Hardship Grants: June 2022

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It’s the start of a new month, so the hardship grants June 2022 round-up is here. People often start googling terms such as “get money now” and “get money quick” and read our many suggestions for often fun ways to make quick cash. 

However, one thing a lot of people aren’t fully aware of is that there are hardship grants available when times are hard. With everything from help for talented young musicians to help to get mobility aids, take a look and see if any apply to you.

ENERGY

This is one that thousands of people across the UK will be anxious about. There are a lot of ways to get help:

• British Gas Energy Support Fund – apply for a grant on the British Gas Energy Trust website
• Scottish Power Hardship Fund – apply for a grant on the Scottish Power Hardship Fund website
• Ovo Energy Fund – apply for a grant on the Ovo Energy Fund website
• E.ON Energy Fund – apply for a grant on the E.ON Energy Fund website
• E.ON Next Energy Fund – apply for a grant on the E.ON Next Energy Fund website
• EDF Energy Customer Support Fund – apply for a grant on the EDF Energy Customer Support Fund website
• Bulb Energy Fund – apply for a grant on the Bulb Energy Fund website
• Octopus ‘Octo Assist Fund’ – apply for a grant on the Octopus website

If you can’t get a grant from your supplier, you might be able to get a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust. These grants are available to anyone – you don’t have to be a British Gas customer. You’ll need to get debt advice before applying – get help from a debt adviser like Citizens Advice.

If you’ve already spoken to a debt adviser – check if you can get a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust.

DEBTS

Problems with debts, benefits or tax credits make it harder to pay your rent or mortgage. Stay in touch with your landlord or lender. Let them know you’re taking steps to get advice and deal with your situation.

How to deal with rent arrears

How to deal with mortgage arrears

Some debt advice is regulated. For example, advice on breathing space, debt relief orders, IVAs or bankruptcy. These charities give regulated debt advice:

• Citizens Advice
• National Debtline
• StepChange Debt Charity

REGIONAL

THE NORTON FOUNDATION

Provide financial assistance for young people under the age of 25 whose development will benefit as a result. Applicants must live in the geographical area of Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire. Grants are considered monthly and can be as high as £500, they can be made for clothiers, training, education and household goods. For more information, click here.

YOUNG PEOPLE

Lawrence Atwell’s Charity provides grants to young people aged between 16 – 26 from low-income backgrounds. They will award between £100 – £1500 to help young people gain accredited vocational qualifications. Applications are taken at any point throughout the year. You are encouraged to apply at least 8 weeks before your start date.  

NATIONAL

THOMAS WALL TRUST

The individual grants aim to support motivated adults in the UK to undertake education and training that will increase employment opportunities. Applicants can apply for up to £1500 towards course fees and or costs associated with studying.

To apply you must be:

• Aged 18 and over
• Experiencing financial and other challenges e.g. disability, major trauma or a life event, mental health issues, carer responsibilities, care leaver, estranged from family, English language learners (ELL), child care responsibilities.
• Have been unemployed for at least 6 months within the last 2 years.
• Have the right to work and study in the UK, and have lived in the UK for at least 3 years.
• From a low-income household

For more information follow the link to the website.

WPH CHARITABLE TRUST

WPH consider multiple types of applications for everything from re-training as a result of disability to home adaptations. You can apply here.

 

FAMILY FUND

UK Charity Family Fund provides assistance to families with disabled children. Grants have been given out for a range of items from sensory toys, family breaks, outdoor play equipment, clothing and more. Their aim is to support families and make a real difference.  The deadline for applications is ongoing and more information can be found here.

 

THE BOOTS BENEVOLENT FUND

The Boots Benevolent Fund provides funding to ex and current Boots employees in the UK who are going through financial hardship. They can provide grants, interest-free loans and supermarket vouchers for a variety of needs.  

MUSICIANS

Help Musicians: Support to Record and Release Music

You can apply for funding of up to £3000 towards recording and releasing music. Help musicians also facilitate one-to-one advice sessions with industry professionals.

Awardees receive:

• £3,000 in financial support towards creative output
• one-to-one business advice sessions tailored to your needs and delivered via experienced music industry professionals, as coordinated by ThinkMusic
• one-to-one health consultation with British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) professionals, covering all aspects of a musician’s health, including physical and mental health needs and specialist referrals where required

The support is for professional UK musicians of all genres over 18, with a focus on independent creators who are controlling one or more aspects of their careers. Apply here.

For last month’s round-up click here. 

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Get Paid To Eat Chocolate

Reading Time: < 1 min

This one really sounds too good to be true but we assure you, it isn’t: you can actually be paid to eat chocolate!

Right now Mondelez International, the company that owns Cadbury, Milka and Oreo, is looking for three chocolate tasters to work part-time (8 hours a week) at their Wokingham plant.

Successful applicants will need to go through a 3 day chocolate screening process to test their taste buds, which sounds like fun on its own! You will be tasting, describing and providing feedback on Mondelēz products, so you’ll need to be able to articulate clearly and with consistency the products you’re tasting.

They’re keen to fill the roles as soon as possible, ideally before the end of June, so if you think you fit the bill, apply here. 

It’s worth bearing in mind that you’ll need to be adept at working collaboratively with others, and that you’ll be given full training to help you develop your taste buds and learn specific vocabulary to describe what you’re tasting. If that all sounds fun, go ahead and apply!

If you would like to hear more ways to get paid to eat then check this handy post here. 

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Brits to spend £823 million on jubilee celebrations

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There’s a royal buzz in the air as the UK prepares for the Queen’s platinum jubilee weekend. The excitement of a four-day weekend, seeing friends and celebrating our longest reigning monarch is an exciting prospect. But how much are Brits going to spend on these jubilee celebrations?

There are currently almost 1,500 public events set to take place. A staggering 1,775 street parties and private events are registered to take place over the celebration period.

According to The Guardian, there are 240 events taking place in and around London, 208 in Manchester, 133 near Birmingham and 98 in Scotland. There are 21 registered events in Northern Ireland and two in Guernsey. The excitement and patriotism is widespread.

