Budgeting

How to Afford the Latest Mobile Phone

Mobile phone companies are always making improvements to their products and this means that customers are keen on buying them and getting hold of the latest technology. It can be so tempting to get something which does great things and is better than your friends and family have. Some of us enjoy gadgets and like to see what the latest ones can do and others just like new features or having new things. The problem with upgrading is that it can be really expensive and so affording it can be difficult.

Some people manage this by getting a phone package which includes a phone. They pay monthly and they then do not have to think about how they will find the money to afford the phone in one lump sum. Although this can be a great way to spread the cost it might work out dearer than buying it upfront and paying less each month for call, texts and data. It can be worth doing the maths and seeing whether there are other ways for you to buy it which are cheaper.

Saving up for a new phone can be an option. However, it can be hard to know exactly when a new model, that you want, will come out. This means that it could be wise to put some money away each month and then when a new phone comes out that you really want, you will have the money there to afford it. Of course, this only works if you do not want a new phone too often and you are able to save a nice chunk of money each month.

Borrowing money can be an option for some people. It can be tempting to use your credit card or other means of borrowing to pay for it. Although this could be cheaper than having a phone within a contract, depending on the deal you get, it will usually be dearer than saving up and paying outright. You may be able to find an interest free credit card which will give you time to save up the money after you have bought it and if you can pay it off before there is interest charged on it then you will not have to pay any extra. You will have to work hard in making sure that you do save up enough money though as it can be tempting to not bother, but once the interest starts kicking in, it can be very expensive.

If you do not manage to find free credit then it is worth making sure that you compare different forms of cash loans before you go ahead. There can be a significant difference in price between different types of borrowing as well as between different lenders and so it is well worth having a look around. You can save a significant amount of money in interest and possibly fees by choosing carefully. It is worth comparing them and seeing which might be the cheapest for you. However, advertised rates are not always offered to all customers, it will depend on your credit rating and so it is worth checking whether you will get that rate as well as finding what fees they may charge so that you can properly compare them.

The latest phones are always expensive and it is always worth thinking about whether you really need the latest model or not. This can be a hard decision as whether we need something is often overruled by whether we want something. We can often justify our sending choices even if know deep down that it is rather expensive. Just make sure that you are aware of the sacrifice you are making if you borrow money to buy a phone or take on an expensive contract. You will usually have to pay out each month and it could be a big chunk of money so you need to be sure that you can afford it and that you will not regret it. Try to imagine how you will feel after a few months when the novelty of the new phone has worn off, perhaps it is damaged or there is an even better one out that you would have preferred. Imagine how tricky it might be to manage those payments, particularly if you are having to go without things in order to afford them.

Save Money

How to More Easily Manage the Cost of your Energy Bills

Energy bills seem to go up and up these days and it can be hard working out quite how to manage the cost sometimes. Unless you intend to take out a loan each time a bill lands. Even if you can afford it, it can be annoying that you keep having to pay out more money all of the time. There are things that you can do which can make managing the energy bill costs more affordable.

To start with it is worth looking at the supplier that you are using and seeing whether you can swap to a cheaper one. There are lots of different suppliers out there and you may find that there are some that are a lot cheaper than that ones that you are using. There are many comparison websites out there which you can use to find out the different costs and whether you can get a cheaper deal and so it is worth just looking to see. You may feel that you only want to go with a company that you have heard of and that is completely understandable. However, you may still find that there is a company that you have heard of which will offer you a cheaper deal. Sometime sit is cheaper if you have gas and electricity with the same company, but this is not always the case and so it is worth checking that as well. You may be tied in to a fixed rate deal and therefore think that you cannot switch. However, some companies do allow you to switch free of charge and others will have a small fee that may be worth paying if you can save a significant amount of money.

Try to set up your payments, if you pay monthly, to go out just after you have been paid. This means that there will be plenty of money in the account to pay them. It can be difficult if you have to pay up a few weeks or more after you have paid as you have to make sure that you budget carefully and have enough money left in your account to pay for it. You should be able to telephone your supplier and ask them to change the payment date for you.

If you use less energy then you will be able to keep your bills lower. It can be easy to think that small changes will not make a significant amount of difference to your bill but if you make a lot of small change then it can make a big difference as they can all add up. Also even a small difference will save money and if you get into habits of being energy saving it will be easy to make those changes.

There are many changes that you can make and you will find that your energy supplier will probably have some hints and tips on their website that could be useful for you to look at. It is worth looking at lots of places as there may be things that you have not considered before that you will find really easy to do. When changing white goods and light bulbs, look for energy saving versions, they are often cheaper as well, so it is worth it. Some may be more expensive but will last longer, so it might be worth the investment if you can afford it. Switching thing off when they are not in use can make a big difference, so just turning off lights when leaving a room or turning off computers and televisions when not in use and things like that can make a difference too. Insulation can be a big factor as well and you may be able to get it done for free in some cases. Make sure you have very thick insulation in your attic if you have one, as well as around your hot water tank. It can be worth putting insulated panels behind your radiators if they are on outside walls as well, they can reflect heat back into the room. Do not leave heating on low all of the time as this does not help keep the house warmer. Just have it on a comfortable temperature when you need it on can be better. Switch it off at night and when you are away from home. Check for other energy saving tips online too and you could end up saving a significant amount.