Holiday at Home or ‘Staycation’ – Patronising or Financial Necessity?

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Is a holiday at home an option or a financial necessity?

The most recent round of figures highlighting the seemingly downwards spiral of problems with the UK’s economy (including a rise in inflation up to 4.4% and a rise in house repossession orders up 28%) confirms what many of us already know – that the cost of living is becoming increasingly expensive.

Holiday at Home

What’s the chance then that many of us won’t be able to afford a holiday away this year or next and are expecting to take a holiday at home? – It’s probably quite high.

Holiday at home is a financial necessity

Presumably, this was the inspiration behind a recent BBC Radio 4 debate on Woman’s Hour which focussed on the ‘Staycation’, which is simply another name for a holiday at home. It may sound patronising, or like hell-on-earth (as one contributor to the debate clearly felt following an article in the Daily Mail) – but it’s true that for many, staying at home during the holiday season is not an option, it’s a financial necessity.

Therefore, it might be sensible to suggest that the idea of a Staycation or a holiday at home is viewed more as an exercise in altering expectations, rather than a patronising attempt to pacify those who simply can’t afford a holiday away from home.

Making the most of a Holiday at home

In a way, a Staycation or a holiday at home means ‘making do’ with what’s available locally – but ‘making do’ doesn’t necessarily mean mediocre. Certainly, the sense of ‘breaking-away’ from the usual routine is one of the biggest attractions of a holiday abroad, or to a different part of the UK, but it doesn’t mean that one can’t relax, explore or indeed find new things to do, either as a single person or as a family in one’s local area.

Visit your local tourist attractions

Local Events and Attractions are Often Free

Many of us are unaware of the full range of things available to us locally, and very often for free; sports facilities, places of interest or community events that are held locally often escape our attention because we have more than enough to contend with in the home and at work than to explore our local areas - and let’s face it, we spend more and more time using modern technology for our entertainment and relaxation than we’ve ever done before; the use of DVDs, home entertainment systems, computer games consoles and, if you’re reading this, the Internet confirm this.

However, if you are reading this, then you’ll have access to a powerful tool that will give you access to much of the information you need to enhance anytime spent at home during the holiday season. Here is a selection of tourist information websites that will prove invaluable in your quest for a successful holiday at home:

Enjoy England
Visit Scotland
Visit Wales
Visit Britain
Visit London

Holiday in someone else’s home

If these don’t provide you with inspiration and are a home-owner, you could always try a home exchange. There are several websites that provide information on this increasingly popular method of holiday, where you simply swap homes with somebody else who’s willing to do the same. However, some carry a small fee, and they are not suitable for everybody. If you think this is up-your-street, then try services such as the Guardian Home Exchange

Contact Payplan
Get financial assistance from Payplan, the free debt advice organisation on 0800 917 7823 or online.

Repossession - “Get Advice As Early As Possible”

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Home repossessions up 48%

The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) issued figures today stating a 48% rise in home repossessions in the first 6 months of 2008.

Payplan’s Managing Director, John Fairhurst, speaking today on BBC Radio 5 Live about the repossession announcement, said:

“I think the most important thing that people can do is to get advice as early as possible. In about 80% of mortgage repossession cases it’s possible to avoid repossession simply by getting the right advice at the right time.”

He added:

“It’s rarely too late to get advice.”

Payplan repossession advice - contact details

You can get repossession advice from Payplan’s Special Repossession Advice Team on 0800 917 7819 or by submitting your details using the online Debt Calculator.

Hanging On To Debt By Your Fingernails

Filed Under  Personal Finance, UK Debt News  |  3 Comments

The Royal Bank of Scotland records profit losses

The Royal Bank of Scotland is the latest bank to record substantial profit losses, and questions are being asked about what the future now holds for the economy, lending and people’s personal finances.

On this morning’s BBC Today programme, Terry Smith of bonds broker Tullit Prebon, forecast that people’s personal finances could get much worse, and that a future rise in UK individuals with debt problems was a ‘time bomb’ waiting to explode.

Hanging on to debt - increased living costs

Recent personal insolvency and bankruptcy figures did not rise, suggesting that somehow, people are managing to cope with the increased demands on their income, including rising household food and energy bills and increased petrol costs. However, as Terry Smith also pointed out:

“When things go wrong for borrowers, they don’t immediately rush in and inform their bank. Basically, they tend to hang on by their fingernails for as long as they can.”

Last minute debt problems

This is a fact that debt advice organisations such as Payplan experience first-hand. Amanda Ryans, Payplan’s Debt Helpline manager, also recognises this fact. She said:

“Many clients call us with serious debt problems, and many of these could increase their options by calling us when things are beginning to go wrong.

The problem is that sometimes a debt situation’s been building up gradually for several years until something gives way. Unfortunately for our clients, it’s often a significant event that triggers their first call to us - a relationship breakdown or loss of a job for example, and we have to help them pick up the pieces.”

Get debt help sooner than later

It’s clear from Payplan’s experience that someone who’s struggling with debt should get help as soon as the problem is realised, although, this is often much easier said than done, especially when so much can be at stake. The fear of losing a family home for example, can prevent those needing debt help urgently from seeking advice sooner. However, debt advisers are trained to be empathetic and should be the first port of call for anyone who thinks that their debts could be a problem.

Payplan contact details

Freephone 0800 917 7823
Online Debt Calculator

Solid Fuel Alternatives to Rising Fuel Prices

Filed Under  Consumer News, Money Saving Tips, Personal Finance, UK Debt News  |  Leave a Comment

Rising energy prices have become a bit of a theme on Payplan Debt News, but it’s not surprising.

british-gas-price-increasesAverage energy bills for gas and electricity are estimated to rise to £1200 per year for UK households, following EDF and British Gas’ announcements within the last week. But worse is to come - utility prices are set to rise again in the New Year – a whopping 60% increase has been forecast in less than 6 months.

So what can we do about it?

The first thing to do is to save money on fuel by reducing our energy usage, and then use energy more efficiently. However, there is always a point at which everything that can be done has been done.

Prepare for winter now and save money on fuel

Another possibility is to look for alternative fuels, especially when heating our homes this winter. For those with open fires, solid fuel alternatives are a real possibility – and one which need not necessarily damage the environment. Whilst there are a few months to go before the cold taste of Winter is back amongst us, its worth looking into solid fuel alternatives now, making sure that chimneys are swept, grates are prepared and fuel is purchased and stored.

Smokeless solid fuel alternatives

If you live in a Smoke Control Area, then the types of solid fuels that can be burnt are restricted to authorised smokeless fuels, such as coke or Ecologs. These are heat efficient and are not disproportionately expensive when compared to today’s gas and electricity prices. These sorts of solid fuel alternatives may be the perfect answer to supplement a central heating system, allowing the average household, using only one room in the evening, to cut the temperature settings on the thermostat, and stoke the open fire.

For those able to use other solid fuels, wood is a highly efficient and carbon-neutral option too. Wood, when burnt correctly, releases no more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than it absorbs when it’s growing, making it a perfect alternative for these environmentally conscious times.

Make your own solid fuel alternatives

It is also now possible to make your own solid fuel alternative. Using a ‘Briquette Maker’, you can recycle all your old newspapers, form them into solid fuel briquettes and store them ready for burning on your open fire in the winter.

Budgeting advice from Payplan

Payplan are conscious that household energy prices, food prices and petrol prices are increasing, and that with the level of unsecured debt in the UK, more people are struggling to pay their debts. Payplan’s free budgeting advice can help you prioritise your finances - call 0800 917 7823 or submit your details for online debt help

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