The trouble is that many people in the UK simply do not have one. Research has consistently shown that a significant proportion of adults would struggle to cover an unexpected bill of just a few hundred pounds without turning to credit. That might mean reaching for a credit card, dipping into an overdraft, or taking out a short-term loan, all of which come with interest and fees that make the original problem more expensive than it needed to be. Without savings to fall back on, a single unexpected expense can trigger a chain of financial difficulties that takes months or even years to recover from. Building an emergency fund is one of the most straightforward ways to protect yourself from that kind of spiral, and the good news is that you do not need to be a high earner to get started.

How Much Should You Save?

One of the most common questions people ask about emergency funds is how much they actually need to save, and the honest answer is that it depends entirely on your circumstances. A widely quoted guideline suggests aiming for three to six months’ worth of essential living expenses, which would cover things like rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, food, insurance, and transport costs. For some households, that might be three or four thousand pounds; for others, it could be considerably more. The idea is that if your income were to stop suddenly, you would have enough saved to keep a roof over your head and food on the table whilst you found your feet again. That said, three to six months is a target to work towards rather than a starting point. If saving that much feels overwhelming, it is perfectly reasonable to start with a much smaller goal, even setting aside a few hundred pounds gives you a buffer that you did not have before, and that matters more than you might think.

It is also worth considering your personal risk factors when deciding how much to aim for. If you are self-employed, work on zero-hours contracts, or are the sole earner in your household, you might want to lean towards the higher end of that range because your income is less predictable. If you have a stable salary and a partner who also works, you might feel comfortable sitting closer to the lower end. There is no single correct answer, and the worst thing you can do is let the size of the target put you off starting altogether. Any amount you save is better than nothing, and once you get into the habit of setting money aside regularly, you may find it becomes easier than you expected.

Practical Steps to Get Started

The most effective way to build an emergency fund is to make saving automatic so that it happens without you having to think about it each month. Setting up a standing order from your current account into a separate savings account, timed to go out shortly after payday, means the money moves before you have a chance to spend it. Even a modest amount, ten or twenty pounds a month, adds up over time and helps you develop the discipline of treating savings as a non-negotiable expense rather than something you do with whatever happens to be left over. Keeping your emergency fund in a separate account is important because it removes the temptation to dip into it for everyday spending. An easy-access savings account works well for this purpose, as it keeps the money within reach when you genuinely need it whilst keeping it out of sight during normal day-to-day life.

If your budget feels tight and you are not sure where the money would come from, it can help to take a close look at your regular outgoings and identify areas where small adjustments could free up a few extra pounds each month. Reviewing subscriptions you no longer use, switching energy providers, shopping around for better insurance deals, or simply being a little more intentional about discretionary spending can all create room for savings without dramatically changing your lifestyle. Another useful tactic is to direct any one-off windfalls straight into your emergency pot. A tax rebate, a birthday gift of cash, or the proceeds from selling something you no longer need can all give your fund a meaningful boost. The key is consistency rather than size; regular, small contributions will get you there eventually, and every pound you add is a pound that stands between you and a potential crisis.

Once you have started building your fund, it is equally important to be clear about what counts as an emergency. The whole purpose of this money is to protect you from genuinely unexpected, unavoidable expenses, things like urgent home repairs, essential car maintenance, medical costs, or covering your bills during a period of unemployment. It is not designed for holidays, birthday presents, or things you simply want but have not budgeted for. Drawing that line clearly in your own mind helps you resist the temptation to raid your savings for non-essential spending, and it ensures the money is there when you truly need it. If you do have to use some or all of your emergency fund, that is exactly what it was built for, so there is no need to feel guilty about it. The important thing is to start rebuilding it as soon as your situation allows, because the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have a financial safety net is something that benefits every area of your life.

Building an emergency fund is not about being pessimistic or expecting the worst. It is about being realistic, acknowledging that unexpected things happen to everyone and making sure you are prepared when they do. Starting small, staying consistent, and keeping the money separate from your everyday spending are the foundations of a strategy that works regardless of your income level. The journey from zero to a fully funded emergency pot takes time, but even the first few contributions bring a sense of control and security that makes the effort worthwhile.

The post Emergency Funds: Why They Matter and How to Build One appeared first on Evlo.

Many people struggle with financial planning not because they lack ambition or discipline, but because they set goals that don’t align with their actual situation. You might read articles suggesting you should save six months’ worth of expenses in an emergency fund, invest a certain percentage of your income, or pay off all debt within a specific timeframe. Whilst these guidelines can be helpful starting points, they’re not one-size-fits-all solutions. Your financial goals need to reflect your income, your essential expenses, your family circumstances, and yes, your desire to actually live your life rather than simply survive it. Setting a goal to save £10,000 in a year might be perfectly achievable for someone earning a comfortable salary with low overheads, but completely unrealistic for someone managing a tight budget with dependents to support. The key isn’t to abandon ambitious thinking altogether, but to build your goals on a foundation of honest self-assessment rather than wishful thinking or external pressure.

Understanding What Makes Goals Achievable

The difference between a realistic goal and an unrealistic one often comes down to specificity and timeframe. Saying “I want to be better with money” is a sentiment rather than a goal because it lacks measurable markers and a clear path forward. In contrast, deciding “I want to reduce my overdraft by £500 over the next six months” gives you something concrete to work towards and a timeframe that allows you to break the goal into manageable monthly targets. When you’re thinking about your financial goals, consider not just what you want to achieve but also how you’ll get there and whether the steps required fit reasonably into your current lifestyle. If reaching your goal would require you to cut out every single discretionary expense, skip social events with friends, or create so much stress that you abandon the plan within weeks, then you need to recalibrate your target or extend your timeframe.

