Hey Skint pals,

Today’s post comes, in association with aquacard.

Hope you had a fabulous weekend. The highlight of mine was a Great Gatsby party at a pals house – you know how I love a chance to get dressed up – and apart from that  I  spent much of it trying to sort out a holiday. You may remember my past resolutions to get organized when it comes to holiday planning and I’d like to report that I’ve done so this summer – but once again, we’re doing more flapping than a Charleston girl as we hunt for suitable last-minute options. Baby Skint’s my handy excuse this year. See, what we really want to do is go camping, having loved every second of it last time, but with a 12-month old baby who would view a camping stove as a fun, pull-along toy, we’re not sure how good an idea it is.

Camping’s just such great fun though, and so darned cheap. Even if you plump for the posh, already-erected tents, which have a fridge, stove, proper camp beds etc, it’s still a third of the price of staying in an apartment, making it a great option for those keen to escape the city without shelling out a fortune. In fact, together with housesitting and holiday camps, traditional campsites have seen business boom since the recession kicked in. 

For lots of people, summer holidays are their biggest annual extravagance, and though I hardly use my credit card through the year, come summer I blow the cobwebs off and get ready to spend now, pay later. All well and good if accessing credit’s not a problem, but what if you’re one of the increasing number of people who find a credit card out of bounds due to a lack of, or poor, credit rating? With half of credit card applicants being rejected, it’s a growing problem, so today, I’m bringing you a range of tips designed to help you improve your credit rating this summer: 

Tips to improve your credit rating 

• If it’s poor, find out why: In the UK, credit ratings are provided by two main credit reference agencies: Experian and Equifax. Any UK individual can obtain their credit report, and this should always be the first step in trying to fix credit ratings, since it may show  up issues that are easy to fix. Even something as simple as failing to register for the electoral roll at your current address can affect your rating. And whilst it normally costs £2 to get your credit report, they’re free to people in need, eg people accessing certain debt charities and also to victims of identity fraud.

• Don’t assume your rating’s right: With ID theft and fraud on the rise you might well find that activities listed on your credit report don’t belong to you. Always check each activity carefully to ensure it relates to you. If it looks suspect, credit reference agencies have Victims of Fraud teams, who will help you set the record straight . 

• Get the Timing right: Credit reference agencies frown on you making lots of applications for credit in a short space of time, so space out applications, not just for credit cards but also for mobile phone contracts etc, as these each show on your file. Moving house also hits a score (maybe it makes you seem more flighty?), so if you’re applying for serious credit, do so before moving.

• Use your landline on applications: Credit reference agencies are conservative souls. They like us all to be stable: To own our homes rather than rent; to be employed rather than self-employed; to have been in the same job and home for a gazillion years. One simple tip? Put your landline on your applications rather than your mobile number. Yep, even if a mobile’s easier for you, credit agencies equate a good old solid landline with reliability and look on you more favourably as a result.

• Repair your reputation: If you’ve checked your report and your rating looks poor but correct, it’s time to start building it up. One way to do so is to prove to credit reference agencies that you’re a model citizen. That means paying off debt reliably, always meeting your  payments and never going over your limit. How to do this though if you can’t get credit in the first place? One solution may be to opt for a credit card account that’s specifically aimed at people struggling to get credit elsewhere.

The aqua Advance credit card is one such card, targeted at assisting people such as those who have been made redundant or have encountered other financial difficulties, and has a number of features designed to help borrowers to build a stronger credit history.

 There are a number of credit cards on the market and it is recommended that you should carry out your research in full, prior to making an application. Even if you have previously had credit card applications rejected, it’s worth applying to those lenders who look more favourably on individuals with mixed credit histories. 

What about you, Skint pals? Have you ever come across any shockers in accessing your credit reports? How did you dig yourself out, if so? Tell us all about it!

Skint xx 

Hey, Skint pals,

Hope you’re all having a great week so far. Sun shining here, second load of washing on the line . . . ah, the glamour! Speaking of which, last time I shared some insider secrets from a city stylist following my gobsmacker of a bill, and promised you a second round of tips this time. And guess what? They’re getting curiouser and curiouser . . .

My stylist’s a redhead. I covet her hair, big time, but it does look high maintenance. How, I wondered aloud on my last visit, does she cope with root regrowth, since the colour’s quite far removed from her natural shade? Okay, she works in a salon, making touch-ups more easily available  to her than the rest of us, but even so . . .

‘Paprika.’She told me flatly. ‘I sprinkle it in at the roots as soon as they come though. It matches my colour perfectly.’

Use paprika, Riri! Honest, it’ll save you a bomb.

Wow. Really? Her hair isn’t even paprika coloured but she swears that paprika covers just about all shades of red.

What, I asked, suits brown and black hair that’s showing its true colours? Mascara, for black hair, she told me, just brushed in with the wand.

