Gold prices have risen up to 25% in the past year, and if you haven’t reviewed your insurance policy lately for coverage on your jewellery, whether it’s new or old, now’s the time for you to find out how you’re affected to see if you can make or indeed, save some money.

Trade in your Gold

Keep receipts or any other paperwork that you might have on your jewellery. If you’ve never had appraisals done, I strongly recommend this on all of your jewellery for a couple of reasons:

1. The appraisal will give a complete description of your piece, providing a clear indicator of the quality, size, colour and clarity of a stone and the weight of the gold.

2. The appraisal will usually include photographs of the item, which is often a requirement of your insuring company.
Requirements as to how often you submit new appraisals differ between companies, some being every 2-3 years. For better protection, you may want to do this more often, particularly if unforeseen things happen, like this last major increase in gold.
No insurance policy can replace an heirloom or compensate for sentimental value on your precious jewellery, but taking a few precautionary steps can lessen your exposure to loss and help save you cash.

Take some of your commonly worn items to a jeweller to have the claws tightened around the stones. Not only will this reduce your exposure to accidental loss, you can also have your jewellery cleaned at the same time to restore its original lustre.

Leanne Finance Tips gold, jewellery, saving money

Credit card companies are in the press again for the charges they implement. Raising interest rates retrospectively has been deemed inappropriate by some financial commentators. The only limiting factor on credit card interest rates is competition and this helps some companies keep their rates lower. Credit cards can be useful, for example when abroad, when the amount is not repaid you may find that charges will add up.

Credit Card Fee's are Rising

Compare this to payday loans companies who charge £25 per £100. You borrow an amount and then have a set amount to repay. This often works out cheaper than banks who slap massive fees on unauthorised overdraft charges and credit card companies who will put massive charges on unpaid monthly bills. Payday Loans are different to credit cards and will get you cash quickly, but they, like credit cards will still need to be paid off so ensure that you only borrow what you can afford to pay back.

Banks are also starting to implement charges onto there loyal customers – the craze for claiming back bank fees has recinded as recent legislation outlines that this will no longer be possible. Banks are therefore no longer able to offer what some have called free banking; however, the recent record profits that Barclays have published (£9 Billion) means that they really do not have to implement any other additional fees!

Leanne Loans News & Articles Credit, credit card, credit cards

Cut your Grocery Costs Without Clipping Coupons

If your household operates on a budget then you know just how difficult it can sometimes be to cover monthly expenses and still be able to put healthy food on your family’s table. Many families in the US receive food stamps and others use coupons to keep their costs down. Whatever the constraints of your budget may be there are many ways to lower your grocery bills without resorting to coupon clipping.

Save Money on your Shopping Bills

1. Plan Your Meals
It may seem like a lot of work but planning out your weekly meals in advance will allow you to save both time and money at the grocery store. Having a specific list to stick to will save you the time it takes to wander up and down every aisle and it will reduce unnecessary spending. Just stick to your list and avoid impulse-buying.
2. Eat Before You Shop
Having a list to stick to will help reduce impulse buying but so can having a snack before you go to the grocery store. If you are hungry while you are shopping you are more likely to fill your cart with items you don’t really need.
3. Decide How Much to Spend
If you do not already have a budgeted amount to spend on groceries each month consider setting one. To get an idea how much money you typically spend at the grocery store, save all your grocery receipts in one envelope for an entire month. At the end of the month total up the amount – you may be shocked at the result.
4. Spend Smarter
While the name brands may be more heavily advertised and come in prettier packages, store brand items can be just as good and much less expensive. By purchasing store brand over name brands you are guaranteed to save a lot of money. Also avoid packaged dinners and mixes because the prices can be very marked-up. Rather, when preparing your family’s favorite meals simply make a little extra and store it in the freezer for a pre-made meal.

Grocery shopping does not need to be a nightmare filled with anxiety over the cost of feeding your family. By following these tips you can stick to your budget without clipping coupons or sacrificing the things your family loves.

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