Preparing for your credit card statement.

A recent study by Visa found that one in five of us plan to fund this Christmas on credit cards, meaning many will be expecting the bill to drop of their door step any day now.

If you are one of those people, then we are urging you not to panic and follow these simples steps to make sure it doesn?t get the better of you.

If you have kept track of your spending you should already have a rough idea of how much you will owe, if not try to gather all of your receipts together so that you can eliminate the element of shock.Work out your income and expenditure to calculate how much surplus you have left once everything has been paid out.If you have a 0% interest on purchases credit card then you can calculate your surplus to pay this back in instalments until the offer expires.If you are being charged interest, try to work out your payments in order to repay it as quick as possible, but still affordable to you. Or you could look for a new card that offers you a deal on balance transfers.If you are struggling with other debts you can contact Payplan for free and impartial advice on how to deal with your debts and finances.

Written by Gemma on January 9th, 2012

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Living cost increases results in more debt for Brits

According to a recent report a rising number of Brits are falling into increased debt as a result of trying to keep up with the soaring cost of living on wages that have been stagnant for several years in some cases. Many households are struggling to keep up with the soaring cost of living, and some have been left with no other choice but to borrow money on credit cards, loans and overdrafts to fund the rising cost of living.

The report claims that Brits have now taken on the highest levels of debt since May 2009, which was the peak of the recession in the UK. Brits now have around £208.6 billion in outstanding debts on credit cards, loans, overdrafts, etc. which equates to around £9070 of debt for every household in the country. Petrol, food and energy costs are amongst the essentials that have increased in price, putting severe strain on household finances.

Excluding mortgage debt, the level of household debt in the past year has gone up by around £5 billion in total, which is the biggest increase since the recession according to the Bank of England. In the past month alone the level of debt has increased by £629 million in total, with economists stating that people have become reliant on credit simply to keep up with their rising bills.

One leading economist stated: “The rise in unsecured consumer credit suggests increased ‘stressed borrowing’ is occurring, with more people having to borrow to help finance their spending. This is a consequence of the extended squeeze on their purchasing power coming from elevated inflation, low wage growth and tighter fiscal policy. In addition, job losses are rising.”

Tags: unsecured consumer credit, cost of living, debt, Many households, outstanding debts, household debt

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Posted in: Brits,increases,living,results

Insolvency figures drop whilst DMPs rise

At the end of last year and the start of this year there was a great deal of speculation over how consumers would manage their debt problems given the effects of the global credit crunch, the increase in living costs and bills, and higher mortgage costs, coupled with reduced availability to finance. It was predicted by many industry officials that insolvency levels would continue to rise over the course of this year, as more and more people walked away from their debts because they could no longer cope with their repayments.

However, a recent report has shown that there has actually been an unexpected drop in insolvency figures in England and Wales, and some officials have stated that this could be down to the fact that people are being far more cautious with their spending as a result of the ongoing global credit crunch. Insolvency levels in England and Wales have been falling for a number of years, but in the first three months of this year insolvency levels increased, and were expected to go on increasing due to the current economic and financial climate.

However, between April and June there was actually a drop in the number of insolvencies, falling by 2% to 24,553. The Insolvency Service has released these figures, and claims that the latest figures reflect a drop of 8.3% compared to the same period last year. The fall has been reflected in both the number of people filing for bankruptcy and the number of people entering into an IVA, or Individual Voluntary Arrangement, which is considered a softer alternative to bankruptcy.

However, whilst insolvency figures are down DMPs, which are informal arrangements made with creditors relating to repayments, are thought to be on the rise. Some officials have said that the drop in insolvency levels could be down to increased caution from consumers who are being as careful as they can over their spending as a result of the financial climate.

One official from the Insolvency Service stated: ‘I’m not sure the credit crunch is the sole factor in the decrease, but it is definitely affecting people’s decisions on how they should handle their debt. It is impossible to pinpoint one particular reason from these figures, but economic conditions and available credit are factors.’

Another industry official said that whilst insolvency levels have fallen ‘it’s important to bear in mind that this is from historically very high levels. The rates are still significantly higher than during the previous five years and I would expect this general upward trend in personal insolvencies to continue in the short to medium term.’

