10 standing order paid by the bank on day three. The figures did not include interest.

Topping the list of unauthorised overdraft charges was Natwest/RBS with a whopping £118;  A&L came second at £90, Norwich & Peterborough Building Society came third at £88, fourth was Co-operative Bank/Smile at £80 and fifth was First Direct at £75.

Are you paying too much for an unauthorised overdraft? Are you finding that penalties are building up? Do you risk incurring steeper charges and penalties unless you pay off outstanding commitments? Well, if this is the case then it might be time that you started considering taking out a payday loan from us here at www.247Moneybox.com and then relax knowing you have the cash to prevent your unexpected costs from increasing exponentially until you can pay. Apply today and relax.

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247Moneybox.com’s tips for saving money on your phone and mobile bills


Friday, August 14th, 2009

Today we will be looking at how you can save yourself a bundle on your phone and mobile bills; we find our customers can help their finances greatly if they adopt a more prudent structure to their finances in conjunction with one of our payday loans.

So how do you save money on your phone bills? The first thing you must do is work out the type of user you are and try and build a phone profile; do you use your landline a lot or your mobile, what do you mainly use your mobile for, texts or calls?

When you know what kind of user you are then its time to get a tariff and phone line which is adapted to you. In particular it may also be useful to find out what numbers you regularly call, and whether you mostly call other mobiles or landlines. Next, the best idea would be to go to a price comparison website and compare the main phone companies; often these comparison websites allow you to put in personal information about how many calls you make per week and to what phones, which will ensure you get the right service for you.

If you rarely use your phone - perhaps you have one for the internet or to receive calls - then it might be time you thought about getting the lowest rate possible for your type of usage. We’ve found that the best option is to look at the Post Office, as they offer the cheapest line we could find and it’s perfect for those who infrequently use their phone.

Need a little injection of cash to help you cover those urgent bills until your next payday? If so, then it might be time to consider taking out a payday loan. Here at www.247Moneybox.com, we can offer you cash quickly - without the hassle of paperwork, thanks to a simple online application form - so don’t let your finances get out of hand or threaten you with being evicted or losing your utilities for a period of time.

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