Home News Special Features

Where are the most UK expat areas in France?’

France has always been a popular destination with UK expats, tempted over the channel by the culture, climate and world-class food and wine. When you think about the country’s excellent education, healthcare and property opportunities, and the quality of life looks pretty good. Britons hunting for houses for sale in France can take their pick from thousands of properties in towns and cities, coastal or rural areas. Here, are some of the British expat hotspots:Read

Professional Development Courses - is 2012 the Year to Invest in Yourself?

2012 could be the year professional development courses take on even more importance.Read

Are you happy with your credit card

With so many credit card companies keen for your cash, it can be difficult to decide what’s best for you. Follow these 10 steps to plastic fantastic:1. Don't punch above your weightDo you have a less than squeaky-clean credit history?  Beware of which credit cards you apply for – your credit history and chances of being accepted for credit in the future could be affected. 2. Balance your options If you have a balance on your credit card that you're unlikely to pay off in full over the next few months, consider switching your debt to a 0% balance credit card, some of which offer 22 months interest free.  You’ll pay a transfer fee of around 3% and will need to clear the debt before the end of the interest free period to avoid high rates.3. Fees overseasUse your credit card abroad and you’ll often be punished for your purchases. However, there are fee-free options such as The Nationwide Credit Card.4. Pay todayMiss your monthly payments and you can kiss goodbye to promotional rates and say hello to penalty charges. Try to pay at least the minimum monthly charge to preserve your credit rating.5. Bad credit credit cardsYour application for a mainstream credit card may be rejected if you have a poor credit rating or no history of managing credit.  Bad credit credit cards will enable you to demonstrate to lenders that you can manage debt responsibly.  Using the card regularly and paying your debts can boost your credit rating after six months. You can then apply for a credit card with a lower rate of interest.6. Direct debitDon’t pay attention to your payments and you’ll pay the penalty – set up a direct debit and keep up to date. 7. Purchasing powerChoosing a credit card with a long 0% interest free period on purchases allows you to splurge then spread the cost. Just make sure you can pay off the full amount before the interest free period is up. M&S and Tesco are currently offering cards with 0% interest on purchases for 15 months.8. No interest in the interest?Your credit card balance could take a lifetime to clear if you only pay off the minimum interest payments each month, so try to clear at least the minimum payment required by the credit card provider.9. Cash in with cashbackPay off your credit card bill in full every month and some cards will reward you with a cash refund or an amount off your bill.  The American Express cashback credit card offers a generous 5% cashback on the first £2,000 you spend in the first three months of getting the card.10. Ah ha! No APR.When you can pay off your balance in full each month, there’s no need to worry about the APR charged on your credit card, as you won’t be paying interest.Read

The New Efficient Washing Machines

In an age where environmental awareness is part of everyday life, there are big energy and money savings to be had by using “green appliances”. Washing machines aren’t the cheapest appliances to use on any given day. By reducing the amount of water and energy used a significant positive impact can be felt on a household’s utility bills. There are simple changes you can make to lighten the load on both your budget and the environment. By not heating the water to clean the laundry, homeowners will see a significant decrease in energy usage while doing the washing. There are two kinds of washing machines, front loading and top loading. Top loading machines are the most popular because they are cheaper to buy initially, but they’re not the most economic choice. This is mainly due to the fact that front loaders generally have a bigger capacity and therefore will need to do fewer cycles.Purchasing an affordable Indesit washing machine from Littlewoods.com could result in further savings down the line. Less washing means less water, less electricity and less energy required to use the tumble dryer, because a front loader’s spin cycle generally removes more of the excess water from the garments. When you’re looking at buying a washing machine, you should be aware of the appliance’s energy efficiency label and specifications. It’s important to find an appliance which is not only environmentally friendly, but also one which looks as good as it works. Indesit washing machines have been produced for more than 30 years and are some of the top home appliances available today.Read

How to ensure that you get the best life insurance policy at the best possible price.

