Checklist have collaborated with Net Voucher Codes to bring you these top saving tips to cut costs and spend money wisely.

1. Freeze short shelf-life products

The freezer can be a saviour for any uneaten loaf or bagel however, they often defrost feeling a little soggy, or worse, stale. To get around this, instead of defrosting them out on the side, pop them on top of the toaster for a short while. To pick up a bargain, pick up reduced baked goods from supermarkets in the evening and freeze for a rainy day.

2. Fill up the freezer

Whilst talking about freezers, stocking up is usually a good idea. They go easier on electricity and are cheaper to run when full. Just make sure to keep in mind the contents of your freezer and rotate older and new items to avoid overcrowding.

3. Less is more for your kettle

Kettle’s are the least energy-efficient appliance in the home. When filling up for your brew, only pour in enough water needed for your cuppa. Savings can be made on the water and electricity bill over time. Doing it once or twice won’t add up to much, but it will across the whole year.

4. Save even more money on water

Another water hack for those with older loos includes putting a brick inside the cistern so that less water is needed to fill to flush. Any dense object will do if you don’t have a brick to hand, such as a filled water bottle. If you do use a brick, make sure you put it in a sealed container so it doesn’t cause damage to your plumbing over time.

5. Swap what you can

Switching to discount ranges or supermarket own brands can make such a difference in expenditure. If you can’t live without certain brands, pick branded products carefully or shop smart for three weeks out of the month. You’d be surprised how indistinguishable some unbranded products are from their official versions.

6. Examine your statement

Direct debits get lost on bank statements between our day-to-day purchases. Sit down and crack on with cancelling any unnecessary direct debits. Get into the habit of logging into your online bank account once a month and making sure you’re not shelling out for services you don’t use.

7. Don’t be tempted by impulsive spending

Instead of buying straight from a shop or brand when seeing an item of clothing, do some sleuthing. Online re-selling sites often have popular, legitimate clothes and accessories listed. Search the exact brand and product name with your fingers crossed. If nothing comes up, many let users set up alerts telling you the next time an identical object goes live.

8. Get the most out of your purchases

Instead of rebuying clothes that have faded or getting rid of clothes you hate the colour of, dye them instead. There are plenty of colour options and available to pick up in most large supermarkets.

Consider sewing up and repairing worn or damaged clothes. You can get your money’s worth by then using them as pyjamas or loungewear at home.

9. Cut down on alcohol

Ditching the booze could also be a good option. Not only will it likely leave you feeling healthier, but you’ll be also saving quite a bit of cash too. By visiting the pub less you can save a lot of money, and if you need to socialise soft drinks are cheaper.

10. Get creative

There are plenty of guides online that talk through the steps of making eco-friendly and penny-saving products. From homemade cleaning detergents and soaps to candles and face scrubs, they can all be made from a few cheap extra ingredients.

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Holly Andrews, managing director at KIS Finance, has collaborated with Checklist to give you 10 top tips on sorting your personal finance, improving your savings, and dealing with debt.

1. Calculate income and expenditure

The first step in any financial situation is identification and self-awareness. Working out your total incoming and outgoing payments to develop an idea of how your money is spent and where best to focus your attention.

The variety of subscription-based services available nowadays can come as a surprise when looking at your statement. Just a few pounds a month for music services and TV shows can all add up if you’re not careful. Especially when combined with regular bills such as rent, phone bills, and travel costs.

By identifying your expenses and income, you can work out how much expendable income you have after the essentials are paid for. Using that expendable income responsibly can help you to get the most value out of your finances.

2. Adjust your lifestyle

Once you have an understanding of the current state of your finances, it’s time to make crucial adjustments to improve your quality of life.

Identify the expenses you can do without. It’s easy to not notice you’re still paying monthly for a service you no longer use. These are the sort of little changes you can make to save money and increase your available expendable income. Once you know your largest expenses, try to minimise them. If you spend too much money on lunch at work, start making packed lunches or batch-cook a hot meal for the week.

By changing your daily habits, you can reduce expenses and slowly boost your financial health.