Over recent years IVAs, which are one form of insolvency, have been heavily advertised by a number of firms, who have been persuading consumers that they could write off a huge amount of their unsecured debt by entering into one of these agreements, but officials have warned consumers to think about the long term consequences before rushing into this course of action.

Tags: individual, June, rise, insolvency, IVA, insolvencies

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Posted in: figures,Insolvency,whilst

Scots have been tackling their debts over the past year

Whilst many of us these days are struggling with our personal debt levels, it seems as though people in Scotland are determined to take action to try and reduce their debts. Recent figures have shown that more people in Scotland are paying down their debts than in any other part of the country. Over the past twelve money many Scots have managed to reduce their debt levels based on the study, which was carried out by the Centre for Economics and Business Research.

The study showed that more than a quarter of Scots were now in less debt now than they were this time last year. The national average when it came to the number of people in less debt than last year in Scotland was 27.6 percent according to the latest Credit Confidential Credit Report.

The figure for Glasgow was higher than the national average, with 32 percent of people in the city being in less debt than they were a year ago. In Edinburgh the figure was 19 percent, but although it was lower than the national average it was still higher than other capital cities across the UK such as London, which stood at 15 percent and Cardiff which stood at just 4 percent.

A Credit Confidential official said: “The recent debate, stoked by David Cameron suggesting people pay off their credit card bills, seems to be redundant for many Scots as they have been offloading debts in the past three months anyway. However, with Christmas coming, unemployment rising and inflation increasing, if consumers cannot access credit easily from the high street and traditional lenders, some may be forced to borrow from less reputable sources such as loan sharks.”

Tags: reputable sources, Business Research, anyway, glasgow, Recent figures, inflation, scots

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Posted in: debts,Scots,tackling,their

Nearly a century to clear a £5000 debt with Barclaycard

A shocking recent report has shown how it could take consumers nearly a whole century to clear as little as £5000 worth of debt on their credit cards with Barclaycard.

This means that some consumers would never be able to clear the debt in their lifetime, reflecting just how long credit card debt can linger for some consumers. It is reported that as a result of the credit card giant cutting the required minimum monthly amount it could take some cardholders with a balance of just £5000 a whopping ninety eight years to clear the debt.

Barclaycard recently announced that it was reducing the minimum level of repayment required from cardholders. The previous minimum level was 2.25 percent of the balance or £5 minimum repayment.

However, this has now changed to just 1.5 percent of the balance of £5 minimum repayment depending on which is the greater. For those that plan to make only the minimum repayments on their cards it could take them much more than a lifetime to clear their relatively modest credit card debt with Barclaycard.

Officials from Barclaycard have said that the reason that the minimum monthly amount required has been reduced in this way is to help consumers who may be struggling to keep on top of their finances in the current financial climate.

They claimed that the reduction in minimum monthly required payment would mean that consumers could free up cash to make other payments such as bills or to meet their mortgage repayments and avoid losing their homes.

However, many officials are sceptical about this, and feel that the credit card giant is trying to make millions of extra pounds in interest by letting consumers’ credit card debts fester for longer.

Tags: top, credit card debt, barclaycard, credit cards, monthly required payment, debt consolidation

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Posted in: Barclaycard,century,clear,Nearly

Keeping your body and your finances fit

For many people these days keeping fit is a very important part of their lives, and with all of the scare stories that we hear about the ill effects of being unfit, overweight, and generally inactive it is not surprising that so many people want to ensure that they get regular exercise and keep their health and their bodies fighting fit.

However, whilst taking part in exercise is a good thing for some people it can also cost a small fortune, and it is therefore necessary for many people to think of ways of exercising without paying out a fortune.

Of course, one of the simplest and cheapest ways to keep fit is simply by going for a brisk walk or a jog on a regular basis, but the trouble with this is that the weather in the UK is not ideal for joggers and you are more likely to end up with a bad cold and chilblains than being fighting fit.

Another concern is that many people work full time, and the last thing that most people want to do when they get home is head out onto the roads to jog, as this can be unsafe apart from anything else.

