Top Ten Free Christmas Attractions

Save money  this Christmas with LoanPig.

Christmas is on its way! Our recent article Ten Tips to Get Christmas Sorted includes lots of advice about getting ready for Christmas without overspending.

But Christmas also means school holidays, and it can be really expensive taking the kids out and about on top of all the other Christmas expenses. On the other hand, you really don’t want them spending the whole two weeks sitting in front of various screens!

So here are some ideas for things you can do with the family this Christmas – for free:

 

• Winter Wonderland – London Hyde Park and UK-wide

 

Entrance to Winter Wonderland is free – though be aware that there are many attractions inside that you will have to pay for. New this year is a dedicated family entrance that takes you straight into Santa Land. It’s free to visit Santa’s Grotto to see the man himself – but do get there early as it operates on a first come first served basis. You can also visit Santa’s Toy Factory Fun House to see the elves at work – and if the children have been good they will receive a gift from Santa!

There is also a traditional German Christmas market, with over 200 chalets selling a wide range of arts, gifts, jewellery and decorations. The surrounding Bavarian Village also hosts many different cafes, restaurants and bars, enabling visitors to enjoy a wide range of festive food, accompanied by seasonal tipples such as mulled wine and hot chocolate.

There are also Winter Wonderlands in other parts of the UK including Cardiff, Manchester and Yorkshire (York Designer Outlet). Check out your nearest Winter Wonderland here.

 

• Christmas Markets and Fairs

 

Every year there are more and more Christmas markets in the UK. These have wonderful Christmassy atmospheres and plenty for everyone to see and do. Of course there will be lots of things to buy but it is still possible to go along and either spend very little : perhaps give the kids a small amount of spending money each and when it’s gone it’s gone. Or you could use the opportunity to finish off your Christmas shopping. Find out your nearest Christmas market here.

 

• Carol Services

 

Whether you prefer the majesty of a formal carol service in a large cathedral, or prefer something more relaxed and intimate in a small local church, going to a carol service is a must over Christmas. There is always something magical about spending time in a peaceful atmosphere, reflecting on the traditional Christmas story. There are often a range of different carol services, some – such as Christinge – are aimed specifically at children. Many churches also have Christmas Tree festivals on, where you can enjoy displays of Christmas trees that have been decorated in aid of charity.

 

• Carol Singing

 

If you enjoy singing carols then why not look for a local group to go carol singing with? There is likely to be group carol singing in shopping centres, and there may well be groups doing other things such as accompanying Santa on his travels or visiting different hospitals and care homes. If not, then you may want to get a few friends together and go round yourself to people you know will appreciate a bit of Christmas cheer.

 

• Local attractions and community events

 

There are always many different local events at Christmas that can be great fun and also need our support. You may have missed the local lights switch on, but look out for local Christmas fairs, markets and concerts. Different areas have different traditions. On Boxing Day in many areas you will find Mummers plays (traditional folk plays) and Morris dancers. Other areas have sporting events such as Boxing Day swims or organised walks such as the four mile pilgrimage from Ripon Cathedral to Fountains Abbey.

 

• Enjoy a Winter Walk

 

Continuing from the above, if walking is something you like to do then a lovely winter walk is a perfect way to spend a day over the Christmas season. Whether you choose open countryside, a national park or a beach you can enjoy the fresh air, the scenery and just being together. Even better, bring a flask of hot chocolate and some cake or mince pies and spend time having a Christmas treat together.

 

• Winter picnic

 

A winter picnic can be great fun. Whether you pack a hamper or find somewhere you can take a portable BBQ – or even light a campfire – everyone enjoys the novelty of a winter picnic. You may even want to organise your own winter beach party. Bring chairs to sit on and blankets to stay warm, and organise some games to keep the kids amused. This will be an experience you won’t forget!

 

• Museums and Galleries

 

If you prefer to stay indoors then why not visit a museum or gallery this winter? Most have free admission – and many have special exhibitions on at Christmas. This is a wonderful way to spend time but not money. Whether you go local or visit your nearest city, you are bound to find something of interest. Check out this list of museums to get an idea of the range of fascinating places there are to visit!

 

• Stately homes

 

There are many stately homes across the UK – for example National Trust and English Heritage. Whilst you have to pay to gain entrance to the home itself, many have gardens or surrounding areas that are free to visit but still give you a glimpse of the grandeur and history of the place. Check out the websites to find attractions near you. And if you enjoy your day then perhaps a membership card – giving you full entry to the sites – could be on your Christmas list for next year?

