Spring clean your finances

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You think nothing of spring cleaning your home, garden or garage, but how often do you take stock of your finances?

Make April the month to clear away those cash cobwebs and let the pennies take care of the pounds.

Sort out the admin
It is well worth spending an hour or two getting your paperwork together so you can see what your financial position is at this current moment. If you don’t know where you are, it’s hard to get a plan in place for the future. Sit down with a cuppa and your bank statements, insurance policies, energy costs, mobile phone and internet bills and anything else you pay out on. Make a list of how much things are costing each month and this will give you a good starting point.

Chuck out what you don’t use
This might sound silly but check your bank statement carefully as it could be you are paying for gym memberships, online services and magazine subscriptions you no longer use and if that’s the case, look at stopping these so money can be better spent elsewhere.

Swap things around
We know that changing suppliers can be a pain but it is worth shopping around and seeing where savings can be made.

Look for balance transfers on credit cards
If you’re paying full interest rates on your credit cards, see if you can move to another provider so you can clear your balance quickly and for less.

Make the most of your savings
If you do have savings accounts or an ISA, pop into your bank or building society and make sure you are getting the best return on your investments. Also, make sure you use your IAS allowance because you either “use it or lose it”.

Ask for a pay rise
If you work hard and give 100% to your employer, at your next review why not ask for a pay rise? Write a list of all your achievements over the past year and when you sit down with your manager highlight these and your ambition to move up the career ladder. Put your best points forward and you never know, you might get a rise and a promotion! If you don’t ask, you don’t get!

PPI
You have seen the adverts but if you think you have something to claim when it comes to PPI, or are just interested, the window closes on 29 August 2019. Try to steer away from the claims guys and instead look at www.which.co.uk to find out how to do it yourself.

Collect points
Using loyalty schemes might feel uncomfortable for some, but they can really make a difference. Points can equal cash, vouchers and free coffee, so read the small print to make sure you aren’t signing your life away, but if it’s going to help, take advantage of what’s on offer.

Recycle
If you want to make some cash, as you spring clean the house look at what you can sell on local sites or at carboot sales and give away anything else to charity to keep the clutter at bay.

Once you have got your affairs in order, create a budget, including saving for a rainy day, and stick to it. You will find that if you are in control of your cash, it will not longer control you and you won’t feel sick each time a bill lands in your inbox.

Team Pure Beauty

Get on top of your finances in 2018

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add up, auctions, bargains, bills, BOGOF, budget, buffer, cake, car boot sales, car insurance, car payments, charity shops, cheaper, Citizens Advice Bureau, deals, eat, end of the day deals, entertainment, environment, finances, fixed costs, food shopping, freeze, fresh, heating, holidays, housing, incomes, insurance, list, loaf of bread, loyalty cards, money, month, mortgage, packed lunches, pets, phone bill, pocket, Rainy day fund, rent, retro, save money, savings, school uniform, shopping, snacks, spend, spiralling out of control, standing orders, statement, stress, utiliy bills, value, vouchers on leaflets, waste, water, work, worries

Do you know how much you can afford to spend each month, or do you keep using you cards and then lie awake at night working out how you’ll pay for everything?

With Brexit just over a year away, businesses concerned about the future and the world in a volatile place, money worries are on the rise, as are prices, and debt seems to be a bigger issue for many people.

While rent and council tax take up a big chunk of incomes, those large costs often aren’t the problem, it’s the smaller bills that add up and the unexpected expenses that can cause stress.

We have had a look at how to keep on top of things so you don’t feel like you’re going under every time you look at your statement.

Have a budget
Yes, it sounds simple but sometimes going back to basics can be a good idea. Making a list of the money coming in and out each month lets you see exactly what is happening with your finances, rather than burying your head in the sand. Firstly look at income, then list all of your fixed costs and should including your housing, utility bills, standing orders, car payments, insurance and phone bills. Then look at your fluctuating costs such as food shopping, entertainment, holidays, pets and anything else you have to cover. With all of this in hand you can work out how much is left, or not, and where changes could potentially be made.

Shop for the bargains
We all like nice things, but there are many savings to be had out there, and deals can really help keep you buoyant. Buying presents in the sales, stocking up on school uniform when it’s half price and shopping around for cheaper car insurance might seem like an extra job to add to your list, but the pounds soon add up. It is also worth looking at the money off vouchers on leaflets, loyalty cards and incentives as these can make a real difference to your pocket.

Meal planning
Another way of saving money is by actually only buying the food you need and not letting fresh items go to waste. Before you go shopping, work out what you are going to eat in the week, include packed lunches and snacks, and only buy those items. Yes, BOGOF might seem like a deal you can’t miss out on, but when that extra cake or loaf of bread goes mouldy, you haven’t saved anything at all.If there are items deals going cheap at the end of the day, buy them but only if you are going to eat or freeze them straight away.

Turn off your lights
It is amazing how many people leave lights on, have the heating burning at full blast when they are out and let the water run as they brush their teeth. All of these things cost money, so turn things down and switch them off if you want to save money, and the environment.

