All that comes with it

our credit score determines significant parts of your finances, including what type of interest rate you get on loans and credit cards and whether you even qualify for a credit product. Before you can raise or build your score, you’ll need to understand how it all works.

Credit Reports

A credit bureau sets your score using information found on your credit report, which is on file with the bureau. If you haven’t already, you should go over your reports for accuracy. You’ll find information about credit reporting at MoneySupermarket and other financial websites if you’re not familiar with reading a credit report.

Every time you apply for credit or are denied credit, an entry is made on your report. If you get credit, the creditor reports the new account on your credit report.

During the entire time you have an account, the creditor will put information about it on your report, including whether you pay on time, how much credit you’ve used and what your balance is. If you don’t pay and the creditor has to place it with a collection agency, that is noted on your report too.

Scoring

Credit scores range from 300 to 900. The higher your score, the better you look to potential creditors. On average, people usually have scores of 600 to 700.

Your score is calculated by a formula used by the credit bureau. The values used in the formula come from your credit report data. The most significant figures are delinquent accounts, how you use credit, how old your credit file is, how often you apply for credit and what type of credit products you have.

Delinquent accounts lower your score. The scoring model assumes that if you’re paying late or not paying now, you’ll continue to do so.

How you use credit and how often you apply for it is a factor because you need to show responsibility with credit to have a good score. If you’re frequently maxing out cards or opening accounts, you’re an increased credit risk under the scoring model.

The age of your credit file affects your score because the model assumes people who have had credit longer are less of a risk than people just getting credit. Having no credit history can be almost as harmful to your score as having a poor credit history.

If you have the same type of credit product on your report, such as credit cards and nothing else, you’re considered unproven with other credit types. You need a mix of credit, such as credit cards and a mortgage or auto loan, to get a higher score.

It’s easy to get addicted to credit cards. They enable you to make those impulse buys that leave you on a retail high.

Inevitably, getting your credit card statement through the door is a sobering moment, where that magic piece of plastic exposes itself for what it really is: a one-way ticket to debt. With user friendly internet shopping, temptation is right on your doorstep – you don’t even need to leave the house!

Charge Only What You Can Afford

Set aside a budget, and purchase only what you can pay for. When you feel the need to make a purchase on your credit card, make sure you understand your motivations. Impulse credit card spending feeds off emotions, and if you’ve had a bad day, you could end up making impractical credit card choices.

Don’t spend right off the bat – ever. Make a list of items you want and consider it over the space of a week. If you still want to buy the item, go back with cash in hand.

Prioritise your expenditures. Often, people fall for making feel-good purchases, instead of boring, but essential, payments like bills.

Treat yourself to a little luxury. Like a crash diet, you can end up binging on items when you have deprived yourself for too long. Money is there to be enjoyed – just rein it in.

If you can trust yourself, leave your credit cards at home. Out of sight, out of mind. Take only cash with you for your planned purchases.

In a relationship with someone financially trustworthy? Take them shopping, to keep you in check. Let them know it is their mission to stage an intervention if you try to buy non-essential items.

Have an Emergency Fund

Sometimes people rack up debt because they just weren’t prepared for large, emergency expenditures, like car maintenance. Prevent this by setting aside an emergency fund and avoid putting it on the credit card.

Pay Your Balance in Full, Monthly

Wipe out your credit card balance every month. Minimum payments are no longer a worry, and you don’t carry money through to next month either.

Don’t Let Anyone Borrow Your Credit Card

Effectively, you are welcoming them to spend what they like. Even if the promise to pay the bill, you are ultimately the shmuck that has to raise the cash, if they fail to.

Limit Your Number of Credit Cards

More cards mean more potential debt to juggle. If you can charge more, you might be more tempted to spend extra – thousands of pounds at your disposal can be oh-so tempting.

Self-Control

Learning to say “no” really nips debt in the bud. Create the discipline to deny yourself what you want until you really can afford it. It may be old-fashioned, but it works.