Brown eyeshadow for brown hair, applied with a toothbrush. And failing those?

Good old felt tip pens/Sharpies – honest! (Just be careful not to get caught in a downpour I’d say.) All of these colour tricks buy you a spare couple of week between salon visits, and will cover-up roots in an emergency such as unexpected date/big meeting/ night out, when there’s no time to visit the salon.

And she told me some clients get creative, mixing their own concoction of, say, paprika and eyeshadow together, to get the perfect shade and save money on hair colour, a la George’s Marvellous Medicine.

For blondes? Trickier that one, if your natural roots come through darker, but don’t underestimate the power of flesh coloured eyeshadow, mixed with some gold to reflect the light, which basically helps to dazzle people into not noticing your roots. (the stylist explain it more scientifically, but that’s the gist!)

You can also buy nifty colour wands, such as these Instant Haircolor Touch-Up Sticks, which you can carry around in your handbag and whip out in any roots emergency. Many moons ago, when my hair was black, I used one of these and found that it did the job nicely. They come in a good range of colours and I’m thinking that you could extend the life of your colour for a good few weeks with them. I’ve also used Loreal Root Touch-Up between salon visits to do the same job.

Some Other Quick Tips 

Reader Meg reminded  about loyalty schemes when she email to say: ‘Always find out if there’s a discount for repeat booking.  My salon gives a 10% discount for bookings taken up to 4 months in advance.  Once the booking is made I can change the date, time, stylist and what I have done and still get the discount.  They also have a loyalty scheme and for every six visits you save about £30. ‘ Go Meagan! My hair salon also operates a similar scheme, giving me 20% of the total bill every fourth visit, which is quite a chunk, ahem, based on my last bill shocker.

 If you don’t mind being a salon floozy and hopping around to take advantage of the best deals then you can’t beat Groupon or the lesser-known but more beauty-focused Wahanda, for the best cut and colour deals.

Standby appointments at your usual salon are even better in my book. Often half the price of standard cuts, you’re on home ground, meaning they’ve got your notes about which colours to use, and even if your usual stylist isn’t free, he/she is often around to advise the person doing your hair about your preferences. 

So, what about you folks? Got any roots cover-up tips that are wacky but work? Egg-yolk, gravy, Mojitos, Cosmopolitans – whatever weird and wonderful things you use on your locks you fellow Skint pals would love to know!

Like this? Then you might like these:

How to Save on Haircuts

Beauty and the Bizarre

Hey Skint pals,

Remember that post I promised you full of insider tips from a hair stylist on keeping down the cost of salon visits? Well, drum roll, please – the time has come!

A couple of weeks ago, after a cut and colour at a city centre salon, I nearly fainted when presented with the bill. I guess city prices were to be expected but yikes. £130? And my hair is short! I’d had my hair done at this place before, but not for ages and prices had clearly gone though the roof since then. I let out a yelp folks, the stylist laughed and said ,’More than you were expecting, eh?’

‘Yep. Way more.’

‘Hmm. Well, prices have gone up since you were last here. Let me see what happens if I take the price rise off.’

Just like that! It got me wondering how much discretion salons have in discounting the bill. If one yelp got me £22 off, what would a scream have got? The cut and colour still cost me £108, but that’s better. So, Tip 1: yelp at the bill! (Or just ask straight out for a discount of you’re not the yelping kind . . .)

So, after shelling out the cash, the stylist asked if I wanted to make my next appointment. ‘Umm, no,’ I said. ‘To be honest I just can’t afford it.’

Now, I don’t know what sort of commission stylists are on for getting repeat customers. I do remember one stylist telling me years ago that a key decider in whether a stylist gets promoted is whether he/she has built up a good list of repeat customers. Anyway, this lovely stylist wasn’t letting me go easily. She printed off my bill with a full breakdown, (not just the total which you usually get), and went through it with me, showing where I could save money on hair cuts and colours in future.

‘Next time,’ she said, ‘you tell me at the start what your budget is and we’ll work out from there what you can get.’  Bonanza! Tip 2: tell the stylist your budget at the outset and agree the price and what you get for it to avoid shocks at the end. If the stylist knows you’re budget conscious it’s bound to go in your favour.

So, the stylist spent a few minutes going through the bill and pointing out where I could save. The cut had cost £51 – yikes – and the obvious way to lessen this would be to go for a more junior stylist. But I liked the way she cut, so I’d be tempted to stick with her. The vast bulk of the savings are to be made on the colour anyway. That had cost £73.50. Turns out that it was so expensive for two main reasons:

1 – A ‘colour technician’ rather than the stylist applied it. This is done automatically at my salon, unless you ask for the same person to do both. Tip 3: Unless you’re going for something fancy, get your stylist to apply the colour rather than a special colourist. I can see why you’d want a colour specialist if you’re going from black to blonde but mine is a straightforward repeat job, so I’m happy with one person, thanks!

