Citizens Advice Bureau

If you are in need of advice about debt, benefits, baliffs, legal issues etc. You can call them or go to a local office. You can do a search on their website to find out where your local citizen advice bureau is.

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Here is a short film from them about what their service is and how they go about it.

Amazon Price Comparison

The Daily Mail has a list of various products that are cheaper elsewhere than on Amazon, and point out that retail giant paid less than £1 million corporation tax on revenues of £4.5 billion.
In 2010, it didn’t pay a anything on UK sales totalling £3.3 billion.

Unfortuantely at the end of the article it lists various 'cashback' credit cards, with links to them. They say "Clever Christmas shoppers can earn hundreds of pounds a year by ditching their debit card in favour of a cashback credit card. "

Oh really, and since when were credit cards in the business of giving away money! Clearly this is just a marketing tactic to get people into debt and know that although some will get cashback many others will be giving plenty of their cash in interest payments! The real clever Christmas shoppers will use a debit card and only spend what they have, and not owe a penny after Christmas.

Shall we bother with Christmas presents?

Many people buy Christmas presents for friends and family and secretly wish they didn't have to as things would be a lot more affordable, if they just had to buy for children and closest relatives. The crazy thing is the people they get gifts for are often thinking the exact same thing!

But a silence prevails and years go buy and they still do the same thing. So, the only way to sort out this issue is to actually bring it up. It's simple, you just say 'Shall we bother getting presents for each other this year?' Theres a good chance the persons face will light up and will shake your hand on the deal before you have a chance to say 'Christmas sherry'. Some, might squirm a bit, they like the idea of not having to spend as much money, but they might miss the fun of giving and receiving gifts. If it looks like that is the case, then say something with a laugh, 'Ok, how about we just spend a fiver or tenner. I'm happy with stuff from the pound shop!' This could seal the deal. They agree because they still can go about getting you something as normal, but at the same time money will being saved.

Sorted.

Payday Lenders

The Office of Fair Trading has said that over 50 of the companies it has investigated in an interim report do not operate fully by its rules. The OFT says it is worried by reckless lending and aggressive debt collection and they are now investigating the debt collection practices of payday lenders.

If you are being chased for money by one of these debt collectors try not to let them get to you. They can be rude, nasty and sometimes quite menacing. The best response to them is to ignore them. Do not answer your door, do not engage in debate, just let them stand there. They have no authority to enter your home, so dont think you have to let them in.

If you feel threatened by them or intimidated then its quite simple - call the police. No-one has the right legally to do that, regardless of whether you owe money or not.

If you have a video camera and if they are damaging your property or are being abusive, or hammering on your door violently get it all on film.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20406659

Triodos Bank

Triodos bank is one of these 'green' banks. It only invests in companies that don't damage the environment and stays clear of weapons companies etc. They are what is known as 'ethical finance'. It is certainly an option if you are fed up with your high street bank bossing you about and slapping on charges left right and centre.

They had no bail out and seem to offer good customer service.

Their website is; http://www.triodos.co.uk/en/personal/

Ursury

What is ursury?

Ursury is lending money and receiving interest on the repayments, especially loans with high interest. It is as old as the hills and until more recently was taboo in Christian countries. Jesus overturned the money lenders tables in the temple and there is various quotes in the bible saying money should not be lent with interest.


Lending money at very high interest rates is considered 'ursurous'. You might have heard of Islamic mortgages. As with Christianity, Islam forbids ursury, so muslims get mortgages that have a fixed administration fee instead of paying interest. In general, they are now much stricter regarding ursury than Christians.

If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury. Bible - Exodus 22:25

Younger people under the age of 25 might not realise just how recent getting in debt was a real taboo. Credit cards only came into use in the 1970s and the WWII generation, brought up with Christian teachings at school and high church attendance were very much of the belief that you should not spend what you don't have and many would save for a new TV or holiday and would never have dreamt of putting it on a credit card to pay it back later.

Here is the Wiki page about ursury.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usury

National Savings Index Linked Savings

NS&I has reintroduced both index-linked and fixed 5-year savings certificates, with people allowed a maximum of £15,000 (minimum £100) in each. Savers will get a tax-free return of 0.5% above rpi inflation over the 5 year life of the certificates.

http://www.nsandi.com/

Premium Bonds

Premium Bonds are a good alternative to gambling on the lottery or putting bets on. It is a saving scheme where instead of getting interest on your money you are entered into a monthly draw with a top prize of £1 million, and many smaller cash prizes.