Become Credit Card Savvy

Don’t just walk around blindly with a credit card in your pocket. Know your interest rates and how they will be applied to your account, your minimum payment, and when you will be charged. Shop around for greater rates. Or best of all, close that credit card!

This guest article was written by Tony, a blogger from the UK with a passion for saving money, on behalf of IVA expert. Click here to visit their website.

The cars driven by the character of James Bond in many of the most iconic action movies of all time have become legendary in the automobile world. They were stunning on screen, coming fitted with all kinds of exciting modifications. Of course, these gadgets and gizmos aren’t available on real-world equivalents of the Bond cars, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get your hands on one of your very own. There have been numerous exhibitions of famous James Bond cars, but what should you be looking for if you want to pick one up second hand?

You can find many sites on the internet now which provide an excellent range of second hand cars which are all at very affordable prices. One site you could find would be motors.co.uk who have a variety of available manufacturers.

1964 Aston Martin DB5 – Pierce Brosnan made his first appearance as Bond in 1995’s GoldenEye, and drove what became one of the most iconic Bond cars of all time.

2002 Jaguar XKC – an emerald green Jag was driven by Bond as played by Pierce Brosnan in 2002’s Die Another Day.

2008 Aston Martin DBS – this was the car of choice for Daniel Craig in his second appearance as Bond, in 2008’s Quantum of Solace.

Last January, fifty vehicles from 22 different James Bond movies went on display at the National Motor Museum. The exhibition was titled “Bond in Motion”, and not one but two of the Aston Martin DB5’s were on display. Several cars made their debut appearance, including the Ford Mustang Mach I seen in 1971’s Diamonds are Forever, and the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II possessed by villain Valentin Zukovsky in the World is Not Enough.

If you want to know more about the iconic vehicles Bond has driven over the years in his various cinematic exploits, the official James Bond films website at http://www.jamesbondfilms.co.uk features a section dedicated to exploring and describing the cars themselves. They are filtered by manufacturer, so you can click on a particular name in order to take a closer look at all the cars that manufacturer has contributed to the series.

More employers are taking note of the effects of dehydration in the office environment. It is now recognised that not only manual workers, but those sitting at a desk in front of a computer screen can also be affected by dehydration. The brain is made up of sixty per cent water, it only take a dehydration percentage of two per cent to reduce productivity.

There are a number of work factors that can affect hydration in personnel; these include the air conditioning units, travelling to and from work, an increased work load and stress. You obviously cannot reduce these factors, but why not rent or buy one of thirsty 4 water’s range of office coolers to ensure there is always filtered water available on hand.

Dehydration can lead to low productivity levels, poor morale and impaired mental performance. Sufferers of dehydration often have a loss of concentration, suffer from headaches and appear constantly tired. It’s important for companies to take this into consideration as happy and healthy staff is important a business’s success.

More businesses are now taking this information seriously and ensuring that staff members are aware of the importance of remaining hydrated. Sports drinks, alcohol, coffee and tea can also lead to dehydration instead of rehydrating the body; therefore water is the best source.

Why Filtered Water

You could purchase expensive bottled water or get staff members to drink water straight from the tap, but filtered water is the safest option offering overall greater health. The healthier your staff the less sick absenteeism you will need to deal with.

Filtered water has no chlorine or dangerous chemicals in it, it therefore reduces the risk of many cancers including bladder, rectal and colon cancers, this is because the chlorine by-products are removed.

Gastrointestinal diseases are often caused by drinking poor quality water; this can also be reduced by drinking clean, fresh filtered water. All the lead found in water is removed when filtered and it helps people enjoy a healthier immune system. Kidney problems, muscle cramps, irregular blood pressure and exhaustion are all problems also linked to dehydration.

Why not rent or buy one of thirsty 4 water’s range of office coolers and immediately start combating these diseases, help your staff remain healthy and productive.