2 – I got some ‘slices’ of other colour in my hair. Not particularly noticeable really. The colourist suggested some slices of a brighter red through the undersides of the hair to ‘brighten it up.’ I, who like to be bright, said ‘okay’ Ca-ching, bang goes £18. Tip 4: be aware that every extra shade will ramp up that bill and keep your colour to one shade if you can. Do you really need ‘slices’ in the undersides of your hair?  

The last item on the bill was a conditioning treatment (which I hadn’t asked for but which is done automatically after colour) had cost £8.50.  Tip 5: before the stylist applies a conditioning treatment, ask if it’ll cost you!

Now, I’m not actually annoyed at the salon; I figure that’s just the way the industry works. But it was brilliant to see a breakdown of the bill and get to discuss it with a stylist. If I do go back I’ll be setting a budget with her upfront. I’m hoping it’ll be a while before I need to go back though. The stylist also gave me some brilliant (and rather bizarre!) tips on disguising roots and extending the life of my colour, which I’ll share with you next time. (This post’s at risk of becoming a novel, you see . . .)

Confessions Of A Beauty Editor book also has tips on how to save money on all sorts of beauty stuff – I’ve learned a few things from it.

What about you, Skint pals? Got any great tips for slashing salon costs?

Skint x

Hey, Skint pals, don’t you love May? Hopefully some of you who managed to bag the £20 of fuel for a tenner deal I featured yesterday – if not you still can until May 27. Another bank holiday weekend is upon us – and apparently this weekend more of us will be looking for a house, or doing up our own homes to sell than at any other time of the year.

This is one of the busiest weeks of the year for househunting and buying – but only if you’re fortunate enough to be able to afford it. Some younger folks in my family want to buy their first flat at the moment and they’re finding it almost impossible to break out of the trap of trying to save for a deposit whilst paying out every month on rent. When I bought my first flat more than ten years ago, getting a mortgage for the full amount (100%!) was nothing out of the ordinary, but these days? Well, you’ve as much chance of winning The Apprentice as sweet-talking the bank into lending you the full amount.

But I’ve saved really hard for months – whaddya mean I still can’t afford it?

So with mortgage companies now asking for higher deposits than most first time buyers can afford, just how do you get your first foot on the housing ladder?

Unsurprisingly it’s all about the saving, folks, but it’s increasingly difficult to save as much as is required in these tough times. The more deposit you can put down, the less risk you are as an investment and therefore, the cheaper the rate of interest you’ll receive. For example if you can stretch to putting down a £24,000 deposit on your first £120,000 flat (ie 20%) you could bag yourself a decent rate of interest because you’re only taking out a mortgage on 80%. But realistically, what first-time buyer can do that?

Most first time buyers, even after years of saving, are still looking at having lower deposits – say five or ten percent –  meaning they’re faced with 90 or 95 % mortgages and higher interest rates.  

And it’s not just about the deposits either - if your salary is too low mortgage lenders can still refuse you, even if you have the deposit, so what are first-time buyers to do? Well, another option, is to check out the schemes that help young people on to the property ladder, like the Government’s First Buy and New Buy schemes. Here, 90-95 per cent mortgages are available on new homes built by participating developers, and the homes tend to be far more affordable than those sold on the open market.

 Which Mortgage Type Should You Go For?

First time buyers - make that all of us – get confused about which type of mortgage to go for. The two main types that are widely available are the fixed rate and the tracker rate. This BBC article explains very clearly the main points of first-time buying, but basically, fixed rate mortgages offer security in terms of knowing exactly how much needs to be paid each month, for a set period of time. Best for: risk-averse folks and those who want/need to control their budget very tightly.

The tracker mortgage uses an interest rate that is set just above the Bank of England base rate. This will then change as the Bank’s rate fluctuates, meaning that you could save money if the rate decreases, or on the other hand it could cost you more. This is the most popular type of mortgage and does generally work out cheaper than others, as well as providing more flexibility. Best for: folks who are a bit more relaxed about regular fluctuations in mortgage payments and who have a little leeway in their budget.

So, which do you favour folks? And do you have any tips for first-time buyers trying to get their foot on the housing ladder? How on earth did you do it? Or are you a serial-renter who doesn’t want to own property at all? There are plenty out there!

Coming next folks – that post on secret insider tips to save money at the salon that I promised you. It’s full of good stuff – straight from a stylist’s mouth! Meantime, hope you all have a great holiday weekend.

Skint xx

Hey Skint pals, 

A quick post from me here as I just have to let you know about this great offer. Shell is currently offering the chance to buy £20 of fuel for just £10, via offeroftheday.co.uk. Here’s the link you need.