3. Shop around

After calculating your expenses, some are considered ‘essential’ such as rent, insurance, and gas and electric bills. These expenses cannot be done away with as easily as not buying coffee out. Instead, you can try to minimise these bills.

By checking comparison websites and doing some independent digging, discovering potential savings and better offers has never been easier. It’s also very important to check if your current contracts charge a fee for cancellation or changing providers. You’ll have to balance whether swapping provider will save more money after such fees.

The savings are there to be found, especially if you consider downgrading some of your services.

4. Set targets

Creating a clear goal to reach can help motivate you to stay on top of your spending. Whether that goal is becoming debt-free or saving up for a treat, the mental benefit of an attainable number to reach is great motivation.

Your targets don’t have to be large. It’s more important to set a realistic goal and achieve it than to aspire towards an impossible number become disheartened. Consistently reaching smaller targets is more beneficial than aiming for one large figure over a long period of time.

5. Plan for the future

It’s all well and good sorting out your finances right now, but if you’re stuck in the same situation next year, it can become a chore. By maintaining your awareness of your expenditure and adjusting for any changes in your income, save yourself the effort of redoing all your work in the following year.

This links well with any of the targets you set. By organising your finances with the long-term in mind, you can set and hold yourself to a standard you can benefit from for the years and decades to come.

Saving and improving your bank account takes time, the best time to start is yesterday. By planning for the future, you can set yourself a financial roadmap to work ensure long-term economic health.

6. Get organised and keep track of debt

You may find it beneficial to create a spreadsheet so you can list each loan or credit card, the total balance, and either the minimum payment amount or any set monthly repayments. Set monthly repayments would be applicable if you’ve used one of Klarna’s instalments or financing options, for example.

Again, it may be difficult to look at your debts in black and white, and this might make you feel more stressed in the short term if the total is more than you thought. However, you are now more than likely already in a better financial position than before.

7. Focus on minimum payments

To make things feel more manageable, start by just looking at the minimum payment amount on each debt. This is the amount that you have to pay each month to avoid missed payment fees being added. It’s important that you avoid these fees if you want to prevent the debt from building up more quickly, and missing payments can also have a lasting impact on your credit score.

You should also set up a direct debit for the minimum amount each month for each credit card or loan that gives you this option. Doing this means you will never be charged missed payment fees even if you forget one month as the minimum payment will be made every month automatically.

Once the minimum amount is paid, you can then pay whatever you can afford on top. Only paying the minimum amount each month means it will take a long time to repay the debt, so you really need to pay as much as you can over this. Not only will it bring down the debt faster, but it will also save you money in interest.

8. Prioritise

When you’re working out your debt repayment strategy, you need to organise and prioritise which debts are the most important to repay. These may be the loans or credit cards with the biggest balances, or the ones that charge the highest interest rate.

Then you need to decide whether you want to try and pay off everything together, or to focus one debt at a time until each one is repaid. If you choose this method then you should start with the loan or credit card that you’ve put at the top of your priority list, putting as much as you can towards this each month, and then work down the list after each one is cleared.

Remember though to keep paying at least the minimum amount to avoid missed payment fees. You will also still need to keep paying any set monthly repayments if you’ve used buy now pay later services.

9. Consolidate

Consolidating your debts means paying off all of your loans and credit cards with one single credit facility. This will make managing your debts much easier as you’ll only have one loan, and therefore one monthly payment, to think about.

If you can find a lender that is offering a loan or credit card with 0% APR introductory period, then you could save a lot of money on interest too. This means that if you pay off the full amount within the offer period, you won’t pay any interest. Just make sure you know what the APR will be after the offer period though, as you need to ensure that this is better than the interest you’re currently paying.

10. Reach out

The past couple of years have been very difficult and financially demanding for many.

If you can’t speak to close family members or trusted friends about your problems, then there are organisations and charities that can help if you don’t know what to do. Organisations like Citizens Advice, StepChange and National Debtline can help with your finances.