The Advantages of Water

Water offers a host of health benefits including flushing all the toxins from the body, improving the immune system and easing joint pain. Water also moisturises the air in the lungs, protects vital organs and helps our body absorb important nutrients.

When someone drinks the right amount of water each day
(normally six to eight glasses), they are automatically assisting their bodies distribute oxygen to essential organs, they are helping their body’s regulate body temperature and are maintaining a healthy weight.

It has been proved that people who remain hydrated have good digestive function, are generally in good health, are less ill and are more productive in the working environment as they don’t suffer from tiredness and headaches.

When it comes time to unclutter your home, you may be surprised to find that the vast majority of your “junk” pile can actually be recycled. These days everything from scrap metal and bricks to electronics and ink cartridges can be disposed of responsibly. So before you throw away those old batteries or leave that worn out refrigerator at the tip, consider how you may be able to recycle or upcycle the following items:

Electronics

Modern technology makes giant advances each year, leaving many of our favourite electronics outdated. Many electronic manufacturers and stores—including Samsung, Sony, and Nokia—offer trade-in, mail-in, and take-back programs to provide you with an eco-friendly way of getting rid of old phones, TVs, computers, digital music players, batteries, and ink cartridges. In addition, musicMagpie offers a service that allows you to sell cds, dvds, and games that you no longer enjoy.

Clothes and Toys

Every parent knows that keeping their kids in the right sized clothes can be a challenge. Most of us end up with closets and boxes full of tops, pants, and footwear that our kids have long since outgrown. As long as they’re still in good condition, consider giving those old outfits to a charitable organisation or church; they’re always looking for donations. Find a new home for kids’ toys at one of these not-for-profits or by hosting a toy swap with other families in your neighbourhood. Recycling services like Greengiving and Goodgreenfun can also help you find places where old clothes and toys will have new life.

Kitchen Items

Traditionally, kitchens have been the biggest culprit when it comes to producing waste inside the home. Even if you’ve steered away from plastic carrier bags in favour of reusable cloth bags to do your household shopping, you’re still left with a number of one-time use products to contend with at week’s end. The good news is that most products made from paper, cardboard, tetra pack, silver foil, tin, aluminium, glass, and certain kinds of plastic can be recycled. Check with your local authorities to see if they collect recyclable items kerbside or if you’ll have to take them to a local recycling centre. “White good” kitchen appliances—fridges, freezers, cookers, and dishwashers—can often be recycled at local centres or donated to a second-hand store.

Household Furniture

You don’t have to send old household furniture to the landfill, especially if it’s in decent condition. For example, your local recycling centre will gladly take your old wooden furniture, and organisations like the Mattress Recycling Group will save your old mattresses and carpets from ending up in the junkyard. Unfortunately, furniture made from leather or synthetic materials does not meet recycling criteria, but you can sell these pieces online or donate them to a charitable organisation to give them a second life. When it comes time to buy new furniture, make sure you buy quality products that will endure the inevitable wear and tear that comes with having children; you’ll drastically reduce the amount of waste you produce, and save yourself a lot of money in the long run!

The temperature is rising, but your bank account is falling. Your kids have loads of free time this summer, so what are you going to do with them? If you keep them guessing with fun ways to pass the time, they will never suffer from boredom. From reusing your old Hallmark cards for greeting cards to making pizza for the whole family, here are five unique ways to keep your children entertained.

Turn the living room into the cinema. Ticket prices for the cinema are steadily rising, which means that you can spend well over £50 on a family of three or four, snacks included. Or you could save money and enjoy more time with your loved ones by setting up a cinema in your own home. All it takes is a good DVD, popcorn, sweets, and soft drinks. You can rearrange the furniture so that everyone has a good view of the television, and — voila! — you’ve just created the ultimate cinema experience.

Having a pizza making contest. Pizza recipes are great to experiment with because it’s almost impossible to go wrong with them. Whether you want to do a theme, such as breakfast pizzas, veggie pizzas, or pizza “pies” for dessert, your kids will love the fact that they get to make their own. Simply arrange an entire table top of ingredients and use store-bought crusts to make this a no-fuss activity. You’ll have entertained the kids for a while and prepared dinner at the same time; it’s a win-win for everyone!