Another crucial aspect of realistic goal-setting is acknowledging that your income and expenses probably fluctuate more than you’d like. Perhaps you work shifts that vary from week to week, or you’re self-employed with income that ebbs and flows seasonally. Maybe your heating bills triple in winter, or you have annual costs like insurance premiums and car tax that create periodic pressure points in your budget. Realistic financial goals account for these variations rather than assuming a perfectly consistent financial situation month after month. This might mean setting more modest targets that you can definitely achieve even during leaner months, or it might mean planning for some months to contribute more towards your goals than others. The important thing is that you’re working with the rhythm of your actual financial life rather than fighting against it.

Building Goals That Work for Different Timeframes

Financial planning naturally involves thinking across different time horizons, from immediate needs to long-term aspirations. Your short-term goals might focus on getting through the next few months more comfortably, perhaps by building a small cushion in your current account so you’re not constantly worried about unexpected expenses pushing you into your overdraft. These immediate goals are often about creating breathing room and reducing financial stress rather than achieving major milestones. There’s nothing wrong with starting small because establishing the habit of working towards a goal and experiencing the satisfaction of achieving it builds confidence and momentum for tackling bigger objectives later. Even saving £20 a month might not sound impressive, but over six months that’s £120 you didn’t have before, and more importantly, you’ve proven to yourself that you can stick to a financial commitment.

Medium-term goals typically span one to five years and might include things like saving for a holiday, building up a proper emergency fund, replacing a car, or reducing debt to a more manageable level. These goals require sustained effort but are close enough that you can reasonably envision achieving them and adjust your approach if circumstances change. When you’re setting these medium-term goals, it’s worth considering which ones genuinely matter most to you rather than trying to pursue everything simultaneously. You might feel you should be saving for a house deposit, building an emergency fund, and paying off credit cards all at once, but spreading yourself too thin often means making little progress on any front and feeling discouraged. Instead, you might decide to focus primarily on one goal whilst maintaining minimum payments or contributions to others, then shift your focus once you’ve achieved that first milestone. This sequential approach often proves more sustainable and motivating than trying to do everything at once.

Long-term financial goals extend beyond five years and typically involve major life objectives like retirement planning, paying off a mortgage, or funding children’s education. These goals can feel so distant that it’s tempting to ignore them entirely, especially when you’re managing day-to-day financial pressures. However, even small steps towards long-term goals can accumulate significantly over time, and starting earlier rather than later gives you more flexibility and reduces the pressure in later years. That said, it’s important to balance long-term planning with present needs and quality of life. Contributing £50 a month to a pension in your thirties might seem like it barely makes a difference, but over thirty years that grows substantially, especially with compound returns and any employer matching. At the same time, if that £50 would make a meaningful difference to your current financial stress or wellbeing, you might reasonably decide that addressing immediate stability takes precedence, at least for now.

Staying on Track Without Making Yourself Miserable

Once you’ve set your financial goals, the challenge becomes maintaining momentum without turning your life into a joyless exercise in deprivation. This is where many well-intentioned plans fall apart because people create budgets so restrictive that they feel punished every time they want to do something enjoyable. Sustainable financial planning recognises that you need to factor in some spending on things that bring you pleasure and maintain your social connections, even if those things aren’t strictly necessary. The key is being intentional about that spending rather than letting it happen haphazardly. You might decide that your weekly coffee shop visit matters to you because it’s a small pleasure that makes your work week more bearable, whilst you’re happy to cut back on subscription services you barely use. These choices should reflect your values and what genuinely enhances your life rather than adhering to someone else’s idea of essential versus frivolous spending.

Regular reviews of your progress help you stay motivated and allow you to adjust your goals if circumstances change. Perhaps every three months you sit down and look at how you’re tracking against your targets, celebrating wins and identifying any obstacles that have cropped up. If you’ve consistently fallen short of your savings goal, that might indicate the target was too ambitious for your current situation, or it might reveal unexpected expenses that need to be addressed. Either way, this isn’t a failure but rather valuable information that helps you refine your approach. Financial planning should be a living process that evolves with your life rather than a rigid set of rules you berate yourself for not following perfectly. Sometimes your circumstances improve and you can accelerate towards your goals, whilst other times life throws challenges your way and you need to temporarily shift priorities. The flexibility to adapt whilst maintaining overall direction towards financial wellbeing is what separates realistic, sustainable financial planning from unrealistic expectations that ultimately lead to giving up entirely.

Setting realistic financial goals isn’t about lowering your ambitions or accepting less than you deserve. Instead, it’s about being honest with yourself about where you’re starting from, what’s genuinely achievable given your circumstances, and what kind of life you want to live whilst working towards financial security. Your financial plan should support the life you’re actually living rather than some theoretical perfect existence. By focusing on goals that challenge you without overwhelming you, building in flexibility for life’s inevitable ups and downs, and remembering that progress matters more than perfection, you create a financial planning approach that you can sustain over the long term. That sustainability, more than any specific savings target or debt reduction milestone, is what ultimately leads to meaningful financial progress and the peace of mind that comes with feeling more in control of your money.

