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…

Top tips to cut impulse buying.

When you are out shopping it is easy to get carried away and give in to all temptation. In these tough economic times giving in can have knock-on effects and consequences that ruin your carefully constructed budget. This latest blog…

Are we a nation of Shopaholics and “Comfort” spenders?

As a woman I am well aware of the dangers that "comfort" shopping can bring. A bad day at work, bad mood, row with the other half or general stress from life; anything can trigger that feeling of emptiness that…

Back to school on a budget

It is that time of year again as we pack the children back off to school. On one hand we are relieved to have a bit of peace and quiet and a bit of normality back, but on the other…

The true cost of owning a pet

By Rebecca Sowter Croll When you first set eyes on that cute ball of fluff or multi-coloured reptile, long term cost may not be the first thing on your mind. It definitely was not the first thing I thought about…

Planning a wedding on a budget.

After recently getting married I know too well that weddings can cost a fortune and the budget can soon spiral out of control. You only have to look in some bridal magazines to see they average the cost of a…

The Real Cost of Driving

There is no hiding from the fact that the cost of driving is going up. From fuel to insurance to on-going maintenance - driving a car costs us hundreds of pounds each year.

5 ways to make money from your home.

The cost of living is going up - sometimes it seems by the second - which means that some people are struggling to cope. Not surprisingly, many people are turning to new and inventive ways to increase their income.