Joining a gym is another option, and this is a more secure option and one that enables you to exercise indoors. However, gym memberships can be very expensive, and in many cases you need to sign up to a minimum twelve month contract in order to get the most affordable prices which means that you will have to make payments for the contract period whether you continue to go or not.

There are some tips that could help you to save money on keeping fit without having to put up with the bad weather or put your safety at risk. For example, if you want to join a gym see if you can get away with an off peak membership, which is often far cheaper than the peak one. With these memberships you are limited to when you can use the facilities, but if the hours fit in with your lifestyle then this is a good way to save money.

You could look at getting an exercise machine for the home, so that you can exercise in safety at a time that suits you and from the comfort of your own home. There is no need to buy a brand new exercise machine, as these can be very costly. Instead scour the papers or go online to places such as eBay where you may be able to find the perfect exercise equipment at a knock down price.

Many people use DVDs to work out to, with a wide range of exercise videos and DVDs that are now available. You can check out the prices of these online to get the best price, and if you don’t want to buy the DVD you could even check out the local library and hire out exercise DVDs so that you can start getting fit without having to pay anything.

Tags: debts, part, jog, personal finances, finance health, debt free

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Posted in: finances,Keeping

Bank charges won't be included in high cost credit report

A report is being put together detailing types of high cost credit but according to recent reports bank charges will not be included in this report.

The report forms part of the Office of Fair Trading enquiry into costly credit, and will include things such as pay day loans, doorstep lenders, and pawnbroking, all of which have been subjected to increased scrutiny, but the topic of bank charges has only be skimmed over as part of the report.

The report from the OFT enquiry is set to be published next month, according to reports, but some of the lenders that have been included in the report have described it as a ‘witch hunt’.

Providers of pay day loans have expressed disappointment with the OFT’s decision not to cover bank charges and instead focus on pay day loans and other types of credit.

The report, when released, it expected to highlight the astonishing levels of interest that can come with some types of borrowing, with some non-mainstream lenders charging up to 500 percent interest on a one year loan and some pay day lenders’ interest rates working out to between 1000 and 2000 percent.

At the time the OFT started into probe into high cost borrowing it had been expecting to win its High Court case against the banking industry with regards to bank charges.

One industry group, the BCCA, said that bank charges should have been included in the report, and the group said: ‘We are disappointed that the OFT will not be carrying out a thorough examination of the true cost of current account overdrafts.’

‘This is particularly significant, because the banks are exempted from having to quote APRs on overdrafts, whereas other short-term lenders are compelled to do so.’

Tags: Loan, Office of Fair Trading, high cost credit, year, bank charges, overdrafts

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Posted in: charges,Credit,included,report

Social care payment cards to be distributed in Cheshire

It has been announced that Cheshire East Council has launched a scheme that will enable vulnerable residents in the Macclesfield area to enjoy the independence and convenience of being able to use a payment card to pay for services.

The social care payment cards will enable users to benefit from maintaining independence, so that they can pay for thing such as leisure services and social services themselves through the use of the card.

The new payment card is called the ‘Empower Card’. The card will enable the elderly and disabled in the area to enjoy more independence and pay for services themselves. The scheme has just been launched by the council, and officials believe that it is the first scheme of its kind in the UK.

Social care money was previously paid into the recipients’ bank accounts, but now consumers will have the option to have the money loaded onto a pre-loaded Visa card.

One resident in the area said that she is the first to be receiving one of these payment cards, and said that she can now use it to pay for the services of three staff members to act as assistants to her daughter, who suffers from both emotional and physical problems.

She said: “It has changed both mine and Victoria’s lives for the better. It’s given us both so much more flexibility. It’s freed up lots of time for me, so that I can actually go out to work which is great. It’s a very forward-thinking system which is what attracted me to the card in the first place. I would definitely recommend it.”

Any of the residents that are receiving social care from Cheshire East council will be able to apply for the card, although they can still have the money paid into their account should they prefer to do so.

Tags: social care payment cards, independence, cheshire, Cheshire East Council, account, empower card

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Posted in: cards,Cheshire,distributed,payment,Social

Debt problems could be exacerbated through stagnating wages

Many people across the UK have seen their wages either frozen or even cut over the past couple of years, despite the fact that living costs and inflation have soared. These days, consumers have to make their wages go much further than they had to in the past and according to some officials this could result in a huge problem with person debt over the next couple of years.