Second hand options
Vintage, retro, upcycle are all on trend and for a good reason, they offer value. You don’t have to buy everything new and if you go to charity shops, car boot sales and auctions, you will amazed at the bargains there are to be had.

Rainy day fund
We all like to think the unexpected won’t happy to us, but it does. If you can, try to save a little money each month so that if the car does break down or the boiler goes wrong, you have a buffer and don’t hit the red.

Keep on track
Once you have your finances in place, don’t them slip. Making lists, having a database and checking your online banking on a weekly basis can help you keep on track. If you do feel things are spiralling out of control, talk things over with a trusted friend or speak to Citizens Advice Bureau but don’t let the bills pile up and the stress get on top of you.

Make January Magical

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We bet you don’t often think of January as being a magical month?

Credit card bills, back to work and a bulging waistline often get in the way of enjoy the New Year, but why not turn things round and see this as an exciting first chapter the next part of your life?

We have had a look at how you can turn what many people thing is the hardest month of the year, into something special.

Get lost in a good book
Step away from the Kindle, go into town and have a browse the shelves of your local bookshop or library. From chic lit to poetry and thrillers to biographies, there really is something for everyone. Reading lets you escape from the trappings of modern life and an hour or two away from social media and news feeds, has to be a good thing.

Go on a mini break
In true Bridget Jones style, pack your overnight bag and get away from it all. You don’t have to spend a fortune as there are many offers around for hotels and spas around, but a traditional seaside B&B can be just the escape you need. Long walks by the sea, tea and scones by a roaring fire and fish and chips out of the paper watching the sunset could be the perfect antidote to the January blues.

Write it down
They say we all have a book inside of us, why not use January to get that novel down on paper? You might not do it all in one go, but making a start on a kid’s tale or sci-fi story, rather than bingeing on box-sets will give you a creative outlet and you never know, you might produce the next bestseller?

Cook up a feast
Yes, we know we are meant to step away from the cakes and cookies, but January is the perfect time to look at nourishing your body with healthy food rather than punishing it with a detox. From stews and soups to curries and fresh bread, you can use the dark nights to brush up on your cookery skills and with some candles on the table and music in the background you can have friends over for a quiet night of catching up and making plans.

Take a picnic outside
When the sun comes out, pack a picnic, get your wellies and dine alfresco this January. Yes, you might need thermals and gloves, but there is something magical about walking in the crisp countryside and breathing in crystal clear air – take a flask of hot chocolate and you will be warm and toasty.

Plot and plan
There is nothing like a beautiful diary or pretty notebook to start a new chapter in your life. Rather than getting depressed about the parties and presents being over, use January to look ahead and plan your future. Dreams are great, but working on making them a reality can be exciting and inspiring.

Whatever you do this January, make it your most magical ever.

Team Pure-Beauty

Free your mind

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Stressed?

Over worked and under paid?

Tired?

Anxious?

Far from being words that are banded around for the sake of it, for many of us this is the reality of 21st century living.

We are expected to be on the ball, on trend and down with the kids 24/7 and sometimes, things can get a bit too much.

We have put together some easy ideas of how to free your mind so you can relax and chill out once in a while rather than constantly having your brain in free fall mode.

Breath
Before you do anything else, sit back, count to ten and breath. Focus on your breathing, feel the air go into your body and out and just stop for a few minutes and regroup.

Talk
After breathing, comes talking. If you bottle everything up, then it is only going to get worse and seem harder and harder to deal with. Open up to your partner, mum or a close friend and they may have ideas about how you can make changes and find a positive way forwards.

Live in the moment
Whatever is making you anxious right now, isn’t going to last. Breakdown what is bothering you into manageable chunks and tackle it one step at a time. For example, if you are moving house you might feel overwhelmed, but step back, make a list, work out what needs to be done and if you can, delegate.

Not this again
If you are worried about an interview, think back and see if was the same the last time you went for a new job? If it was, and you got the job, what are you worried about? You aced it last time and we bet it will be the same the time round too.

It’s not all about you!
Harsh we know, but not everything that happens in this world is about you. Yes we can all feel put upon or have our sensitive days, but thinking every situation revolves around you in some way can be really destructive and you could be missing out on a lot of fun.

Look at the bigger picture
Ask yourself whether the issue that is on your mind right now will still be there tomorrow, in a week or in a month. It is unlikely it will be, so regroup, relax and look at what is going on in the world and see there is more to life than a difficult boss or messy flatmate.

Preparing for the worst
I will lose my job. He is going to dump me. She doesn’t want to be my best friend anymore. We tend to jump to conclusions and dwell on the worst-case scenarios and this can lead to stress and depression. It is far better to talk to the person involved face to face and find out what is really going on before you make yourself ill believing the world is about to end.

Take some exercise
Social media, long hours and desk based jobs mean many of us get less exercise than ever. Try to get some fresh air every day and even if you have a brisk walk or a quick swim, your heart beat will go up and the endorphins will pump good vibes around your body.

Laugh
If nothing else, remember to laugh. Life is short so make the most of it and enjoy every single day you have.

Team Pure Beauty