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David vs Goliath: can Homebox take on the major comparison giants
On the face of it, major comparison sites provide consumers with all the information they need to quickly determine which company is offering the best value when it comes to utilities like energy and broadband. Here we look at whether these websites really do offer the best deal and if they are all they’re cracked up to be.
Big name providers, such as Confused.com and Compare the Market, only host half the available suppliers, meaning consumers are not being shown the best tariffs available. If we take energy as an example, the average comparison site hosts just 30 suppliers, when there are over 70 operating in the UK.
Comparison site giants give prominence in their search results to firms offering the biggest referral commission, pocketing vast sums of money and misleading consumers in the process …
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Top tips on keeping your money safe while at university
Thousands of students will see their bank balance jump to four figures recently as the first instalment of their student loan lands. For many it’s likely to be the most money they’ve ever received so it’s important that they take steps to protect it. Students can easily find themselves a target to fraudsters and already HMRC has warned those beginning a new term to be on the lookout for suspicious emails. Tom Clementson, Director of Consumer at secure payments solution Shieldpay, shares his top tips on how students can keep their money safe.
1. Cut down on cards on a night out
You aren’t going to need all your cards with you on a night out. Think about taking cash out or use a top-up card which can be loaded up with how much you… -
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How to save hundreds of pounds on your contact lenses
Did you know that you are not restricted to buying your contact lenses from your optician? Instead, you can buy the same product online for a fraction of the cost and it’s no less safe than buying it from your optician.
How do I get these deals?
Consumers have the legal right to obtain their prescription from their optician, even if you don’t buy lenses from them. Using the contact lens prescription, you can buy the same lenses online.
Finding the right lens
Reputable online contact lens suppliers like Feel God Contacts will have a chart explaining the real names for your own white-labelled brand lenses. This means you can buy the same product but with the manufacturer’s name and packaging and at a cut-price. For example, if you buy lenses from Boots …
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How to start a retail-based website on a limited budget
Many of us have nurtured the dream of starting an online retail business from home. If this is the case, why have so few actually followed through to the point when such a vision was ultimately realised?
While there are many answers to this question, one of the most common and seemingly insurmountable involves limited finances. The majority of would-be freelancers are still under the misconception that such ventures require a great deal of money. You will therefore be happy to learn that this is no longer the case. In fact, some have even created highly successful retail websites for the equivalent of what a daily cup of coffee would cost. If you are still somewhat incredulous, this is quite understandable. Let’s take a look at how times have changed as well as why financial …
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New pocket money and chores app teaches kids to manage money
Gimi is a new pocket money app and chores manager that has launched in the UK to teach kids as young as six how to earn, save and manage their money.
The app, which is completely free is available on iOS and Android.
Using Gimi parents can:
- Set-up a weekly or monthly allowance for their child
- Set chores for their children to earn additional money (children can also suggest chores to them too!)
- And, create savings. All whilst teaching kids about interest rates
In turn, kids are able to:
- Track the money they’ve earned through good behaviour, jobs completed around the house, goals you set around their school work, anything a parent likes
- Set-up dream buys (such as a skateboard) and monitor how long it takes to get there.
Gimi differs from other pocket …
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8 shopping tips for buying bras on a budget
We’ll just cut right to the chase – buying bras can create a gaping hole in your wallet. They’re not the least expensive clothing item, but sometimes, it seems as if we’re left with no other choice, especially when they only last 6 months, and a decent bra costs around £30 for the bigger busted lady.
The good thing in all of this is you don’t have to adhere to market prices all the time. Here are 8 tricks you can do to smartly shop for bras on a budget so your dollar can go further!
1. Check Discount Stores
It helps to pay discount stores and outlets a visit every once in a while. These stores might have perfectly functional bras with no defects at discounted prices. The only thing with these stores is …
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What is Hoppy and how can it help you save money?
Hoppy is a new home management site that claims to takes the stress out of the day to day running of your home. The site provides access to a vast array of energy, broadband/tv and mobile deals helping you easily compare each offer and work out which is the best deal for you.
Wanting to find out more, I asked the Hoppy team some questions and think that the service is well worth a try.
Tell us about your tradespeople directory?
The Hoppy site is also home to a large directory of over 1,800 fully vetted tradespeople from decorators to lock smiths. Users can book and pay online for a local tradesperson all backed by a Plentific Guarantee, ensuring you receive the best possible service in your home. The help doesn’t end there as with …
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An alternative to Loyalive – free loyalty cards app from Stampuno to access all your shopping cards in one place
Do you have the same problem as me? A handbag or purse with too many plastic and paper loyalty cards in those tiny little pockets – and they can be a real pain to use.
I might often struggle nervously to find the right card when I get to the till or café counter. If I can’t see it (my eyesight isn’t what it used to be), I sometimes give up, because I don’t want to hold up the queue, pay the full price and lose some potential loyalty points.
Never Again Miss Any of Your Loyalty Card Points
I think a loyalty cards app is important for us shoppers. We spend huge amounts of money in shops every month and we deserve to get and use all the loyalty points we have earned.
After …
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Money saving bloggers on how to own a cat without breaking the bank
We just added a kitten to the Bargain Hunter household, and as we are new to the whole cat owning world we have had to do some fast learning as cats can be expensive, so stuff like get the vet to write you a prescription for medicine and buy it online as it’s cheaper, look out for a kitten starter pack service at your vets (includes microchip, vaccines, insurance for a month etc) and buy discount supermarkets’s premium food. To get more tips, I asked some UK money saving bloggers to help me (and you) to save some money, and this is their advice and some awesome pictures of their furbabies.
Don’t ignore pet insurance
Claire from www.themoneyfreak.co.uk says always have pet insurance, as it can cost …
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Bulldog shower gel in refillable 5 litre pack for £25
I used a five litre refillable hand soap and so was interested to see that my kids favourite men’s washing products brand Bulldog is cutting packaging waste by 85% with new refillable shower gel pack.
The male grooming brand’s new 5 litre refillable pack is made from recycled cardboard and can hold 25 bottles of its Original Shower Gel (£25) to reduce its plastic waste. The price is an introductory offer. You get a dinky bottle in with the offer – looks about 50 ml – which won’t last the males in my family long, so I’ll probably refill other shower bottles.
The box launched in August, is made from recycled cardboard and can hold the equivalent of 25 shower gel bottles.
Customers will be able to refill any container they choose thanks to the …