This is limited to the first 100,000 buyers, so get in there fast if you fancy it! You’ll receive a Shell loyalty card in the post which you use to claim your whopping fuel discount. It can be spent on fuel at any Shell service station.

I’ve just grabbed the deal – I’ll go now and let you do the same! 

Best of luck.

Skint xx

PS – If you miss this deal, here’s a post I did before about saving money on fuel in other ways.

Hey Skint pals,

I hope you’re all having a great week. Mine’s been loads of fun so far, and surprisingly frugal too, since, despite having three big events on, I denied myself anything new to wear and pulled some of my oldest vintage stuff fromthe back of the cupboard instead. I also got talking to a hairdresser and learned so many money saving insider tips that I reckon I’ve saved myself a bomb on future haircuts. (I’m going to share them all in a post, coming soon. Hint: one of the tips involved paprika and it’s a corker – are you intrigued?)

Now, with another holiday weekend coming up, I wanted to share a little love with you by showcasing some of the best frugal-living and personal finance blogs across the web. I was delighted to be included on a recent list that MoneyAware put together of their favourite money-saving blogs. And because I really rate the others on the list and read most of them regularly I thought I’d share them with you  – a list of blogs so fun and thrifty that you can literally feel yourself saving money with every word you read.

Heh, If you make it through them all you’ll practically be a millionaire by the end. The following, in quote marks, is an extract straight from MoneyAware’s post - here are their fave 20 blogs about being thrifty.

“1.   Martin Lewis at MoneySavingExpert.com

Okay, so some of you might argue that with his celebrity status and regular spots on Daybreak, Mr Lewis doesn’t count as your average blogger. Let me tell you, he does.

Martin still faithfully updates his blog with debt news, special offers and hot deals. He also talks regularly with his Facebook and Twitter fans.

One reason why we love Martin: He played a huge part in  a recent landmark decision by Parliament to make financial education part of the national curriculum. Safe to say he’s a top bloke in our book!

2.   PennyGolightly

Penny’s motto is simple: “find a way to enjoy the finer things in life for less”. Her mission is to prove that you can enjoy yourself on a budget. Follow her blog for tips for smarter spending and you’ll see the rewards in no time! Penny also guest blogs for us from time to time.

One reason why we love Penny: the freebies and samples section on her blog.

3.   Blackbullion

Our friend Vivi released an excellent book last year to help kids get smarter with money. She’s got a finance background and has a special understanding of the problems that may arise in a person’s life with money. Sign up to her blog for updates and take a look at our review of Vivi Friedgut’s book ‘Money Smarter’.

One reason why we love Vivi: her article about kids, financial education and the piggy.

Nice image from pennygolightly’s site. I like.

4.   Ask James at Experian

James Jones knows all you need to know about your credit file or history and what you can do to keep it in tip-top condition. Pop over to the Ask James section on the Experian website or send him a tweet.

One reason why we love James: His no-jargon responses to questions like “Can I avoid my husband’s debt mess affecting my credit history?” 

5.   Happier.co.uk

Just the title of this blog alone is enough to make us feel all fuzzy inside. We love the Happier.co.uk blog for its witty writing style, useful tips and no-nonsense outlook on money and debt.

One reason why we love Happier.co.uk: Their awesome guide on the 33 ways students can save money. 

6.   Help Me To Save 

You’ve got to love a blog that does exactly what it says on the tin. Canny lass Karen Bryan shares our mission to help you get the most out of life for less, and she’s got some great guides on her blog on how to do just that. 

One reason why we love Karen: The article she wrote to accompany Virgin Money’s infographic on the cost of lifestyle. 

7.   Baby Budgeting 

Before our colleague Pav went on maternity leave she found Baby Budgeting to be a lifesaver. It’s packed to the rafters with tips and tricks on how to save money on your bundle of joy. They also post links to some fantastic competitions! 

One reason why we love Baby Budgeting: Their plain English guide to the benefits changes.

8.   MakeDoStyle 

Girl about town Kate Battrick has lots of tips for looking chic on the cheap. She’s also the author of refreshingly funny eBook Girlynomics. It talks about the mindtricks we ladies sometimes play on themselves as an excuse to spend money. 

One reason why we love Kate: Read our review of ‘Girlynomics’ and find out! 

9.  MyFamilyClub 

This is a fantastic resource for parents (and non parents) to save money on their family and household all year round. On the blog you’ll find tips and guides on money-saving and budgeting, as well as vouchers, offers, deals and discounts, and where to find your household essentials at the best prices every week. 

One reason why we love My Family Club: They spoil us with this list of top 50 money saving tips!

10.  Moneymagpie 

If you’re stuck on ways to earn a little extra income, this is the place for you. The good folk at Moneymagpie, lead by journalist and TV personality Jasmine Birtles, are experts at finding those hidden opportunities in life to make some moolah, and want to share their expertise with you! 