Stagnating wages compared to soaring inflation could be contributing to problems in repaying existing debt as well as with issues relating to taking out fresh debt, all of which is set to culminate in UK households having more than £2 trillion worth of debt by around 2015. Many basic and essential living costs have soared whilst wages have failed to keep up with inflation, which includes the cost of petrol, food and energy usage.

Many people who already have debts are finding it difficult to keep on top of repayments or pay anything more than the minimum amount required due to their financial situations. Many others have been forced into taking out new debt as they have had to borrow money in order to stay afloat financially because they have been unable to make their wages stretch far enough. Some may be forced into opting for solutions such as insolvency over the coming year or two, as their financial situations become worse, particularly if the base rate increases and their mortgage repayments shoot up.

An official from a union said: “As wages have stagnated, debt has soared. As incomes are squeezed further, the Office for Budget Responsibility expects household debt in this country to reach over £2 trillion by 2015 – an albatross around the neck of our economic future.”

Tags: mortgage repayments, petrol, finances, energy usage, financial situations, insolvency

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Posted in: could,exacerbated,problems,stagnating,through,wages

New measures in place for credit card users

New proposals have been brought in to try and provide greater protection and flexibility to credit card users in the UK, according to recent reports.

The new measures form a combination of the proposals that were put forward by the government and proposals that were put forward by lenders. The government had put forward a range of proposals originally, but the credit card industry defended some of its methods with a lengthy report to respond to those proposals.

Whilst the package of measures does not go quite as far as some industry officials may have hoped they do provide some additional protection and flexibility for credit card users.

There had been talk of the minimum repayments being increased for credit cardholders but there was concern that consumers would struggle to manage, especially if they had more than one credit card.

However, lenders will have to charge new account holders a minimum of 1 percent of the amount spent, plus enough to cover any fees, interest, and charges.

The Consumer Minister, Kevin Brennan, stated: “In our consultation it was made quite clear by consumers that they might not be able to manage their current debts if they had to pay off more each month. People with several cards would have had less flexibility to deal with their debts.”

For this reason existing cardholders with balances on their cards will continue to make the minimum repayment requested by their individual lenders.

A number of measures have been put into place as part of the proposals, which are expected to come into play at the start of next year.

This includes a ban on increasing credit limits for those with financial problems, a sixty day period for cardholders to reject any increase on their existing debts, and the opportunity for cardholders to opt out of interest rate increases.

Those that want to reject increases will have to close their accounts, but will be given reasonable time to clear the balance by their lender.

Tags: credit cards, lenders, package, minimum repayments, debt, greater protection

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Posted in: Credit,measures,place,users

Interest rates left on hold again

It has been announced that the base interest rate is to remain on hold at its all time low of just 0.5 percent for the month of January. The announcement was made by the Bank of England following the January Monetary Policy Committee meeting earlier this week. The base rate has been at 0.5 percent since March of last year, and this is the lowest it has ever been in the history of the Bank of England, which goes back over three centuries.

Economists have stated that the move to keep the base rate on hold has not come as any great surprise, and most do not expect the MPC to increase the base rate in the near future. The move to keep interest rates on hold has been welcomed by manufacturing and industry groups, who have said that whilst the economy has shown signs of improvement it is still fragile and there is doubt over the sustainability and strength of the recovery seen so far.

The manufacturers’ association the EEF stated: “The recovery is now underway, but its strength remains in doubt. There are a number of potential pitfalls even as the UK economy starts growing again, including cautious consumers, questions over the public finances and a still-fragile banking system.”

One economist said that 2010 would be a very difficult year for policy makers, as there were many difficult decisions to be made with regards to interest rate movement and the quantitative easing programme. The Bank of England also confirmed that the QE programme would be held at £200 billion but would continue to be reviewed. There is a chance that the QE programme may be extended next month, although most industry experts do not think that it will be extended any further in the foreseeable future.

Tags: eef, interest rates, history, bank of england, monetary policy committee, movement

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Posted in: again,interest,rates

Lottery grant could help charity to assist people in debt

A quarter of a million pound lottery grant is set to help a Wrexham debt advice charity to assist the growing number of people and households that are experiencing debt problems in the area. The three-year Shelter Cymru project was launched in the autumn and has been recruiting staff in the run up to its launch.