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email laura@hurstmediacompany.co.uk or editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Checklist’s top 10 tips for getting your finances in order appeared first on Checklists.

1. Demelza Hospice

Demelza provide specialist care and emotional support for babies, children, young people and the whole family from diagnosis, during day-to-day family life, times of crisis, end of life and through bereavement.

The team believe every child and young person who has a serious or terminal condition should receive the care and attention they need to live the most fulfilling life they can, and that they and their families have the opportunity to build memories, for however long they have together.

Find out more at demelza.org.uk

2. Marine Conservation Society

The Marine Conservation Society is a UK-wide community of ocean lovers all working together towards their vision of a sea full of life, where nature flourishes and people thrive.

They operate across the UK, working with businesses and the government to preserve habitats and species. By donating or becoming a member you can support ongoing efforts to save British wildlife for generations to come.

Find out more at mcsuk.org

3. Disability Snowsport UK

DSUK believe that taking part in adaptive snowsport has the power to transform a person’s relationship with not just their disability, but with all aspects of their lives. All people have the right to access the unique physical, mental, and social benefits of snowsport, regardless of disability, injury, or experience.
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DSUK operate ski schools at various locations throughout the UK as well as delivering opportunities to ski and snowboard in a mountain environment worldwide.

Find out more at disabilitysnowsport.org.uk

4. My Name’5 Doddie Foundation

Doddie Weir OBE is one of rugby’s most recognisable personalities. He earned 61 caps for Scotland during a successful playing career and is now facing his biggest challenge. In June 2017 the Scot revealed he was suffering from Motor Neuron Disease. From the outset, Doddie has been driven to help fellow sufferers and seek ways to further research into this, as yet, incurable disease.

In November 2017, Doddie and his trustees launched the registered charity, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. Their vision is simple: A world free of MND.

Find out more at myname5doddie.co.uk

5. SSAFA The Armed Forces Charity

The SSAFA is the world’s oldest tri-service military charity. They support members of the British military, veterans and military families with any issues they may be facing.

Offering assistance in the difficult transition to civilian life, counselling and bereavement, the charity exists to relieve need, suffering and distress for anyone involved with the Armed Forces.

Find out more at ssafa.org.uk

6. Children’s Cancer North

Children’s Cancer North is an independent charity with over 40 years of heritage in supporting individuals and families affected by childhood cancer.

Newly formed in 2021, from the marriage of North of England Children’s Cancer Research and Children’s Cancer Fund, these charities have collectively raised over £40 million to support children with cancer in the North East and Cumbria since 1979.

Find out more at childrenscancernorth.org.uk

7. Guide Dogs

Guide Dogs provide assistance to people with sight impairments across the UK. By offering dog training and guide dog services, as well as offering in-person meetings to make life easier for the visually impaired.

The charity has supported over 200,000 people to make their lives a bit easier and provide a furry friend to keep them on track.

Find out more at guidedogs.org.uk

8. Woodland Heritage

Woodland Heritage is recognised as a unique initiative, which truly unites all tree people – a vehicle for wood users and consumers to put something back and contribute to the proper management of British Trees.

Woodland Heritage was founded by a group of traditional cabinet makers who wanted to improve the way in which trees were grown, maintained and harvested in the UK. This small group of environmentally-minded producers was rapidly joined by many hundreds of individuals with concerns for our woodland environment, furniture retailers, timber merchants, tree growers, and colleges.

Find out more at woodlandheritage.org

9. Independent Age

Whatever happens as we get older, we all want to remain independent and live life on our own terms. That’s why, as well as offering regular friendly contact and a strong campaigning voice, Independent Age can provide you and your family with clear, free and impartial advice on the issues that matter: care and support, money and benefits, health and mobility. 

Find out more at independentage.org

10. Camphill Foundation

Camphill communities in the UK and Ireland offer sector-leading care to people with learning disabilities and mental health issues.

The Camphill approach to social care works with mainstream healthcare and complements it with approaches and therapies which often have their roots in anthroposophical approaches to care – holistic care in an intentional community setting that espouses life-sharing at its heart.