One reason why we love Moneymagpie:  Their brilliant guide on how to save money and make money every day in May. 

11.   CashQuestions 

You can count on Cash Questions founder Annie Shaw and her team for sound money advice. Annie has also written an excellent article for us in the past about why you should never trust your finances to fate. 

One reason why we love Annie: Her hilariously-titled blogposts (e.g. Beware the hiss of an angry pensioner).

12.   Diary of a Frugal Family

We love seeing a journey of money mastery unfold before our eyes, and Diary of a Frugal Family gives you exactly that. Money-savvy mum Cass takes us through the highs, lows and in betweens of bringing up kids on a budget. 

One reason why we love Cass: Her step-by-step guide on how to organise a family funday for under £10.

13.   Skint in the City

From tips on how to make money selling lost luggage to finding out the best times for picking up kerbside treasures, Skint in the City has it all. There’s also some great guides on updating your wardrobe for cheap. 

One reason why we love Skint (aw shucks): her tongue-in-cheek observation of the most depressing day of the year.

14.   Savvy Woman 

Personal finance journalist Sarah Pennells is determined to help women everywhere become a little richer. Her website Savvy Woman was named 5th in ‘50 top websites to save you money’ by The Times earlier this year. 

One reason why we love Sarah: Her 10 easy ways to make the most out of your money.

15.   Miss Thrifty 

Miss Thrifty has also been featured in The Times ‘50 top websites to save you money’ and it’s not hard to see why! She tackles all cash problems: beauty, fashion, holidays, weddings, personal finance and food – all while bouncing a growing baby on her lap! 

One reason why we love Miss Thrifty: Putting together the 10 commandments of savings by the Thrifties. 

16.  And Then We Saved 

We don’t just limit our favourite blogs to the shores of Blighty, no sir. American blog And Then We Saved run by Anna Newell-Jones  is one of our faves for straight-talking money tips and encouraging success stories. 

One reason why we love Anna: Her jawdropping list of 56 things to do instead of spend money.

17.  Savvy Scot

From working as a bouncer and taking internships in Texas to studying a masters degree in mechanical engineering, SavvyScot certainly has experience in the upheavals life can throw at us. If you like your money advice with a healthy pinch of snark, you know where to go!

One reason why we love Savvy scot: Their straight-from-the-heart guide to living within your means. 

18.  The Frugal Path 

The great thing about The Frugal Path is that its creator Justin knows that one person’s journey to debt freedom is hardly ever the same as another. You can read stories from various people taking their own steps towards their financial goals. 

One reason we love Justin: He has a simple guide to finding your financial path that anyone can follow.

19.   Chilli, Sage and Lemon

If you follow our Twitter account you’ll know that we’ve started a #cheapscran hashtag so we can share any cheap and cheerful recipes that we find. Jess and her hubby Dave at Chilli, Sage and Lemon have been a great source of inspiration for us!

 One reason why we love Jess and Dave: Their brilliant guide to preventing food waste.

20.   Discountcoder 

Katie and Jenny are dedicated to saving money, the environment and your social life. DiscountCoder will show you how to spend less on the things you genuinely need and how to get the best value from your hard-earned cash. 

One reason we love Katie and Jenny: 8 tiny money-saving ideas that build up to big savings!”

And My Top Five That Were Born in the USA

I’m going to add to MoneyAware’s list with three of my favourite personal finance blogs from the States. The personal finance blogging community is a lot bigger in the States than in the UK and there’s so much to learn from its terrific writers. If I had to save any in a fire I’d pick these three:

Budgets are Sexy - This site, written by the mysterious J$ has such a strong voice. It’s his readiness to lay bare all the details of his financial life, such as how much he’s worth etc, that partly make this site so compelling.

Afford Anything - Paula is among the most thought provoking of US personal finance bloggers, with a fresh take on all the big money issues. You won’t catch her writing about saving a few pence on a latte  – she goes for the important stuff like how to build a property portfolio and how to make those really tough decisions about prioritising what you want in life.

Get Rich Slowly - One of the biggest of the US personal finance sites with no-nonsense advice on every money issue under the sun. And some great readers stories too.

What about you, Skint pals? What are your favourite sites – with a money slant or otherwise? If you share we can get a little site-swap going – kind of like a bloggers book club . . .  I’d love to hear which blogs float your boat . . .

Skint xx 

PS – If you want to find out more about those money-saving insider tips from the hairdresser – including that paprika one – subscribe here.

Photo credit: PennyGolightly

Hey Skint pals,

‘I prefer to keep my money right where I can see it – in my closet.’

What messages does your mind give you when you think about investing? Are you all Richard Branson about it – yep, bring it on, give me more, do it now? Or are you more Carrie Bradshaw, who when asked about investing in property came out with the quote, above? 

