Don’t apply to the county court before you’ve given the company concerned the chance to put things right, as you could be penalised by the court. This may mean paying the other party’s expenses and costs in attending court if you’ve asked for the case to be held prematurely.

How the Small Claims Court works

• It’s set up to be quick, cheap and unintimidating; a user-friendly style of court.
• You can represent yourself so there’s no need for expensive solicitors.
• It’s meant for claims of $5,000 or less, although with per¬sonal injury claims the limit is lower – at $1,000.

Before taking your case to the Small Claims Court it’s worth getting legal advice. A cost-effective way to do this is by getting a list of local solicitors who offer a fixed-fee advice service from your local Citizens Advice. This will typically cost around $20 for twenty to thirty minutes’ advice. You won’t be short-changed on advice; this isn’t a watered down version of what they’d tell the full-fee paying customers, but a great way to get some legal advice if it’s a one-off issue you need to ask about.

Before you issue a claim
It is worth a quick game of bluff before you officially lodge your complaint, as this can often bring results and avoid the court process.

Contact your local county court for the paperwork (this won’t cost you a penny, as it’s lodging the claim that incurs a fee), fill them in and date them a week in advance. Then send a copy to the person you’re in dispute with, along with a covering letter, telling them that on this date you’ll be lodging the complaint with your local county court.

It’s a ruse I’ve suggested to people on consumer programmes and in several cases it’s worked, as the company concerned then realise (if they know they’re in the wrong) that they’re likely to come off worst if the case goes to court. So they usually pay up.

Before you make a claim consider whether the person you’re suing has the means to pay you if you’re successful. If they’re on the verge of bankruptcy, even if you win the case you may have to wait some considerable time (or forever) for your money.

A savvy consumer’s story
While the idea of going to ‘court’ can be daunting, taking a case to the Small Claims Court can mean the difference between get¬ting your money back or losing out, as this case from a successful claimant shows.

I’d asked a building company to repoint the side of my house. I paid a deposit but one day into the job they’d made a mess of it and walked off.
They’d got my deposit but wouldn’t come back to finish the job, and were quite nasty on the phone, threatening to sue me for the remainder of the money they said I owed them.

I spoke to my local Citizens Advice who suggested getting an independent surveyor to look at the work. He gave me a report saying it wasn’t done properly, so I filled in the paperwork to take my case to the Small Claims Court. It was very straightfor¬ward and a friend helped me. Just a week before the case was due in court, the building company settled ‘out of court’, giving me back my deposit and court fees.’

Making a claim

• Get a claim form from your local county court or download one at www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk.
• As the claimant, you can apply to have the case heard in your local county court, although it may be held in the defendant’s local county court, so be aware of where they’re based.
• Complete two copies of the form and return both to the court along with the fee. Make sure you keep a copy for your own records too.

How much does it cost?
Fees are based on a sliding scale; for claims up to $3,000 there’s an $85 fee which you must send to your local county court with your completed forms. For claims over $3,000 and up to the $5,000 limit, it’s $108. In some cases if you’re claiming benefits you may not have to pay.

What is the 2 month’s salary rule? This rule explains that the engagement ring you must buy for your future fiancé is at least equal to your 2 month’s salary. This rule is not followed much because of practicality issues. Newlyweds and those who plan on getting married are advised to invest on more important things. This however, does not indicate that an engagement ring is of less importance. But say for example a man earns 4000 dollars a month. Would it be wise to buy an 8000 dollar worth engagement ring? If you think it is then go on with it.

Also, men consider other expenses like that of the wedding itself, the honeymoon, and wedding reception. A new house is important to many in starting their own families. It is good to spend money wisely. An engagement ring must be a sign of love for your future wife and not your monthly earnings.

Work on a budget. Before going around looking for an engagement ring, decide on how much you want to spend and stick to that amount. There are many jewelry shops that sell very good quality engagement rings that are not very expensive. A budget between 1000 to 3000 dollars can be enough.

Select a style and design of the ring. The style and design should complement your girlfriend’s hand. If you don’t know what to get a ¾ to 1 ½ carats diamond is your safe choice. The color and clarity of the diamond will affect the price. So don’t be surprised if a smaller diamond with better color and clarity can appear more expensive than a bigger one.

Shopping with your girlfriend is an alternative. Although a surprised proposal is romantic, it can be impractical when you chose the wrong ring size or the diamond looks too big on her finger. So if you want to eliminate these hassles, you can shop with her and she can select the type and design she likes. But remember to tell her you are sticking on a budget so you two can save up for your future as a new married couple.

