In an era of escalating energy costs and growing environmental concerns, adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle has become more than an aspiration. In some cases, it’s both a practical and financially prudent choice. By embracing sustainable practices, individuals and families can not only reduce their carbon footprint but also realise cost savings, making a positive impact on both their wallets and the planet.

The path to eco-friendly living begins at home, where small changes can yield rewards. One of the most impactful steps is to improve household energy efficiency. Simple measures such as upgrading to energy-efficient LED light bulbs, properly insulating walls and attics, and regularly servicing heating and cooling systems can dramatically reduce energy consumption and, consequently, monthly utility bills.

Another area ripe for savings is water conservation. By installing low-flow showerheads, fixing leaks promptly, and being mindful of water usage during daily tasks like washing dishes or watering gardens, households can significantly reduce their water bills while also contributing to preserving this natural resource.

Beyond the home, eco-friendly transportation choices can yield financial and environmental benefits. Embracing public transportation, carpooling, or investing in an electric or hybrid vehicle can significantly reduce fuel costs and carbon emissions. Additionally, adopting active modes of transport, such as walking or cycling for shorter journeys, not only promotes a healthier lifestyle but also eliminates the need for fuel altogether.

For those with the means and suitable living conditions, exploring renewable energy sources like solar panels or wind turbines can be a worthwhile investment. While the initial costs may seem daunting, government incentives and long-term energy savings can offset these expenses, potentially enabling households to become net energy producers and earn income by selling excess power back to the grid.

Eco-friendly living extends beyond the realm of energy and transportation; it encompasses our entire approach to consumption and waste management. Adopting a “reduce, reuse, recycle” mindset can minimise household waste and associated disposal costs. Simple steps like choosing products with minimal packaging, repurposing items whenever possible, and diligently separating recyclables can contribute to a more sustainable and cost-effective lifestyle.

Additionally, cultivating eco-friendly eating habits can impact personal finances and the environment. By embracing plant-based diets, supporting local and seasonal produce, and minimising food waste, individuals can reduce their carbon footprint while simultaneously enjoying the health benefits and cost savings associated with a more sustainable diet.

Importantly, eco-friendly living is not solely about sacrifice and frugality; it also presents opportunities for enjoyment and community engagement. Participating in local environmental initiatives, such as community gardens or litter clean-up events, can foster a sense of connection and purpose while contributing to a greener, more sustainable neighbourhood.

Furthermore, as eco-friendly practices become more mainstream, a burgeoning “green economy” has emerged, offering innovative products and services that cater to the needs of environmentally conscious consumers. From sustainable fashion and eco-tourism to green technology and renewable energy solutions, this growing market presents opportunities for individuals to align their spending with their values while also supporting businesses that prioritise environmental responsibility.

Of course, embracing an eco-friendly lifestyle is not without its challenges. Upfront costs for energy-efficient upgrades or renewable energy installations can be substantial, and changing deeply ingrained habits can be difficult. However, by adopting a long-term perspective and recognising the compounding benefits of sustainable living, these initial hurdles can be overcome, paving the way for a more financially secure and environmentally responsible future.

Governments and policymakers also play a crucial role in incentivising and supporting eco-friendly living. Through initiatives such as tax credits, rebates, and public education campaigns, authorities can encourage more widespread adoption of sustainable practices, further amplifying the collective impact on the environment and the economy.

As the urgency of addressing climate change and environmental degradation becomes increasingly apparent, the imperative to embrace eco-friendly living grows stronger. By making conscious choices to reduce our carbon footprint and minimise waste, we not only contribute to the preservation of our planet for future generations but also reap tangible financial rewards in the form of reduced utility costs, transportation expenses, and overall cost of living.

The path to a more sustainable future aligns personal prosperity with environmental stewardship. By adopting eco-friendly practices, we can create a virtuous cycle in which every responsible choice we make benefits the planet and our own financial well-being.

The post Eco-Friendly Living: Saving Money and the Planet 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. 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.

Down on the farm, city-style!