Find out more at camphillfoundation.com

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

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1. Look for the padlock symbol

Before you purchase anything online, make sure that you’re using a safe and secure website.

You can do this by checking that the web address starts with HTTPS and that there is a padlock symbol in the address bar. This means that the website is secure and any information you enter, i.e. your personal information and bank details, will be sent to the server in an encrypted format. This means that it can’t be read by anyone who tries to intercept it.

This also implies that the retailer is taking its customers’ safety seriously so it’s a good sign that they’re a genuine and honest company.

Another thing you can check for is the company’s contact details, office address, and terms of service page. Scammers who set up fake retail websites often won’t have this information as they’re not a real company and they don’t want to be contacted or traced.

2. Stick with reputable sites for big ticket items

If you’re planning to buy big tickets online, such as an iPhone or a new TV, then it’s a good idea to stick to big, well-known retailers. This is because expensive tech items are very commonly used to target shoppers as scammers can make a lot more money using these products.

They will often steal images from genuine retail websites and create adverts that promote huge discounts. For very sought after products, these adverts can be very tempting for those who are looking to purchase gifts.

Sticking to well-known reputable retailers will ensure that you’re getting a genuine product, even if it means paying a little extra. Remember that if a deal looks too good to be true, then it probably is.

3. Never pay via bank transfer

When you pay for something online, only ever use a debit card, credit card, or PayPal. If someone asks you to pay via bank transfer then this is a huge red flag. You will have little or no protection if you pay for something via bank transfer so scammers use this to their advantage. This can happen particularly with illegitimate sellers on sites like eBay.

Credit cards offer the best protection as you will be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for purchases of between £100 and £30,000. This means that your credit card provider can be held liable if there is a problem with a purchase and the supplier/retailer/seller won’t solve the issue.

With PayPal, you will be protected by their buyer protection scheme which means that they will reimburse you if your eligible purchase doesn’t arrive or doesn’t match the seller’s description.

4. Check genuine review sites

If you’re purchasing from a small retailer that you haven’t heard of or used before, make sure that you check for reviews first. You should look for reviews on well-known websites like Trust Pilot as these will feature genuine reviews from genuine customers.

Don’t just trust reviews on the website itself as these could have been written by the website creators. This definitely isn’t always the case as a lot of smaller, genuine retailers will feature real reviews on their websites, but you should always look for reviews elsewhere too.

5. Don’t feel pressured into purchasing now

If you have any doubts about a websites credibility, don’t jump the gun and purchase because the deal is short-lived. ‘This week only’ deals will still be available after an hours Googling or asking friends.

Of course, limited-time offers are extremely common nowadays, but it’s still worth taking a breath and double-checking the credibility of the seller.

6. How did they get your information?

If you get emails or texts from websites offering amazing deals on products, it’s worth working out exactly how they got a hold of your details to contact you.

You shouldn’t be receiving marketing material from websites and companies you haven’t given your information to. If you are, it could be a sign that the website is less-than-legitimate and has sent messages to every email address or phone number they could think of.

7. Set strong passwords

This seems like a simple one, but you’d be surprised how often people forget it.

Make sure your password doesn’t contain words mentioned elsewhere in your login. Also try not to include words or details about yourself that someone could find out about you online, for example the names of your children or favourite football team.

8. Research the company if you haven’t heard of them

If you’re not familiar with the website, it’s a good idea to look up the company online to ensure they’re a legitimate retailer.

If they have very few background details, or were only founded a few weeks ago, the company may be a scam.

9. Check the website’s address

I’m sure you’ve heard of amazon.com, but what about amason.com?

Some scams use slight spelling mistakes to their advantage, creating website addresses one letter off a legitimate and well-known site to direct you to their illegitimate website.

Make sure you’re on the correct website before entering payment information or clicking on anything.

10. Be wary of unfamiliar sites

Genuine retailers do use online adverts, but so do scammers and it can be very difficult to tell which ones are real and which are fake.