 

• Gardens, country parks and garden centres

 

On the theme of gardens many towns and cities have either botanical gardens or country parks, some of which are free to visit. Check out Visit England to find out what is available near you. Gardens and parks provide lots to see and usually some open space for children to explore and run around. Many also have indoor areas to explore as well. A good alternative is large garden centres that have plenty to see – and often some Christmas events and activities too.

We hope that the above ideas help you to enjoy time together as a family this Christmas without overspending. Remember to check back here soon for more money saving tips from LoanPig.

 

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source https://www.loanpig.co.uk/top-ten-free-christmas-attractions/

What if you miss Black Friday?!

Money saving tips for Christmas from LoanPig.

 

Black Friday weekend has arrived, along with all the hype that inevitably accompanies it. Our last article – Get Ready for Black Friday – contains lots of useful advice about how to ensure that you get genuine bargains and only spend money on what you need.

But what if Black Friday doesn’t work for you? Perhaps you simply don’t have money to spend until you get paid at the end of the month. Or you just can’t find what you are looking for. Can you still find bargains once it’s all over?

Well, of course the answer is yes! In fact, according to the consumer group Which? around nine out of ten Black Friday deals may turn out to be cheaper at other times of the year. They tracked the prices of 94 popular products –  including televisions, cameras and fitness trackers – from six months before until six months after Black Friday 2017. They found that 87% of the items were cheaper at other times of year than the Black Friday deal price, and nearly half were cheaper in the six months after Black Friday.

So if you don’t manage to buy what you need this Black Friday, all is not lost. Here are some other ways that you can grab a bargain in the run up to Christmas:

Supermarket Sweep

The major supermarkets will be competing fiercely against each other to get your business between now and Christmas. Remember that most of them sell not just food and drink, but gifts, clothing and electrical items too.

If you are prepared to put time and effort into researching what you want, then rotating round the various supermarkets to get the best deals, you can save a lot of money.

3 for 2 / Buy One Get One Free offers

There are also excellent deals to be had in other major retailers. For example, Boots has an impressive range of gifts in its “3 for 2” offer range. You can save pounds! For example, if you have twelve gifts to buy you would only pay for eight of them. Definitely worth a look, and many other major retailers have similar offers.

Also look out for offers where you can either Buy One Get One Free, or Buy One Get One Half Price. Even if you don’t need two of whatever the item is, if you team up with a friend and split the cost then you are both getting a bargain.

You will also often find that a free item comes with a gift that you are buying anyway; such as a soft toy with a child’s book, or an mini makeup set with a full price item. These small items can either be used for stocking fillers, Secret Santas or prizes for Christmas parties.

Vouchers and loyalty card points

At Christmas we could all do with a bit more money. Yet many of us have the equivalent of pounds lying around unused! Gather together all your unused gift vouchers, supermarket vouchers and loyalty cards and you may be surprised at how much extra money you can put together.

It has been estimated that in the UK around £300 million is wasted each year in terms of gift vouchers that don’t get used. If you really can’t use them then you can cash them in online, on websites such as Zeek.

Also,  the average person in the UK amasses over £100 worth of supermarket loyalty points each year – some as much as £500.

So get checking what hidden resources you may have at your disposal!

Second hand bargains

Online sites such as eBay can save you pounds!   In our recent article Extra Cash for Christmas we looked at how to sell on eBay and it is also a great place for buying brand new goods at good prices. If you don’t mind buying second hand you can often pick up an even better bargain on goods that are hardly used.

It is also well worth trawling round  local charity shops for all kinds of bargains. Yes it will take more time and effort to hunt around, but you might find just what you are looking for at a brilliant price – and will also have the satisfaction of knowing that you are supporting a great cause.

Christmas Sales

If you are prepared to hold your nerve and do your Christmas shopping at the last minute, then you could save a lot of money by doing this. Many stores in the UK now start their post-Christmas sales just before Christmas. Which means that many of the gifts that most of us have already bought and wrapped are considerably reduced in price.

 

This is a bit of a risky strategy, because  depending on availability you may not be able to get exactly what you want. But if you are prepared to be flexible – and to save your energy and money for a last minute blitz – this could be the way forward.