What better time to visit the farm than lambing season? Many of the larger farming attractions offer special Easter-themed activities such as egg hunts, petting sessions and fairground rides, which can get very popular – book early to guarantee your spot and take advantage of any early-bird deals. But with prices still adding up to £40+ for a family of four, you may want to consider visiting an urban or city farm, which are often completely free to visit! Try Mudchute City Farm in East London, Windmill Hill City Farm in Bristol or Rice Lane City Farm in Liverpool, where we guarantee the animals will be just as cute!

Choco-tastic!

Easter equals chocolate, right? But why splurge on expensive eggs which will be gone in seconds? Get messy in the kitchen instead and help the kids create some delicious treats which won’t break the bank. From cute chocolate nests and Easter brownie bites to spring lamb cupcakes, there are lots of low-cost recipes online using basic store cupboard ingredients, many of which don’t even require baking.

Get crafty

Indulge their creative side with some inventive Easter craft projects. They can make their own Easter bonnet, crochet an adorable bunny, or paint their own bunny with a basket. If you’ve already got paints, papers and other crafty bits at home, then why not challenge them to make their own Easter lamb or chick handprint card or toilet paper roll Easter bunny? Websites like Pinterest are full of inspiration – you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve in an hour!

On the hunt

Finally, it wouldn’t be Easter without an Easter egg hunt. If your family is the competitive sort, then how about an Easter egg relay race? Or if squabbling siblings are a problem, get them to work on their teamwork skills with a blind-folded egg hunt! You could even reverse the roles and get the kids to devise an egg hunt for the grown-ups. Also, check out your local area for any large-scale Easter egg hunts being planned.

The post Put A Spring In Your Step This Easter With These ‘eggstra’ Low-cost Family Activities appeared first on Evlo.

If you are in the market for a new or used car, there are some tips that will help you know when to buy. We have compiled a list of the most helpful advice below to give you the best shot at finding that perfect deal on the car of your dreams.

New Cars

Buying a new car is exciting. You are bombarded what cool gadgets, shiny dashboards and smiling salespeople. All these things are designed to entice you and sell you quickly, but it may be worth waiting to make your purchase. Car dealers often have sales targets that include incentives. According to Auto Express, the biggest bonuses are usually handed out at the end of each quarter. That means salespeople are more motivated to make deals right before the end of a quarter. Quarters start in March, June, September and December so just before these months is the best time to get a deal.

There is also pressure to sell at the end of the financial year so shopping just before April can also put you in a better position to negotiate a deal.

Another trick when buying a new car is to look for models that are about to be replaced. For example, if ford is coming out with a new version of their fiesta, dealers will be looking to get rid of the old version as they want the room to show the newer model on their lot.

For this tactic, remember that the dealer will be most interested in selling the cars they already have on-site. If you order a car from the factory, they will have less of an incentive to give you a deal.

Finally, look into pre-registered cars. These are cars that the dealer has bought themselves to help meet targets. Dealers then keep these cars for 3 months before selling them. If you are willing to purchase a preregistered car you could save a lot of money. The best timeless to look for preregistered cars are in June and December. You can learn more about pre-registered cars here.

Used Cars

If you are looking to buy a used car, your timing is less important but there are still some times of year that are better than others. When dealers release their new models, people are more likely to trade in their old cars. This means new model release dates coincide with an increase in the number of used cars available. March and September are when new cars usually arrive on dealers lots. You will have more choices and potentially better deals just after these times.

Another thing that can affect used car prices is the weather. A long period of bad weather can drive customers away from buying a car. After all, who wants to wander around outside looking at cars in the wind and the rain? Long periods of good weather can also drive down sales because people are more likely to want to get out and enjoy their day rather than look at cars.

Our final tip is to pick up your used car early in the month. Remember that you have to pay for a full month of road tax even if you only have the car for a few days in any given month. That means you waste less on your first month of ownership.

If you are interested in more tips on saving money for your car, why not check out our blog on increasing your fuel economy. Over the lifetime of your car, this can save you thousands and help prevent other issues.

The post Learn The Best Times To Get A Deal On Your Next Car appeared first on Evlo.

A little sunshine can often make it easier to create those special memories with our families, but it can also be a real test on our finances.

