UK Travellers Know How to Be Frugal

Who do you think is most likely to be frugal when it comes to taking a holiday? Recent research indicates that travellers from the UK tend to be more frugal than do travellers from other parts of Europe. The study found that UK travellers spend less per day during the time that they are traveling than people from other parts of Europe do.

Of course, the amount of money that travellers are able to save does depend on where they are going for their holiday. For example, people who plan to drive during their vacation will want to stay away from areas like Sweden and Turkey where petrol prices have risen considerably this year. They may instead want to go to Ireland and Bulgaria (the European countries with the best petrol value right now) or France (where rates have dropped by nearly 40% in the past year).

Smart UK travellers will look at ways to cut their costs further by figuring out where they get the most for their money. UK currency has gotten weaker recently so it’s important to

10 Hot New Merchants – 6th July 2010

Bookmarking your favorite merchants is a great way to find the discount codes that you might be most likely to use. Just don’t stay so stuck on those bookmarks that you miss out on new merchants that you might like as well. Ten of the hottest new merchants on our site that you want to make sure not to miss out on are:

1) Park and Go. This is a great online store for people who are booking flights. Use the site not only to find a parking spot in the airport parking lot but also to find a hotel near the airport. So convenient!

2) RSPB. This is a leading site for green-minded people. It’s the website for a charity that has many projects benefitting animals and the environment. Use it to find out what you can do to benefit nature. And use their discount codes to save money in the process.

10 Richest Female Superheroes

Women have come a long way in the fight to earn a wage equal to what men earn. Nevertheless, women still typically earn less than their male counterparts. In many industries, there continue to be far more men in the highest-paying positions than there are women. And it appears that this problem even reigns supreme in the realm of fantasy. Take a look at any list of the richest superheroes/ comic book characters / fictional characters and you will find that it’s tough to locate rich imaginary women on those lists.

In the real world, women are often the financial geniuses behind the household budget. Maybe these are the women that little girls are looking up to as they grow up today. Nevertheless, every child enjoys fantasy. Here’s a look at ten of the richest female superheroes/ supervillains for little girls to adore:

1.  Wonder Woman. She’s the quintessential feminist superhero role model, fighting for equal rights for

Nearly 50% of People Feel Financially Worse Than Ever Thanks to Emergency Budget

We keep hearing that the economy is getting better. We have been learning to save money and live frugally for years now thanks to the economic recession. But do you actually feel better about the way that things are going for you financially? A new report by uSwitch reveals the shocking information that nearly half of all people surveyed say that they feel financially worse off now than ever before. This is due in large part to the fears caused by the impending Emergency Budget situation in Britain.

Some of the scary statistics revealed by the uSwitch poll include:

• 24 million people (49%) feel worse than ever before about their financial situation.
• Approximately the same number of people are experiencing a pay freeze which means they will be making the same amount of money for the foreseeable future.

Top 30 Money-Saving Sites for Booking Summer Travel

Travel is one of the biggest summer expenses for many of us. Luckily, there are many things that we can do to cut down on travel costs. One of the smartest things that we can do is to book our summer travel through the cheapest possible websites. There are hundreds of great travel booking sites to choose from. There are sites that are specific to booking flights or are just for booking accommodations. Then there are sites that are designed to make it easy to book an entire vacation package. Some of them offer better deals than others at any given time so it’s important to have a number of them bookmarked when you’re planning your holidays. Here is a look at the best of the best for booking your flight, hotel or holiday package this summer:

Best Websites for Booking A Flight

• Flybe. This flight booking website is getting increasingly well known for the great number of very low-cost flights it offers.
• FlyBMI. If you want to book your flight with the largest airline provider at London Heathrow airport then look no further than this website.
• Jet2Com. This website offers huge discounts on flights around the world. You can also rent a car or book a holiday package if you want but it’s particularly their flights you’ll go to this site to see.
• Scandinavian Airlines. This is a great flight booking site if you’re flying to certain locations including Sweden, Norway and Helsinki.