 

One final tip is that it is never too early to think about next Christmas! Yes it’s the last thing we feel like doing immediately after Christmas, but the January sales are an excellent time to stock up with Christmas cards, gifts, wrapping items and decorations. Shops just want to get rid of everything and slash the prices dramatically in order to do so. So if you do have some spare cash and a bit of storage space, why not get ahead of the game and start your Christmas shopping in January? You could then build on that by buying one or two presents a month so that by this time next year you will be pretty much sorted for Christmas 2020!

But coming back to the present! We do hope that the above tips help you to find the bargains you need just in time for Christmas. Check back here soon for more money saving tips from LoanPig.

 

The post What if you miss Black Friday?! appeared first on LoanPig.

source https://www.loanpig.co.uk/what-if-you-miss-black-friday/

Get Ready for Black Friday!

Money saving tips for Black Friday bargains

Next Friday – 23rd November – is Black Friday. In America, Black Friday is the day immediately after Thanksgiving. It marks the official start of the Christmas shopping season and there are many price reductions and special deals to be had.

The name derives from the hope that businesses participating in Black Friday will see their bank balances remain firmly “in the black” (ie in credit) for the rest of the year as a result of successful Black Friday trading.

In recent years, Black Friday has become a tradition in the UK as well. We probably all remember scenes from previous years of frantic buying – even to the extent of people fighting over televisions in supermarkets! Whilst none of us want to get immersed in Black Friday to that level, it can be a great opportunity to grab a genuine bargain.

So how can you make the most of Black Friday whilst ensuring that your own bank balance also stays in the black?

The secret is to plan ahead. This is the way that you can find real bargains and actually save money rather than spending money you don’t have on things you don’t need. Here are five tips on how to get ready for Black Friday:

1. Know what you are looking for

Whether it is a special Christmas gift for someone or something that you need for your home, decide what it is that you want. You still have time before Black Friday to do some research about the product(s) so that you know exactly what you are looking for. This is important, because otherwise you may be tempted to buy an item on Black Friday just because it is a good price, only to realise afterwards that it does not actually have all the features you wanted. So do your research and have a shortlist of makes and models of items that definitely meet your criteria.

2. Set a budget

It is easy to get carried away when faced with bargain prices. So whether you are planning to buy one item or a few, decide in advance the maximum price you are prepared to pay and ensure that you stick to that on Black Friday. If you can’t find what you are looking for at the price you can afford to pay then it is better to do without that item than land yourself in debt. So make decisions in the cold light of day about how much you are prepared to pay, and be firm about not going above that amount.

3. Black Friday landing pages

Many retailers have a special Black Friday page on their website. Some of them – such as Amazon– are starting their Black Friday sales early. So the first thing to do is to look online at retailers that are likely to stock the item(s) you are looking for – try searching for the retailer’s name followed by “Black Friday”.

There is also a website called Black Friday Salewhich has details of many of the retailers participating in Black Friday, and links to their Black Friday pages. Last year 91% of retailers participated in Black Friday so you stand a good chance of finding what you are looking for.

4. Online product bargains

Another way to find your bargain is to search for the product(s) online. So, for example, if you are looking for an iPhone XR, just type the product name followed by “Black Friday” into the search engine for specific Black Friday offers.

There are expected to be good Black Friday deals on the following popular products this year:

• Laptop
• iPhone
• Nintendo Switch
• PS4
• Phones
• TV

So do your research and be ready!

5. Don’t forget Cyber Monday

If you miss out on your ideal Black Friday bargain, be aware that many retailers are now also offering Cyber Monday deals. Cyber Monday is the Monday after Black Friday – ie Monday 26th November. The original idea behind Cyber Monday when it started in 2005 was to encourage customers to do more shopping online. Even though that has now happened, Cyber Monday discounts are still available from many online retailers. So if you don’t manage to get what you are looking for on Black Friday then Cyber Monday may work out for you.

We hope that these tips help you to find some money saving bargains on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. If you need some additional funding to secure a genuine bargain then do get in touch with us at LoanPig.

The post Get Ready for Black Friday! appeared first on LoanPig.

source https://www.loanpig.co.uk/get-ready-for-black-friday/

Extra Cash for Christmas!

Save money for Christmas with help from LoanPig

Christmas is drawing nearer, and many of us have already begun our preparations. In our recent article Ten Tips to Get Christmas Sorted we looked at various ways to cut the cost of Christmas, and also how to make some extra cash between now and Christmas.

One of the ways you can get extra cash for Christmas is to sell goods online, and one of the main websites for doing this is eBay. So in this article we’ll take a quick look at how to use eBay effectively.