An engagement ring doesn’t have to be very expensive. The ring signifies your love for the woman and that is what matters. Big things do come in small packages.

You must first understand how exchange rates work. You can calculate exchange rates by understanding the relationship between two different currencies from two different countries. Exchange rates are also commonly referred to as ‘fx’ or ‘forex’. There are many ways to determine economic progress. Exchange rates can determine the strength of a currency by determining the foreign exchange market rate where billions of dollars worth of currency money are traded every day.

Two kinds of exchange rates are spot exchange and forward exchange. Spot exchange is the currency’s value in terms of the actual rate given at a certain time. While forward exchange is the value of a currency quoted and traded at a certain time but will be exchanged at a later date. Forward exchange can sometimes be adjusted with respect to time and inflation. However, most rules usually allow trade of the money as it was quoted.

The emergence of online exchange rate calculators has made it easy for us to determine the foreign currency’s worth in terms of local currency. People used to rely on newspapers and broadcasts to find out about exchange rates. Currency rates are usually listed on a long table with one unit of the currency quoted in an equal amount to that of the other currency. The exchange rates are accurate but they have to be calculated manually.

Online exchange rate calculators like XE.com or Web applications on the websites of several banks have made it easier for people to determine right on the foreign currency’s worth in local currency. If you wish to find out the value of a foreign currency, you can set the currencies and hit the ‘go’ or ‘convert’ button and it will show you the currency’s worth. It’s just that easy.

The currency values fluctuate and never remain constant. There is no set foreign exchange rate for every country. It is best to get the money converted when the exchange rates are high. This will allow you to make the most of the foreign currency when used locally.

Evaluate your credit score and your credit history. A credit score may be low in the sight of many creditors but it might be good enough to get a home loan. Review your credit score before you submit any application. You might find erroneous data and can correct them. The corrections will then raise your credit score giving you more opportunities to get that home loan you want.

Start working on your credit score. One with a low credit score has lesser chances in getting a home loan approved than one who has a competitive rating. A few months before or during application, you can start paying off the bills little by little. It would help if you try finding quick sources of income. Search for other ways on improving credit. Balance the use of cash and cards.

Search loans. Many people have bad credit and some credit firms have loan types that cater to people with bad credit. This may be risky on their part but this market is also one that needs attention and continues to be a growing market in times of crises. You can sieve all possible providers in your area and you will surely find a few of them.

Try to manage your finances well. Financial management is one of the best solutions to any financial problem. Proper allocation of funds, payment of debts, and purchasing can all be done with careful considerations. There are seminars that will guide you on how you can manage your finances. Another way to do this is to list down all the ins and outs of your money so you can determine which expenses go overboard. You can then start changing the habits gradually but surely.

Find a Co-signer. A partner to share the financial burden will make securing home loans easier. If the cosigner has good credit score, it will benefit you in many ways. Find a close friend or family member who can cosign the home you intend to start a loan at. Make an attractive deal that they will surely agree on.

Is getting a home worth all the trouble? Securing a home loan with bad credit is not a simple task. It requires serious work but will benefit you enormously at the end of the efforts exerted. Imagine living in your own home and lying in your couch while watching some good entertainment. It’s good to have a home sweet home.

Tip 1: Work for others.

• Ask for parents to give you tasks at a reasonable price. You may want to do the week’s laundry, mow the lawn, or walk to pet. Convince your parents by working neatly and giving them a cheap price.
• Offer to help siblings for a very small amount. You can tell your younger brother you will help him with homework or clean your sister’s room.
• Knock on your neighbors’ doors. Offer them your mowing skills or tell them you can walk their dogs. And if you are at a right age and are capable, you can watch for their little kids too.
• Baby sitting is a good learning ground. You can baby sit kids when people know you are reliable and trustworthy with kids.
• Pet sit. If you have a neighbor going on vacation, tell them that you are willing to care for the pet and give them a price lower than pet shelter rates.
• Deliver newspapers. When you have nothing to do on the weekends, you can distribute newspapers in your neighborhood. Remember to wake up early.

Tip 2: Be creative.

• Create handmade jewelry and sell them to friends.
• Create stationery with recycled paper and sell them to girl friends and family members
• Create greeting cards. Greeting cards are always purchased for different occasions.
• Bake. Bake goodies that your friends and family will spend a little amount for. Sell lemonade too.

Tip 3: Find a kiddie business partner. Ask your friend. You will earn more with more friends to join. It will be a lot of fun too. You can host a garage sale where you will all gather old things and make fliers to distribute to people. You may also sell other side stuff at the garage sale.