If the retailer is offering a discount code and urging you to click on the ad, then just take a screenshot to look at later. If the discount code is genuine then you will be able to enter it manually at checkout.

This article was created in collaboration with KIS Finance.

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email laura@hurstmediacompany.co.uk or editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

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Using a variety of money apps can help save not just hundreds, but thousands of pounds. You can use them to check and monitor your bank balance, overall spending, and for saving too. Not only can they help with money management skills, but they also help save cash too. Check out these money apps to help you on the right track.

1. Plum

Designed to be the ultimate money management app, Plum is great for saving money without even trying. You can link the Plum app with all of your banks and credit cards, to be able to see how much you have in your accounts at any one time. What is great about this app, is that using AI technology you can also start saving or investing at a rate you feel comfortable with. The splitter means that you can set up different pockets and also investment funds.

Cost: Free. You can upgrade to the paid options – Plum Plus for £1 per month, Plus Pro is £2.99 per month, or Plum Ultra is £4.99 per month – offering enhanced saving and investment opportunities.

Benefits: Great for managing your money, and saving or investing without even trying.

2. Chip

Positioned as a simple, hassle-free investment platform. Chip is a great tool to squirrel away money for a rainy day or longer-term investment and watch your money grow. Chip analyses your transactions and calculates what you can afford to save every few days. You’re still in control and can cancel or amend any of your auto-saves before they happen.

Cost: Free. You can also upgrade to an unlimited ChipAI plan (£1.50 every 28 days) with full access to their award-winning unique AI.

Benefits: All money you save through Chip can be tracked at all times in the app. Chip works by linking to your bank account and calculating how much you can afford to save.

3. Monzo

You can open a digital-only bank account, with lots of fun features to help manage your money. The Monzo card comes in a striking colour, as you can see. You can categorise your daily spending, which is all available at a glance within the app. Also, you can create ‘Pots’ to manage your money, which is useful for ring-fencing any money you need. Monzo is one of the earliest of a number of new app-based challenger banks in the UK.

Cost: Free. Monzo Premium is £15/month offers a number of benefits, but if you sign up it is for a minimum of 6 months.

Benefits: Great for managing your current account, and budget using different pots.

4. Money Dashboard

Get the app that lets you see all your accounts in one place, know how much money you have left until payday and grow your savings. Review how your spending habits have changed over time. Personalise how your spending is grouped and organised by categorising your spending. The app gives consumers the TrueView® of their financial position by consolidating all their current accounts, credit cards, investment and savings accounts from over 40 financial institutions, and allocating each bank transaction into a distinct expenditure category, thereby automatically organising an individual’s finances for them.

Cost: Free.

Benefits: Connect all your accounts to have one view of all your accounts and see how much money you have in your accounts at any one time.

5. Spending Tracker

Spending Tracker is the easiest and most user-friendly Personal Finance App in the store. What’s more, it’s free! By tracking your spending, you will be able to stick to a budget and therefore SAVE MONEY. You can set up categories yourself, so they are not fixed by the app. Also you can put the app into budget mode, which might help for those people who find it difficult to stick to a budget.

Cost: Free.

Benefits: It’s great to track your daily spending and determine where your money is going by categorising your expenditure. The dashboard can show your spending over time, which is really useful.

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

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Research can reveal data on the wealthiest celebrity families in the world. The analysis showed that the Kardashian-West family are the richest celebrity family in the world, with a family net worth of over $5 billion.

Perhaps surprisingly, none of the individual royal families that make up the monarchy made it into the top 10 rankings for the richest families.

1. The Kardashian-Wests

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s family tops the ranking for the wealthiest celebrity family, with a total family net worth of $8 billion – overtaking our previous richest family, the Hayek-Pinaults.

Kanye West net worth: $6,600,000,000

Kim Kardashian West net worth: $1,400,000,000

2. The Hayek-Pinaults

François-Henri Pinault is the son of French billionaire François Pinault and is chairman and CEO of the luxury group Kering, whose portfolio includes Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen and Brioni.