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Many people find themselves caught in cycles of financial stress, moving from one month to the next without a clear sense of where their money goes or whether they’re making progress towards their goals. This reactive approach to money management often leads to anxiety, especially when unexpected expenses arise or when you realise you’re not saving as much as you’d hoped. Building healthy money habits transforms this relationship, shifting you from reactive to proactive financial management. The key lies in creating systems that work with your lifestyle rather than against it, recognising that sustainable change happens through small, consistent actions rather than dramatic overhauls that are difficult to maintain.

Understanding Your Financial Foundation

Creating healthy money habits starts with gaining clarity about your current financial situation, which means taking an honest look at your income, expenses, debts, and savings. This foundational step isn’t about judging past decisions but rather gathering the information you need to make informed choices moving forward. Begin by tracking your spending for a month without trying to change anything, simply observing where your money flows. You might be surprised by patterns you hadn’t noticed, such as small recurring subscriptions that add up or categories where you spend more than you realised. This awareness becomes the bedrock for all other financial habits, as you can’t effectively manage what you don’t understand.

Once you have a clear picture of your financial landscape, you can begin to identify patterns and priorities that will guide your decision-making. Look for areas where your spending aligns with your values and others where it might not, considering whether certain expenses bring you genuine satisfaction or have become automatic habits. This reflection helps you distinguish between needs and wants, though remember that some wants are perfectly valid parts of a balanced life. The goal isn’t to eliminate all discretionary spending but to ensure your choices are intentional rather than impulsive. Understanding your emotional triggers around money, such as stress shopping or celebration spending, also forms part of this foundation, as these patterns often influence financial decisions more than we realise.

Developing Sustainable Money Habits

Sustainable money habits are those you can maintain long-term without feeling deprived or overwhelmed, which means they need to fit naturally into your existing routines and lifestyle. Start with one or two small changes rather than attempting a complete financial makeover, as this approach increases your likelihood of success and builds confidence for tackling larger goals later. For instance, you might begin by automatically transferring a small amount to savings each payday, even if it’s just £20, creating the habit of paying yourself first before other expenses. Another effective starting point is implementing a brief pause before non-essential purchases, perhaps waiting 24 hours for items under £50 or a week for larger purchases, which helps distinguish between genuine needs and impulse buying.

Budgeting often feels restrictive, but effective budgeting is actually about giving yourself permission to spend within predetermined limits whilst ensuring your priorities are funded first. Rather than tracking every penny, which can become exhausting, consider using broader categories that capture your main spending areas. Allocate money for essentials like housing, utilities, and groceries first, then assign amounts for savings goals, debt payments if applicable, and discretionary spending for entertainment and personal purchases. The exact percentages matter less than ensuring you’re consistently saving something and not spending more than you earn. Review and adjust these allocations quarterly, as your circumstances and priorities may change over time.

Technology can significantly simplify the process of building healthy money habits, though it’s important to choose tools that enhance rather than complicate your financial management. Many banks offer spending categorisation and budgeting features within their apps, whilst separate budgeting apps can provide more detailed analysis if you prefer. Automatic transfers to different savings accounts for various goals, such as holidays, emergency funds, or large purchases, remove the need for constant decision-making about how much to save. However, don’t become overly dependent on apps or tools, as the most important element is developing an intuitive understanding of your financial patterns and priorities that guides your daily decisions.

Maintaining Long-Term Financial Wellness

Financial wellness is an ongoing journey rather than a destination, requiring regular attention and adjustment as your life circumstances evolve. Schedule monthly or quarterly check-ins with your finances, reviewing your progress towards goals, assessing whether your current habits are still serving you, and making adjustments as needed. These reviews needn’t be lengthy or complicated, but they should be consistent, helping you stay connected to your financial situation rather than operating on autopilot. During these sessions, celebrate progress you’ve made, whether that’s building your emergency fund, paying down debt, or simply feeling more confident about your financial decisions.

Life will inevitably present challenges to your financial habits, from unexpected expenses to changes in income or major life events like moving house, changing jobs, or starting a family. Rather than viewing these disruptions as failures, consider them opportunities to adapt your habits to new circumstances. Flexibility is a crucial component of long-term financial wellness, as rigid systems often break under pressure whilst adaptable ones bend and evolve. Build resilience into your financial habits by maintaining an emergency fund, even a small one, and by developing the skill of quickly reassessing and adjusting your spending when circumstances change.

Remember that financial wellness looks different for everyone, depending on income, life stage, family circumstances, and personal values. Avoid comparing your financial situation to others, as this comparison often leads to either complacency or discouragement, neither of which supports healthy financial habits. Instead, focus on your own progress and priorities, recognising that small, consistent improvements compound over time into significant positive changes. The habits you build today create the foundation for your future financial security and peace of mind, making the effort to develop them one of the most valuable investments you can make in yourself.

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The importance of internet access was highlighted during Covid-19 lockdowns. It was a lifeline for vulnerable people and allowed us to stay in touch with loved ones.

Post-pandemic, many of us continue to rely on the internet to use a range of services. That means you need a broadband connection.

In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, more and more people are searching for the best broadband deals. As you delve into the world of broadband, though, it can get confusing
This can muddy the waters when you’re searching for the best internet.

In this post we’ll help you find the cheapest deals.

Types of Broadband Broadband has largely replaced the old, slower dial-up, narrowband system. The three main types of fixed-line broadband in the UK are ADSL, fibre, and cable.