Hmm, it’s an investment portfolio of sorts I guess – but might a pension be a better bet? Whadya think?

Me? I’m veering into Richard’s camp now. I’ve spoken before about how I’ve been a financial ostrich in the past but it isn’t something I’m proud of and neither should Ms Bradshaw be. These days, things are quite different.

I’ve got some savings now, not much but something, and ISAs, and all the stuff we ought to have, but lately I’ve been thinking about making the next step – into investments rather than just savings. I’m not talking big money by any means – it’s small beans really. But I’ve got to start somewhere and, I’m questioning the wisdom of having money lying idle in a savings account, on low interest rates, and I’m thinking about investing it. So, how to invest money, starting from zero? 

Lump sum conundrum

Knowing what to do with savings is something that comes naturally to many, but not to me. I’m naturally quite risk-averse, so I’m not sure that investing in the stock market is the way forward – especially in the current climate where the markets are so volatile.

When I left my previous employer though, after paying into a stakeholder pension for many years, I had the choice of whether to leave the money in the pension or take it and invest it elsewhere. So far, I’ve left the money where it is but I really don’t know if it’s getting me the best deal. This is my current conundrum.

Stakeholder pensions are seen as good for making a small lump sum grow, and are pretty easy to understand, but would I be better off looking at high-interest savings accounts? Although it can be hard to find one that offers significant returns in the short to medium-term, some still have pretty attractive rates – even in these tough times – if I’m willing to lock cash away for the longer term.

Pensions or ISAs?

For some people, pensions are not the best way of building a portfolio – where, for example, their work pattern is erratic. Here, cash ISAs may be a better bet, being either tax-free or tax-efficient, which help to protect your savings from dwindling due to levies.
According to the folks at Yorkshire Building Society, who are providing some of the information for today’s post, benefits include:
– No tax to pay on your interest. (Within a certain yearly limit)
– You can open an ISA for as little as £10
– Withdrawals do not penalize the amount of interest you earn.
– Instant ISAs allow access to your funds immediately, although this is not the case with many ISA’s.
But as I’ve got a bigger lump sum currently invested in the stakeholder pension and don’t care about instant access, am I better to wait it out there? Have you guys got any experience of taking money out of a pension? How are you investing for the days ahead, when walking frames will matter more than fashion footwear?  I’d really love some advice on this one.
Skint x

Hey Skint pals,

An extra- glamorous post today, to celebrate the premiere of the Great Gatsby this weekend – (for U.S readers – May 17 for the UK) –  I was very happy to be chosen as one of this week’s best style posts by the very chic tribe over at International Fashion Bloggers. Seems they liked my post on getting your wardrobe summer-ready, skint-style – and I like the rest of their picks and want to share them with you. Want to learn how to do easy Great Gatsby make-up? Or how to shop for clothes without trying them on? Then read on pals . . .

To bring you some extra Great Gatsby glamour for the weekend, I’m sharing the full list with you here – the very best of style posts from across the web from over the last week. Enjoy, Skint chums. And if you’re new to this site (and only if you like it!), please take a second to subscribe using the box on the right, to make sure you get all the forthcoming posts on living the high life on a shoestring budget. There some extra-good great stuff coming up soon – including giveaways you won’t want to miss!

Anyway, on with the show . . .  Here’s the IFB list of what it thinks is making the world more stylish this week . . .   

With all the dazzle of this week’s Met Gala and the upcoming excitement of the Great Gatsby, this summer is going to be all about glam.  This week’s roundup has just about everything you need to know about looking fabulous, how to find the best deals in most unexpected places and how to save yourself money by buying kids clothes! 

Links à la Mode: May 9th

• DIY Dyonne: A Primer on Primer: Madge’s Beauty Picks
• Fashion & Beauty INC: Steal Daisy Buchanan’s Glam Great Gatsby Makeup
• Fashstash: Shoes of Prey x Romance Was Born
• Hunting in Heels: Designer Uniforms
• I Can Style U: How to Catch A Geek’s eye
• Inspirations and Celebrations: How To Wear Animal Prints
• Knocked Up Fabulous: 4 Items to Buy for Yourself at the Children’s Department
• La Petite Pear: The Beginner’s Guide to Pattern Mixing
• Lesimplyclassy: The Ultimate Guide: How to make your lipstick last longer
• Lollieshopping: Shopping for Clothes without Trying Them on
• Olive Brown: Unerrated Fashion Icons: Nina Simone
• Rose & Pine: Top Ten Best Dressed Ladies at the Costume Institute Gala!
• Slightly Oddley: How to: Shop online (disappointment free)
• Skint in The City: Six Ways to Make Your Summer Clothes Sing
• Spy Girl: Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s: Review
• Storybook Apothocary: Why I Can Never Be Anorexic (Despite Past Attempts)
• Style Curated: Gatsby Glamour
• The Occasional Fashionista: Why should we care about the Met Ball?
• Wilde Hunt: Wilde Hunt Corsetry – Antique Textile Adventure
• We Are Ready Made: Gender Confusion

 So, that’s all for now, Skint pals. I hope you have a fabulous weekend. Doing anything stylish? Don’t let being Skint stop you! Anyone going to see the Great Gatsby? Early reviews seem mixed – I can’t think how it will beat the book, so I just intend to sit back and enjoy the style! 

