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....Now get me a present, or I’ll be dumping you

Who Turned the Heating Down?
I don’t know if anybody else has noticed, but there seems to have been a distinct drop in the temperature recently. Keeping our homes warm and cosy even in a mild winter is hard work and costly, but when temperatures plummet, heating bills tend to go in the opposite direction. Here are a few practical tips to make it through the cold snap, without melting too many funds from your bank account.

Around the House
This may sound daft, but make sure all windows are closed tightly shut. You’ve probably

As the second week in January already rushes past, Christmas, New Year and the associated

New Year, new you and a new budget, are three things that often go together just about now. Overeating and overspending during the festive season mean that for many of us it’s time to lose a few pounds in one area of our lives and add a few in another. Dedicated to saving money in every way possible, the Spy has gathered some top tips for both.

Avoiding the Gym Trap

Well, it’s upon us, finally. The season of overspending has landed and, as our bank accounts begin to run out of steam, the worst happens; the January Sales. How can we afford to not have a little me-time in the shops, to banish those winter blues as stores of the online and offline variety drop their prices at great speed? The sales are a great time to bag a bargain, but as many of us are looking to rein in our spending at this time of year what can we do to cut the cost of living in January.

Staying Alert

Despite what you might think about the sticky fingered fraternity they are a hardy lot. As British motorists shiver in the suddenly seasonal weather, the number of opportunist car thefts has soared. The season of good will has turned into the season of good wheels for those bright enough to realise that six cars a-heating per street in the morning can mean some rich pickings.

Whether or not it turns out to be a White Christmas, it’s almost certainly going to be a Red January for many millions of people. Reports suggest that over four million people will be taking out pay day loans this Christmas and that many more will be relying on Credit Cards or overdrafts to fill those stockings. After over-eating, the biggest worry for most people around this time of year is overspending, so how can you balance the books in the New Year?

Christmas Credit Cards

We all try hard to forget but finally there’s no avoiding it: Santa Claus is very definitely on his way. You don’t have to be an international man/woman of mystery to spy this one out. Our bells are jingling, the weather outside is far from delightful and across the land merry urchins are setting up Pinterest sites in a 21st century take on the old Christmas list. It’s here and there’s no getting away from it. Add to all that, the European Sprout Mountain as about to engulf us all in a seasonal avalanche. Therefore to help you get through this period, here are some survival tips.

With the weather being uncooperative for much of this year the coming winter may not seem like the best time to get on with all those DIY jobs around the home and garden. It’s probably not, but this time of year can be the best time to stock up on all the practical tools, equipment and fittings that you’ll need for a head start when spring comes round. As autumn turns seamlessly into winter the big DIY stores are all looking at their huge surpluses of summer stock and thinking the same thing; “clearance sale”.

Is your garden furniture a little worn after summer?

With the season of goodwill to our credit card companies just around the corner, many of us are looking for ways to save a little extra cash and to even earn a little extra. However, saving is easier said than done and finding a first job can be hard enough at the moment, never mind a second. So what are the easiest ways to save and just how can you pile on the pounds before Christmas?

Small Scale Savings