How to Avoid the Credit Crunch

You will learn tips and be able to gather information on how to cope during these testing times.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pen
• paper
• patience
• time

1. Take the time to find websites that offer you help with your finances, utilities and general home life, make a complete list on what you have found. There are a whole host of sites so make sure for each problem you may have you find at least 4 or 5 websites that relate to it.
   Especaily sites that offer free goods and services.

2. Now you have your list, compare the sites that are similar and determine which website will give you the best offers or savings on them.
   Always read the additional small print.
   Sometimes switching, as for an example, from one utility to another may incur costs, try to make sure that the offers are for a long period, this credit crunch crisis will not be over in the next few weeks.
   Free associated websites are excellent to get goods and services,believe it or not ! One persons junk is another persons treasure so look long and hard at these free sites.

3. Take even easier steps to beat the credit crunch in your daily life:
   
   There are some simple ways to give yourself an immediate start to ride through this.
   If you drive then you can cut your fuel bills by up to 15% by just making sure you inflate your tyres properly, switching of your air- con or even just by taking your roof rake off, an even simpler way is to stop slamming on brakes or over-rev you can save a further 30-40%, these simple actions make your vehicle more efficient.
   If your worried about childcare rises then if you approach your employer then they may allow you to swap some of your salary for free tax-free childcare vouchers, you can save hundreds of pounds by just asking that question.
   Food prices are rocketing, but why do you have to buy the branded goods, believe it or not some of the lesser known brands actually get there goods from the branded company's, so save on your weekly shop just by doing that, again you can save hundreds on your food bills.
   Set a budget and stick to it, work out how much youwant to spend and only take that cash, leave the credit cards at home.

Tips & Warnings

• Scams to look out for during the credit crunch These are vulnerable times for people globally and also the time when many scam artist will prey on such people to try and intise them with money making schemes. Here are just a few scams to watch out for: Rogue Internet dial ups: Be careful of any unusual emails from spam companies, some may start with your first name but check where the email was sent from and if you don't recognise the name don't open it. They may have pop-ups and certain links in the email which then download a virus onto your PC, which then without you knowing connects you to a premium rate number and the first time you will know about it, is when you get a huge bill trough your door. Holiday clubs: Out of the blue your told that you won a holiday and that you must turn up to a plush hotel to receive your gift. You turn up only to find your getting pressured into joining some sort of club which offer supposedly cheap holidays. Dont feel you have to sign anything just yet, insist on taking away any contract and make sure you understand any cancellations rights within the contracts. Foreign bank account scams: Again out of the blue you receive an email or letter addressed from countries around the world, telling you that they have money they want you to, as long as you help smuggle it out of there country. They insist on having your bank account details and once you do that they use the details and clean your accounts out. Investment scams: Having the chance to invest in goods which may seem to be off high value but offered at a knock down price, is always probably to good to be true. Do a search on the internet to find details on any products offered, chances are the are a high-risk or even probably worthless. Lotteries and prize draws from abroad: This one comes in many forms either by email, letter or even a phone call telling you that you have won a prize and all you have to do to claim it is pay a nominal admin fee and most likely some sort of tax. Just ask yourself one simple question, How did you win a competition if you did not even enter one.

[Toyya]

on 10/14/2008 good stuff keep writing.

[mil102]

on 10/13/2008 Great advice leave the credit card at home would really help in this crunch!5*s
http://www.milsopportunity4successbusinessideas.blogspot.com/

[CADarko]

on 10/10/2008 Wow I didn't realize I could save fuel by having my tires properly inlfated. Thanks for the tip