The bonds are backed by HM Treasury, and have been popular for decades now. One downside is over time the money you have in bonds can reduce in value due to inflation, and the fact the money receives no interest. However, this does not take into account you might win money along the way which can be invested into more bonds, increasing your chance of winning further.

So, although your money might slowly reduce in value, if you have no luck, at least you won't lose the lot like you do with the lottery and betting if you don't win. You can also cash in the bonds at anytime.

The minimum investment is £100 the maximum is £30,000 and anyone over 16 can buy them. They can also be bought by parents, guardians and grandparents for children under 16.

You can apply for premium bonds at your post office, by phone or online. Full details here;

http://www.nsandi.com/savings-premium-bonds

Britain's 5 Cheapest New Cars

The new Dacia Sandero car is proving popular at just £6,000, here is 4 other cars that are a similar price..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/cars/article-2232885/Top-5-brand-new-cars-buy-Britain.html

'Poorest President in the World'

The President of Uruguay, Jose Mujica, lives on a small flower farm and donates 90% of his salary to charity. He says that mass consumption is threatening the planet's environment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-20334136

Martin Lewis on Electricity & Gas Bills

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20351916

Interesting video from Martin Lewis about how the current set up for gas and electric bills means that affluent, internet savvy people are more likely to be getting cheaper electricity and gas than people such as visually impaired or elderly who are less likely to use switch sites to change suppliers.

Citizen's Advice Bureau

Money and debt section of the Citizen's Advice Bureau.


http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/debt_e/debt_help_with_debt_e.htm

Beginner's Guide to Money Management

How to manage money. A video aimed at children 9 - 12.

Beginner's Guide to Debt

A short video aimed at children aged 9-12 explaining what debt is.

Debt Advice Foundation

Debt Advice Foundation is a registered national debt advice and education charity offering free, confidential support and advice to anyone worried about loans, credit and debt.

http://www.debtadvicefoundation.org/

0800 043 40 50

National Debtline

Helpline that provides free confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems.

Tel. 0808 808 4000

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/

Tussell Trust Foodbank Network

The Tussell Trust is helping people in poverty across the UK with its network of food banks, where people in need can get an emergency supply of tinned food. People who are struggling are given a voucher by doctors, social services, priests etc which can then be exchanged for food. If you are desperate you could contact your nearest foodbank and explain your situation and perhaps they might be able to help. Remember this service is for people who literally have no money to go to the shops, not if you're a bit skint and fancy some free food so you can go to the pub with the savings.

You can find your nearest food bank here;

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?oe=UTF-8&hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=111130270486075675880.00048aa53ae68ca28799a&z=6

It is also possible to volunteer and donate tinned food.

Tussell Trust website HERE

Golden Dawn Distribute Food

Greek nationalist political party, Golden Dawn, distribute food they have bought, to Greeks only in Athens.

Wonga.com

Wonga.com is one of these Payday loan companies that give huge interest loans to people who clearly are struggling financially, otherwise they would not resort to getting such high interest loans.
These loans are particularly dangerous if for one reason or another, such as unexpected illness, the borrower isn't able to pay it back on the day it is due, which can make the loan spiral into an ever growing debt.
Wonga.com has sponsored Newcastle United and their brillant pr move was to announce the name of the stadium would revert back to St James Park. In one fell swoop thousands of Geordies, like lambs to the slaughter, viewed the company in a good light. How long before some of them go to their new 'friend' top borrow some money to pay for Christmas presents, or an energy bill that is due?
14th Nov 12. Borrow £265 from them for 16 days repayment due £313.19 Interest & fees = £48.19
No wonder the owners of Wonga.com, Errol Damelin and Jonty Hurwitz are multi millionaires. Money made from providing rip off rate loans.
The great news for Newcastle supporters is that there is a FAR SUPERIOR alternative, if they really could find a short term loan useful. Credit Unions are 100% customer owned and there is one in Newcastle called Moneywise. It offers pay day loans at a rate that is very reasonable compared to the 'professional' money lenders.
MONEYWISE
The representative APR on our Pay Day Loans in 26.8%
WONGA.COM
Representative APR 4214%
So,the difference in interest is Wonga's interest is 4,187.2% HIGHER than Moneywise. So, if you know a Newcastle fan considering a pay day loan PLEASE pass this info onto them. Spread this about on NUFC forums etc as every Newcastle fan should be informed there is a real decent alternative to the cuckoos in the nest. It could save you, friends and family money and major stress if you get a loan at a fair rate not a total rip off rate. Moneywise being a financial co-operative does not have a mega marketing budget like Wonga.com, so thats why lots of people will not of heard of them. Once people do, which do you think they would like to borrow money from!?
All regions have a local credit union, just google credit union with a place name to see what comes up.
More info on Moneywise here;
http://www.moneywise.org.uk/Loans-2