The cost

These events will come at a cost, though, and people across the UK are expected to splash the cash to celebrate Her Majesty. It is estimated the country will spend a grand total of £823 million during the bank holiday weekend. This is an average spend of £83 each on food, drink and themed decorations.

This is almost a whopping 75% more than the £408 million Brits planned to spend celebrating the royal wedding in 2018.

According to John Lewis, searches for “jubilee” are up 55% this week. Similarly, Waitrose have said sales of Pimm’s in their stores and online have risen by 260% compared to the same period last year, and searches for “jubilee” are up by a huge 176%.

Adding to the signs Brits are planning to hold parties are the stats showing searches for jubilee specific food and drink have risen by 114% compared to last year. Garden party recipe searches have risen by over half (59%). This is shown even further by searches for outdoor chairs increasing by a third in the last month alone. Bunting searches are up by 31%.

Union Jack themed items such as bunting, and cake stands are flying off the shelves. B&Q has announced the sale of over 100,000 metres on bunting and Sainsbury’s has reported the sale of patriotic cake stands has risen by 2,783% week on week.

Limited edition memorabilia such as dolls, coins, plates and badges have also increased in sales. Snow globes, mini-sculptures of the Queen and her corgis, and even corgi-shaped saltshakers have been selling across the country. Bobble heads and royal games have also been gaining popularity.

Are you taking part in any jubilee celebrations? Let us know in the comments.

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10 Ways To Make Money From Your Trash

Reading Time: 3 mins

We love a good spring clean at MoneyMagpie but before you throw out your trash, read through this article. Below you’ll find 10 ways to make money from your trash from selling laptops to empty boxes. Have a look and add some money to your pockets.

• Sell your old laptop
• Sell old aluminium cans
• Sell your old sofas online
• Recycle your ink cartridges
• Make money selling empty boxes
• Sell your old games consoles
• Recycle your old phones
• Sell old books
• Sell old Cassette tapes
• Sell old CDs 

Sell your old laptop

Sell on your old laptops and computers and gain some of your expenditure back! Cash In Your Gadgets will even arrange a free pick-up slot for you. All you have to do is tell them the serial number and its condition and they’ll give you a quote. Even if your device has been through it, if it turns on you can still get some money.

 

Sell your aluminium cans

If you’re partial to a can of coke, why not collect your empties. Whilst it is easier to just throw them in the recycle if you collect your cans, you make a bit on the side. Sites like Think Cans are a good place to start with this – it can help direct you to your closest can recycling centre.

Sell your old sofas online

There’s nothing people hate more than having to hack up a sofa to take it to the tip. So if it’s in a good state why not sell it online – websites like gumtree or Facebook marketplace are a great place to start.

 

Recycle your ink cartridges

If you still have a printer at home – you’ll know how expensive they are to buy. But what if I told you that you can make money from reselling the empties. The Recycling Factory offers this service, if you input your ink cartridge type, they’ll tell you how much you can earn.

 

 Make money selling empty boxes

In this article, we discuss how you can make money selling your old designer boxes. Increasingly, people are hunting out old designer boxes and bags as interior décor or props for photo backdrops. Read the article here and see if there’s any money to be made.

Sell your old games console

If you like to keep up to date with the latest tech, you’ve probably got an old games console hanging around, collecting dust. Why not sell it on, sites like musicMagpie will purchase your old consoles off you. You can get a decent amount of if they are in good working order.

 

Recycle your old phones

Much like laptops and games consoles, old phones can bring in an extra few pounds. If you update your phone every few years, chances are you have a couple of spares around the house. Services like giffgaff will buy these off you to put some extra cash in your pocket.

Sell old books

Before you take your books to the charity shop or throw them in the recycling, take a minute to read this article. You might have a first edition hiding on your bookcase so think twice about just giving them away. And those old uni textbooks will still be worth a lot so consider selling those on your local university buy and sell page.

 

Sell old Cassette tapes

Maybe you’re doing your spring clean, and you’ve found a collection of old cassettes, don’t throw them out, price them up! With 90s nostalgia coming back those old tapes might be worth something. You can read our how-to guide all about cassettes here.

 

Sell old CDs

Whilst some people have fully moved to the online world of streaming, there is still money to be made in that box of CDs you have. Check out this article for the best places to sell them and see the big sellers at the moment.

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Recycle your phone (and other gadgets) for cash in 3 easy steps

Reading Time: 5 mins

Knowing how to recycle your gadgets for cash could make you a tidy little profit. Recycling companies don’t only hand over cash for mobile phones – some will also pay you for cameras, MP3 players, games consoles and more. Here MoneyMagpie looks at how to recycle your gadgets and make a profit. Our message? Recycle now!

• How to recycle your mobile phone
• Sell your other gadgets too
• How much can I make selling my gadgets and phone?
• Always remember to erase everything securely

 

How to recycle your mobile phone

Every year millions of defunct gadgets get shoved up in the loft or dumped onto a scrap heap. Once they’ve served their purpose, most of us want them out of sight and out of mind. But this attitude could stop us from earning some easy money, whilst seriously damaging the environment.

Go here now to sell your phone for instant cash!

 

sell your other gadgets too

There are recycling companies around such as musicMagpie who are desperate to get their hands on our gadgets.   musicMagpie are not only offering cash for mobiles, they’ll also recycle games consoles, cameras, MP3 players and other such devices.

Whether its that PS3 you never play anymore or the iPod Nano you’ve long since moved on from, musicMagpie could be an excellent way to clear out some clutter, and make yourself a little cash as well.

Again, just put the name of your gadget into musicMagpie‘s search bar to get an instant estimate.

 

 How much could I make selling my gadgets and phone?

Prices vary depending on the make and condition of your gadget. For example, selling an Apple iPhone 11 128GB on gigaff would bring you about £230.

Their easy-to-search website means you can get an estimate on your gadgets in a matter of seconds, and gigaff also offer a variety of (free!) methods for you to send them if you’re happy with the price. Even better, they can have the money to you via bank transfer or Paypal the very same day that they receive your goods.