Create greeting cards for family and friends. Bring out your kids’ crafty side by setting up an area where they can take coloured craft paper, ribbons, markers, glitter, and glue to make cards for their friends and loved ones. You can peruse your old collection of cards received to get ideas for greeting cards, and you can help them write funny or sentimental messages. All of the recipients will appreciate the hard work, and you will have made good use of your kids’ imaginations.

Create a scavenger hunt. Here’s another activity that can be pulled off in a matter of minutes. You can start by hiding a “treasure” somewhere in your home. (For smaller children, a new toy would be the ultimate find; for teens, a new CD or a gift certificate to their favourite retail store will be great motivator.) Then, write and stash a series of clues throughout the house; you can stuff little pieces of paper in the bookshelf, in the coat closet, and even in their rooms. Then, all you have to do is sit back and be entertained while they go on a search for the prize.

Plan a Hawaii-style luau in the back garden. Want to take advantage of the summer sun this season? What better way than to have a barbecue style dinner with a luau theme? All you’ll need are some leis, palm tree decorations (which you and the kids can make at home), and perhaps some reggae music. When planning your menu, you can give your regular barbecued favourites a little Hawaiian flavour by adding fresh pineapple, ginger, or coconut. If you want to make it really authentic, you can look up any one of a number of Hawaiian recipes and try your hand at island cuisine.

These ideas are just a start. Make sure to get your kids’ input on what they find entertaining, too. That will surely keep them — and you — busy all summer.

Obviously the environment means the world to all of us but it can be hard to show it, especially when the average schedule is so hectic that it barely has a window for brushing your teeth in the morning, let alone going along to the local save the earth meeting! But this doesn’t mean the earth is doomed because there are actually some pretty simple lifestyle changes that you can make that could make a big difference to the environment.

Small steps

You may not realise it but just some small adjustments to the way that you live could really go a long way in helping the environment. With just a few small steps, you can help cut your own individual CO2 emissions. This is vital because CO2 emissions are the most significant cause of climate change.

Save Water

One of the simplest ways to help the environment is to try to cut down your water consumption. Water wastage is a massive problem but it’s easy to reduce how much water you use. If you’re boiling the kettle, be sure to only use the amount of water that you need, not only will this save water, it will reduce the power needed to heat the water.

You should also make sure that when you’re not using the water, it is turned off. This applies to things like turning the tap off while you’re brushing your teeth. You should also think about switching from baths to showers. A normal sized bath, when filled up near to the top, holds about 45 gallons of water, whereas a 15 minute shower uses only about 15 gallons.

Turn off electricals

When you’re tired and your thumb is hovering tantalisingly over the standby button, it can all seem too much to have to go and turn the TV off properly, but that little bit of extra effort is definitely worth it. Not only can you help to save the environment, you can help to save yourself some money too. If all UK households turned their electrical appliances off rather than having them on standby, a collective £740 million a year could be saved.

Recycle

Another great way to help the environment is to increase the amount of recycling you do. There are lots of types of packaging that can be recycled and the government has made it even easier to recycle by providing us all with specific bins. You can also recycle by giving unwanted goods to charity instead of taking them straight to the dump.

The extra green mile

Of course, there are also options you can take if you want to make bigger changes to your life and make a bit more of a difference to the environment. You may want to think about renewable or green energy. These are things like solar electric systems and water heaters, as well as wind energy and geothermal energy. These types of energy systems are becoming more popular and there are a growing number of qualified renewable energy companies offering to install the systems, the government has even introduced certain tax incentives for individuals using them.

