The Top Tips For All New Freebie Hunters

 *This is a collaborative post 

The 21st century is a century of freebie obsession.  Regardless of whether you are breaking world records by asking favourite restaurants for lifetime supplies of nuggets or joining a long queue of people to get a bag of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, there is no underestimating the power of the freebie buzz.  Unfortunately, when joining this freebie game, there are certain rules that need to be followed.  If you are a seasoned freebie hunter or a new hunter, there are always a few new rules to be learned.

1.  If It Sounds Too Good To Be True, It Most Probably Is

The majority of the time, the excitement of a freebie hunt for favourite brands can cloud a person's judgement.  According to Professor Dan Ariely, most transactions will have both an upside and a downside but when it is a free transaction the downside is forgotten.  "Free" often gives a person an emotional charge leading to a perception that the item offered is more valuable.  Basically, this means that a person will forget about common sense when receiving a freebie and is the reason why some companies will exchange a person's soul for even the tiniest sample.  

To ensure that the freebie is as good as it sounds, it is important that you always read the terms and conditions of the item.  No company will ever offer a free £1,000 voucher without you having to do something in return, so it is essential you know what you are signing up for.

2.  Do Not Expect Too Much

A full-sized freebie is very rare with the majority of free stuff being presented in small envelopes or sachets.  The main objective of any freebie hunter is to try the product and figure out if you enjoy it enough to opt for a future purchase of the item.  This will ensure that you are not wasting your hard-earned income on a product that you will not enjoy using.  

The Importance of Financial Management as a Couple in 2025

 

*This is a collaborative post 

With interest rates still biting and the cost of living pushing many to rethink their spending habits, financial conversations between partners have never mattered more.

The pressures of rent hikes, energy bills, and food costs can create strain in even the strongest relationships. And yet, many couples continue to avoid money talks altogether.

If you share your future with someone, then your finances deserve the same joint attention.

Open communication about money

Start by sitting down and talking honestly about your finances – what you earn, what you owe, what you save, and what you fear. Do this without judgment.

Many people carry money shame or learned behaviours from childhood, which can affect how they manage income and debt as adults. To build trust, each partner should come to the conversation with transparency and patience.

Regular check-ins help you stay connected to your shared reality, rather than allowing one person to shoulder the burden alone.

Setting shared financial goals

When you know what you're working toward together, everyday decisions feel more purposeful. Whether you’re saving for a first home, planning for children, or just hoping to enjoy some financial breathing space, you need a clear destination.

Keeping Your Family Safe: Affordable Brake Pads and Discs Replacement in Belfast

*This is a collaborative post 

When we talk about protecting our family, car safety should never be overlooked, and your vehicle's brakes, in particular, are something that should not be neglected. Whether you are doing the everyday school run, having a family outing to the beach or just commuting around the city, it is your car's braking system that ensures the safety of every trip. The brake maintenance is something that many drivers tend to delay due to a lack of knowledge about brake replacement. But, as the car owner, you should understand the importance and role of your car’s brakes in keeping your family safe on the road. If you are unaware, thankfully, there are trusted and affordable options for brake pads and discs replacement in Belfast, making it easier than ever to drive with confidence and peace of mind.

As your car clocks up the miles, the brake pads and discs wear down with time and show the warning signs, such as there may be a screeching noise, the car shaking when pressing the brake, or the pedal feels less responsive than usual. These signs can mean that the car brakes are in bad shape and require immediate repair. Magowan Tyres specialises in brake pads and discs replacement in Belfast, keeping your family safe on every journey. With a customer-centred approach, highly-skilled technicians, and services priced to suit all budgets.

Driving around Belfast, with its busy roads, changing weather, and frequent stop-start traffic, puts extra demand on your brakes. Consequently, driving with worn brakes significantly increases the risk of an accident. Delaying brake pads and discs replacement in Belfast could lead to longer stopping distances or even complete brake failure—something no driver wants to risk, especially with children or loved ones in the car.

How to start budgeting as a couple

*Guestpost 

Hi, my name is Karen and I am a Finance Coach. I specialise in helping couples talk about money - without arguing.

If you have any thoughts or questions on how you can start budgeting as a couple, please don’t hesitate to email me hello@moneyandmarriage.net

Conversations about money aren’t romantic and I know that talking about your personal finances probably won’t be high up on your list of things to talk about.

But, with money being one of the main causes of divorce, it’s a topic that you should really get a handle on before you get married.

My husband and I were married for 18 years before we got on the same financial page.

We had marriage mentors, a financial advisor and we attended wedding prep classes. No one told us how important talking about money was. No one told us how to budget. No one told us how vital it is to be on the same financial page.

That’s why I became a finance coach. To tell everyone that getting on the same financial page is critical for your personal finances and your financial future.

Take it from me, when you and your spouse are on the same financial page, you work together to create and CRUSH money goals as a team, it’s a game changer. Not only for your finances but for your marriage too.

If you are on the same financial page, this can be an exciting moment. However, if you are on two different pages financially, this may be overwhelming.

By following these tips, you can start talking about money in a positive way and start budgeting together as a couple.

Discuss your views on money

Every person has a different childhood that impacts their views and thoughts about money.

It influences their money saving, spending, and investing habits.

Therefore, jump into the money conversation and talk about your first memories of money.

Understand each other’s experiences of having no, little, or too much money at different points and how it shaped your money mindset.

Remember that your childhood experiences of money may be different but that doesn’t mean that one is right and the other wrong.