Really old stuff won’t go for that much, but it’s free money if you’re not using it anymore and the numbers can really rack up if you have a lot to clear out.

 

Always remember to erase everything securely

It may seem like the best way to remove your personal files before recycling your gadgets is just to press the delete button, however this DOESN’T actually delete them! When you “delete” something on a computer, what you’re actually doing is hiding the file and telling the system that it can write over it, if you kept using the computer eventually it would be rewritten with different save data, but if you’re just wiping and sending on, the person at the other end can actually recover that data (yes, even though you deleted it!).

So if your phone, computer or gadget is still operational, it’s very important to make sure you completely remove all that personal data to prevent identity theft.

Here’s how to make sure that your private information is really gone forever:

Wiping a Mobile Phone

Step 1: Remove Factory Reset Protection

You’ll have to start by removing Factory Reset Protection (FRP). An extra layer of security introduced by Google in Android 5.0 Lollipop to prevent thieves from being able to steal your phone, wipe it, and then use it or sell it. If you factory reset a phone with FRP still enabled and then try to set it up as a new device, it will prompt you to enter the user name and password for the last Google account registered on the device. If you don’t have those details, then the phone will remain locked and will be un-useable. Obviously, this is no good if you’re trying to sell it or give it away.

Here’s how to disable it:

1. This step will differ slightly depending on your phone make. On a Samsung Galaxy, go to Settings > Lock screen and security > Screen lock type and choose None. On an LG G6, go to Settings > Display > Lock screen > Select screen lock and choose None. On a Google Pixel, go to Settings > Personal > Security > Screen lock and choose None.
2. The next thing you must do is remove your Google account. If you have more than one Google account registered with your phone, then make sure you remove all of them.
3. If you have a Samsung Galaxy, then you should remove your Samsung account, too.

Step 2: Encrypt Your Data

When you do a factory reset on an Android smartphone, it’s supposed to wipe it clean, but it doesn’t. It deletes the location information for your data, so it can’t find it, but it doesn’t actually overwrite the data. Because of this, it’s possible for someone to use off-the-shelf recovery software and recover some of that data.

To ensure your data cannot be recovered you need to encrypt your data. This option is built in to Android and needs to be done manually through the setting menu (with iPhones this happens automatically). When you encrypt your phone, everything becomes scrambled, and your data is made unreadable.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Completely charge your phone or keep it plugged in while running this process as it can take several hours depending on how much data you have.
2. The next step differs slightly from phone to phone. It will generally be Settings > Security > Encrypt phone. But on a Samsung Galaxy, for example, you want to go to Settings > Lock screen & security > Protect encrypted data. You have the option to encrypt the SD card as well, but if you’re passing the phone on, we would recommend removing it instead.

Note: If your phone came with Android 6.0 Marshmallow or above, it should be encrypted by default

step 3: Factory Reset The phone

Make sure everything you want to keep is backed up now because once you have done this your data will be GONE.

This bit is fairly simple, just follow these simple steps (it should be the same general pathway for most phones):

Settings > Backup & reset > Factory data reset and then tap Reset phone or Reset device.

On a Samsung Galaxy go to Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory data reset and then tap Reset device.

When the process is done, your phone will be wiped and any data that could be recovered will be encrypted and should be impossible to decrypt. It’s now safe to sell your Android smartphone, or pass it along.

 

Wiping a Computer Hard-drive

Step 1: Download a free data destruction program.

There are actually several ways to completely erase a hard drive but using data destruction software is the easiest and still allows the hard drive to be used again. DBAN is probably the most widely used hard drive wiping tool. See this tutorial if you’re nervous about hard drive wiping or prefer a more detailed walk-through (it has screenshots).

Here are some examples of programmes you could use.

step 2: Install the software

Complete whatever steps are necessary to install the software or, in the case of a bootable program like DBAN, get the ISO image on a CD disc or USB device like a flash drive:

If you’re using a CD or DVD, this usually involves burning the ISO image to a disc and then booting from the disc to run the program.

If you’re using a flash drive or other USB drive, this usually involves burning the ISO image to the USB device and then booting from that USB drive to get started.

Step 3: Wipe the hard drive according to the program’s instructions

Yep, pretty simple. After properly wiping a hard drive, you can be confident that whatever information was on the drive is now gone for good.

 

Useful Links

• DBAN
• musicMagpie

• GIFFGAFF

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Job vacancies outweigh unemployment for the first time

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Job vacancies outweigh unemployment for the first time ever.

There are currently more job vacancies than unemployed people for the first time since records began. Between January and March of 2022, the unemployment rate fell to its lowest for almost 50 years, to 3.7%.

During this same period, the number of vacancies open within the UK rose to 1.3 million – a new high. This means the number of vacancies available outweighs the number of unemployed people for the first time ever.

Despite this, pay rates and minimum wage have failed to rise proportionately with inflation, creating an intense crisis for many. This has caused the cost-of-living crisis to deepen, with food and fuel costs growing at a rapid speed. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest the figures show a “mixed picture”.

The data also showed a rise in the number of people starting employment after being previously economically inactive. This means there are more people than ever, between the ages of 16 and 64, choosing to work, even if they have previously struggled to do so. They may have previously been unable to work due to disability, illness or caring responsibilities.

The number of people moving to new jobs and new types of employment has also reached a record high. The ONS suggests despite widespread redundancies and job-losses resulting from the pandemic and subsequent economic turmoil, these changes in jobs has stemmed from resignations more than dismissals.

A rise in the number of jobs available may come as good news to many – suggesting businesses can afford to take on new staff. However, for many, it has been a huge struggle to fill positions. Many small businesses must spend thousands of pounds to advertise new job roles, only for them to not be filled.

Despite wages not being able to keep up with the rate of inflation, the stats show they have risen slightly. Standard rates of pay, excluding bonuses, rose by 4.2% between January and March of this year. This is much less than the current inflation rate of 7%, however.

Although many businesses and employers tried to adjust rates of pay for their employees to soften the blow of inflated prices, the research shows overall disposable income fell by 1.2%. This is the biggest decrease to wages since 2013.