ADSL Broadband With ADSL, broadband is delivered through your phone line. The further you are from your telephone exchange, the slower your service. ADSL broadband is the cheapest and most common type of broadband in the UK.

Fibre Broadband

Fibre broadband uses fibre optic cables. It’s faster than ADSL and cable. There are two types of fibre broadband.

● FTTC (fibre to the cabinet) uses fibre optic cables from the main exchange. It then uses copper wires from your streetside phone cabinet.

● FTTP (fibre to the premises) uses only fibre optic cables. It runs directly from the exchange to your home.

Cable Broadband

Cable networks use fibre optic and coaxial cables to deliver broadband. They also provide TV and phone services direct to homes. Unlike ADSL, speeds remain fast over distance. You also don’t need a working phone line. Cable broadband in the UK is mainly provided by Virgin Media. They call it fibre optic broadband.

Which Type of Broadband Do You Need? Which type of broadband you need will depend on your internet usage. In many cases, ADSL broadband is sufficient if you browse social media, shop online, and occasionally watch YouTube videos.

If you want to stream TV, play online games, download large files, or live in a larger household, a faster fibre or cable connection may be better.

Broadband speeds are measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Bits (binary digits) are tiny units of data. A megabit is a million of them.

The more megabits per second, the faster your broadband will load web pages and complete downloads. Streaming music or video, playing online games, and making video calls will also work better.

Where Are the Best Broadband Deals? Broadband providers constantly compete for business. So, it pays to shop around. You’ll probably find in your search for the cheapest broadband that you don’t have to pay more for a faster service. Fibre broadband is often similarly priced to standard broadband.

Major internet service providers popular among people searching for the best broadband deal include:

● Plusnet. Part of BT Group, Plusnet offers some of the lowest prices on the broadband market. It’s also known for industry-leading, award-winning customer service.

● TalkTalk. Salford-based TalkTalk also has a reputation for broadband that’s good value for money.

● Vodafone. London-based Vodafone is one of the world’s largest telecoms operators providing broadband and mobile services.

● Virgin Media. Virgin Media, headquartered in Reading, is the only broadband cable provider serving the UK mainland.

When we looked for the most affordable deals from these providers in August 2023, this is what we found.

Plusnet Plusnet was charging from £26.99 a month for full-fibre broadband .

TalkTalk TalkTalk’s cheapest prices included basic broadband at £26.95 a month and fibre broadband for £28 a month

Vodafone You could get Vodafone Fibre 1 broadband for £24 a month.

Virgin Media The lowest-priced Virgin Media fibre broadband offer we found was £26.50 a month.

How to Find the Best Broadband Deal When Your Contract Ends When you get broadband for the first time from an internet service provider, you agree to a minimum contract period, usually 12, 18 or 24 months.

When the contract expires, prices may shoot up. According to communications regulator Ofcom, out-of-contract customers pay an average of 20 per cent more for their broadband.

Your current broadband provider is required to tell you when your contract is coming to an end. They’re also obliged to tell you the best prices they can offer you with a new deal. avoiding going out-of-contract could save more than £100 a year.

Why We Need Broadband

Many of us would be lost without our broadband. It makes life a lot easier to keep in touch with family and friends, find information, manage money and find entertainment.

However, trying to find the best broadband deal can be confusing. This is especially true if you aren’t tech savvy. We hope this guide has cleared up some of that confusion and helped you look for the cheapest broadband deal.

The post How to Find the Cheapest Broadband appeared first on Evlo.

The Monetary Policy Committee of the BoE sets the benchmark interest rate eight times a year. In times of high inflation, the central bank tends to increase the bank rate in a bid to curb spending and encourage saving.

The idea behind this is that less demand for goods and services helps control rising prices. Savers get a better return on their investment, but higher interest rates can also increase monthly mortgage repayments.

On 3rd August 2023, the BoE increased the base intertest rate from 5 percent to 5.25 percent. Observers predict further interest rate increases in 2023/2024, before gradually falling over the next five years.

Types of Mortgages

Besides rising interest rates, how much your mortgage is costing you also depends on the type of mortgage you have.

Many types of mortgages are available. They all work in a similar way. You borrow money from a mortgage lender – a bank or building society – to help you buy a property.

However, factors such as interest rates, repayment terms and lender fees can differ across the board. The most common mortgage schemes are fixed-rate mortgages and variable-rate mortgages. Both schemes can be either on an interest-only or repayment basis.

With an interest-only mortgage, you pay interest on the loan every month but don’t repay any of the capital you’ve borrowed, which becomes payable at the end of the loan period. With a repayment mortgage, your monthly payments include both interest and some of money you’ve borrowed (capital).

Fixed-Rate Mortgages

If your mortgage is on a fixed rate, your interest rate is set for a specific amount of time (generally 2, 3, 5, or even 10 years).

This means you know exactly how much you need to budget for each month to keep up with your mortgage payments.

The Bank of England (BoE) bank rate increases won’t affect the fixed rate, but at the same time your rate won’t go down if bank interest rates decrease.

At the end of the fixed rate you’ll be switched to a variable rate set by your mortgage provider, which is usually higher than the fixed rates available.

When you have a fixed-rate deal that’s coming to an end or you want to review your mortgage, contact your mortgage provider, and explore your options.