Keeping the children entertained can so easily come with a large cost. Day trips and breaks to the seaside can be expensive, especially when you throw in travel, food and other expenses.

However, there are plenty of fun – and often free – family activities that you can plan for before what is tipped to be this year’s biggest heatwave yet. Here are some of our favourites that won’t break the bank.

Explore the outdoors

Feeling up to the heat? Well, there’s plenty to see outside! Visiting your local park is a great way to have a fun yet relaxing time in the sun with family and friends. Taking a picnic – and maybe a ball or two – adds to the enjoyment and keeps everyone entertained for longer. It’s also a great way to walk, explore your local area and meet up with friends and neighbours al fresco.

A bike ride is also great fun, whilst getting us out and about. Going for a cycle is a fabulous form of exercise for both you and your family. Not to forget, you can get to places much further and much quicker for free. You may even find a local spot that you never knew about previously!

When a day outdoors in the warm sunshine isn’t quite enough, why not go camping and sleep out under the stars? If you don’t have a tent, ask around to see if you can borrow one. Or check out second-hand websites and marketplaces on social media. You can often pick up a bargain.

Camping really can give you some quality time outside with the ones you love most. Find a spot across the country, a local camping area, or maybe even the back of your garden, and you can experience a sense of adventure. If you do find yourself near the coast, why not cool down in the sea and go for a swim – it’s a much affordable alternative to the pool?

There’s no place like home

A water fight is a fun way of keeping cool under the sun: a few water balloons or water pistols will do the job. You could even use the water hose and a sprinkler too – they use much less water than filling a paddling pool.

You can also save more money and cut back on waste by making your own ice lollies. Find out more on all the best lolly moulds out there and where to buy them here. They’re really easy to make. And lots more fun, too.

Whilst the kids are playing in the garden and cooling down with a homemade ice lolly, you could start a mini garden by picking up some seeds from your local garden centre. Growing your own fruits, vegetables and herbs can be really rewarding, and cooking them for your family is a healthy and really cost-effective treat.

Avoiding the heat and sun? No worries! An indoor cinema, set up by shutting the curtains and dimming the lights, can be a great experience in the comfort of your own living room.

Prepare some snacks and drinks and watch your favourite family movie whilst staying cool. After watching the film, you and the children could draw your favourite scenes by having an arts and crafts afternoon. Grab the pens and pencils out, or even go through your cupboards and make a DIY movie character. It gives your kids an opportunity to get creative and produce gifts that they can give to the rest of the family.

The post How To Keep Down The Costs Of Entertaining Children During A Heatwave appeared first on Evlo.

Shares are a way for individuals to invest in a company without needing huge sums of money. A share is like a small piece of the company you are investing in. This means, when you buy a share in a company, you own a small piece of that business. The more shares you buy, the larger the percentage of the company you own.

So how does investing in shares work?

People tend to invest in shares in two main ways. The first is to buy individual shares. For example, if you wanted to purchase 50 shares of company X and each share was priced at £1, you would need £50.

The second method for investing in shares is to use a fund. Funds are collections of shares that are put together by a fund manager. People can approach the fund or go straight to the stock market and invest their chosen amount of money. Funds are typically broken down by percent. For example, fund A is 40% company 1 and 60% company 2. If you were to invest £100, £40 would go towards buying company 1 stock and £60 would go towards buying company 2 stock.

Funds allow people to invest in multiple shares and other investment vehicles with a single purchase. That means if one business you own shares in struggles or closes, you only lose a portion of your investment.

You may be saying to yourself, but how does investing in shares work? In other words, how do you go about buying shares or investing in a fund? Thankfully it is a lot easier than heading down to the London stock exchange. One of the most common options is to buy online. There are companies called share dealing platforms that allow you to buy shares or funds yourself. This can cut down on expenses and allow you to manage your purchases more easily.

When choosing a share dealing platform remember to watch out for fees. The most common types of fees are:

• Accounting fees – These are essentially a subscription fee for using the account and can be monthly, quarterly or yearly.
• Inactivity fees – these are fees you have to pay if you do not meet a certain number of trades in a given period.
• Selling or buying fees – These are charges for buying or selling a share.
• Stamp duty – Some purchases will be eligible for a 0.5% stamp duty fee.