It’s not all doom and gloom, however. Certain industries actually saw their pay get a huge boost. Construction and financial services saw increased bonuses and increased salaries as a method of recruiting new employees and holding onto existing ones. Total pay rose by an average of 7% in these sectors.

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British Gas to hire 500 new staff

Reading Time: 2 mins

British Gas have announced they are hiring new staff nationwide to help current staff cope with the unprecedented number of customer calls. The number of customers who are struggling to manage is growing rapidly, as energy bills soar.

The energy supplier has said they are to recruit 500 new UK-based staff for their call centres. They currently have around 6,000 staff in their call centres. They hope this move will aid in keeping call numbers down from the growing number of people in the UK who are facing a huge cost of living increase.

On April 1^st 2022, the average household fuel tariff rose to a staggering £2,000 a year as a result of energy regulator OfGem increasing the price cap by 54%. This reflected a huge rise in wholesale gas prices.

Centrica, who are the parent company of British Gas, have said the demand for customer service has been “phenomenal” over the past year. They hope they can manage this demand over the coming months, particularly with another energy price cap rise expected in October. A spokesperson for Centrica has said; “Customers are very concerned about rising energy costs and we want to help them as much as we can.”

Centrica also suggested it expected the British Gas operating profits to top expectations, with forecasts ranging from £739 million to £1.4 billion. A huge blow to customers who are experiencing such struggles to aid these growing profits. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has already been criticised for not placing a windfall tax on energy providers.

On a more positive note, the British Gas energy support fund is now at £6 million. It was set up in December 2021. This provides grants of up to £750 to support the most vulnerable customers. This aid to help people pay their bills will be a relief for many. So far, the fund has paid 3,600 a total of £1.9 million so far. This makes the average grant £534.

British Gas are not only hiring new staff in their call centres, either. They have stated they will create a further 1,000 apprenticeships in engineering. British Gas have a goal of setting up 3,500 apprenticeships over the next decade, with 500 already under their belt. They also hired 700 qualified engineers in 2021.

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Where can you find the cheapest veggie meals?

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Where can you find the cheapest veggie meals?

Tomorrow may mark the end of National Vegetarian Week, but vegetarianism is expected to continue to grow in popularity beyond this. It is expected 8.8 million Brits are thinking of going meat free this year.

This got money.co.uk thinking – where can you find the cheapest veggie meals? To find the answer to this, they compared the menus of popular fast-food chains across the UK. This revealed the cheapest vegetarian meal on average, as well as guidance on sustain a vegetarian diet whilst on a budget.

• Top 15 cheapest veggie meals
• What the experts are saying

 

Top 15 cheapest veggie meals

Baked-goods favourite Greggs is at the top spot, providing the cheapest vegetarian meal. This costs only £2.83 on average – a bargain! They chain sell iconic vegan sausage rolls, vegan ‘steak’ bakes and more. This means you don’t have to miss out on your favourites, despite being a veggie.

Mexican chain Taco Bell follows behind in second place. The average vegetarian meal costs around £3.84, just over £1 more than at Greggs. Perfect if you want to add some Mexican flavour to your day.

Globally-loved McDonalds is in third place, with an average vegetarian meal costing £4.68. They launched their vegan ‘McPlant’ burger in October 2021, and has been a hit for vegans and vegetarians alike.

At the bottom of the list is Nando’s, with an average cost of £10.89 for a veggie meal. This is three times more than the average Greggs vegetarian meal in first place.

 

What the experts are saying

Florence Codjoe, personal finance expert from MONEY.CO.UK:

“Preparing veggie meals everyday may sound complicated but it doesn’t have to be. With the increasing growth of meat alternatives in recent years, this has become much more convenient for consumers. Cutting down meat and poultry consumption from time to time can also make a difference in reducing the cost of your food shop.

For those looking to try out ‘Vegetarian Week’, you may choose to re-create a list of your favourite meals ahead of time and find a veggie alternative for meat this way. This is also the perfect time to pre-plan your meals through the week, which is great not only for reducing your daily food shopping cost, but it ensures that you are purchasing exactly what you need and minimising food waste.”

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The pension gender gap is narrowing

Reading Time: 3 mins

The latest statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) shows the pension gender gap is continuing to narrow. Currently, the full basic state pension is £141.85 per week. The full new state pension stands at £185.15 per week.

• The statistics
• Ways to boost your state pension
• What the experts are saying

 

The statistics

So what can be seen of the pension gender gap in the latest stats?

The number of women receiving less than £100 of state pension per week has shrunk from 1.67 million in November 2020 to 1.5 million women in November 2021. In comparison, this figure was only 448,082 for men in November 2021.

There are still moves to be made to close the gap further, however. In November 2021, the mean weekly state benefit amount women in the UK received stood at £148.82 per week. This is still far less than the mean of £172.12 per week for men – a mean difference of £93.20 per month. This was, however, a slight improvement on November of 2020, when the mean women received per week was shown to be £143.43.

Women on both the basic state pension and the new state pension are still falling behind men on weekly pension allowances, a gap we hope to see close in the near future. The median income for women on the basic state pension is currently £146.39, compared to £172.68 per week for men. Women on the new state pension get a median income of £164.90 per week, compared to an average of £170.51 for men. This means women are receiving £26.29 and £5.61 less per week respectively.

You can see the full release from the DWP of the latest state pension figures, including information on the pension gender gap, up to November 2021 here.

 

Ways to boost your state pension

 There are a few ways you can boost your state pension, which you may not be fully aware of.