Salma Hayek is a famous Mexican-born actress who is an entrepreneur of her own, having founded her own film production company Ventanarosa and others.

Salma Hayek net worth: $200,000,000

François-Henri Pinault net worth: $7,000,000,000

3. The Carters

Jay-Z and  Beyoncé are some of the most wealthy self-made millionaires with a combined net worth of $500,000,000.

Not only are the Carters celebrated artists in their own right, but they also have built business empires, with Jay-Z becoming hip-hop’s first billionaire. Jay-Z’s is the face of Roc Nation, Armand de Brignac champagne (Jay-Z’s champagne brand known for Ace of Spades, D’Ussé cognac, and Marcy Venture Partners).

Beyoncé is well-known for performing in Destiny’s Child, and solo. Money coming from her tours, as well as brand partnerships with the likes of Pepsi, Adidas and Netflix.

Jay-Z net worth: $1,300,000,000

Beyoncé net worth: $500,000,000

4. The Trumps

Donald Trump who most recently has served as President of the United States is the head of one of the wealthiest families and a billionaire. Trump owns golf courses, a winery and most of his fortune is tied up in New York City real estate. Melania was a popular model who built her own fortune modelling for the likes of Vogue, Vanity Fair and Harper’s Bazaar. Malania has launched her own businesses, such as Malania Timepieces, shifting from being a model to a businesswoman.

Donald Trump net worth: $2,000,000,000

Melania Trump net worth: $50,000,000

5. The Trump-Kushners

Ivanka is the daughter of Donald Trump and has most recently been an adviser to the White House, after shutting her fashion business to focus on her new role. Ivanka received a severance of $2 million when she left.

Kushner co-founded a real estate technology company, and most of his wealth is from property. Both own millions worth of assets in real estate and an art collection. 

Ivanka Trump net worth: $800,000,000

Jared Kushner net worth: $800,000,000

6. The Hilton-Rothschilds

Nicky Hilton is a successful fashion designer, model and author. She is also the daughter of Richard Hilton and a hotel heir of the Hilton family.

Nicky is well-known for being a former socialite but has been successful in launching her own fashion line as well as writing books such as 365 Style.

James is from the Rothschild banking dynasty but has made his own fortune through investment banking.

Nicky Hilton Rothschild net worth: $50,000,000

James Rothschild net worth: $1,000,000,000

7. The Beckhams

David and Victoria are a celeb couple who have maximised their fortune through a number of brand and media sponsorships.

David is a successful footballer and Victoria has been in the popular band Spice Girls before embarking on a career in fashion.

Sponsorships include Adidas, Coty, H&M, Sainsbury’s, Samsung. Victoria runs her own fashion label and has launched her own beauty range including a fragrance line with her husband.

David Beckham net worth: $450,000,000

Victoria Beckham net worth: $450,000,000

8. The Hiltons

Richard Hilton is the chairman and co-founder of Hilton & Hyland, a real estate brokerage firm dealing in areas such as Beverley Hills and Hollywood.

Descending from Conrad Hilton who founded the Hilton chain of hotels, Richard was brought up around business empires, going on to found his own.

Kathy has also featured in the popular show, ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.’ Daughters Paris and Nicky Hilton are both well-known celebrities.

Richard Hilton net worth: $350,000,000

Kathy Hilton net worth: $350,000,000

9. The Lopez-Rodriguezs

Before Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez split, they had a combined net worth of $750,000,000.

Jennifer Lopez is a music artist, actress and businesswoman, whose fortune has been from live tours including a Las Vegas residency, films including ‘Hustlers’ as well as brand deals with the likes of Versace. Jennifer Lopez also has her own perfume.

Alex Rodriguez is one of the world’s highest-paid athletes, having signed two all-time high baseball contracts with the Texas Rangers worth $252 million and New York Yankees for $275 million according to Forbes.

Jennifer Lopez net worth: $400,000,000

Alex Rodriguez net worth: $350,000,000

10. The Jenner-Websters

Kylie Jenner is the youngest millionaire in the Jenner family and was labelled “the youngest self-made billionaire of all time” by Forbes in 2019.