Variable-Rate Mortgages

Interest on variable-rate mortgages can go up or down at any time, in line with BoE base rate fluctuations or when your mortgage provider decides to increase their rates. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), more than 1.4 million households in the UK are facing the prospect of interest rate rises when they renew their fixed rate mortgages in 2023. There are different types of variable-rate mortgages. These include:

Standard Variable-Rate Mortgage

With a standard variable rate mortgage (SVR), the lender can increase or lower the interest rate, in line with the bank rate.

Because your payments are subject to change, budgeting can be more difficult.

Tracker Mortgage

Interest for a tracker mortgage consists of the base interest rate plus percentage points set by the lender.

If the bank rate goes down, your mortgage rate will track down, and vice versa.

Discount Mortgage

If you have a discount mortgage, you’ll be given a discount on your lender’s SVR for a fixed period of time. Once that period ends, the mortgage reverts to SVR.

Capped-Rate Mortgage

A capped-rate mortgage is a variable rate mortgage that doesn’t increase above or fall below a certain rate. They follow the models of standard variable rate mortgages or tracker mortgages but with a cap built in.

What Else Affects Mortgage Payments?

In addition to the Bank of England base rate and the type of mortgage you have, other considerations that impact monthly mortgage payments include:

Supply and Demand

The housing market has been tumultuous over the past few years.

According to the latest data from the UK House Price Index, average house prices fell by 1.2 percent in March 2023. This followed a one percent drop the previous month.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer or are looking to move home, lower house prices mean you don’t have to borrow as much from your mortgage lender. This in turn means lower monthly payments. However, if house prices have fallen since you bought your home, you may owe more money on your mortgage than your house is currently worth.

And if more people want to buy a home when prices are lower, this leads to increased demand for mortgages, which can push interest rates up.

Size and Term of Your Loan

How much you borrowed and for how long is another factor in determining your monthly mortgage repayments. Longer loan terms generally mean lower monthly payments, but you also pay more interest during the lifetime of your mortgage.

Mortgage Calculators

When you’re looking to arrange a mortgage, it’s crucial to review your finances so you can be confident about how much you can afford to borrow.

This is why many people use a mortgage calculator.

Once you know how much you can possibly borrow for your new home, a mortgage calculator will give you an idea of how much your monthly payments are likely to be.

The post Will Your Mortgage Payments Go Up in 2023? appeared first on Evlo.

Many bad habits damage our finances as well as our health. Yet we persist with them to get instant gratification while ignoring the long-term consequences.

In this post, we’ll be looking at common bad habits that cost you money, and what you can do to overcome the problem.

Smoking

In 2023, 5.4 million adults in England were still smoking – the leading preventable cause of premature death.

Smoking is also an expensive bad habit.

After the spring 2023 Budget, the average price of a packet of 20 cigarettes is £14.73. That’s a whopping £5,376 a year – the cost of a luxury holiday.

Hidden Costs of Smoking

Illness or disability related to tobacco use could lose you income through missed work, and smoking can significantly increase life insurance premiums.

Smoking also costs the country as a whole hundreds of millions of pounds, from clearing litter to provision of health care.

In 2022, the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) charity revealed that smoking was costing society £17 billion a year.

How to kick the habit

Stop-smoking experts recommend these steps to help kick the habit.

• Set a date for quitting smoking.
• Tell people you’re stopping smoking and ask for their support.
• List your reasons for quitting.
• List the things that trigger you to smoke and how you can avoid them.
• Use smoking cessation aids to manage cravings.
• Change your routine if you smoke at certain times of day.
• Keep cravings at bay by exercising.

The NHS runs free stop-smoking services, including one-to-one and group sessions.

Alcohol Consumption

Heavy drinking can put a serious strain on your finances as well as your health. Even if you drink safely in moderation, alcohol consumption still hits your wallet.

With the exception of draught beer in pubs, alcohol duty rates were increased by 10.1 percent in the spring Budget in line with inflation.

This saw the cost of a bottle of wine go up by around 44p – the biggest price hike in more than 50 years, according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association. At the same time, tax on an average-priced bottle of Scotch whiskey increased from 70 percent to 75 percent.

An Office of National Statistics (ONS) report on family spending revealed that in 2021 households on average were spending £17.60 a week on alcohol.

Over the course of a year, this adds up to £915. This is three percent of the typical UK household budget, and more than we spend on groceries such as meat and fish.

Because of the cost-of-living crisis, nearly 50 percent of drinkers plan to cut back on spending on alcohol in 2023, according to a research survey.

How to Reduce Alcohol Consumption

If you’re worried about spending too much on alcohol, there are several steps you can take to cut back.

• Restrict the amount you’re going to drink.
• If you’re going to the pub, don’t take a lot of money.
• Get support from friends and family in your efforts to curtail drinking.
• Drink a little less each day.
• Drink smaller amounts – a small glass of wine instead of a large one, or a bottle of beer rather than a pint.
• Choose drinks lower in alcoholic strength.
• Alternate alcoholic drinks with soft drinks or water.
• Aim for several drink-free days each week.

Gambling

Unlike smoking and drinking, gambling doesn’t pose a threat to your physical health. But the more you lose, the greater the strain on your household finances. This can result in stress and damage to relationships.

Even when gambling doesn’t become an addiction, the habit can still be expensive. With most forms of gambling, you should expect to lose money in the long run – the odds aren’t on your side.

A report on online gambling published by Citizens Advice in December 2021 showed that:

• More than 18 million people regularly gambled online.
• Over 3.3 million people had gambling debts.
• The average gambling debt was £10,000.
• One in five gamblers regrets the habit.