What if Britain was like Greece?

The BBC have done a feature with audio and pics about what Britain would be like if it was experiencing a depression on the scale of Greece. Using perscentages and stats from Greece they have applied them to the larger UK population. We would have over 7 million unemployed, minimum wage would be less than a fiver, thousands of schools would be merging, hospital staff being axed. It would be terrible, lets hope it does not get that bad, and poor Greece they ARE experiencing all this as I type. Lets hope they can one day return to prosperity.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17202274

BOGOF Nivea Suncreams

I noticed Tesco were selling Nivea suncream sprays and after sun as BUY ONE GET ONE FREE. Although the winter has been quite mild it's probably not something you were thinking of buying, but it might be an idea to get some now and keep for the summer months and holidays rather then spend double in a few months time.

Price of Bananas to go up

The price of bananas is expected to rise 10% due to increased demand across the world, bad crops from poor weather and disease and the exchange rate.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/303835/Shopping-bill-goes-bananas

Free CV Review

A free CV review from a company advertising on the Telegraph. Link to send your CV below. Here are some testimonials;

''A huge ‘Thank You’ to The Fuller CV. I was invited for an interview after applying for a job with my new CV and it was a success. I’ve really found the whole experience of using The Fuller CV helpful, not just in getting interviews but in understanding more about my own skills and abilities.''
VG, Project Manager, Derbyshire

''Just thought you'd be very pleased to hear that I have been offered a really good job today based on the CV that was written for me. It must have really stood out as it was seen on Telegraph Jobs and the recruiter asked me for an interview the following day! I really appreciate the service I have received and consider it money very well spent. Thanks a million.''
Edward, IT Project Manager - London

''Thanks for my new CV... you will be pleased to know that I sent off for 2 management positions today, and have already got an Interview!! What a fantastic service.''
Graham – Retail Manager


http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/fullercv.aspx?utm_source=tmg&utm_medium=td_fullerCV&utm_campaign=fullercv1502

Samaritans

If you are feeling down, useless, even suicidal, the Samaritans is a wonderful organisation that is there to listen to your problems, no matter how big or small. They will not judge you, they will not tut tut at your past mistakes of perhaps over spending and getting in debt. They will simply let you air your concerns, worries etc. Talking to someone can be a great help, rather than bottling up all your stresses and strains, and you can stay anonymous. Sometimes it is easier to talk to someone you do not know rather than family members who might worry, or react to what you have to say. If you are very down even go to see your GP, try and stay strong and remember tomorrow is another day, just keep fighting and never give in. Good luck.

http://www.samaritans.org/

UK Unemployment rate.

There is now 2.67 million unemployed people in the UK. Percentage wise this means that 8.4% of the working public is out of work. The unemployment rate is 22.4% for 16-24 year olds. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17039513

BBC Victoria Derbyshire Unemployment Debate

Here is a debate about unemployment in the UK. Really interesting, with members of the public telling their experiences.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/victoriad

Jobsite.co.uk

REVIEW - Jobsite.co.uk

I like this job search site, it's regularly updated with plenty of interesting jobs across the UK in a wide variety of sectors. It's nicely laid out and easy to navigate. Easy to use without being over fancy. You can register to upload a cv, but also you can also just send a CV direct via the job listings withut needing to register.

The search function is uncomplicated and you can also sign up for job alerts, so you get relevant vacancies straight to your inbox. The site is used by quite a few recruitment agencies, but also has jobs available direct from companies recruiting.

I'd give this site an 8 out of 10.

http://www.jobsite.co.uk

Charles Dickens Mr Micawber Quote

It seems fitting on the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens being born to quote one of his famous characters, Mr Wilkins Micawber from his novel, David Copperfield.