Not long ago, the very thought of an electronic personal assistant was unfathomable, let alone one with the capabilities of Siri. Now those who rely on Siri could not imagine living without it. As all who have caught the Siri bug well know, they need only ask and Siri responds, placing phone calls, scheduling meetings or even reminding them to call mom — all without the wisecracks of a human assistant. Responding to the user’s natural, conversational voice, Siri simply asks for any additional information it might need. Did you forget to indicate when you might like a reminder? Siri will ask and later remind you quite promptly.

What makes this concept even better is the recent union of Siri and the new, third-generation iPad, combining two cutting-edge forms of technology in one great tablet. This bug is one that everyone will want to have. In fact, once acquired, there is no real cure for the Siri bug — and that is just as users want it!

Available since March 2012, the third-generation iPad is about to undergo an upgrade later this summer, in the form of a newly improved version of Siri. Yet this newest iPad already had several features that distinguished it enough from iPad 2 to make its purchase worthwhile. Ultra-sharp images provided by the Retina display, for instance, are definitely a step above the iPad 2. Powered by the A5X chip, the newest iPad’s higher graphics represent 2048-by-1536-pixel resolution instead of the 1024-by-768-pixel resolution offered in the previous version. These images look so real, you might want to reach out and touch them.

In addition, the 5-megapixel iSight camera is an upgrade as well, offering advanced optics. Excellent still photos are a given with this camera, but it also records 1080p HD video, making the third-generation iPad a comfortable choice even for those who are not necessarily technologically savvy, but still want high quality results.

However, it is the dictation feature built into the newest iPad, converting speech to text that provides the smooth segue into offering the newly improved Siri with this edition of the iPad. Including such enticing features as sports scores and movie recommendations, among others, Siri’s abilities just get better and better. Now all these features will be a mere voice command away. Siri has managed to make the iPad even more fun to use.

The power and convenience of voice-controlled software may be more than the average person can resist. For those already enamoured of the iPad, the Siri bug is sure to bite. For more information on our ipad offers visit our website here

When it comes to taking supplements; whether for building muscles or for extra vitamins, it is important to incorporate them into your daily diet and routine. When taking a new supplement, it is important to get guidance upon the best time within your diet and exercise routine to take the supplement.

Depending upon the form of the supplement, its properties and ingredients, there are specific times to take it along with other dietary implications. If you are taking, say, a supplement to help with recovery time, such as muscle recovery supplements, then you would want to take the supplement straight after any intense exercise period; however if the supplement being taken is one designed to increase muscle growth, it will need to be taken a certain period before any intense workout session, in order to allow the supplement time to work its way to the muscles.

Everyone who works out knows that routine is important; it is the way they stay in shape, the way they know they are doing everything possible to get the body they want. If you are looking to introduce a new form of supplement into your workout, it is important to keep within the routine you have already set up, and incorporate these in.

Supplements come with their own time-frames to be taken, but it is important to remember that individual differences occur in our bodies and need to be taken in to account. Everyone is different and our body chemistries are too; for some, there needs to be a longer time between taking the supplement and it getting to the muscles; for others there is a short time period for this to occur. It is important before taking any supplement to know your body and when is best for it to take the supplement, thus being as effective as possible.

Now the summerhouse is built I need to find something to do with it.

My secret plan for it is for it to become a writing shed, as I’ve had a secret hankering to write a novel ever since my friend Craig published his Time Gentlemen.

I’m not sure when I’ll start actually putting pen to paper, but i’ve already got the important bit sorted out – the author photo for the cover:

What a devastatingly hansom man.

I also had ideas of using the summerhouse as a recording studio for the podcast, as well as the usual summerhouse uses of somewhere to sit, read,and escape the children.

My main problem with all this is that the summerhouse has no electrical power, and is far enough from the house to make installing some quite a difficult and expensive prospect.

Mind you, I have considered buying a laptop and then buying one of those internet dongle things from somewhere like phones4u, but again- that takes money.

Maybe I should try building a laptop out of pallets.

Remember voting will be open until next Wednesday for my Summerhouse to win £1,000 for the Joseph Salmon Trust. You can vote every day here