It may not be possible to completely avoid fees when you are buying shares but it is crucial to do your homework. If you sign up to a platform with higher fees you are essentially giving up some of the money you could make on your investments.

Once you choose a share dealing platform you will need to set up a trading account and add money to it so that you can pay for your investments. Then you simply sign in and search for the share or shares you want to buy. You can choose either to buy a certain number of shares or buy a certain amount of money’s worth. Once that is done you make your purchase and you now own shares.

If you need money and can not wait for your investments to pay out, Evlo may be able to help. We provide a variety of loans that can help you. Contact us today to learn more.

The post Learn How Investing In Shares Works From Evlo appeared first on Evlo.

As we celebrate National Pet Month, we’re taking a look at the ways we can reduce the cost of owning our beloved pets.

Here at Evlo, lots of us have them. In fact, many of us are chuffed to be amongst the UK’s 17million pet-owning homes – 3.2million of which have acquired a furry friend since the start of the pandemic.

Between us, we’re spending almost £94million each week on caring for them. But, by choosing the right insurance, buying the essentials at the right price and taking on board a few more of these top budgeting tips, you could save yourself hundreds of pounds. Here’s how.

1. Buy pet food in bulk

You can cut the cost of pet food by as much as 50% by buying in bulk. Usually, the bigger the package of food you can buy the cheaper it will be. If you’re buying it online, check price comparison websites and always look for discount codes that can cut costs further. Do look out for special offers, though, as sometimes these make it cheaper to buy smaller packs of food. Also, make sure you’re feeding your pet the recommended portion.

2. Choose a mixed-breed

Pedigree animals tend to cost more up front, they can often be more expensive to care for if it is a breed that’s prone to ill health.

Research suggests it could cost up to a third more a year to care for a pedigree pet – for example, the insurance alone could cost around 40% less than for a pedigree dog or cat and, as they tend to be more robust, don’t need specialist food.

3. Adopt and rehome

Similarly, look into rehoming a pet. There are so many benefits from doing so, which is no doubt why research shows that dog adoptions have increased significantly in the last year with online searches for dog adoption increasing by more than 203%.

By doing so, you will pretty much certainly pay less than you would from a pet shop or breeder. Many charities simply ask for a donation when you agree to rehome an animal. Some will also arrange subsidised vaccinations and neutering before you pick up your new pet.

4. Don’t rush to go to the vet

Clearly, if your pet has been in an accident, you shouldn’t hang around. But minor ailments sometimes cure themselves. You wouldn’t book a doctor’s appointment for a sniffle, so why seek expensive help as soon as your cat or dog sneezes?

Recent research suggests unnecessary emergency vet appointments cost UK pet owners £118million a year – a combination of consultation fees, travel costs and lost annual leave.

5. Keep jabs up to date

Paying to get your pet vaccinated against nasty illnesses each year is a hit on your wallet, but not doing so could prove even more costly. If your animal falls ill with something it could have been vaccinated against and you don’t have insurance, you could end up paying far more than the price of the jabs. Even with insurance, some policies will refuse to pay out if an illness could have been prevented with vaccination.

6. Buy cheaper medication online

Instead of buying medication from the vet, order it online. There are lots of reputable websites that sell prescription and non-prescription medicines for up to 50% less than the price you will usually pay.

7. Take out pet insurance

One of the most expensive parts of having a pet can be covering the costs of any illness or accidents. According to RSPCA figures, some 50% of UK pets will require treatment at some point this year – at an average cost of £220.

Yes, it’s an extra cost but could save you hundreds of pounds in the long run.

8. Do your homework to find the best insurance policy for your Pet

insurance premiums are based on the type of pet you have, its age, where you live and other factors that will determine how likely it is to get lost or become poorly.

There is, however, a huge difference between how much you pay and the cover you have. As with all insurance, you could cut your premiums by taking on a higher excess. Shop around on price comparison sites – there are lots of them to choose from. And always make sure you read the small print – the cheapest policy might not offer the best deal. Check out how long ailments will be covered and if there’s a limit on the amount they will pay out.

