There are just a few weeks to Christmas and it's time to get smart with your finances to ensure you don't end up with a New Year financial hangover. |
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SMART CARD Single mum Emma Dent Coad wanted to be able to use the internet for her shopping but she didn't want to use a credit card and risk getting in to debt. She signed up for a Quidity pre-paid Maestro card so she could have all the convenience of plastic, but without the worry of credit card fraud or being tempted to overspend. “Sticking to a budget is so important, and as a single mother with three children on a low income, I know all about that I assure you,” says Emma. “Every week I put a fixed amount on my Quidity card and use it for supermarket food shopping on the internet. It's really economical as I can buy in bulk and get special offers and I don't have to struggle to carry things home. “I work in the community in North Kensington, which you may be surprised to learn is one of the most deprived areas in the country. I often recommend the Quidity card to families who have a poor credit record or are on a tight budget. “I like it because there are no hidden costs, you can't get into debt, and you can track every penny you spend.” With Christmas just around the corner, imagine how convenient it would be to have everything delivered to your home and how much you could save by taking advantage of the online bargains. Find out more about the Daily Mirror Quidity card and how it might help you when shopping. There are no credit checks and you don't need a bank account. Visit www.quiditycard.com/mirror.  |
| Q&A PENSION BOOST Q: How do I turn my pension savings into retirement income? A: You have probably spent years paying into a pension plan, so you need to make sure that you get the most out of it. You can use the fund you've built up to provide you with a regular income when you retire - known as an annuity. The company that your pension is with will write to tell you how much income you'd get from them. But you don't have to accept that and might be able to get a better rate than your current provider is offering. If you're a smoker, for instance, or you have health problems, you might find that you can get substantially more - what is called an enhanced annuity. Mirrorsure Retirement Solutions, provided by Origen, can help you find out if you can boost your income. Simply call 0800 013 7722 to find out what your options are and to see if you can get a better return on your pension savings.  |
TOP TIPS Increasing numbers of homeowners aged 55-95, who are in or approaching returement, are using the cash tied up in their homes to pay off debts in order to fulfil their retirement dreams or simply maintain their standard of living. Recent figures from Key Retirement Solutions show that an increasing amount of people are using equity release to settle outstanding bills such as mortgages, loans and credit card debts; leaving them with extra cash each month to make life more comfortable. Others choose to use the cash to treat or help family members, take that well-deserved holiday or make home and garden improvements. As we have seen over the last few months, house prices have begun to show signs of recovery, which is good news for anyone wanting to release cash - the higher your property value, the more you can release. Equity release can be the best solution for many people; however it is not right for everyone. Before signing up to an equity release plan it is important you: 1. Do you homework thoroughly - make sure you understand the pros and cons of what you're entering into. 2. Seek specialist independent advice so you can get help finding the right plan for your circumstances and advice on the alternatives available to you. 3. Speak to your family so they are fully aware and supportive of what you are doing. 4. Check that the company you are dealing with is a member of SHIP (Safe Home Income Plans). This will ensure you don't end up losing your home. Mirrorsure has a free guide to equity release which is available by calling 0800 422 0800 or visiting www.mirrorsure.co.uk/equityrelease.  |
| BEAT RISING COSTS Funeral costs keep rising, in fact they've almost doubled in the last 10 years. If you're concerned about leaving your family with a hefty bill then it's time to start planning ahead. Lots of people worry about leaving their loved ones with the pain and expense of organising their funeral. The good news is that if you're aged over 50, you can guarantee to take care of the cost and all the arrangements with a Funeral Plan from Dignity. Many plans, such as life cover policies, demand regular instalments right up to the point where a payout is made. This means that you could end up paying in more than the actual policy is worth. A Funeral Plan from Dignity fixes the cost at today's prices, so you can beat future rises, and when it's paid for there won't be another penny to pay. Mirrorsure has teamed up with Dignity to offer readers a no-obligation information pack and a £50 discount voucher. Call free on 0800 633 5135 or visit www.mirrorsure.co.uk/funeralplans to find out more.  |
UPDATE! AN INCOME IF YOU LOSE YOUR JOB If you lose your job you need to know you can pay the bills. Mirrorsure has teamed up with A+ Insurance Services to provide one of the lowest-priced redundancy insurance policies on the market. It pays out a monthly amount, subject to policy limits, fo rup to a year. For more information or a quote call 0800 069 9079 or visit www.mirrorsure.co.uk/insurance.  |
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