Best Websites for Booking a Hotel or Other Accommodations

7 Signs That Your Tenants Will Pay Their Rent

If you’re already a landlord then you know how important it is to get good tenants. If you are thinking about renting out your home or even a portion of your home to save money then you will rapidly learn this lesson soon enough. You want tenants that will pay on time, keep your home in good working order and stay for a long period of time. If you are renting out a room in your own home, you also want tenants that are safe for your family and easy to get along with. When you are doing your screening to accept new tenants, what how can you guarantee that these criteria will be met?

There’s no one hundred percent guarantee that you will choose the perfect tenant. However, there are signs that you can look for that indicate that you’re getting a good tenant who will pay their rent on time. Ten signs to look for are:

1. Tenants who don’t hesitate to sign a long-term lease. People never know what might come

This Week’s Top Ten Promotional Codes – 28th June 2010

We had a whole slew of great discount codes come out this week. Many of these are promotional codes that are intended for use in June so you’ll have to hurry if you want to take advantage of the deals. Here are the top ten promotional codes for the week beginning 14th June 2010. They all expire on 30th June 2010.

1) We have a terrific Waltons.co.uk promotional code this week. You can use it to save £85 when you buy any of their Greenacre Log Cabins, Corner Cabins, Home Offices or Garages. If it’s time to add to your home then this deal is for you.

2) If you merely need to update your existing home then perhaps you could use some help from the terrific home fashions selection over at Ulster Weaver. Use our Ulster Weavers promotional code to get 5% off of your order.

This Week’s Top 10 Promotional Codes – 25th June 2010

There were a lot of great discount codes that were new to the site this week. The most exciting ones are the ones that we’re able to offer as an exclusive deal that you can’t find anywhere else on the site. Keep your eye out for these as we’re adding more and more of them every day! The following ten promotional codes are the top ten promotional codes beginning the week of 7th June 2010.

1) Exclusive Deal. Lovefilm is the leading DVD rental company in the UK, bringing great movies to your doorstep or your computer. Use our exclusive Lovefilm gift code and you can get a 30 day trial for free PLUS you get 2 free cinema tickets. Expires 27th June 2010.

2) Exclusive Deal. Some folks would rather watch television than movies. We’ve got a great exclusive deal for you folks right now as well. It’s a Sky offer code that lets you get free stuff when you join Sky TV. First of all you get a free Sky HD+ or Sky+ box. And then you’ll also get a free gift voucher for Marks and Spencer worth £95. Hurry, though; it expires 20th June.

10 Extreme Disasters Caused by Cheapskate Companies! (BP number 1, no surprise)

Saving money is a good thing. The frugal way of life has multiple benefits including benefits that extend beyond just the financial and include such things as simplicity, family closeness and a true understanding of your own core values. However, there are times when people who are trying to save money take things a little bit too far. This is especially true at the government and organization levels where saving money can mean cutting back on things that are necessary to safety and security. If you’re not using common sense when it comes to saving money then saving money can end up being a bad thing.

Take a look at these ten disasters that were caused at least in part by people trying too hard to cut corners and save money:

1. Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill. This recent disaster is ranked as one of the worst environmental tragedies in the history of the United States. Nearly a dozen people lost their

Zopa vs. YES-Secure: P2P Lending in the UK

Social lending is a great way to get the money that you need at a fair interest rate from a non-traditional source. It is also a great way for individuals with some extra cash to make a small amount of income by financing others and earning interest. This type of peer-to-peer lending has been successful in the UK over the past several years with the best example being the lending program called Zopa. Now there’s a new kid on the block, YES-Secure, that’s offering folks in the UK another option for social lending. Which one should you choose?

What is P2P Lending?

Also known as social lending, peer-to-peer lending is a system through individuals loan

UK’s 10 Desperate Moves to Earn Money

The UK government is definitely struggling to deal with its tough financial situation right now. They have a 155 billion-pound budget deficit that they’re trying to deal with. This is causing them to make some seriously desperate moves to cut spending and save money. Although some of these moves may be a good idea (and some are just plain necessary) the fact that they are driven by desperation should be a warning sign for the government to look carefully at their decisions before moving ahead.