Similarly, if your pet is prescribed medication for the rest of its life, will insurance cover the cost? If not, you could be picking up the tab when the cover runs out. Weigh up if it’s worth paying a bit more for a policy that offers ongoing cover.

9. Cover holidays by creating a cat-sitting circle or get a house-sitter

Kennels or getting someone in to feed your pet while you’re away can add a significant amount to the cost of your holiday.

Instead, find friends and neighbours who also have pets and help each other out. If you are going on a longer holiday, look into getting a house sitter. There are lots of professional companies online that provide the service – and will probably be cheaper than kennels if you have more than one animal.

10. Buy preloved toys and bedding

Pets don’t need expensive toys. Second-hand charity shop and car boot bargains are a really great purse-friendly alternative. Tying a piece of string to a door handle can amuse a cat for hours, as can feathers, balls and cotton reels. Likewise, rather than buying costly pet blankets and towels, purchase preloved or recycle your own. It’s doubtful that doggy will turn its nose up at being dried with a bath towel that’s seen better days.

The post Ten Top Tips To Reduce The Cost Of Owning A Pet appeared first on Evlo.

If you are preparing to go to uni, the costs can seem huge. Housing, food and tuition add up fast and working while you study is not always an option. For students wondering how to budget for uni, we have compiled some tips. These will not make you rich but they will definitely help you worry less about your money while you study.

1) Make a spreadsheet of your known incomings and outgoings. This sounds really boring and simple but it is hugely important. Your incomings are all your sources of income. These could be a maintenance loan, grants or wages from a job. Outgoings are things like tuition, food, rent and other living costs.

What this does is show you exactly how much money you have to spend each month. It can also quickly alert you if you do not have enough for the basics.

Now that you know how much money you have left after essential expenses, add in any non-essentials. When you are thinking about how to budget for uni, remember that you are not a machine. You will want to go shopping, get haircuts, eat take away meals etc. While these are not crucial, they are still important. You do not want to live like a monk for 3 years while you get your degree and having fun is part of the university experience.

Now that you have a list of all your expenses, subtract that number from your monthly incomings and divide the result by 4. This gives you a weekly budget for anything you have not already accounted for.
2) Keep your money just out of reach. This does not mean stashing your cash in a ceiling or up a tree. It is about preventing yourself from spending without thinking. Start by setting up a free savings account. Banks may even over a special student bank account with perks. When you get your money from a loan, grant or paycheck, make sure it is moved straight into this new account.

Once that is done, set up a standing order to pay yourself a weekly allowance into your debt account. This ensures you can never go over your weekly spending limit. It also protects your money if your debit card is lost or stolen.

The great part about this system is that you still have access to all your money, it just prevents you from spending too much. This is a key part of how to budget for uni because it gives you some freedom without letting you go too far.

3) Never stop shopping around. You will have a choice of where you buy most things. This could be internet service, a mobile phone, food and even textbooks. When you are thinking about how to budget for uni, you should always be looking for ways to get things cheaper.

Use price comparison sites to get deals on insurance, utilities and things like phone plans. Use online sites like eBay to recycle your old clothes, books and electronics. Switch bank accounts to take advantage of cash incentives and sign up for any regular money-saving newsletters in your area. Also, remember that organisations like the NUS offer student discounts so always ask if businesses offer these perks.

4) Finally, set yourself some goals and incentives. For goals, make sure they are achievable. If you shoot too high, your own standards can become impossible to live up to. Instead, set manageable financial targets each month. If you reach your target, reward yourself with an incentive. This could be a night out, a movie or something else you enjoy. If you do not reach your goal, don’t punish yourself. Remember that part of learning how to budget for uni is accepting that you are not perfect, just keep trying.

While goals can help prevent you from overspending, they can also help you save during uni. You could be planning to go travelling in the summer or maybe you just want an emergency fund. In any case, having a goal to save some money is a great idea.

By following these 4 tips you can stick to a budget and maybe have some money left over. If you are still struggling with money, you may need to consider other revenue streams like working or asking your parents for help.

The post Learn how to budget for uni and still enjoy your studies. appeared first on Evlo.