Regaining Control

If you feel your gambling, online or otherwise, is getting out of hand, you can start to regain control by:

• Talking about your gambling with a family member, friend, or professional counsellor.
• Not using gambling venues as a place to socialise.
• Finding an alternative recreational activity.

If you’ve become addicted to gambling, evidence suggests the problem can be treated as successfully as other addictions.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – available through the NHS – usually has the best results.

Gamblers Anonymous runs local support groups that use the same approach to recovery from addiction as Alcoholics Anonymous.

Spending on Non-Essentials

We’re all creatures of habit and slipping into a routine of spending on things you could do without can add up big time in the long term.

Spending on meals out and takeaways, for instance, or buying cups of coffee, might not seem such a huge expense at the time but it’s probably hitting you in the pocket a lot harder than you think.

A food takeaway is likely to be cheaper than dining at a restaurant, but it’s still more expensive than cooking your own food at home. On average, we spend £42.30 a month on restaurants and takeaways – £507 a year.

The average takeaway coffee costs £3.40. Five takeaways a week will set you back £74 a month – £888 a year.

Add your takeaway coffee and restaurant/takeaway bills together and you’re looking at more than £1,300 a year you could be saving.

By the way, food waste is another costly bad habit. According to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), households throw away 4.5 million tonnes of edible food a year, at a cost of £60 for the average family.

Making Better Use of Your Money

Habits such as smoking, drinking, or gambling, and spending on non-essential items, may be difficult to break, but it’s worth the effort and could save you thousands of pounds a year.

If you need a little extra motivation to curb your bad habits, consider what else you could be using that money for instead. Offsetting the soaring cost of electricity and gas? Becoming debt free? A dream holiday?

These could well be in your financial grasp by avoiding the bad habits that cost you a small fortune.

The post Are Bad Habits Costing You a Fortune? appeared first on Evlo.

As the warmer weather approaches, many of us will be thinking about making the most of our outdoor space – dragging out the barbecue, inflating the paddling pool, and dusting off sun loungers. The Met Office has predicted 2023 will be hotter than 2022, when the UK basked in the fourth warmest summer on record. So, if you can get your garden looking its best, you should have plenty of opportunities to enjoy it.

You don’t need to be a green-fingered fanatic with unlimited funds to spruce up your garden. It can easily be done on the cheap, if you go about it the right way. Neither do you need a lot of space – just as well with gardens in the UK generally shrinking in size.

Find out here how to transform your garden on a budget and create your own little patch of paradise for summer.

Plant Perennials

Perennial plants are the gift to your garden that goes on giving.

While annuals last for only one growing season, perennials can thrive for many years. This reduces spending on new bedding plants.

Perennials in garden beds, borders and containers will flower reliably every year, usually getting bigger each time.

Popular low-maintenance perennials include:

• Perennial geranium – a great border plant, with brightly-coloured flowers that bloom for months from late spring.
• Penstemon – short stems supporting large bell-shaped flowers in hues from deep purple to delicate pinks.
• Crocosmia – spreading, multi-flowered perennials in vivid shades of red, yellow and orange.
• Japanese anemone – large white, pink or mauve flowers on medium-tall wiry stems.

Fill Out Gaps with Annuals

Annuals provide bursts of colour all summer and beyond. They allow you to add variety to the garden by filling in spaces between your perennials.

Classic, affordable annuals include:

• Begonia – shades of red, white or pink, or multi-colour combinations of blooms, with bronze or deep green foliage.
• Cosmos – bushy plants with bright green feathery foliage and masses of flowers in a broad spectrum of colours.
• Nicotiana – a cottage garden mainstay providing long-lasting colour, fragrance and height. Many varieties release a sweet-scented aroma in the evening.
• African marigolds – yellow, orange or cream blooms on tall, sturdy stems. The flowers and foliage are fragrant when brushed against.

Grow Your Own Food

Consider devoting a patch of your garden to growing your own produce.

Growing vegetables and fruit can cut grocery bills while giving you a harvest of fresh, nutritious and tasty food.

Potatoes, strawberries, rhubarb, horseradish and asparagus can be planted as dormant roots in late winter.

If you’re planting in spring, try cucumbers, beets, carrots, tomatoes, beans, broccoli, garlic, onions or raspberries.

For an early crop of radishes, sow in February and protect with a cloche.

Use Hanging Baskets

Hanging baskets provide a cost-effective way to create extra colour at eye level in the garden.

You can put almost any small annual or perennial in a hanging basket, provided it won’t outgrow the container.

Vibrant bedding plants in hanging baskets provide a stunning short-term display, and herbs, shrubs and evergreens can be used for a longer-lasting show.

Good plants for summer baskets include:

• Lobelia.
• Pansies.
• Petunias.
• Fuchsias.
• Nicotiana.
• Salvia.
• Creeping jenny.

Plants often seen in perennial baskets include:

• Ivy.
• Buxus.
• Cordyline,
• Carex.
• Purple-leaved sage.

Fruit and Vegetables in Hanging Baskets

You can also grow fruit and vegetables in hanging baskets, providing you with food for the table as well as an attractive garden display.

Strawberries and cherry tomatoes, for example, work well in baskets. And putting salad-leaf plants such as lettuce in baskets keeps them out of the way of slugs.

Other produce suitable for hanging baskets includes:

• Chili peppers.
• Leafy herbs.
• Spinach.
• Dwarf beans.
• Cucumbers.
• Radishes.