1. 1. High-Speed Rail Link Sale. The UK government hopes to close the gap in their deficit in part by selling the rights to their high-speed rail line. This rail is reported to be worth close to 2 billion pounds which is a lot of money although it’s a small drop in the bucket compared to the total amount of deficit the government is dealing with. The sale could definitely be a good thing but if the rail has the potential to be a real money-maker over the next few decades then selling it now could be a mistake.

2. Cut Aid to China and Russia. The UK government spends over £40m annually on aid to these two countries. They now say that this aid isn’t helping the poorest people in the poorest countries and therefore they plan to change the way that they distribute aid, cutting off the aid to these two places. This may be a financially smart move but whether or not it’s a good move in terms of international relations will depend on how new aid is doled out.

10 Hot New Merchants This Week – 24th June 2010

Knowing where to get a great deal is very important when you’re a savvy shopper. Knowing the merchants that consistently offer good deals is another part of that battle. Here is a look at ten of the top merchants added to our site recently. These merchants can help you save when shopping!

1. With Love From. This is a really sweet name from a merchant that sells really sweet products. With Love From offers you terrific gift items for men, women and children of all ages. What really sets them apart, however, is the fact that they offer free engraving for those items. That’s what really makes a gift from them special!

2. Thanks Darling. This is another wonderful gift store that is worth bookmarking if you have people to shop for in your life. You can get everything from adventure experiences to simple items for around the house.

10 Worst Currencies of the World

In 2008, a list of the world’s worst currencies appeared on the Internet. We decided to update it and see if anything had changed in the last 2 years. There were a few surprises….

World’s Worst Currencies in 2010

This “Top Ten” list is based on the currency exchange rates for June 2010. If you are considering visiting any of these countries for your holidays, then you will need a ruck-sack instead of a wallet, and remember to be vigilant when placing the decimal point in your currency converter! Look out for this year’s 3 “new entries”.

1. Sao Tome & Principe

$1 USD = 20,188.00 Dobra

The Dobra was No.5 in 2008, but No.1 in 2010.

Sao Tome & Principe Dobra

Source

2. Vietnam

$1 USD = 18,731.00 Dong

The Dong has risen from No.4, to No.2.

Vietnam Dong

Source

3. Iran

$1 USD = 9,918.00 Rial

The Rail has risen from No.7 to No.3.

Iran - Paying the hotel bill

Source

4. Indonesia

$1 USD = 9,174.00 Rupiah

The Rupiah was No.6 in 2008, but No.4 in 2010.

Indonesian Rupiah

Source

5. Laos

$1 USD = 8,193.00 Kip

The Kip was No.8 in 2008, but No.5 in 2010.

Laos - Paying a bill

Source

6. Guinea

$1 USD = 4,991.00 Franc

The Franc has risen from No.9 to No.6.

Guinea - Changing money at the border

Source

7. Zambia

$1 USD = 4,964.00 Kwacha

The Kwacha is a new entry on the list.

Zambian Kwacha

Source

8. Paraguay

$1 USD = 4,670.00 Guarani

The Guarani has gone from No.10 to No.8.

Paraguay Guarani

Source

9. Cambodia

$1 USD = 4,183.00 Riel

The Riel is a new entry in 2010.

Cambodian Riel

Source

10. Belarus

$1 USD = 3,018.00 Ruble

The Ruble is a new entry this year.

Belarus Ruble

Source

Previously in 2008, the top 3 were:

1. Zimbabwe : $1 USD = 642,371,437,695,221,000 Zimbabwean Dollars

2. Somalia : $1 USD = 35,000 Shillings

3. Turkmenistan : $1 USD = 24,000 Manat

Surprisingly, these have gone from the new list…. Was there an extraordinary economic recovery? Were they replaced by even worst world currencies? Where are they now – what happened? The answer is quite simple…….

- they ceased to exist!

Some countries have discovered that the best way to turn around an economy and improve the currency is to knock off a few zeroes, change the picture on the notes, and have new money printed in another country (preferably somewhere far, far away). It seems to work!