1. Check your entitlement. Go online and check the amount of state pension you are entitled to. Check the age at which you can begin to receive the state pension. Take a look here.
2. Claim child benefit. Women tend to miss out on valuable state pension credits more than men when they have children. If you claim child benefit, however, you will receive national insurance credits which count towards your state pension. This will not be the case if your husband or partner claims the child benefit. Make sure you do it in your name! You may also miss out on this opportunity if you opt out of child benefits due to the high-income child benefit tax charge.
3. Specified Adult Childcare Credit. If you are under the state pension age and look after a family member under the age of 12 years whilst their parent or guardian goes to work, you could qualify for national insurance credits towards your state pension.
4. Buy National Insurance credits. If you have a little cash to spare, you can fill any gaps in your NI record. You can buy voluntary class 3 NI contributions. Buying one full year costs around £825, and you can buy six years’ worth. In certain scenarios, you could buy more. Think of it as an investment into your future.
5. Claim Pension Credit. If you are over the state pension and on a very low income, you may be eligible for Pension Credit. This tops up your weekly income to £182.60 if you are ingle and £278.70 if you have a partner. You will be entitled to other benefits as the result of this. This includes help with council tax and free TV licences.

 

What the experts are saying

Helen Morrissey, senior pensions and retirement analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown:

“The state pension gap is still narrowing, with the amount women receive continuing to rise. The introduction of the new state pension in 2016 has significantly boosted the amount women receive and we are seeing a big drop in the number of women receiving less than £100 per week in state pension. As more women retire into the new state pension system we should see incomes continue to grow and the introduction of auto-enrolment will see many more women further build their retirement resilience with a workplace pension. 

It is hugely important women focus on building their own retirement wealth. The new state pension does not allow you to inherit state pension entitlement from a spouse in the same way the old system did, and so women’s state pension is based on your individual national insurance record. Similarly, it can be tempting to rely on a spouse’s workplace pension provision if it is particularly generous, but in the case of separation or divorce many women may find themselves approaching retirement with little in the way of pension income. 

The state pension forms the backbone of peoples’ retirement planning. Under the current system you need ten years’ worth of national insurance (NI) credits to qualify for a state pension and 35 years’ worth to qualify for the full amount. Women can often struggle to reach the full amount because they spend time out of the workforce looking after families. However, claiming state benefits during these times can mean you can still claim NI credits and build your entitlement.”

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Passive Income Casestudy: “selling bits can make me £100 a week”

Reading Time: 3 mins

We know from TV shows like Cash In The Attic that many people around the UK are sitting on (or under) tons of items in their own home that could be worth a few extra quid. Not all of us are going to have valuable antiques in our homes but for those looking for a bit of passive income, selling on sites like eBay and Vinted can be a nice little earner. 

One such seller is Melissa Watts, a Yorkshire resident who sells items on Facebook Marketplace, Ebay & Vinted and has previously used work classified pages on the website of the University where she works full-time.

“On Facebook Marketplace I tend to sell household items,” says Melissa. “For example, sofas, side tables, lamps, mirrors, garden furniture. I use eBay to sell clothing. On Vinted too, although with them you don’t pay commission, so I thought I’d give it a go: the buyer pays their own postage.”

She adds that if you have an option to sell on your work classified site, you can make a tidy sum selling, as she has, “electrical items, anything and everything!”

TIME TO SELL

Melissa Watts loves her little passive income

 

Many people will perhaps fancy the idea of selling items for some extra cash, but worry they don’t have the time to search their house, let alone list and sell online. We asked Meliss how much time she takes each week to gather and list her items for sale. “It takes me less than 30 mins per week, unless my mum happens to have given me a bag of her own stuff to sell that week! I guess I have it down to a fine art so it doesn’t take me long, and once you work out where your items are and which to sell, you get into the habit.”

As for what items to sell, Melissa says, “have a think about things that are weighing you down or which you just don’t need anymore. Your unwanted items could be exactly what someone else is looking for.”

EARNINGS

Passive income can go into the hundreds if you have a lot to sell, but Melissa currently makes “about £40 a month at the moment, which isn’t a lot but it’s partly the time of year, I think. It does vary.”

Although this amount seems small, Melissa does add that depending on what items she’s getting rid of, she has made up to £100 a week in busy times for her online shops. Again, it has depended what she’s decided to get rid of. What seems useful today may be in the way at a later date. 

SELLING TIPS

Melissa loves having a passive income.

Melissa provides these top tips for getting your items up for sale.

DETAIL

“Provide as much detail as possible along with the item: don’t just say ‘a black top.’ Also, be honest about the condition and availability of your items, otherwise people will mark you down as a seller.

Take good quality photos of each item, including listing any faults if applicable.”

APPS, FEES AND POSTAGE COSTS

“Download the apps on your phone: eBay, Vinted etc. as if makes the process so much easier, and you will get notifications on your items if there are any questions or you sell anything.”

Melissa advises you to check each service before you sell, as they all have different built-in fees that will cut into your profits. Digital overheads, if you will: this is after all a business. 

“As far as your own costs, make sure you work out the postage BEFORE you sell the items. When I started out, I used to lose money because I underestimated the cost of selling a larger item.  

With Music Magpie, they have a scanner in their app to make it even easier to sell your items, but do be aware that they don’t pay you much money for everyday cods and DVDs as they probably have hundreds of the same titles.

Also if you use eBay, be aware that they take a percentage of the value of the item with the postage, so adjust your price accordingly.”

FINAL ADVICE 

Melissa says, “Have fun with it! once you have sold a few items, you’ll get into it: it should be a pleasure and not a chore!”

Check out Melissa’s items for sale here: 

Vinted

Market Place

Ebay

You could also try Ziffit, which like Music Magpie comes with a scanner in the app. Have a good time shopping around for the best deal for you. 

MoneyMagpie also offer a guide to selling on ASOS marketplace here.

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Cut to Universal Credit: When eating becomes a luxury

Reading Time: 4 mins

Charity Action for Children has released sobering research, painting a devastating picture of the impact of the £20-a-week cut to Universal Credit. Amongst the soaring cost of living, it is hitting the poorest and most vulnerable families in the UK hardest.

In the last six months, 54% of grants issued from the charity’s Crisis Fund have gone to families on UC. This suggests the current benefit amount is failing to meet the basic cost of living for many.

Similarly, over one third (39%) of grants have pointed to an inevitable rise in household spending. The choice between food and bills puts great strain on struggling families.

• Food poverty
• Mental health
• Support
• Case Study
• Statement from Action for Children

 

Food poverty

Ensuring families have access to adequate levels of good quality and nutritious food is a major focus for Action for Children. Over half of the money spent since October has supported this mission.