Make Your Own Compost

Compost enriches garden soil, and you can easily make your own for free by recycling garden and kitchen waste to rot down.

Organic matter that makes good compost and breaks down quickly includes:

• Vegetable peelings.
• Fruit waste.
• Teabags.
• Grass cuttings.
• Plant prunings.

The cheapest way to produce compost is with an open compost heap. If you think this could spoil the look of your garden, consider making a compost bin.

Recycle Rainwater

Use rainwater collected in a water butt to keep your garden plants flourishing.

If your property is on a water meter, recycling rainwater for the garden will reduce your water bills.

A sprinkler or hosepipe can use up to 1,000 litres of water an hour. According to the Consumer Council for Water, rainwater collected from an average-sized house roof can fill a water butt 450 times a year.

Recycling rainwater also ensures you won’t be caught off guard during the summer by any hosepipe bans during a spell of drought.

Neither will you have to worry about hard water from the tap damaging certain varieties of plants.

Attract Bees and Butterflies

Bees and butterflies breathe new life into gardens as vital pollinators of plants. Butterfly- and bee-friendly gardens typically contain plants such as:

• Lavender.
• Coneflower.
• Bluebell.
• Aubretia.
• Honeysuckle.
• Primrose.
• Wallflower.

One of the best ways to attract pollinator insects to your garden is to sow native wildflower seeds in March or April. These plants are easy to grow and maintain and often less vulnerable to pests than non-native plants.

Dig Out Those Weeds

Removing weeds may not be the most exciting job in the garden but it costs you nothing and is essential to prevent your outdoor space from becoming overgrown.

As well as spoiling the appearance of your garden, weeds also make it more difficult to grow the plants you want: they steal water and nutrients from them.

Along with the plants we cherish, weeds start to emerge in spring and early summer. If you get rid of weeds when they start to appear, between March and June, you won’t have to weed as much throughout the summer.

When digging up weeds, make sure you remove the roots, or they will regrow.

Patio Weeds

Patios can become a breeding ground for weeds. Instead of buying an expensive branded patio weed killer, use white vinegar, salt, and washing-up liquid in a sprayer. Make a solution of four parts vinegar to one part water, with a dash of liquid soap.

The post How to Transform Your Garden on a Budget appeared first on Evlo.

1. Pack Your Own Snacks and Water Bottles Airport prices can be eyewatering, and you don’t want to blow the holiday budget before boarding! Pack enough snacks for the family to avoid having to shop in the terminal. Choose items that don’t need to be chilled like granola bars, dried fruit, crisps and rice-cakes. Take a refillable water bottle but double check that this can be taken through security before you fill it up at home. An empty bottle can be taken through security and filled up at the airport. Wateratairports.com is a great community forum that shows where free water refills are available at airports in the UK and across the globe.
2. Weigh your luggage at home Airlines are real sticklers for baggage limits so make sure that you have weighed your suitcases before heading to the airport to avoid fees. You can pick up luggage scales for a couple of pounds and they are worth the investment compared to what you could be charged for going over your baggage allowance. Keep some space available in your hand luggage in case you need to do a quick repack and stuff some undies into your carry-on case!
3. Bring Entertainment for the Kids Airport shops are specially designed to lure kids in with shiny gadgets and toys on display, but there’s nothing fun about the prices. Pack a couple of their favourite books, colouring supplies, and small toys to keep them entertained. Download games and TV shows onto their tablets at home to avoid having to pay for WiFi in the airport and make sure they are fully charged the night before. If you’ve got a pack of cards or travel versions of any boardgames, slip those into your hand luggage too.
4. Pre-book Airport Parking If you’re driving to the airport, booking parking ahead of time can save you up to 50% of the cost of paying on the day. Last-minute parking decisions not only lead to premium prices – but can add extra stress if there’s no space when you arrive. Off-site parking is often cheaper than the parking provided by the airport, so do shop around to find the best deal. Once you’ve arrived at your chosen carpark, a shuttle bus will take you and your luggage to the correct terminal. This can add some extra time before check-in, so make sure to plan for this.
5. Use public transport to get to the airport With drop-off charges costing up to £7 for 15 minutes at some major airports, it could work out more cost-effective to get the bus or train to the airport. There are shuttle services to local airports from central depots and stations that run throughout the day and often late into the night. Younger children are often more excited by trains and double-decker busses so plan it right and it could become part of the adventure, starting the excitement of the holiday a little earlier.

It can be easy to overlook the extra spending around a holiday once the package has been booked but with these top tips you can get your budgeted break off to a flying start. Now, don’t forget your passport!

The post How to land big savings in the airport: maximising your budget before take-off appeared first on Evlo.