1. What can you sell?

The first thing you need to do is to generate items to sell. It’s good to have a big clear out before Christmas anyway: it leaves your home less cluttered so that you have plenty of room for guests, and of course for all your lovely new Christmas presents!

So your first priority is to go through every room and find as many possible things to sell as you can. Most of us have a wide variety of unwanted items in our homes: consumer research from TNS indicates that the average home contains around £4,000 worth of unused items.

One rule of thumb when clearing out is that if something hasn’t been used for a year, do you still really need it? Also remember the much-quoted advice from William Morris:“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

2. Will anyone buy it?

You would be surprised what sells on eBay! It really is a case of one seller’s junk being a buyer’s dream find. You will often see fierce bidding between people to secure an item that you really didn’t think would sell.

You can do a bit of research in advance to see what is currently selling well by going to explore.eBay.com. Make sure you set to country to the UK then you can see what is trending, what the best sellers are, and get an idea of prices to charge.

As a general rule, new items, well known-brands, rare items and retro items such as early versions of gadgets or previous best selling toys will all sell well.

3. Get the price right

It is hard to know what prices to charge. Your aim is to get rid of stuff, so you don’t want to set the prices too high and put people off. On the other hand you want to make as much money as you can, so don’t set the price too low.

There is an eBay app here that can help you, and eBay will also suggest a typical starting price during the listing process. But if you are new to eBay it is a good idea to find and watch other listings for items like yours. You can then see what kind of starting price they are listed at, and how much they eventually sell for.

Also remember to factor into your price the cost of any packaging materials, and the fact that you will have to pay eBay fees (see item 9 below). In light of this – and the time it takes to list and post items – there may be some smaller items that you decide are not worth selling on eBay and can perhaps use local social media selling sites instead. But for higher value items that will attract a lot of interest you can potentially make a good profit on eBay even when you take your costs into consideration.

4. Listing categories, titles and timings

Even if there are lots of potential buyers on eBay, this is no use to you unless they can find your item. So when listing goods, make sure that you are listing your item in the most suitable category. To help you with this, eBay will suggest this for you.

Also make sure that you add a comprehensive title that includes all the keywords that potential buyers are likely to use if they search for an item like yours. This will ensure that your item gets included in the “best match” list of items that eBay returns to the searcher when they type in these keywords.

When listing an item you can choose how long you want to let your auction run for, and whether you want to run it as an auction (where buyers bid for your item), a “Buy It Now” (where you can achieve an instant sale), or both.

Ebay attracts most visitors on a Sunday evening so this is a good time for your auction listings to end, as you may be able to get several buyers bidding against each other and therefore pushing the price higher.

5. Describe it well

Writing good product descriptions is really important. This is a busy time of year for people, so you need to give them the key information in an easy to read format. It is worth spending time writing a couple of standard product descriptions that you can then adapt depending on the item you are selling. Make sure the individual item descriptions include specific and detailed information about the item, especially its condition.

EBay has produced a video to help you create excellent titles and descriptions: this can be viewed here.

It can also be good to choose a consistent design style for your listings, with backgrounds and font styles/colours that convey something about you as a seller. This can also make your listings stand out from the crowd.

6. Use good photos

These days there is no excuse for using poor photos on eBay. Most of us have access to cameras on our phones that are far better quality  than a lot of everyday cameras in the early days of eBay. If an eBay listing has blurry or unclear photos it just looks as if the seller doesn’t really care, and is not a great incentive to buy.

So make sure you take good shots of your item that you can then display as part of your listing. It is good to take a variety of photos of the item from different angles, ensuring it can be clearly seen. Highlight anything of particular importance – for example a special feature of the item or a defect with it – and you can then refer to this in your listing. Also make sure you take photos against a plain background that does not overwhelm the item.

Ebay have also produced a video on how to take winning photos: you can see this here.

7. Charge fair postage costs

When selling items on eBay you need to decide whether you will post them or want them to be collected by the buyer. EBay will suggest a postage cost for an item you are selling based on the cost of posting similar items and also the type of postage service that you are using.  Depending on the value of the item you may choose a more secure form of delivery where the item is tracked and has to be signed for.

The key thing with charging for postage is to cover your costs. Don’t forget to factor in packing materials and also your time to pack and post the item. But be aware that if you charge too much for delivery on eBay, this may put off potential buyers.

Whatever you decide, the golden rule is to only post items out once payment is received and cleared, just to make sure that you don’t end up losing out.