The crisis fund applications showed shocking stats. Nearly a third (31%) of families suggested they would have struggled to feed their children without the Crisis Fund. Worryingly, this figure rose to 37% for those on UC. In another astonishing finding, almost one quarter (24%) of families were choosing between eating meals or paying bills. A stat which rose to 29% for those receiving the UC payment.

The heart-breaking findings only continue. 19% of families, almost one fifth, were cutting back on portion sizes, and over one in ten (13%) were skipping meals to ensure they could feed their children.

 

Mental health

Of course, this has had huge impacts on the mental wellbeing of many. Nearly half (49%) of applications to the fund reported both adult and child stress, anxiety and mental health concerns. This stat only increased further to 54% for those on Universal Credit, suggesting a huge emotional cost.

These struggles are shown further by the staff surveyed. More than seven in 10 staff (71%) saying they have had to provide staff with extra emotional support. An overwhelming 64% off staff said they had arranged home visits and wellbeing checks in recent months.

 

Support

Following on from the emotional support, staff have reported on the general support they have to offer families. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of families had been impacted by the cut to Universal Credit. Over half (57%) even suggesting the impact was ‘significant’.

The research also shows crisis support staff found:

• Nearly half (45%) of those surveyed work longer or irregular hours
• More than two-fifths (41%) top up families’ energy meters,
• 17% negotiate with energy companies to help families manage bills, and
• Nearly one in ten (9%) even donate food to families from their own cupboards.

 

Case study

Leanne, a mother of two from the West Country works 37 hours a week as a finance officer. She is claiming Universal Credit and needed food vouchers from the Action for Children Crisis fund.

She told Action for Children: ‘I have no disposable income whatsoever. My electricity bill has gone from £188 to £279 a month, my council tax has gone up and I’ve had to increase my oil payments – last year they were 19.5p per litre, and now they’re over £1.23.

‘Everything has gone up in the shops too – from food to cleaning products. Things that were £1 are now £1.25 – a 25% increase – now imagine that for a whole food shop. It was a struggle anyway, but now things are so much worse. There’s no way we can survive like this, it’s just impossible.  A lot of people think foodbanks are just for people who don’t work, but people who work like me need them now.

‘You read the reports about energy bills reaching £3,000 by the winter – how the heck are we going to afford that? We literally can’t live. And my kids can’t do anything fun – I can’t afford to take them on special treats like trips to a theme park or anything, that’s simply all gone for them now.

‘There’s no way for me to work more to get myself out of this situation, like the government says I could. With my eldest off to university in September, my money will reduce again as I won’t get his child benefit, or the disabled child element. I’m really worried about the impact of that on us as a family as I want to help him financially, but I simply won’t be able to. I don’t think I’ll even manage priority bills let alone luxuries like food. Who’d have thought eating would become a luxury?’

 

Statement from Action for Children

Imran Hussain, director of policy and said:

‘The worst pain and misery of the cost of living crisis is being felt by children in low income families, yet the Government is refusing to target help for these children or accept that it needs to rethink its huge cut to Universal Credit. 

‘The levels of severe and persistent financial hardship our services are seeing are among the worst they can remember and are robbing too many children of the bright futures they deserve. Whilst our Crisis Fund can help to relieve some of these pressures, it cannot address the underlying causes driving rising deprivation or offer a solution for families bearing the brunt of this deep-rooted cost of living crisis.

‘We desperately need a cross-government plan to reduce and ultimately eradicate child poverty in the UK, but we can start today by guaranteeing benefits keep pace with the cost of living and target help to children in low income families through a rise in the child element of Universal Credit. There is so much more our government can do in these tough times to prevent those with the least from continuing to suffer the most.’

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How to make money from bullet journals

Reading Time: 7 mins

Bullet journals have gained major popularity in recent years, replacing the classic journal, notebook and diary, combining them into one. Thanks to social media, more people than ever are using bullet journals to express their creativity, meticulously plan the day, week and month ahead, as well on reflect on them.

You may see a bullet journal for the first time and become overwhelmed (in the best possible way) by the intense patterns, colours and artworks which grace the pages. Many bullet journal creators may opt for a particular theme every month. You may add in pages specific to you which help you keep on track.

For example, if you are starting a new hobby or skill, such as running, going to the gym, reading or learning a new language, you may add in a page where you can tick off the days you have developed your skill.

Whatever you choose to put in your journal, they can help you become more organised, productive and bring meaning to your goals. Bullet journals (nicknamed BuJo’s by the ever-growing community of creators) take the chaos of life and put it into one streamlined and organised book.

But how can you make money from these handy and popular organisation tools? Read on to find out more.

• Create bullet journals for others
• Sell notebooks
• Sell accessories
• Track your finances
• Create a social media account

 

Create bullet journals for others

If you have a flare for art and enjoy doodling, drawing and creating beautiful designs, why not try your hand at creating bullet journals for others to buy? Although bullet journals are more about functionality than form, most of us would love something that looks beautiful throughout.

xdemidesigns

This is where people like Demi come in. Demi is a young woman from Essex who recently started a small business creating bullet journals for others. Her artistic talents allow her to create beautiful designs which sweep the pages, with bright colours turning the dull pages of a notebook into works of art.

She previously spent a lot of time on her own bullet journals, spending years designing and creating her very own books containing her goals, plans and to-do lists, keeping her on track with hobbies such as exercising, reading and more. She perfected her skills, working away until she decided to start doing it for other people.

Thus, Demi began her side hustle to make some extra money, naming her business xdemidesigns. She currently works full time as a data and systems operator for a well-known charity, and bullet journaling was a brilliant way to unwind after a long day. They say having a job you love means you’ll never have to work a day in your life, so Demi went for it and began her side earner.

How did you start?

“I’ve been bullet journaling for myself since April of 2018, and admiring other people’s bullet journals for even longer,” Demi tells us. “Towards the end of 2021 I found a creator in the US that made custom bullet journals to order. I saw no reason that I couldn’t do the same thing but based in the UK!”