Around two hundred households a year will be receiving invaluable advice and assistance from the charity and officials from the project have said that the lottery funding will be a huge boost to the area, as there are more and more young people in and around Wrexham who are now experiencing debt problems and issues that they are unable to resolve without getting help, advice and assistance from experts and professionals.

One spokesperson for the charity said that it could make a huge difference to those that are bogged down with debt to be able to get the right advice to help them with their issues and that the £250,000 grant would help to ensure that the charity was in a position to offer this much needed advice to those that required it. The charity will be able to help those with both small and bigger debt problems, with the grant enabling the group to also assist those with more complicated debt issues that could involve a lot of liaison with creditors and other companies in order to try and reach a suitable solution.

An official from the charity stated: “We know that people are finding things tough financially at the moment. We see it every day in our casework, while a survey carried out for us by YouGov earlier this year showed that more people are starting to use their credit cards to cover day to day expenses.”

Tags: advice, spokesperson, Wrexham FC, Charitable organization, lottery, official, Human Interest, three-year shelter cymru, YouGov, credit cards

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Posted in: assist,Charity,could,grant,Lottery,people

What are the options for consolidating credit card debt?

A number of recent reports have revealed that credit card debt in the UK has been rising, and on a per person basis the level of credit card debt in the UK is said to be over £5000 each. The credit crunch and the recession have both taken their toll on households across the UK over the past couple of years, and this has resulted in many people struggling financially.

During the recession many people did their best to cut back on the amount that they were spending, and rather than accruing debt they decided to make payments to try and clear existing debts to ease their financial situations. However, inevitably there were many people who were unable to do this as a result of their finances, and in order to cope with essential payments such as their mortgage repayments, rent payments, and day to day essentials had to turn to their credit cards.

On top of this the recent Christmas period has also affected the level of credit card debt, and following another turbulent financial year many people did not have enough money put aside to pay for their Christmas purchases and once again had to turn to their credit cards. With credit card bills having now been sent out after the Christmas period a large number of cardholders will found that they cannot cope with repayments on their cards.

As a result of all of these factors industry experts are now expecting the number of credit card consolidations in the UK to increase, as consumers rush to take action to make their credit card bills more affordable and relieve the financial strain. The soaring number of personal insolvencies in the UK has already given an insight into the problems that consumers are facing with their debts, and for many consolidation may now be necessary to cope with their finances.

There are a number of options available to those that are looking to consolidate their credit card debts, and in some cases this can be a really sensible solution as it can mean reducing interest and cutting repayments, which can subsequently mean reducing the risk of missed and late payments, CCJs, and black marks on your credit report. A consolidation loan is one of the solutions that consumers can go for, and these loans can be used to wrap up credit card debt as well as other smaller, high interest loans, catalogues, store cards, etc.

Another option is to go for an interest free balance transfer credit card, and with these borrowers can transfer debts from multiple existing cards up to the new credit limit, and can then enjoy a generous period of interest free credit to clear the transferred debt. For those that think they may need longer to clear their transferred debt a life of balance transfer is another option, and whilst these do charge a low rate of interest on the transferred balance the interest rate is far lower than the standard and it means that the low rate will be applied for the life of the transferred balance providing more time for the balance to be cleared.

Tags: financial situations, debt consolidation, credit crunch, debt help, credit card consolidation, debt management

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Posted in: consolidating,Credit,options

Get your debts under control this year

Whilst most of us would love to be free of debt many of us have had little choice but to borrow money for various things other than our mortgages. Credit cards, loans, store cards, overdrafts, and catalogues have all become a part of life for most people, and many people get themselves into a spiralling level of debt getting to the point where they can barely manage to keep up with their repayments.

Whilst getting into debt is unavoidable for most of us it is possible for those that are struggling with their debts to take action to try and ease the situation. The measures and options that are available to you will depend on a number of things, such as your personal situation and circumstances to the level and type of debt that you have. It is a good idea to look at the various options that are open to you, as some resolutions will work more effectively than others.