Kylie Jenner sold 51% of her Kylie Cosmetics to beauty giant Coty in a deal valued at $1.2 billion, which she continues to work at today.

Travis is a successful hip-hop star who has grossed millions through his live Astroworld tour, merchandise and lucrative brand partnerships.

Kylie Jenner net worth: $700,000,000

Travis Scott net worth: $50,000,000

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

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1. Tick off your personal finance checklist

Any successful financial plan starts with the basics. What are your outgoings, and are you spending money on anything you don’t need? With the profusion of subscription services for just about everything today, it’s likely. Time spent analysing your expenditures can pay itself back easily – even a small amount of money that gets redirected into savings will be worth it.

Once you’ve rationalised the Amazon Prime and Netflix bills, do the same for your other bills, as well as credit cards and bank accounts. It doesn’t pay to be loyal here, since most finance providers offer some sort of incentive for new customers. Take this to the next level by registering with cashback websites such as Quidco and looking into rewards credit cards – both of which can give you a couple of percentage points back on your spending.

Finally, look at the big picture. Experts recommend that no more than 50 percent of your income should go into essentials (food, bills and so on), and no more than 30 percent into discretionary spending, leaving 20 percent for savings. Are you meeting this goal? If not, make a plan to move towards it incrementally.

2. Where to make your next career move

It’s no secret that some industries have stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic, but others have grown, and will continue to do so once the immediate effects of the pandemic recede. If you want to future-proof your career, make your next move into a growing sector.

There are more of them than you think – it’s not just home deliveries and supermarkets. Computing is one, as digitalization touches almost every part of life. Software developers are in demand, as they have been for some time, but there are a whole range of related roles: computer user support specialists, information security experts and systems analysts, to name a few.

Healthcare is another area with a huge range of roles available, with varying requirements in terms of qualifications. Physical therapists, speech and language pathologists, behavioural disorder and mental counsellors have all been cited as growing professions.

And as more and more jobs get automated, creative industries will be an option – particularly those with a more technical, software-oriented element, such as design and video and film editing.

3. Gain security with an additional income stream

Most of us would admit to feeling more financially insecure than we did in 2019, with future uncertainty always looming over us and our jobs. If you can secure yourself a second income stream, you’ll be able to mitigate a large part of that uncertainty.

It might not be feasible time-wise to get a second job, but you can always supplement your income by turning your hobby into a side gig. Keen photographer? Sell your photos to a stock website. Crafty type? Set up a page on Etsy.

If you’ve got some capital, you can make it work harder to give you passive income. High-yield current or savings accounts are hard to come by, but as a fruitful investment option, consider property, which is in as high demand as ever. You don’t even have to take out a new mortgage – renovating your own home can increase its value and make you a tidy sum. For even less effort, you can rent out your parking space, which can be especially lucrative if you live in a busy city.

4. Don’t neglect your tax position

No matter what is going on in the world, it’s the unavoidable truth that you always need to keep abreast of your tax obligations, which are ever-changing. The latest updates to tax law that you need to know about include an increase to the threshold for Capital Gains Tax. It’s now £12,300, above which a basic-rate taxpayer will pay 10% on profits (18% on property sale).

The threshold for pension relief tax has also risen. Anyone earning under £240,000 will enjoy tax relief worth up to £40,000 on private pension contributions.

And in terms of Inheritance Tax, the ‘residence nil-rate band’ – the tax allowance on a residence passed on to a direct descendant – has risen to £175,000.

There will be pressure on the government to support citizens and businesses throughout 2021, so stay alert for new changes and relief schemes, which could be announced at any time.

5. Look to the long-term future

You probably know already that minimum pension contributions, for both employers and employees, rose in 2019. They now stand at 8% – 5% by the employee, 3% by the employer. Of course, many companies will offer to match higher rates – something it is usually worth taking advantage of.

This, however, is not the only thing you can do to get your pension pot in the best possible state. Use the government’s pension tracing service to locate pension pots you may have lost track of over time. You’ll likely be better off if you can consolidate them into one, though do check which pension pots have exit fees before you do.