This is clearly something she is passionate about, and it is always great to see someone doing something they love. “I currently offer custom bullet journals and bullet journal adjacent products, such as stickers and planning pages.”

What do you need to start?

She shows us a sleep tracker page she created back in February 2022. It’s a neatly designed page with tones of pink and red in the title. She tells us she uses it to track her sleeping patterns, a page many insomniacs would be keen to use. She also shows us some of the equipment she uses to create such beautiful designs.

“All you really need for bullet journaling is a notebook and pen,” she tells us. “Obviously, I use a lot more equipment because my bullet journal designs are more elaborate, with doodles and different colours.” Demi suggests investing in high quality, slightly more expensive colouring pens was the best move for her, but she previously used less expensive Crayola pens. “They work just as well!” She adds.

From her Instagram xdemidesigns, you can see she also uses watercolour paints, pens of different sizes, stickers and washi tape. Washi tape, originally from Japan, is a decorative, low tack masking tape, which adds beautiful designs and colour to blank pages.

What do you offer?

She goes on to tell us about the particular service she offers, but because she creates them from scratch, she allows the customer to make most of the decisions. “They are custom made, so clients can tell me exactly what they want, such as the notebook size they’d prefer or what they’d like on each page, so I can make them exactly how they want,” she explains. She also allows them to choose particular themes, colours and shapes they may want to include.

But this is no easy task. The meticulous designs Demi does, and the precision needed to create neat lines, pictures and tables means they take a lot of time to make. “If I worked on one continuously, I could probably get it done in two or three days,” she smiles, “But obviously, working a full-time job means they can take a little longer.”

Where do you sell your bullet journals?

“Right now, I sell on Etsy, but I’m always looking at other online retailers,” she says. “Etsy charge a small fee to post a listing, and also take a small percentage of each transaction.”Demi’s side hustle is still in its infancy, and she is yet to work out a set price for her bullet journals. She currently charges the client for the notebook they pick and any postage costs but is still trying to decide what to charge for her time. ”Most of my orders so far have been for friends and family, so I am still considering the overall costs.” She informs us.

“At the moment, I use Instagram and Facebook to gain exposure too,” she grins. “I’d love to set up a blog or website too at some point, but I’m not quite there yet!”

When asked how she advertises her side hustle, she responds: “I use word of mouth and friends and family members to advertise my designs. My Instagram has grown fairly quickly over the last few months, which I am super excited about.”

Where do you find your inspiration?

“I am active on Pinterest, Instagram, Youtube and other people’s bullet-journaling blogs,” she tells us. She is a breath of fresh air – it is truly refreshing to see someone so excited about their hobby. “If the client has their own ideas and themes then I’ll use them. But I love looking online for new ideas!”

You can find Demi on Instagram and Facebook under the name ‘xdemidesigns’.

 

Sell notebooks

Perhaps you aren’t the most artistic person out there but see this as a good opportunity to make some extra cash. In order to create a bullet journal, people need – well, journals.

Many online wholesalers specialise in stationary, bulk selling plain notebooks and pads for as little as 30 pence per book. These may be slightly more the higher quality you desire, however.

So why not put your entrepreneurial hat on and start selling wholesale items for a little profit? Big Bear Promosell 2,500 notebooks for £780. That is 31 pence per notebook. If you sold each notebook for, say, £6, you would make a tidy profit of £14,220, if you charged a postage fee.

Now, we don’t all have £780 lying around, we get that. It is probably easier and more sensible to start small. Retailers such as Choice Wholesale and Wholesale Stationers offer wholesale stationary in smaller quantities.

 

Sell accessories

Similarly, you could sell bullet journal accessories, such as stickers, stencils and washi tape. Sellers such as Bead Park sell packs of stencils, with a 20 pack costing 28 pence per stencil, which is £5.60. Even if you sold each stencil for £1, you would make £20 overall – a profit of £14.40.

For stickers, huge wholesalers such as Alibaba sell big packs of hundreds of stickers for very low costs. Some come in sheets and some are individual large ones. You could sell both sticker sheets and individual stickers for a low amount and still make profit.

The possibilities are endless. Marketing your notebooks as bullet journals and accessories as bullet journal accessories will bring in a whole new audience, hungry to begin their own bullet journal journey.

 

Track your finances

Although this won’t make you money as such, it’ll certainly help you to save and manage your money well. If you want to do your own bullet journal, why not use it to track your finances? Setting up financial goals, budgets and more within a bullet journal could help you stay on track with your spending and save you money.

Magpie Izzy received a personalised bullet journal from xdemidesigns, and she uses it to track her spending and reach her financial goals:

“I love my bullet journal as a way of tracking my spending, as it is all in one place. I’m very much someone who needs to write things down and have everything in front of me so I can see it clearly. I have a whole page dedicated to my savings goals, and I tick off boxes when I have reached a certain amount. It almost becomes a challenge, as when it is written on paper, I feel like it is set in stone! I also use it to track my outgoings which is really helpful.”

We have loads of useful articles about budgeting and saving money, such as a budgeting checklist, the 50 envelope savings challenge and ways to boost your savings.

 

Create a social media account

 Perhaps you create bullet journals already, or are tempted to start. Why not follow in Demi’s footsteps and creat a social media account such as Instagram, Facebook or Youtube? Even TikTok is a great way to promote your designs and what you want to do.

You may just want to show your designs and gain a following of like-minded people. Many social media accounts focussed on bullet journals have amassed hundreds of thousands of followers, with the account owners making extra income from sponsorships and collaborations with brands who specialist in items such as stationery.

Here are some of the top bullet journal Instagram accounts to inspire you:

• @notebook_therapy – 1.6m followers
• @bulletjournal – 371k followers
• @bujobyvicky – 26.7k followers
• @bulletjournal_by_danique – 18.9k followers
• @bulletjournalbychloe – 12.7k followers

 

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7 hacks to keep food fresher for longer

Reading Time: 4 mins

Did you know, most food waste within the UK comes from within your home? You may think it’s the large corporations and supermarkets creating the most waste, but in fact, individual households cause the majority of food waste. We all need to find ways to keep food fresher for longer and prevent this waste.