 Skint x

Hi Skint pals,

Hope you’re all doing great. Today’s post is generally, though not exclusively, for all the lovely Skint girls . . .

It’s time at last to drag the summer clothes out of hibernation, but boy, are they a sorry sight!  Covered in fluff, missing buttons, and more crumpled than a binful of sweet wrappers, so I thought that today I’d round up some advice that will help you getting those summer clothes strutting their stuff once more, with minimal outlay.

Wonder if the person who owns does her own shoe repairs?

 Sure, we all know that taking good care of our clothes is a no-brainer, but it can seem like a drag compared to the instant thrill of buying something new. Nonetheless, if we want to keep that cute little blouse or fabulous vintage cardi looking as chic and stylish as the day we fell in love with them, proper maintenance is a must. Learning how to fix a zipper and carry out other minor clothes repairs will save you a small fortune over the years.

 Don’t believe me? Just wait till you’ve replaced that zip in your favourite skirt that’s been busted for a year. You never got round to taking it the tailor’s, right? Me neither. Who can find the time to schlep across town to drop it off, then make the same trip days later to collect it? Plus, the repair will cost £10 at least, plus travel: a third of the price of a new skirt. Just wait till you’re replacing your own zip from the comfort of your couch whilst watching a DVD – and all for the princely sum of £2.

 Here’s a lowdown on keeping your clothes as good as new.

 Emergency Surgery for Clothing 101

So many problems, so little time! I confess to having stuck hems up with sellotape (!) when in a hurry – and yep, they invariably come unstuck at a particularly embarrassing moment. To avoid those tape-on-a-hot-date tangles, try to tackle repairs as they come up. You know, a stitch in time and all that … Here are some of the most common repairs that you can cheaply and easily do at home. 

Fix a zip:  Zips have a shelf life that is sadly often shorter than that of their host garments. If you’re a fan of vintage you’ll be very familiar with this problem: old zips become sticky and then slowly grind to a halt. Skint girls learn how to mend their own. The web is a wonder for learning new skills. For an online tutorial log this one on replacing zips is good and clear. If you’re in a mad rush, with no time to replace a zip, try rubbing a sharpened pencil up and down the stuck part. The graphite in pencil lead acts as a lubricant, buying you some time till you can do a proper repair.

Vintage prom dresses like these often need their old, sticky zips replaced

Defluffing 1: You know how it is: you bought a beautifully soft jumper and now it’s covered in pesky little balls. That’s no reason to bin it though: what you need is a razor. Just pull the fabric tight and lightly draw the razor over it, cleaning the blade as you go. Takes five minutes to do a whole jumper’s bobbly bits and knocks five years off its appearance. (If only there was such a quick fix for faces.).

 Defluffing 2: Another sneaky tissue found its way into the wash, leaving your dark clothes covered in white fluff? You can buy purpose-made sticky rollers for this defluffing job but I like the satisfaction of winding a massive chunk of sticky tape round my hand and pat-pat-patting till the fluff’s all gone. Kids love doing this job too – they’ll happily tackle a big pile of clothes in return for a packet of crisps.

 Shoe repair: Getting your shoes and boots heeled as soon as they need it and resoling boots when they start to look thin can prolong the life of your footwear by years. If a sole is coming away slightly I’ve always found a dab of superglue to do the job in an emergency. To keep heels looking as good as new, paint on a coat of clear nail varnish when you buy them. This stops heels scuffing and it isn’t noticeable.

 Weatherproof: Leather shoes, bags and anything else that was once alive still deserves TLC. Spray leather when you buy it to protect from rain and those ugly salt stains and then feed with leather cream every now and then, or good old-fashioned Vaseline. If it’s too late though and the weather gets to your shoes before you do you can remove salt stains on shoes (those pesky white marks you get after walked on streets salted in the snow), by rubbing them with a cloth drenched in white vinegar. For water marks, try rubbing them with a saddle soap bought from a cobblers.

 Dye it: Love the cut but hate the colour? If that lemon top looks so last season, just pop it in the wash with a packet of dye. Choose your colour, chuck in a couple of your craggy greying towels too and you’re good to go!  Be sure to match the dye to your fabric: check out fibrecrafts for dyes appropriate to just about every fabric under the sun. 