Over the past couple of years in particular many people may have found themselves deeper and deeper in debt, with financial problems having affected their finances to the point where they have been living on credit. Being in debt so deeply can really drag you down, and this is why it is so vital to take action as early as possible in order to get things sorted out with your finances and ease the stress that debt can cause. Some of the many solutions available are outlined below:

Consolidation: Consolidating your debts can prove to be one effective option for those that want to try and reduce their monthly repayments and make their debts more manageable.

This is an effective solution for those that have a range of different unsecured debts such as credit cards, loans, overdrafts, etc. In order to get a good rate on a consolidation loan you will need to have a pretty good credit rating, but if you are able to get this type of loan you can wrap up all of your other debts into one, cut the number of creditors that you are dealing with, and reduce the amount that you are paying out each month.

Debt management plans: If you are in a situation where your debt repayments are taking up a large chunk of your income, leaving you short of money for other essential payments, it is worth considering a debt management plan. There are various debt charities and agencies that can help to set these up, and you should find one that does not charge a fee.

Under a debt management plan you could reduce the amount that you are paying to each creditor by a significant amount and simply pay over a longer term until it is paid off. The interest on your debts is often frozen under these plans, and you usually make one payment to the debt management company which will then distribute the payments to your creditors.

IVA: If you are really struggling with your debts, you have over £15,000 in unsecured debts, you or your partner is working, and you meet the necessary criteria you may be eligible for an IVA.

This is known as a softer alternative to bankruptcy, and is not something that should be taken lightly to escape debt. However, for some people that have no other option it can be an effective solution, and in most cases you will pay a reduced monthly payment to be distributed amongst your creditors for five years, after which time the remainder of your debt will be written off.

Tags: debt consolidation, consolidate debts, IVA, debt management, individual voluntary arrangement

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Posted in: control,debts,under

Running out of money? What NOT to do.

As we approach the end of the month some may be feeling the pinch and be running out of funds before the next payday. It is easy enough at times like that to think about quick cash loans such as Payday Loans and in some cases, loan sharks.

If you are worried about making ends meet then try following these simple steps to arrange your finances to try and avoid borrowing money.

Work out how much money you have left and then work out everything that you need to pay out for with that money.Look at your expenditure list and remove anything that you don?t need to spend money on, such as trips to the cinema, unnecessary car journeys and see just how much you can save.Look through your cupboards and see what food you actually have. The chances are you will have enough meals to get by. In case of severe hardship and food poverty you may qualify for a voucher to redeem at your local food bank.For any bills that need paying, if you know you won?t have the funds you need to contact the relevant creditor as soon as possible to request a payment break. You will then need to come to an arrangement to make up the arrears.

What are your tips for avoiding Payday Loans?

Written by Gemma on December 14th, 2011

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Posted in: money,running

Preparing for the New Year

With the New Year fast approaching many of us are reflecting on the last year?s events and preparing for the new year ahead of us. For many of the people who contact Payplan, they may be looking for free debt advice or some assistance with their financial issues.

At this time of year we see many new clients contacting us as they resolve to start a fresh.

By contacting Payplan early on with your debt problems you can get everything in order before things spiral out of control. Many who come to us say ?I wish I?d called you sooner? in doing this they would have avoided further hassle from creditors, legal action or unnecessary distress.

This New Year, what are your resolutions?

Written by Gemma on December 27th, 2011

Filed Under  Budgeting, Payplan   |  Trackback  |   2 Comments

Tom Preston

I run a small pub which is trading at a loss. I wantt to consider my options. I have a ?50,000 loan secured on my house which I want to avoid having to sell.

December 31, 2011 at 11:45 am     Gemma

Hi Tom, call one of our advisors on 0800 716239 and they will be able to give you some advice on what your options are.

January 3, 2012 at 9:21 am    

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Posted in: Preparing

What Can I cook With Leftovers? from Penny’s Recipes

As you plan your Christmas food, you order the turkey, goose or beef,? ham and a pork pie. Plan a nut roast for the vegetarians, cheese and crackers, ice cream, puddings, plenty of fruit and chocolate. The list gets longer and the cupboards start to fill.

