Day in the life of a case officer

Kirsty Sumner – Bespoke Case Officer In the first of our ‘day in the life’ series, we take a closer look at what the role of a case officer in the Bespoke Solutions department entails, as Kirsty Sumner gives us a…

How to make your Euros last longer on holiday

You’re all packed and your holiday is paid for, but how do you make sure your spending doesn’t spiral out of control when you reach your destination?Once you’ve decided how much money you’re taking on your trip, set a budget so…

Help your child excel at school for free

(and in a way they’ll enjoy!)Children today face more distractions than ever before when it comes to studying outside of the school grounds. The World Wide Web especially provides an endless array of sites, games and social media that are…

Pound to pocket

It’s never been tougher financially for families.The recent recession has meant many of us have had to cut back on our spending where we can and often that can lead to questions about whether to give your children pocket money.Is…

Fathers first

It’s that time of year again when we get the chance to show our dear dads just how much they mean to us by lavishing them with love - and gifts! For those who read my Gifts of Love blog…

25 alternative date ideas without a red rose in sight

Whether you’re going on a first date or out with your partner of many years, these ideas won’t leave you stuck in a rut.

Live Below the Line challenge

Living below the line refers to the 1.2billion people worldwide who live below the poverty line. The World Bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than £1 a day...

Storage ideas to make your groceries last longer

As a nation the cost of our weekly shop is going up, and yet we’re throwing away more food than ever before. Do you ever find that when you come to use your fresh ingredients they’ve already gone off, even…

Netflix Vs Amazon Instant Vs Now TV

Whether you embrace technology or not, the future of film looks to be leaning more and more towards online streaming and downloads, rather than the traditional Video/DVD rental shops. Sick of the high prices Sky or Virgin charge? Want to…

Christmas Spending Habits Visualised

Last month, Payplan conducted a study into Christmas spending and asked 1,000 people about their finances in the run up to the festive season. The survey found that many people rely on credit cards, overdrafts and, for some, even payday…

The Payplan guide to getting married on a budget.

While your wedding day can be one of the best days of your life, the cost of getting married can easily spiral out of control, especially if you get caught up in the excitement and keep adding things to your…

How to get rid of unwanted Christmas gifts

Christmas is a time for giving and receiving – and whilst gift giving comes with the best of intentions, not everyone gets it right. Every year, British households are inundated with presents that may be unwanted and often go unused.…

3 quick and simple Christmas decoration ideas for you to try at home!

Why not get creative this year and try some homemade Christmas decoration ideas? These ideas are simple, cheap and fun to make with your family.

Top tips to cut your energy usage.

Every year we as a nation waste hundreds if not thousands of pounds in electricity, this may be due to a lack of knowledge of how to reduce electricity usage or laziness. Whatever the reason may be, with the cost…

National Stress Awareness Day – How to combat debt stress.

Today marks National Stress Awareness Day and while, officially, the focus is on stress at work, at Payplan we feel that it should also include debt stress.

Top 5 tips for staying out of debt as a student.

Moving out of your family home into university halls of residence is a huge step for most students – not only is it the first time you are living away from home, but it is also the first time you…

Protect my PC for free

As we all know, budgeting often comes down to the smallest and obscurest of things. There are opportunities to save in every aspect of your life at home and, while it may not seem like a particularly damaging expense to…