After a few weeks of searching the internet for money-saving tips you are more than likely to come across the phrase “automate” your finances. What does this mean though? Automating finances is just what it says on the tin. By setting up direct debits from your current account you take out the ‘you’ from the occasions and let the banks do the work. You might set-up a direct debit for bills, a standing-order for rent but you can also use it to save before you’ve even touched your pay packet. View full article »
Category: Personal Finance Basics
It’s official. ISA season is up and running. The countdown to the end of the tax year has many banks marketing their best rates for Cash ISAs. I’ve received emails from my investing portfolio platform to inform me that I haven’t used up my allowance. Despite the fact that ISAs have been around since 1999 there is still some mystery around them. Just the other day my housemate asked, “How do I transfer my ISA?” With a vast array on offer what do you need to think about when it comes to a Cash ISA? View full article »
Whilst waiting for a Tube this weekend gone, I was browsing the adverts as usual. I was struck by an advertisement by Lloyds TSB. It said: I spent how much? On what? When? View full article »
I started investing in November 2010. It was an exciting step into a riskier world with the hopes of achieving a higher return on my money. I’d spent two years reading and researching investing so I felt well-prepared as I took that step. During the first few months the value of my investments gradually grew. I was impressed because the ability for it to grow really is instant. I was happy to see the value of investments get higher and higher, the closer to Christmas I got. The FTSE-All Share Index was doing really well during this period. View full article »
Every Saturday The Thrift Diaries gives you a round-up of the best articles on the web. I’m an avid follower of many brilliant personal finance blogs and would like to share the best articles with you. These won’t always be recent articles as I often like to sift through the archives of my favourite blogs.
Six years ago I completely overhauled my finances…well I started looking at my personal finances at first. The rest is history. I have written a basic list below to try and remember every, single thing I’ve ever done to improve my financial situation. I have no doubt that this list will continue to grow so feel free to add your suggestions. I’m always looking for new perspectives and tips on managing my money: View full article »
Consulting is an interesting profession. I feel very lucky that I work for a consulting firm because it has made me even keener to explore attitudes towards improvement and development. As consulting firms work to solve problems faced by businesses everyday there is a distinct air of evaluation. View full article »
Let’s admit something: Personal finance and money management is not the be-all or end-all. It’s a part of life that should be balanced and shouldn’t be something that constantly stresses you or eats into your life. So how can we simplify things?
Well, I always start with the importance of goals. Don’t know what that goal is? Doesn’t mean you can’t stop saving. It’s true that having a targetted savings account is very effective in keeping you on track but what if you genuinely want to save for something big but don’t know what that thing is yet. Let me introduce the AgeK method. View full article »
One of the techniques I use in order to maximise the return on my savings is by utilising several different types of financial products. Each year my savings goals is oriented around filling up my ISA. Unfortunately interest rates on ISAs have been terrible since 2008 meaning I have to change my technique to ensure I earn the most I can on my savings. View full article »