Mr Micawber was a jovial chap that was always optimistic about money but had money problems. He always believed 'something will turn up". He ended up in debtors jail. The sad thing is, is that the character was based on Charles Dickens own father, who had to sell all his household belongings to pay creditors, and then when Charles was 12, was sent to debtors jail for owing money.


"Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen pounds nineteen
shillings and six pence, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery."


So, the moral of the story is to try and always stay within your budget and don't spend more or get into debt, as happiness comes from not owing money and living within your means, whereas being in debt and overspending is a recipe for misery. You can see why Dickens became such a much loved writer.

Co-op Apprenticeships

The Co-op is a great company, and they are now looking for 2,000 trainee apprentices to train and work in many of their different sectors, from banking, retail to farming.

Example Apprenticeships

Role: Arable or Fruit Crafts Person

Location: Kent, Cambridgeshire and Herefordshire

Time: 2-year programme with 4 residential courses in one week blocks spent at Reaseheath College, Cheshire

Availability: Up to 8 vacancies

Salary: £10,000 plus overtime in Harvest season

We are looking for people who are passionate about fresh food and the outdoors and who want to become the future of farming. For us, farming is much more than growing food. It is about a sustainable business that cares for the environment, protects local wildlife and raises awareness about food. We are big in both arable and fruit farming, including potatoes, strawberries, cider apples and peas, all of which go into our stores. Our aim is to expand the range of foods we grow and provide high-quality British produce for our customers.

Role: Administrator or Customer Service roles

Location: Based in Stockport/Skelmersdale

Time: 18 - 24 month Apprenticeship

Availability: 80 vacancies

Salary: £8,625 - £11,500

This is an exciting time, as a co-operative renaissance coincides with a changing mood among people.

People increasingly want to do business with an organisation that puts their interests first, shares their values, strives for a sustainable future and puts something back into society. In short, people want to do business with The Co-operative.

We are transforming our financial services business by building the banking group of the future.

This banking group knows its customers and understands their needs, has a brand that sets it apart from the rest, branches on every major high street and fully integrated mobile, web and phone channels. It delivers a great experience every time customers transact, understands how to attract and engage customers, how to deepen relationships with them and retain them at key moments.

This banking group has a great culture that values its people for their contribution and rewards them accordingly: a culture that helps colleagues grow and develop. This is an organisation where customers do business with people who clearly enjoy working there.

You can help us to transform our business, whether as an apprentice Administrator or Customer Service Advisor.

Qualifications
You will complete an apprenticeship in Customer Service or Business Administration

Role: Pharmacy Assistant

Location: Nationwide

Time: 12-month Apprenticeship

Availability: 10 vacancies

Salary: £9,470 - £12,168

You may not already know, but we are the largest British owned pharmacy chain in the UK. With nearly 760 branches, we have plenty of opportunities!

We are not just about dispensing medicines. We believe in listening to our customers and giving them personal advice on lifestyle and health issues. Because of the extra care we take with our customers, we are leading the industry, achieving 91% customer satisfaction!

We are bringing in new ideas and services, updating our branches and investing heavily in training our people, from launching an apprenticeship programme like this to leadership programmes for managers and professional development for pharmacists.

So, what a great time to join our Apprenticeship Academy as a Pharmacy Assistant: the first point of contact for customers who are looking for good service and sound advice. You will be selling over-the-counter medicines and providing our customers with expert advice regarding their health and well-being, so this role is quite a responsibility. We will help you by giving you plenty of training and lots of support to achieve your qualification. This will ensure that you are able to recommend the right products and ensure that our customers get the professional advice they need.

Qualification
You will gain a Retail Apprenticeship qualification, a dispensing qualification, plus key skills in numeracy and literacy and a QCF Level 2.


For details on more types of Apprenticeships available and details on how to apply, visit;
http://www.co-operative.jobs/apprentices/

How to cut £4,000 from your household bills

A thought provoking feature on the Telegraph website, that might give you a few money saving ideas and tips.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/household-bills/9060170/How-to-cut-4000-from-your-household-bills.html

Free Tea Samples!