Hopefully these little tips will help to get your summer clothes dancing in the streets – and if you’d like to find out any more you can click the links below or sign up to follow this site if you don’t already do so. And what about you, Skint pals? Got any budget-busting clothes tips that have saved you a fortune over the years? Do let me know. 

Like this post? Then you might like to check out these . . . 

Save a Fortune on your Dry-cleaning

Washing Vintage Clothes

Breathe New Life into Old Clothes

Spring Fashion Trends on a Budget

Photo credit (shoes): inmyhousedesign

Photo credit (dress): natashabailievintage

Hey Skint pals,

One of the things I love about writing this blog is that I’m always learning about new ways to make cash. That’s what happened this week when Mr Skint arrived back from a trip to Dublin without his luggage. Somewhere during a  forty minute  direct outward flight the airline had managed to lose his bag – meaning that Mr Skint spent three days in Dublin making emergency trips to buy socks and the like.  

Anyway, the random ways of making money I was talking about? Whilst taking a look at the process for claiming for lost baggage earlier I came across a phenomenon I previously knew nothing about: buying up lost luggage for cash.

Buying up Lost Luggage for Cash

Here’s the deal: loads of people lose bags every year whilst flying and these bags land so far away from their owners that it’s impossible to reunite the two. Who knows why a Dublin-bound bag ends up in St Louis, but that’s the kind of adventurous life our luggage leads.

So, these poor orphaned bags get spend a while circling the globe, then end up sitting in some huge baggage purgatory for a few months before the airport folks get fed up with them and send them off to be sold. And then?

Well, it turns out that there’s a whole industry devoted to buying and selling this lost luggage, with buyers taking a chance on the contents and hoping to strike it lucky. In fact, in America, the Unclaimed Baggage Centre in Alabama is the state’s biggest tourist attraction, with people flocking from all over the USA and beyond to see what they can snap up. 

Just one of the outfits that apparently turned up a treasure haul at the Unclaimed Baggage Centre. Bonanza!

So confident is the Centre of its appeal that it encourages people to plan their whole vacation around a treasure hunting trip to its warehouse. And it seems to work because their visitors’ map has pegs from Australia, Greenland and China. If you’re a US based reader and have been to the centre – what’s it like? Did you snag any bargains? 

I can understand the appeal of buying lost luggage – it’s like a gigantic lucky dip, isn’t it? Imagine, just for a moment that you bought Carrie Bradshaw’s suitcase at auction – what a treat for magpie eyes that would be. Or Victoria Beckham’s (like her luggage would ever get lost), snagging yourself a caseful of designer dresses for £50. 

For UK readers, we don’t have a one-stop shop like the Alabama Centre  - here luggage tends to go to auction houses close to major airports . All of British Airways’  unclaimed baggage eventually makes its way to Greasby’s auction house in London, which holds sales every Tuesday morning. You won’t get a chance to root around in the bag before bidding though, so you’re taking a gamble, based only on the appearance of the bag itself.  Luton’s lost bags go to Hertfordshire Auctions,  whilst the sad orphaned cases from Gatwick, (imagine how many thousands a year), end up at this Bristol auction house. If you sign up for the auction houses newsletters you’ll get to know when the baggage auctions are taking place – they’re not every week.

The cost of snapping up a bag at auction? Depends who you’re up against really. I’m a massive fan of auctions and much of chez Skint has been furnished from the auction room – when buying luggage the usual auction room tips apply. Each of the above auctions – in fact nearly all auction rooms – have viewings before the sale, so do try to get along to the viewing if you can. That way you can have a look at the cases and make your bidding decisions based on that. If the suitcase itself is expensive, the greater the likelihood of top-notch gear inside too.

And, after you’ve decided on a bid and snagged your suitcase at auction? It’s time for the big reveal . . .  The case needn’t be packed full of gold ingots for you to make money on it. 

The easiest way to do so is to sell off the contents separately on eBay and the like. I’ve written before about how to make money on eBay by buying job lots then selling the goods separately. Even if the suitcase just contains the usual stuff you’ll almost certainly make pretty good money from listing the best items on eBay with a good description and write-up. Remember to list the suitcase itself as well.

Of course, a better result really is for the luggage to be reunited with its rightful owner – as we’re hoping will happen with Mr Skint’s. But, if luggage has been lost for six months and the owner has made every effort to track it down without any luck, then I’d rather the case was sold off than incinerated. 

What do you think? Have you ever bought lost luggage? Would you?

Or have you ever lost your own – and did it show up in the end?

Oh, and if you have any tips for Mr Skint on how to go tracking down his lost case, please do share. Is it best to go through our own travel insurance or to pursue the airline via their compensation scheme?

Hope you have a good week, Skint pals. xxx

Like this post? You might also like these:

How to Make Money on eBay

Great Things to Buy at Auction

Auction Room Tips for Newbies

Photo credit: thisispretty