8. Decide how you want to be paid

EBay gives sellers a variety of options to accepting payment. If you are getting buyers to collect items then you may want to deal in cash, which makes it easy all round. For electronic payments it is definitely worth setting up a PayPal account. Paypal is a third party online payment service that you can sign up to for free. It enables you to link your account to your bank account and/or debit/credit cards so that you can make and receive payments without having to share your financial information with buyers or sellers.

9. Selling costs

When selling on eBay, you will be charged fees each month by eBay for doing so. These fees are based on:

• Listing/insertion fee
• Final value fee
• Paypal fee
• Listing upgrade options eg Buy It Now, Reserve price

You can find out more information about eBay costs here, and there is also a fee calculator here that will give you an idea of the fees you are likely to have to pay for a particular value item.

10. Don’t get scammed!

A last word of advice is to be on your guard against fraud when selling on eBay.  Your increased online presence may make you more vulnerable to “phishing” emails that look as if they have come from eBay or Paypal but aim to direct you to a fake website in order to steal your login details and hack your account.

Also be very cautious if a potential buyer messages you about an item for sale, asking you to close the auction and complete the transaction outside eBay. Whilst you may see this as a way to avoid eBay fees it means that you will not be protected by eBay’s seller protection policies.

Finally, as we mentioned in point 7 above, never send out an item until you have received cleared payment for it.

We hope that the above tips help you to sell successfully on eBay and raise some extra cash for Christmas. Check back here soon for more money saving tips from LoanPig.

The post Extra Cash for Christmas! appeared first on LoanPig.

source https://www.loanpig.co.uk/extra-cash-for-christmas/

Keep warm for less this winter

Save money on heating bills this winter with money saving tips from LoanPig

So the clocks have gone back and the dark nights are here. The long hot summer now seems a distant dream, and we are all reaching for our winter coats and central heating controls.

Keeping our homes warms this winter is very important, yet many of us worry that it can also be very expensive.

So we have put together Top Five Tips to save money on heating this winter:

1. Get tricky with your thermostat

Did you know that if you turn your home thermostat down by just 1 degree this could cut your heating bills by up to 10%? Most of us would not notice the slight change in temperature but it could save you a lot of money. It is also worth installing room thermostats and boiler thermostats if you do not already have them as using these carefully can also save you money.

Though it may sound strange, it can also be more economical to keep your heating on constantly at a temperature instead of switching it on and off throughout the day. This is because your heating system will use more energy to start up the heating and get it to the required temperature than it would if it provides a constant low level of low warmth.

2. Make your heating go further

When the family is at home for a day, they generate a lot of heat! If you think about a typical day, there are likely to be showers and baths, use of the oven and hob, and perhaps any combination of dishwasher, washing machine and tumble drier. All of these generate heat, so once you have finished leave the appliance door open and the room door open and the residual warm air will contribute to the general ambient heat of your home.

3. Keep the heat in

It’s horrifying how easy it is to spend a small fortune on heating bills only to have much of that heating wasted because it’s escaping out of the house. So do make sure that you keep all your heating in. Keep doors and windows shut, and seal any sources of draught such as fireplaces, light fittings, under doors and ventilation panels. A good way to check your home for draughts in unexpected places it to light a candle and see if there is any change to the direction of the smoke from the candle.

If you do find the source of a draught you can then find a way to seal it, and may also want to consider adding some kind of insulating material. Also have a good look round the outside your home to see if there are any other potential areas where heat could escape.

It’s also a good idea to turn off bathroom and kitchen ventilation fans as soon as they have done their job to prevent them generating cold air.

4. Watch those windows

Even if you have checked your windows for draughts and they are ok, you will still notice a difference if you keep them covered when it is dark outside, as this will reduce heat loss and keep out cold air. The opposite applies during the day: keeping your windows uncovered will help to warm up your home. Even if the quality of sunlight appears to be very weak, its rays will still be strong enough to bring some additional warmth into your home.

5. Wrap up warm

Last but not least! These days we tend to look for technological solutions to every problem and have got into the habit of turning the heating on or up when we feel cold. But don’t overlook the more obvious solution of adding more layers. Either put on your favourite sweater or onesie or snuggle up in a warm blanket. In particular, make sure your feet are warm in some snug socks or slippers. Adding an extra layer or two will enable you to keep that thermostat down andsave you money this winter.

We hope that the above tips help you to keep warm and cosy this winter. Remember to check back here soon for more money saving tips from LoanPig.

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source https://www.loanpig.co.uk/keep-warm-for-less-this-winter/