Tip 4: Make money work for you. Ask your parents to open a bank account for you. Deposit your earnings in the account. You can also try saving up your allowance and putting it in the bank. Don’t take out money unless it’s an emergency. Concerts, sales, new gadget releases are not emergencies.

Be money-smart while you’re young. Be fair and not greedy. Remember that there are still a lot of things money can’t buy.

Why do couples get legal separations and not divorce? Other than moral and religious reasons, there are other practical reasons. The couple can be separate to evaluate if they want to end up in a divorce. Some states implement a law of having to be legally separated first before getting the actual divorce.

Legal separation helps the individuals address financial concerns and allow them to know how they can handle money matters when apart. It is an informal trial separation. So when the couple decides to pursue a divorce, the separation agreement can be converted to a divorce one. This makes the process faster.

Legally separated couples can also get insurance benefits of the spouse’s coverage.

Personal interests can be protected apart. The legal separation mandates that assets and debts acquired during the period of separation are considered separate property.

There are also possible benefits when the couple continues to file taxes jointly.

Remaining married will qualify the two individuals to certain social security benefits for a spouse up to 10 years. Military benefits for spouses can also be retained.

Legal separation and the agreements should be discussed thoroughly. This will greatly affect further divorce proceedings. A good lawyer who specializes in legal separation will help you go through the step by step process. Let the lawyer look over the agreements and have them explained to you. Here are the steps on how to file a legal separation:

Step 1: Consider if you are going to use the services of an attorney. If not, you and your spouse can simply file papers jointly.

Step 2: Check the residency requirements for your state and make sure you qualify.

Step 3: Think of legal separation as divorce proceedings. This means you must consider provision on child support, possible alimony, custody and visitation, division of property and debts, and other special provisions you may require.

Step 4: The petition for separation will be served to your spouse and he or she will be given an amount of time to respond. However, couples can file the legal separation jointly.

Step 5: Once the terms and provisions of the legal separation have been agreed, notarize with signatures from both individuals.

Step 6: The judge will decide.

Tips to cut Airfare

You all are wondering that you can’t reach your destination free of cost then how can you save your money while traveling. Well it is not true; you can save accordingly as how much you are aware of the airfare discounts and about free air tickets. We know in the peek seasons like summers and Christmas vacations, the airfare become high and as the prices are shooting up for fuel the traveling can cost even expensive. What you have to do is, just get in touch of internet and buy tickets from air-ticket auction sites where you can get the tickets at discount or may be free of cost if chances. Weigh your luggage at your place to avoid paying for overweight luggage or befriend with the passengers whose individual check-in luggage is underweight so that they can share your luggage.

Tips to cut lodging cost

Avoid taking three or four star hotels as they only add bucks to your travel. Choose two star hotels as you are going to travel not to spend time in your lodging. So there is no reason to spend your money on this but one thing you should keep in your mind is that you should book your lodging before reaching you destination as many of the hotels charge more for walk-in reservations. Besides this you have another option too. Choose a hostel which will cost you even less with one disadvantage that you have to share a common bathroom there. But to travel in budget it is not a big deal.

Tips to cut food cost

Have your breakfast at you hotel as they offer this facility. Rather than stopping at the restaurants for the anytime hunger, keep some snacks like fruits and sandwiches with you from home or purchase it from a grocery shop. You can go for fast food which is surely affordable. Do not ask for beverages or bottled water at the restaurant as it can be purchased at very low price from the grocery shops.

Tips to cut shopping cost

You should try more while purchasing rather than buying the souvenir items you got at the first shop. You should try before buying as by doing this you will get the exact idea about the cost of the item. Go for off-beaten path to purchase some local stuff instead of going for tourist trap.

These tips will definitely help you to cut your travel cost and you can travel in budget.

In spite of all the above consequences of eating out, everyone wants to relax and treat himself and his family by having a meal in the restaurant. There are many ways by which you can manage a great meal in your budget. But to follow all of these you have to act wisely.