1. Embrace the Second-Hand Solution Before you rush to the nearest uniform store, take a moment to check if your child’s school has a uniform bank. These hidden gems often offer second-hand uniforms for a small donation – or even free! Keep an eye on social media marketplaces for sales of second-hand kit and try apps like Vinted where you can sometimes find brand new items for a fraction of the cost. Many foodbanks also collect and distribute school uniforms so do research what’s available in your area. Not only will you be saving money by choosing second hand goods, but you’ll also be helping the environment by reusing perfectly good clothing.
2. Supermarket Super Savings When it comes to the basic uniform essentials like polo shirts, socks, tights, skirts and trousers, your local supermarket might be your new best friend. Many supermarkets now stock a range of school uniform items at budget-friendly prices. These pieces are designed to withstand the rigors of school life and can easily compete with pricier alternatives. Plus, if you’ve got a supermarket rewards card, you can often get further discounts or collect points that save you money on future shops.
3. Pass It On: The Hand-Me-Down Tradition If you have more than one child, you’re sitting on a goldmine of potential uniform savings. Kids might grumble about wearing a hand-me-down at first, but it’s a great lesson in practicality and thriftiness. To make sure that uniforms can go the distance, it’s important to keep them in peak condition. Pesky stains must be tackled quicky! For marker pen stains, rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer can work wonders to break down the ink. Blot the stain gently, being careful not to spread it further. For ballpoint pen stains, hairspray can be surprisingly effective. Spray a bit onto the stain, let it sit for a minute, and then blot or dab with a clean cloth. As for tomato sauce stains, start by scraping off any excess, then flush the stain with cold water from the back of the fabric. Apply a mixture of washing up liquid and water to the stain, gently rubbing the fabric together, and rinse. Always remember to check the care label on your clothing and test any stain removal method on an inconspicuous area first.
4. Room to grow Look for uniforms that include adjustable waistbands and extra hems on trousers that allow the clothes to grow with your child. When setting your budget for the year, allow for a couple of items in the next size up to cater for any mid-term growth spurts. Don’t automatically assume that last years’ uniform will be too small, either. Have a try on session before buying new kit, and check if adjustments can be made to extend the life of any uniform you’ve already got.
5. Know your rights regarding branded uniform New guidance introduced in 2022 stipulated that schools in England are required to ensure that uniform costs are ‘reasonable’ and that students are not obligated to wear ‘unnecessary’ branded items. While there’s no specification on what this means in real terms, if you are struggling to afford specific items with the school logo on, Martyn James suggests in his column for The Times that you should appeal directly to the school. Outline your financial situation and put the ball in their court to provide you with options. There may be logo patches available to sew on or other permitted alternatives. No matter the time of year, keeping up with growing kids can be expensive. By embracing second-hand options, exploring supermarkets, passing down uniforms and tapping into community resources, you can make the school uniform shopping experience more cost-effective.

The post Smart Strategies for Saving on School Uniforms: 5 Tips for Families appeared first on Evlo.

1. Get out in the great outdoors

For most of us, green space is not that far away and in it, there is plenty of adventure to be had. There are walks to go on, wildlife to spot and bike rides to enjoy. Ideally with an ice cream or two on the hotter days so make the most of the outdoors on your doorstep. Free to enjoy for everyone.

2. Look at what’s on at your local leisure centre

Local leisure and community centres are a super source of low-cost entertainment during school holiday time. From leisure to family swimming slots, indoor leisure activities and even free yoga classes for the parents of older children in the pool, there is always something to keep everyone entertained. Take a look online – or pop into your local centre – and you’re likely to discover a great range of events.

3. Trust in the National Trust

For a fraction of what you might spend on a big summer holiday, you could invest in a National Trust family membership. Overseeing some 300 historic houses, more than 600,000 acres of land and 700 miles of coastline across the UK, they put on lots of events and things to do. We like this list of 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾. How many have you completed so far? What are you waiting for?

4. Local fun on tap

A quick internet search of what’s going on in your area often throws up some excellent events to enjoy. Websites like Day Out With The Kids and Let’s Go With The Children will allow you to tailor your search locally. Websites such as Eventbrite can even make this search easy for you, just filter your search results for ‘free events’, and set your location to wherever, and with the wave of a wand, it’ll gift you with a range of ideas to choose from.

5. Catch a film

A family trip out to the cinema can be costly, but there are ways to save. Find out which local cinema chains offer cheap tickets for children’s movies. Adult and child tickets for Vue’s Mini Mornings cost £2.49 for the best family films. There are similar offers available from Cineworld too. And if making the trip is too much of a hassle or still too costly, why not get your family and friends together and make it a day in front of the TV at home together? Grab some popcorn and ice cream and pick a movie to suit. If you’re into local theatre, some venues also offer ‘pay what you can’ performances, where the price is up to you to decide. They’ll usually be on a specific date in a show’s run and will have limited availability, so you may need to be quick to book.

6. Get sporty

A bit of sport is another cheap and easy way to keep the children active, suitably entertained and tired by the end of the day. So, find the football, take out the tennis rackets and sling the cricket set over your shoulder and head for the park and an afternoon of friendly, family competition. Or think of rounders, football, or even just running races to get them into the competitive spirit. Keep a scoresheet and use your phone for a stopwatch.

7. Use discount codes

When planning your summer family fun, research discount codes and offers that you could redeem against bookings. Sites like Vouchercloud, HotUKDeals and Wowcher offer deals of up to 80% off ten-pin bowling for example, making it very much worth a look. And even better, keep your eyes wide open for Wowcher’s 2-for-1 discount scheme that can get you into places like Sea Life Centre, amusement parks and museums across the country, just make sure to make an account and subscribe to their newsletter so you’re kept up to date!

8. Visit your local library or museum

The mention of the library might not float your kids’ boat, but there’s plenty of fun stuff going on at libraries all over the UK. Check out what’s on. Or see what your nearest museum has to offer. They often host free, family-friendly events over the summer. There are around 2,500 of them so there is sure to be one on your doorstep.

The post Have fun with the kids this summer without breaking the budget appeared first on Evlo.