As a newly married couple, talking about your money memories will help you to understand each other and from there you can work together to start a new path on your financial journey as a couple.

Here are a few questions to get you started:

FEBRUARY 2024: BEING THRIFTY

Another month of being thrifty but first up I have a confession to make. I under budgeted when it came to the cost of getting new glasses. I had an eye test this month and knew that I was going to need new glasses and set aside an amount. However I hadn't considered the extra cost for my lenses to be thinned as I have such a high prescription, definitely a mistake I won't be making again. I've now set a new sinking fund up ready to put money aside for new glasses that I will need in the future for now though fingers crossed I'll get at least two years wear from these new ones.

Frugal anniversary and Valentines

Our anniversary was on the 4th of February and both Stuart and I agreed to not get each other any gifts this year. We did order a Chinese in for our anniversary meal instead of going out which saved us money as we spent less than we would have at a restaurant. We also had left overs we heated up the next day for lunch. As for Valentines Day we opted for a supermarket dine in deal. Again we agreed not to do presents and we didn't do each other cards either.

E-cards

We've made the decision to no longer send out cards as postage is expensive. Instead we will be doing E-cards which I'll make using Canva. The exception is my nan who is in her 80s and not tech savvy.

Make our own bathbombs

B loves using bathbombs but as they are expensive we make our own. This way he can still enjoy bath time at a fraction of the cost. We've been doing this for awhile now and as we needed to make up another batch I thought it was a good time to share with you.

Free National Trust Day Out

We managed to get a free family day out voucher to visit a National Trust property so we used it during half term to visit Clumber Park. They were only giving out a certain number online and we luckily were able to get one. A few different newspapers also had the vouchers in them so it's worth looking out for.

SINKING FUNDS FOR BEGINNERS

Sinking funds - only something I had started using approximately 18 months ago when I had signed up to Monzo and was able to set up pots. Sinking funds are a great way to save up for any large expense. It's definitely something I'm glad that I started doing as spreading the cost has made things a lot easier than trying to find money in one go.

If you are wanting to get started with sinking funds and have no idea where to start than this guide for beginners is for you. I'll be explaining all the basics including what a sinking fund is,  benefits of them as well as how to create one. 

What is a sinking fund?

A sinking fund is a way of saving money by putting away a set amount each month for the purpose of being used at a later date. It means you are saving small amounts over a set period of time instead of needing to find money all in one go. This is a great idea for those things that you know are coming up and won't be able to afford from one month's income and also saves you having to go into debt.

You can set up a sinking fund for any financial goal you may have. I have four different sinking fund categories at the moment although this may change - mine are:

- Summer Holiday

- Back to school 

- B's Birthday 

- Christmas 

Sinking fund/savings /emergency fund

A sinking fund is a way of saving but should be separate from your savings and emergency fund. A savings account is where your savings go and sinking funds are how you save your money.

Sinking funds are also different from an emergency fund. A sinking fund is for those expenses you know are coming and can plan ahead for - such as for your home insurance, back to school, Birthdays, Christmas or even for things such as saving for a new sofa. An emergency fund, on the other hand, is for unexpected expenses. Examples include: damage to home like needing a new roof, car repairs from an accident, medical emergencies etc.

5 TYPES OF BUDGETING METHODS

The number one thing I recommend to anyone wanting to sort out their finances is to have a budget. Having a budget helps you to keep track of where your money is going. There are quite a few different types of budgeting methods and what works for others may not work for you. The right type of method for you, should fit with your own personal goals.

Budgeting does take time and effort, however it's great for helping you to gain financial independence by spending money responsibly, improving debt repayment strategies and  increasing your savings goals. 

5 Budgeting methods to consider 

Before choosing a budgeting method it's a good idea to sit down and  look through your finances to see if you can spot any trends. You can do this by looking at bank statements or by keeping approximately two months worth of receipts. To make it easier it's wise to sort them into categories such as household, food, personal, entertainment etc. Once you understand your finances better and understand your spending patterns then it's time to look into budgeting methods such as the five below.

The 50, 30, 20 method

The 50 30 20 budgeting method is where you plan your budget by allocating it into three categories: needs (50%), wants (30%) and savings (20%). This is a great method if you are starting out with budgeting as it doesn't mean having to track thoroughly. It's also great if you struggle with budgeting and want to find a method that's a bit more easier. You can also customise the percentages depending on your circumstances, for example 40/25/35 if you are wanting to put more into savings/debt. 

MY 2024 FINANCIAL GOALS

 In my previous post about my 2024 goals I mentioned that my top goal this year is in regards to my finances. There are quite a few financial goals that I'm hoping to achieve this year that I thought I'd share with you. 

Savings:

Quite a few of my goals this year are savings related. The three goals I'm setting myself in this area I'm sure I'll have no problem achieving.

Emergency Fund

My first goal is to save £1000 for an emergency fund. We had to use savings to pay towards our new roof and so I'm starting my Emergency fund from scratch. I've decided to do a money saving challenge where I'm putting away £20 a week so by the end of 2024 I should have achieved this.

MY GOALS FOR 2024

 Happy New Year! So 2024 is here and I've sat and  planned my list of personal goals/resolutions for the year ahead. I enjoy goal setting and I like to set achievable goals that challenge me and help with my personal development. 

Below I'm sharing these personal goals and I'm hoping they will also inspire you to set your own goals or even just give you something to think about.

Move for Mind

I've signed up for Move for Mind this year where I'll be raising money and awareness for better mental health by completing 31 minutes of activity a day for the 31 days of January.