1. Do not order two dinners at the same time as it will cost you very high. Typically restaurants serve in excess and commonly it can’t be finished completely. If you try to finish it completely it may cause problems to your health.
2. You can make a second dinner of the leftover items of your dinner. By eating all the veggies first and than having the meat will make you so full that you will not have anything further. Than take the warm-up stuff at your home and use it as a second dinner for the next night. It helps you to get two dinners at the price of one. Isn’t it amazing and a money saving idea?
3. Ask for the daily special meals as these costs you even low and comes in budget. Go for special lunches as lunches are cheaper than dinners and the breakfasts are even cheaper.
4. You can check online websites to get discounts in a particular restaurant. You can get discounts and discounted gifts for which you have to just enter your zip code and you will get the list of restaurants shown.
5. Do order appetizer or salad as these makes your meal great and are affordable too.
6. There are many restaurants which offer special family days or special discount days or also offer free meal for kids. You can take the advantage of this to save your precious money.
7. You should choose a restaurant with medium prices. This allows you to have a meal without jumping out of your budget.
8. You can also get advantage of the newly opened restaurants as they offer discounts and specials to attract the costumers. The advertisements are published in newspapers or in advertisement mailings.
9. As we know we go for restaurants to have good meals not to drink any beverage. So just have your meal there as these beverages can be purchased from the grocery shops at fewer rates. So just have water with your meals at the restaurants.

These tips will enable you to have nice meal at affordable rates and you will surely appreciate it.

We all know that everyone has a dream of owing a house to which he can say it is mine. Keeping this thing in mind, rental property owners offer great deals. The owners of these apartments are offering potential renters with the option to buy that particular property. This is especially in the case of town rental properties. This helps to open the gates for the owner in future to sell his property. By renting the property with such deals helps the owner to get the same cost as the buyer give without deducting any broker’s fee. It helps the owner to save money as a rental property owner.  If you are one of the rental property owners you should have good communication and relations with the renter. You should plan for some informal meetings with your renter such as a breakfast or a small brunch which is a creative way to deal with the mutual concerns.

Give Incentives

Incentives prove to be very beneficial for a well kept apartment to any rental property owner. This helps you with the maintenance of the apartment’s furniture and the entire interior. This further helps you to extend the quality and maintenance of the interior by the renter of your rental property. To make a good financial incentive, it just takes mere deduction in the total rent paid by the renter. This is another way to save money on maintenance.

Allow Renter for Interior Decoration

Allowing the renter for the interior decoration of the apartment helps the rental property owner to save his money. Allow your renter for gardening and provide them with windowsill boxes. It will not only enhance the beauty of the exterior of the rental property but also boost up the cost of the rental property. Within the rental property, the community garden in the alleys provides the source for vegetables and fruits which further helps to create positive ties among neighbors and it reduces the crime. This will help the rental property owner with the boosted value of the property.

Pay Bills on Time

Renters can save money by paying their bills on time by online payment services. By paying utility bills on time, renter can avoid disruption of the services and can also save money.

Share Apartment

To save money, renters sometimes go for a room partner who can share the rent and the other utility bills. This helps the renter to save the money. This happens generally in the case of singles having no family with them to live with or those out of their own city for education purpose or business thing.

These above tips help the both, the renter and the rental property owner, to save money.

“How to save money while shopping” is a really big jeopardy. It is seen that sometimes you go to shop with something hidden in your mind and end up getting something else and then get disheartened with the thing you got. To avoid this entire thing, one should always try to follow certain tips. These are:

Prepare a list: whenever you go out for shopping, do prepare a list for it and then shop accordingly. This strategy will always help you, from not buying things that are not very necessarily required and will allow you to spend and concentrate on things which you really need at that point of time.

Budgeting: this is one of the other important things required for a person when he/she is concerned about “how to save money while shopping” and it can be done easily. When you are preparing a list for what to shop, you should make an account for how much money you have to spend in a day and how much to save. By saving some amount of money will help you to move for next shopping as well. So always plan how much to spend on each item so that you always get the best item, in the right amount, you want to spend on it.

Do not over spend: when you are on shopping do not over spend on things which are not worth for. Before buying things, try to take a round in the market and then decide what   thing suits you the best, which you really want to buy. Sometimes you try to bargain for that particular item at the shops, where it is possible. Also try to save money by not spending it in tasting different type of cuisines which makes you lose your budget and   will also make you lazy and sleepy.

Apart from all these points the best answer to “how to save money while shopping”  while shopping for clothing is to innovate the things you already have in your wardrobe by your own taste or you can take advice from a person who has a great taste and a lot of knowledge about dressing and styling. You can accessorize your clothes with various neckpieces, vibrant colored bags and shoes so as to give them a different look each and every time. Along with, try in experimenting various combinations and looks. By this you can give a new essence to a part of your wardrobe you are really bored of.

So by following these simple things you can not only move very systematically while shopping but also will always try to pay attention on “how to save money while shopping” and will always be happy for whatever you bought.