In the UK alone, 6.6 million tonnes of food are wasted every single year. This costs £284 per person, per year. That’s almost £300 which could be put towards bills, rent or mortgage payments. Even more shockingly, in the US, 31.9% of food bought is wasted, costing $1,866 annually per household – that’s about £1,522!

As the cost-of-living crisis rages on, it’s more important than ever to keep your food fresher for longer and ensure we are using all the food we buy. Not only will this prevent waste but save us precious pennies.

Here are 7 top hacks to help you keep food fresher for longer. Some of them may surprise you!

• Use vinegar on your berries
• Keep veggies crunchy
• Herb swaddling
• Keep your biscuits fresh
• Give your basil a new lease of life
• Protect your potatoes
• Fruit spray

 

Use vinegar on your berries

This slightly weird, but wonderful hack comes from TikTok user @westwing. In a viral video, they suggest washing your berries in diluted vinegar. This keeps your berries fresher for up to two weeks, without compromising the flavour of the berries. Give it a go and see if it works!

 

Keep veggies crunchy

Another hack from the same TikTok user suggests putting vegetables such as celery, peppers and carrots straight into the fridge when unpacking your food shop is a huge no-no. Wash your veggies before placing them into an airtight container or Tupperware with a small amount of fresh water in them. This will keep your produce crunchy and fresh for up to a month!

This prevents waste from a half-eaten pepper or avocado. Simply wash the remainder of the food item, pop it in your container and voila, no more grey avocados or squishy celery.

 

Herb swaddling

Yes, this method does involve wrapping up and swaddling your herbs like a precious newborn. But it is totally worth it for saving your herbs and boosting their life span. It’s simple, too.

Herbs often don’t last long at all, and it can be totally frustrating opening the fridge to wilted basil and rotting coriander. Remove any rubber bands or plastic ties from your herbs, run them under the tap and place them on a clean, dry tea towel or some kitchen roll. Once your herbs are dry, wrap them in damp paper towel and place them in a plastic zip lock bag or container. Your herbs will stay fresher for longer.

 

Keep your biscuits fresh

One of the most heart-breaking moments in life is when you go to the biscuit tin, excited to munch on a custard cream whilst you have your cuppa, only to find your biscuits have gone stale. But don’t fear, stale biccies are a thing of the past, thanks to TikTok user @lifetipsing.

This hack suggests putting a slice of bread in your biscuit tin – a good way to use the heel of your loaf of bread if you aren’t a fan of eating it. The science behind this? The biscuits will draw moisture from the bread, keeping them softer for longer. No more hard-as-a-rock cookies when you have your morning tea.

 

Give your basil a new lease of life

As previously mentioned, herbs can be super hard to maintain. But popping your cuts of basil in a small pot of water, as you would a bouquet of flowers, keeps it going for longer. Refresh the water in the pot every few days, and you’ll be adding your basil to spag bols, risottos and pesto for a while to come.

 

Protect your potatoes

Do you buy potatoes but never use them fast enough? Do they sprout and turn green before your eyes? Well, you are in luck, because TikTok user @thismumcooks has an amazing hack for you.

Peel and chop your potatoes. You may choose to cut some into chips, wedges or even for use as roast potatoes down the line. Par boil your tatties, then allow them to cool. Once cool, place them on a baking tray and freeze them. Once your potatoes have frozen, pop them into freezer bags, ready to use at dinner time or with a Sunday lunch.

 

Fruit spray

Homemade fruit spray is a quick, easy and cheap method of keeping your fruit fresher for longer. Apples will be crispy and juicy for longer, so no more mushy fruit. Simply combine 230ml of water with 230ml of vinegar and a few drops of lemon juice. Spray on your fruit to keep it fresher for longer and maintain that recently bought aesthetic for your fruit bowl.

 

What are your favourite tips for keeping food fresher for longer?

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Banks to be forced to reimburse fraud victims

Reading Time: 2 mins

The government have declared war on financial fraud, promising to amend legislation which helps more victims reclaim money they have lost. This legislation will push banks and service providers to reimburse those who fall victim to scams. Banks can currently choose whether or not to reimburse victims, however it remains voluntary.

Now, the government have announced they are readying a new legislative amendment to give the Payment Systems Regulator the power to force banks and other payment providers to provide the money lost where it is deemed fit. The government have suggested this legislative amendment will take place “when parliamentary time allows” and will be part of the financial services and markets bill.

But when would it be deemed suitable to reimburse a victim of a financial scam? Regulators would require victims to be reimbursed in cases of authorised push payment scams on designated payment systems. These systems include Faster Payments, used by banks to transfer payment quickly.

These legislative changes are intended to create fairness and support in a world where people continue to fall victim to financial scams and suffer great losses without support or financial reimbursement. Currently, for every £1 lost, only 43 pence is being returned to scam victims. It also aims to bring consistency, as many banks still do not voluntarily reimburse fraud victims.

The government have also announced regulation 90 of the Payment Services Regulations 2017 is set to be amended. This change will mean the liability framework for reimbursement will grow to include payment service providers, such as PayPal, and not just banks.

The government have also tasked The Payment Systems Regulator with publishing a draft regulatory requirement. The regulator will then be able to impose any new powers they have within six months of these provisions coming into force. They must publish a consultation on its preferred approach to reimbursement in Autumn of this year.

Laura Suter, head of personal finance at AJ Bell, comments:

“The number of people conned into handing over their bank details or approving payments to scammers, also known as authorised push payment fraud, has soared in recent years, with the pandemic being a boom time for scammers preying on vulnerable people. The cost-of-living crisis is pushing more people into precarious financial situations is sadly a situation that scammers feed on, meaning the scale of the problem is likely to get worse. 

“The new Financial Services Bill will pave the way for the Payment Systems Regulator to force banks to compensate victims, with a mandatory reimbursement for anyone who is tricked into transferring their money to a fraudster. However, that doesn’t mean every scam victim will definitely get their money back.”

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