Twinnings Tea, (who unfortunately closed a factory in the North East and moved the 263 jobs to Poland) is giving away samples of their various tea blends for you to try. Well why not try them, but I certainly won't be buying anything off them. They come across as a real old British brand, but clearly aren't that interested in British people, more like they only care about British pounds.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1309231/Sacked-Twinings-tea-factory-workers-told-train-Polish-replacements.html

You can order English Breakfast, Green Tea's, fruit teas, and Earl Grey, you can choose 2 product samples from the list, and I'd imagine there is a few teabags in each sample. Here is the link, just fill in your details for the freebies. Now I'm just off to have a cup of tea (thats Waitrose own brand)

http://www.twinings.co.uk/discover-our-range#free-samples

Free Sample! Vaseline moisturiser

Boots has 25,000 samples of vaseline moisturiser to send out while stocks last. Just fill in your details on the Boots website below;

http://www.boots-samples.com/vaseline/essential-moisture/

How to become an Avon Lady

Avon has been around for decades and is a popular way for women to earn some extra money by selling cosmetics etc to friends and family. As well as many people making some extra money that can help with the bills or for those little extras such as designer shoes, holidays etc. There is also opportunities to make a lot more by building up a team of sellers. Full details about how to become an 'Avon Lady' can be found via the link below , and here is a vid about it.



http://www.avon.uk.com/PRSuite/your_dream_opportunity.page

Co-op Cashminder Accounts

One other point about the Cashminder Account from the Co-op, see post about the account 2 posts before this one. I forgot to mention about branches. The Co-op has branches across the UK, you can also use any Britannia Building Society to manage your account, and also the Post Office for withdrawing and paying money in. They also have a phone number for telephone banking and you can do banking online as well!

Here is the branch locator page on their website.

http://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/servlet/Satellite/1306391758157,CFSweb/Page/CFSCtplBlank

Payday Loans

Payday loans are loans that have been designed to appeal to people short of money before their next payslip. The idea is you get it a loan, then when you get paid you pay it back, but many people for many reasons struggle to pay it back, then once they've got you in their web their humongous will interest rates will ensure you become just another one of their debt slaves paying back interest to them, and never managing to pay back the amount you originally borrowed. The best advice is this AVOID AT ALL COSTS!

So, if you are short of money and have big bills that are due the first thing you need to do is contact the companies you owe money to and explain your situation, they might be able to spread payments over a longer period. If lets say you get a payday loan to pay a big electric bill, then one option is to call your energy supplier and request a pre payment meter is fitted, then you just pay as you go, topping up your card at the newsagents, and the energy company will arrange for the debt to go onto the meter and you it comes off a few pound each week. So you might put £10 on your meter, and in a week £3 might come off the debt and the rest will last to light your home etc.

Here is an article from the Daily Mail about Payday Loans,

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2094115/Instant-money-loans-Payday-loan-firms-ruining-lives.html

National Lottery Savings

OK, as the saying goes "You have to be in it to win it!", but really there is more chance of finding a lost key in Central London that fell out your pocket somewhere while you were visiting. So, how much have you won in the last ten years, a few tenners, perhaps four numbers and a £150 win. So lets say £200, and thats probably being generous for most people.

So, if you had not have bothered buying a ticket on a Wednesday and Saturday for the last ten years how much would you have 'WON', if ou had of put it in a savings account?

CONGRATULATIONS! You have £1,040 plus interest in your savings account. OK so it's not going to buy you a villa and yacht, but it would mean you could have a 2 week holiday in the sun. So, if you havent been saving you could start next week and in 10years time have a guaranteed mini windfall. However, if you do the same numbers every single week, then sadly you are probably trapped, as no doubt if you stopped this Saturday, your numbers would come up and you would have hit the jackpot, and I wouldn't want to be to blame for that!! ;0) So this suggestion is for those that wisely have just kept to sticking to random numbers or getting lucky dips, you've got nothing to lose and over a grand to gain!

Coop Cashminder Account

If you are having trouble with your bank, perhaps you have received a letter saying they are closing your account due to your bad credit score etc then you will need to find a new account that you can direct payments, benefits or wages into, without them being swallowed up by your current bank.

This might prove difficult if you have a bad credit score, or have defaults, CCJs etc. The Co-op has a current account called the Cashminder Account, its a basic account with no overdraft facility or cheque book. However, you can still set up direct debits, you can pay money in, and you get a debit card so you can still purchase items in the shops or withdraw money from cashpoints. It is a type of account they offer to people who have had financial difficulties and are lenient when it comes to accepting new customers.

