Money Event » Money tips

Save money while shopping

Tamal Anwar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:45:51 +0000

While shopping, quite often we end up increasing our estimated budget. As a result our monthly budget is affected. We may avoid this by giving due importance to money management tips such as using cash instead of credit cards, saving money by buying in bulk, availing the benefits of clearance sale or surfing the net and saving some money.
You may follow some of the money management tips while shopping:

Select the nearby market and save money on fuel.
Prepare your shopping list in advance and save money in buying unnecessary things.
Go for shopping after having your food and save money on eating outside.
Compare the prices of your usual brand with other one. If the prices and quality suits you, switching to another brand may help you to save money.
Use coupons for saving some extra money.
Take your friend along and save some money in promotional schemes.
Avail the benefits of clearance sale.
Save money by shopping online.
Wisely use your credit cards.

Also you can save a lot by shopping online. Apart from the above saving tips, you should buy the products by paying hard cash. Using your credit card will make you pay more apart from the actual price of the product. Following the above tips you can really balance your home budget and keep good care of your personal finance.
There are certain minute things which if given due importance can make wonders and help you to save extra money. You may try to look for the various alternatives that will help you to save more while shopping.

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Investors ‘playing it safe’ in the money markets

Tamal Anwar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:43:06 +0000

While there have been suggestions from some quarters that the recession may be coming to an end and the stock markets have become relatively stable, it appears many are still unwilling to take serious risks when it comes to investment.

The FTSE 100 Index, for example, has failed to make any sustained gains over the last few weeks, as nervy investors continue to play it safe. Short-term profit-taking has become a key trend, with people seeking to cash in on stocks and shares gains as soon as they occur because they believe they may go back down again quickly.

This safety-first approach is also being seen in the markets in which people are looking to invest, with sectors that are traditionally stable proving popular.

“We have defensives leading the way with pharmaceuticals higher by one per cent and this gives a strong indication of investors’ appetite for risk, having witnessed the FTSE fall over six per cent in the last two weeks,” commented Joshua Raymond, market strategist at City Index, on Tuesday morning. “Whilst there are certainly hopes for a short-term bounce, the long-term direction of the markets remains clouded.”

He suggested that the recent falls were caused by a lack of major positive news, claiming that the only place the markets are probably going to go when there are so few economic indicators to go off is downwards.

One indicator that has been published this week is the British Bankers’ Association’s mortgage approvals data, which revealed that approvals had reached their best levels for more than a year. Commenting on the figures, Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, said that while property transactions may rise by a little over the next few months, there are still a number of major issues holding the market back. Among these is the difficulty first-time buyers have in managing to acquire mortgage finance and the “diminishing stock of instructions on estate agents’ books”.

Other news affecting the markets was a speech given by Spencer Dale, a member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee. According to Bloomberg, the value of the pound fell against other currencies as he suggested the economy could benefit from sterling being weaker.

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Moneyfacts.co.uk is the leading independent financial information provider in the UK. Since 1988, we’ve been providing impartial information to financial services professionals which has helped thousands of customers get the best deal on their mortgages, savings accounts, credit cards, loans and other personal finance products.

www.moneyfacts.co.uk Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

Where Can I Use My AMEX Credit Card?

Tamal Anwar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:34:50 +0000

American Express credit cards are accepted at tens of thousands of locations around the world, both on and offline.

In your everyday life, you can use AMEX to pay for things like petrol, flights and travel, groceries, accommodation, bills, taxis, concert tickets, and other day-to-day expenses.

Virtually all major retailers and service providers will accept AMEX cards, but smaller stores – such as your corner store or local hardware store – may not accept AMEX as a form of payment. This is because AMEX generally charge higher merchant fees than other credit card issuers, which smaller businesses can’t recoup as easily as larger companies are able to.

(For an indication of the individual stores in the UK where AMEX is accepted, visit the credit card provider’s official listing.)

If you travel abroad frequently, using your AMEX has many benefits, such as dedicated AMEX currency exchange centres. If you’re an AMEX customer, you can often access a better foreign exchange rate at these centres. AMEX accounts can also come with extras such as free travel insurance and 24-hour card replacement, if your credit card is lost or stolen.

However, there can also be some drawbacks associated with using your AMEX overseas.

AMEX differs from other credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard, as it is a direct issuer, rather than being a product offered by a bank or financial institution.

As a result, AMEX is not as widely accepted as other credit card types in all countries. Usually, major retailers, hotels and restaurants will accept AMEX, but smaller businesses may not accept AMEX payments, because the transaction fees charged to the merchant are too high. If you’re planning to travel overseas, it’s worth enquiring with your hotel or with AMEX credit card provider to ensure that your credit card will be accepted.

Peter Carville is a freelance article writer who writes for Financial Facts about the current financial news and the credit crunch.