If you have been thinking about taking out life insurance, then you will have noticed how complex the subject appears to be. There are so many different life insurance providers in the UK market, that spotting a good deal from a rip-off is can be very difficult. As with all insurance policies shopping around can help you ensure that you get the best possible policy, but life insurance is all the more important as it may be the difference between financial ruin and a comfortable life for your family. Life insurance is so important than because it can allow you to live in peace knowing that should anything unthinkable happen, your family’s financial security is guaranteed. This is extremely important, especially when the grieving process can make anything seem like too much to handle. Providing your family with a safety net is therefore a responsible and positive thing to do. Life insurance can be extremely confusing, but here are a few tips which you can follow that will ensure that you get the best deal possible to suit you and your family’s needs.Read

The History of Amsterdam and Why You Should Travel There

Amsterdam proves to be a popular holiday destination for holidaymakers throughout the year, offering a diverse range of experiences and attractions. The history of this city influences the experiences it offers its visitors, so what is its history and why should you put Amsterdam on your list of must-see destinations? Read

Is Your Vehicle Fuel Efficient?

Petrol prices appear to be increasing. Even though the price for petrol occasionally goes down for a short time, the prices have been on an upward trend over the past several years. Petrol prices will likely continue to increase, so an automobile’s efficiency will become more and more important. Automobile owners can keep their vehicles operating efficiently by maintaining the proper tyre pressure and cleaning the fuel system.Read

New Washing Machine Technologies

Modern washing machines now come with a number of additional features and added technologies to enhance the performance of the device. Investing in these technologies can be especially useful for individuals over the Christmas period as they can provide families with a practical, yet innovative, present.Read

The brave new (trading) world:

You don’t need to be old to remember when trading assets was a refined area of financial services delivered by a small clique of hugely clever individuals. They could spot trends, memorize vast quantities of data, take calculated risks and were massively rewarded for success.Read

Things to Know Before Playing Online Casinos

With so many different online games available individuals are faced with a much wider scope than ever before - and online poker is proving to be one of the most popular online games there is.Read

Winter Fashion Trends

Winter is fast approaching and with it, a host of sumptuous new trends to wrap up in. Whether you’re out braving the elements or wrapping your mitts around a glass of hot mulled wine, make sure you’re stylishly snug.Read

Don’t Let You Computer Catch A Virus This Winter

With summer coming to an end, households are beginning to prepare for the expected onslaught of colder weather. Whilst we will all take personal precautions to protect our own health during this season, what will we do for our computers and laptops?Read

Why choose a corner sofa?

Choosing a new sofa can be a difficult task, with so many styles on the market at the moment, the most popular of these at the moment being the corner sofa. But is the corner sofa for everyone and why should you choose it? As the name suggests corner sofas are made to be placed in corners so if you are not looking for a sofa to go in a corner these clearly are not the sofas for you. However if you are open to this option they can make a viable alternative to the traditional straight sofa.Read

A Taste of Paradise Awaits in the Indian Ocean

When you think of a paradise island, what do you think of? Crystal clear blue water; White sandy beaches; near year-round sunshine; palm tree blowing gently in the sea breeze? The chances are what you are thinking of are two of the most luxurious destinations on the planet: the Seychelles and the Maldives.Read

A Guide to Shower Enclosures

One of the more modern additions to any bathroom is that of shower enclosures. These fantastic examples of bathroom innovation have enabled the showering experience to be freed from the confines of the bath. So what types of shower enclosure are available? And how do you know which are best suited to you?Read

Make your Flowers Last

We all enjoy the act of giving and receiving flowers but hate the inevitable moment when are precious gifts have to be disposed of. So how can you make your flowers last? Here are a few suggestions.Read

Why Flower’s are so special

Floral gifts are a great way to show love and affection to friends and family members, but why are they so special?Floral gifts have a long history of popularity and make great gift ideas for all occasions. Some of the most common events at which flowers are presented are:Read

Why do Flowers Make Unique Gifts?

It may be strange to think that flowers can make unique gifts due to the prevalence of flower giving within society, but it is nevertheless the case. The gift of fiving flowers is a time honoured tradition but is unique depending on the situation and manner in which they are presented.Read

The secret meaning behind the number of roses

Did you know that there is a language hidden in the amount of roses we give in a bunch? Indeed, the number of roses we give each has their own meaning. Learn it and share with your partner this funny and romantic game.Read

Top 10 Features of a Cruise

With many of us embracing holidays abroad it is no wonder that cruises have become a popular form of holidaying experience. So why are cruises so popular? And what features do they have that make them such a great way to experience new lands?Read