You can apply to open account at any Co-op Bank or Brittania Building society, take some address id such as a driving licence or utility bill and £1 to open the account. You can also do it over the phone on 0845 602 7057. Hopefully they will be able to help you.

More info available here;

http://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/servlet/Satellite/1193206368743,CFSweb/Page/Bank-CurrentAccounts?WT.mc_id=ask_va_link

Captain Crunch

Captain Crunch pages on the Sun website has some interesting save money articles.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/money/captaincrunch/

Radio 5 Live Baliffs

There was a phone in about baliffs this morning. Some shocking stories, it seems they think they can do what they want. WRONG. Do not let them intimidate you, do not let them in your house, they cannot force their way in, unless they have a warrant to install a pre payment meter for gas or electricity. Its time the ordinary people of this country stood up and demanded debt collections are done in a non threatening and reasonable way. How disgusting that councils who are supposed to be all politically correct and 'ethical' send round big threatening thugs to intimidate when there could be children in the house, who will find the experience very scary, seeing their parents panicked and upset and seeing strange men coming into their homes. Its an outrage and it's time it was banned.

Snob Falls on Hard Times

Daily Mail readers are having hissy fits about this article. To sum it up a man was left a house in the nineties and did it up and made £600,000 profit, this enabled him to buy a country mansion, and he built up a portfolio of 84 properties in Barnsely. He and his wife had 4 kids and sent them all to boarding school. He then got a multi million pound loan to buy land in a Romanian property deal. Well suprise, suprise, the deal was not as amazing as he hoped and now the bank is calling in his debts. I won'y spoil the story too much heres the link, but here is just one of his comments to give you a taster as to why readers are so fuming.

"I am worried about losing my place in the world and am deeply worried that my children have lost their place in society."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2085486/As-family-led-life-privilege-face-5m-debt-said-upper-crust-recession-proof.html#ixzz1jHDymcyE

Job Centre job search online

The Job Centre homepage is a bit cluttered and you might miss the main link to get to the search page. I think quite a few people overlook this site as a way of looking for jobs, especially ones which are more professional. You might get a surprise at some of them, for example I have just seen an Alumini Relations Officer job at the Physics Dept of Oxford University offering £35k so don't think all the vacancies are bar jobs or shop jobs, although there is plenty of these, and the good thing is , is that the site is updated very frequently.

Happy job hunting, heres the link -

http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/homepage.aspx?sessionid=0c3c80aa-bd97-4f7f-8773-ad5b917ca07b&pid=2

The Best Things In Life Are Free

A good article reminding everyone that the best things in life are free. So go for a country walk, visit an elderly relative, hold the door open and smile!

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/293834/The-best-things-in-life-are-free

New Job for 2012

Some good career tips about finding a new challenge, I think the point about not leaving your current job is a probably a good one, as employees seem to like it if you are working for someone else.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/8992020/Careers-advice-How-to-find-the-job-you-really-want-in-2012.html

10 Frugal Living Tips

America orientated but still some good advice that everyone can find useful when it comes to trying to save money.

http://www.candofinance.com/debt-management/frugal-living-tips/

Ditch Northern Rock / Virgin Bank

The 'Bearded One' seems to like the business plan of charging all his customers monthly fees, even if its just for paying not via direct debit, or get your bill in paper format if you are with Virgin Media for broadband/phone. There is nothing wrong with companies wanting to make a profit, but my experience with Virgin is they want 100% profit and want no costs and try and get the customers to pay extra on top of what they are already paying. Now Branson has bought the 'good part' of Northern Rock (The losses have been made into another 'toxic' bank, that is a steaming vat of debt bubbling away.) he is planning on charging every customer £5 month, so £60 a year. As the French say ....Quelle Surpris!

The simple solution to avoid him helping himself to your hard earned money is to join the Co-op bank, 100% customer owned. That is exactly what Northern Rock used to be for decades when it was a great success, it was only when it demutualised did it a few years later become a financial basket case.

It's a new year, what better time to switch bank accounts to a company that does not pay millions to fat cats, but is run for the customers benefit.

A Prosperous & Healthy New Year To You All!

Readers, wishing you all a happy 2012, make a great start to 2012 by confronting your debts and seek advice. (see post about CCCS below) and if you have a credit card with a balkance cut the blinking thing up into 2012 pieces, it'll stop you using it and help you escape from being shackled to billion pound corporations who want you to remain forever in their debt.