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe "old" Dollar - Paying for a beer

Source

Although the Dollar was considered to be among the highest valued currency units when it was first introduced in 1980, political turmoil and hyperinflation rapidly eroded the value of the Zimbabwe Dollar to become one of the least valued currency units in the world. It is incredible to think there was a time when 100 trillion Zimbabwe Dollars was not enough to buy a loaf of bread!

In August, 2008, ten zeroes were removed from the currency, reducing 10 billion Zimbabwean Dollars to one Dollar. Then in February 2009, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe had to remove 12 zeros from the currency, with 1,000,000,000,000 Zimbabwe Dollars being exchanged for 1 “new” Dollar.

Despite attempts to control inflation by legislation, the use of the Dollar as an official currency was effectively abandoned on 12 April 2009, although exchange rates with the Zimbabwean Dollar are still maintained at reasonable intervals. Currently, foreign currencies such as the South African Rand, Botswana Pula, Pound Sterling and the United States Dollar are widely used for nearly all transactions in Zimbabwe, and the government insists that the Zimbabwean Dollar should only be reintroduced if the industrial output improves.

http://en.wikipedia.org

http://edition.cnn.com

Somalia

Somali - Wheelbarrow of "Old" Shillings

Source

Somalia has had no effective central government for nearly two decades, and conflict continues in the southern and central parts of the country between government troops and extremist Islamist militants. On 12 January 2010, the Transitional National Government signed a deal costing $17 million to print new currency for Somalia. The shipment of notes which has been printed in Sudan is said to be 200 billion Shillings, all in one thousand Shilling denominations. Today, the rate of exchange for the new currency is 1$ USD = 1,531.30 Shillings.

This new money has divided the country, and Somalia’s Islamist insurgent groups, Hizbul Islam and Al-Shabaab have warned Mogadishu residents over usage of newly printed Somali currency. Hizbul Islam’s governor in Mogadishu said they will punish whoever is caught using or carrying the currency.

http://insidesomalia.org

http://www.hiiraan.com

Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan "New" Manat

Source

The former Soviet republic got its own currency on November 1, 1993, when the Manat replaced the Russian Ruble.

Turkmenistan has now revalued its currency, cutting off three zeroes while also removing the image of its autocratic former leader, Saparmurat Niyazov, from all coins and all but one banknote. The “new” Manat was introduced on January 1, 2009, and bears images of prominent figures of the Turkmen nation and architectural compositions of Ashgabat. Prior to the revaluation, the official exchange rate was 5,000 Manats to the US dollar, with the black market rate almost five times that. The new Manat is equal to 50 of the “old” Manat.

http://banknoteupdate.com

http://www.rferl.org

2010 Currency Exchange Rate Information:

http://www.oanda.com

2008 World’s Worst Currencies Article:

http://www.foxnews.com

Don’t Use Recession As Excuse Not To See Dentist

It is recommended that you see your dentist twice per year for a cleaning and check-up. People who do this (and brush / floss regularly between visits) greatly increase their chances of maintaining their dental health. Unfortunately, going to the dentist is expensive even for people who do have dental insurance. As a result, dental visits have declined in correlation with the decline in the economy. The problem is that saving money by not going to the dentist now could end up costing you a lot more in the long run.

Going to the dentist twice a year helps to catch problems early. If you are showing signs of gum problems, your dentist can help you to fix the problems before it progresses into full-blown gum disease. If you have a little bit of a

Good Deals Cause People to Switch Brands

Are you loyal to particular brand names when you do your shopping? Most frugal people aren’t. That’s because they know that the best deals for any  particular product will vary from brand to brand depending upon what type of vouchers and discount codes are available. In fact, a good deal is the leading reason that shoppers will switch away from their favorite brands according to a new study on the shopping experience. Nearly nine out of ten shoppers are at least somewhat influenced by available deals when it comes to the brand of products that they choose.

Other interesting things that this study has discovered about the use of deals include:

• Females are more likely than males to be heavily influenced by deals when doing their shopping. When it comes to the importance of deals in brand selection, the number for both genders hovers around 4 in 10 for both men and women but the