Finance Portal

The beginning of the year is always an ideal time to look at our finances and see how we can save money here and there. However, for many of us saving money fills us with dread – because who wants to live a life of cutbacks? Thankfully, there are ways that we can look at saving money without feeling the pinch too much.

Savvy Shopping

One of the best things you can do is become a savvy shopper. Grocery shopping is something that most of us do on a weekly basis, so if you can save even a few pounds a week it can make all of the difference. That doesn’t mean that we have to go to shop own brands or cut back on what we buy, but just be a bit savvier about what we are putting in our trolley. Check websites like Hot Deals UK to see what supermarkets have good deals on that you could save money on and of course look out for vouchers to see what you could save. For example, shopping at a discount grocery store like Aldi would save you money, but using Aldi coupon codes on top of that would save you even more.

Cash Back Websites

There are different websites such as Quidco and Pigs Back which will give you a cash back amount on items you buy online. The amount you can get back varies and it doesn’t always include all shops, but seeing as you buy in more or less the same way as you usually would, it is so hassle free that any amount you do save is a real bonus.

Shop The Sales

Organisation can be imperative when it comes to shopping, especially for presents and gifts. Make a list of the birthday presents that you need to buy at the start of the year. That way you always know who you have to buy for. This gives you the perfect opportunity to buy items in the sale, even if it is a few months in advance and get a name ticked off the list – perfect!

Save Small Amounts

Saving money is hard, mainly because we all try to save such large amounts. Every day take out the smaller coins from your purse and put them in a jar or pot somewhere. It might only be a few pence each day, but if you do this over a year the amount you could save is surprising. You could even empty this and cash it in just before Christmas to help you cope with the financial strain of the holiday season.

Of course, as much as we all try to be financially savvy accidents do happen. If you have been involved in an accident which has affected your finances then you could be entitled to compensation. The Accident Advice Helpline help people with all sorts of compensation claims following accidents, so why not get in touch with them today to see what they could do for you?

Australian real estate experts are predicting that 2014 will be an excellent year for anyone interesting in buying a home. The market has been rebounding since 2011, and getting approved for a home loan with a decent interest rate should not be a problem for anyone with a reasonable credit rating. Following are five reasons why this year is going to be the year to buy for many prospective homeowners.

1. A record number of properties are for sale.
Although current homeowners are upgrading and investors are delving into the property market, activity from new homeowners is still low. This has put a record number of homes up for sale, and competition translates into affordable prices. When housing is affordable, a greater percentage of people will be approved for mortgages.

2. The property bubble everyone has been talking about does not exist.
Some investment strategists have said that Australia is in a housing bubble that will soon burst, but the affordability of homes and the low interest rates can be explained by the fall in property values that occurred from 2010 to 2012. There is no bubble. The market is only in a state of recovery, which is the best time to take out a loan.

3. Housing has not been more affordable for several years.
Property values are lower than they have been in recent years, household income is steadily rising and interest rates are down. All of these factors have made homes more affordable than they have been in several years. Naysayers have said that properties are presently overvalued, but this is only because wages have not kept up with home values in the last two decades.

4. The market is in a cyclical upturn.
The housing market has recently entered a cyclical upswing that is expected to continue through 2014 and into 2015. Interest rates are expected to remain low, and consumer confidence is currently very high because values are increasing at a rate of $1,000 per week for some properties. When values increase like this, lenders find it easier to originate new home loans.

5. Property values will continue to increase.
Although no one can predict with 100 percent accuracy how long property values will continue to increase, a downturn is not expected in 2014. Investors are delving headfirst into the market, and prospective homeowners would do well to follow suit. For those who only want homes of their own, there is no better time to take out a loan.