You are busy ensuring you have enough for your guests ? the invited ones and the unexpected ones Sometimes it is difficult to gauge just how much you will need when you have guests, when you are not used to catering for many people. And the last thing you want to do is run out of food.

However when you get to the other side of Christmas you may realise you still have a lot of food in the fridge. Letting food go to waste is heartbreaking, not to mention hard on the wallet. When faced with leftover meat and vegetables, that may be looking past its best, it can be hard to visualise what to do with it – so here are a few suggestions from Penny’s Recipes that you can have ready. That way you don’t have to face avoid endless turkey sandwiches and turkey curry ?? or worse throwing food away.

Chicken / Turkey Risotto

This is a delicious way to use up some meat and you can chuck in some leftover vegetables as well . It is best made with risotto (arborio) rice so if you think this could be useful, add it to your shopping list before Christmas. Then use what you have to make up a lovely meal. Feel free to vary the ingredients to adapt to what you have left over.

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion, peeled and sliced
1 pepper (green or red), de-seeded and diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
300g / 10oz arborio rice
About 300g /10 oz cooked chicken/turkey/beef/goose chopped into small pieces
100g / 3 oz frozen peas/ cooked vegetables/mushrooms
750ml / 1 1/4 pints stock (vegetable or chicken)
75g / 2 1/2 ozs hard Italian cheese (or similar), grated
Freshly ground black pepper

Heat the oil in a large, heavy frying pan or saucepan

Add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes

Add the pepper, garlic and cook for a further 4 minutes, stirring frequently

Add the rice, stir and cook for a minute or two

Pour in about one quarter of the stock

Bring to the boil, turn the heat down and simmer gently until most of the stock is absorbed

Add the meat

Add about one third of the remaining stock, stir, bring to boil and simmer gently

Once most of the liquid is absorbed, add most of the remaining stock

Add the peas or other vegetables and stir

Bring back to simmering

Taste the rice ? when done it will be soft with a little bite

Add more stock if further cooking is required,

When cooked, stir in the grated Parmesan cheese

Season with salt and pepper

1. Decide on your budget

2. Make a menu plan for the festive season

3. Plan some tasty budget meals that people love as well as more festive fayre

4. Make a shopping list

5. Cost out your shopping using your local supermarket website ? if it blows your budget, plan again

6. Check out the comparative cost of vegetables and eggs at your local market or greengrocer

7. Try baking your own cakes, mince pies and biscuits ? have a fun baking day with friends

8. Ask each guest to bring some specific food or drink ? a dessert, or a starter – they will probably want to bring something and glad to know it is something you need.

9. Don’t assume large packets are always relatively cheaper than two small packets, check

10. Don’t always buy the biggest – consider buying a Turkey breast rather than a whole turkey

11. Ensure you have containers and freezer bags to put leftovers in for the fridge or freezer

12. Have some standby dry ingredients, such as pasta and rice, to make a last minute meal for the unexpected

Written by Gemma on December 23rd, 2011

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Posted in: Leftovers,Pennys,Recipes

New year, new you. Changing your spending habits

The New Year is always a good time to try something new or change things in your life that you are not happy about.

With the state of the economy getting worse and families seeing the biggest squeeze to their budgets for 60 years, many may be seeing the New Year as an opportunity to change the way they are spending their money.

If you are looking to change your spending habits, here are a few top tips.

Write down all of your expenditure and see where you are spending your money. From this you can look at areas that are excessive or where you know you spend too much.For all of your utilities you can use comparison websites to see how much you can save. If it turns out that you have the best deals then you haven?t lost anything. However you could save yourself lots of money if you find a cheaper deal.On your grocery shop, why not switch to the supermarket own brands. Alternatively why not switch supermarkets? Try going to your local supermarket to buy cheaper fresh fruit and vegetables or visit one of the low budget supermarkets.Make use of loyalty card points and use them wisely. Tesco Clubcard and Sainsbury?s Nectar Card have double value vouchers if they are spent on certain items, so it is always worthwhile checking.Instead of cutting out luxuries, sign up to discount websites such as Groupon to get the things you love, for less.

How will you change the way you spend?

Written by Gemma on January 4th, 2012

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Posted in: Changing,habits,SPENDING