If your pension is growing at a rate, be aware that you can carry forward tax relief. If you didn’t use your full £40,000 relief last year, you can carry over any unused allowance for up to three years. This can get complicated quickly, so consider speaking to an independent financial adviser – or get free guidance from the Pensions Advisory Service.

6. Protect yourself from fraud

It’s a sad truth that 2020 was a bumper year for scams, and this year is likely to be no different.

With workforces moving remote, data and password theft is more common than ever, and several major websites have had their password files ‘cracked’. To make sure your details have never been leaked, visit haveibeenpwned.com and enter your credentials. Remember, when online, you’re only as safe as the least secure website you visit. Your bank’s website may have world-class security, but if you use the same password for every other website, none of that security is worth a damn.

When it comes to money, make sure you opt-in to receive transaction alerts with your bank – so if your money is ever spent without consent, you’ll know right away and be able to act. And think twice when receiving unexpected emails or calls purporting to be from a financial provider. A legitimate email should contain a personal greeting or other identifying information, and should not ask you to reply with login or financial details.

7. Modern investments you might not know about

It may be giants like Apple, Google and SpaceX that hog the investment headlines these days, but in fact, you can establish an investment position with less capital than ever – if you’re happy to take the path less travelled.

Peer-to-peer lending platforms, such as Zopa or Funding Circle, have been growing steadily for the last decade. Essentially, they match investors directly with individuals or businesses looking to borrow money. You get good transparency as you can talk to the borrower and see the forecasted rate before committing, and lensing sites quote returns of up to 6%. Like any form of investment, though, it is not without risks. If you haven’t taken independent financial advice, the FCA won’t let you put more than 10% of your investable assets into P2P.

As an alternative, share the risk with crowdfunded investments, which are growing in popularity for high-value property sales. Find the right purchase, and you can have equity in a commercial property for less than £1,000. It’s possible to invest in existing properties or new developments this way.

8. Business backer? Check out 2021’s fastest-growing industries

A period of disruptive change means it’s possible to get a business off the ground quickly, if it’s in the right market. Whether you’re looking to start one up yourself or back someone else’s idea, consider these three industries:

Transport and distribution – Nearly every industry is looking to make its supply chains stronger and more resilient after they were interrupted during the pandemic. That means big businesses will be willing to invest in suppliers who address the ‘weak points’ in their distribution networks.

E-learning – Education will only partially return to the classroom when COVID recedes, with schools and universities combining on-campus and remote education for the long-term future. New technologies are emerging rapidly to facilitate this, creating business opportunities as they do.

Cleanliness – Investment in pharmaceutical and biological products is at a high, though there are also high barriers to entry for many of the products in this sphere. Along with these comes a demand for more everyday cleaning products and services – from hand gels to office cleaning equipment to teams of cleaners for hire.

9. Invest responsibly with a sustainable fund

Increasingly, investors are looking to do more than just achieve a return – they want to see their money have a positive impact on the world, which they achieve by supporting companies with sustainable values. A survey by the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association in 2020 found that 70% of respondents had thought about ethical investing.

As a result, ESG (environmental, social and governance) investing could be a buzzword of 2021. Many wealth management companies already operate their own ESG investment funds, which means investors looking to make a human impact can start now.

10. Charity donations with the greatest impact

If you’re not convinced by ESG or want your money to have a more visible impact, there are countless charities who are in need of financial backing. If you have no preconceptions whatsoever about which charity to support, you can do worse than browse charity monitoring website GiveWell, which ranks charities worldwide in terms of ‘bang for your buck’, as well as how effectively the charity would be able to scale up, should they receive a large injection of funds.

GiveWell’s number one charity? Malaria Consortium, which invests in medicine to prevent malaria in developing countries. Other high-ranking charity investments include supplements to prevent vitamin A deficiency, treating parasitic worm infections, and making direct cash transfers to extremely low net worth individuals.

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email laura@hurstmediacompany.co.uk or editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

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