There seems to be some kind of unspoken connection between fitness and finance in the UK. On one hand, the stress of debt can manifest itself physically and comfort eating can often be a coping mechanism for financial worries. On the other hand, our desire to drop a few pounds can lead us to spend far too many. So, the stress of debt can have you piling on the pounds and hitting the gym can have you spending them. If your debts are building up, talk to an advisor at Debtsolver rather than turning to the biscuit box.

Regardless of what the gym membership adverts would have you believe, getting in shape needn’t actually cost anything. It’s great for your mental as well as physical health. The stigma of bad debt can have a profound effect on your self esteem and a few sit-ups, press-ups and squats can really make you feel better. Exercising releases endorphins, the naturally occurring chemical that makes us feel good. Much like dealing with debt though, taking the first step towards a happier, healthier routine can be difficult.

The idea of pounding the pavement might not be appealing but it’s a great way to get fit and it doesn’t cost anything. Of course, if running really isn’t your thing, you could always try cycling. Don’t let the thought of buying a bike put you off; it can be done cheaply and easily through the Government’s Cycle to Work scheme. This programme will allow you to pay off your brand new bike from your pre-tax salary. You just have to use it for your commute, which means that you’ll be getting in shape wile you cut out your travel costs.

Although we would recommend that you take full advantage of any free ways of getting fit first, you may feel that a gym membership is an affordable addition to your monthly budget. Any such expenditure should be carefully planned and you should only enter into it if it’s reasonable. If you can afford it and you’re sure you’ll make the most of a gym membership, shop around first. Your local council will often offer excellent facilities at a fraction of health club rates.

If the facilities are poor and you can find a good deal, consider joining a private gym. As you should with any contract, be sure to read the small print thoroughly before you sign up to a gym membership. You should have shopped around and examined all of the facilities at your disposal. Once you’ve found the gym you like, at a rate you like, be sure to get some free tours and make them woo you. After all, they’re trying to sell you a membership so make them work for it. If that means haggling for a reduced joining fee or even waiving the joining fee, then it’s worthwhile.

Consider how it will be to live with the membership too. You may be in awe of the fabulous facilities but if the gym’s not convenient enough, you’ll not go as often as you want, or as often as you’re paying for. If you don’t go, you’ll need to know if there’s a cancellation fee and before you sign up, find out if there’s a minimum contract term.

It’s always a good idea to stay fit and healthy but you should always look to shed those extra pounds while spending as few as possible.

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As we know, a sudden change in your financial situation is one of the most common causes of debt problems. As a result of the credit crunch and recession, unemployment figures have risen and losing your job without warning can have a severe impact on your circumstances. If you are already overstretching your budget, losing your source of income can bring on bad debt very quickly.

Unemployment isn’t the only thing that can suddenly change your financial circumstances. When it comes to putting increased strain on your budget, nothing really compares to having a baby. The little bundle of joy will, of course, cost you money. It’s not just the added expense though; raising a child will naturally reduce the time you have to work, impacting on your earning power. With the ever increasing cost of child care, rushing back to work may not always make financial sense. Essentially, as with any other financial difficulty of debt solution, it depends on your situation.

Here are some tips from the Debtsolver team that will help you with your baby budget.

As ever, when it comes to being thrifty your two best friends are reuse and recycle. So, if any of your friends have baby stuff to pass on, take advantage. Things like baby monitors, cots, baskets, slings, car seats and any good-quality, hand-me-down baby clothes are great. Similarly, if your friends have skills that can you can take advantage of. After all, what’re friends for? Also, when it comes to child care, how about granny and granddad?

If you’re at home, use the time in to have a bit of a clear out and take what you can to the car boot sale. Have a regular clear-out and take any unwanted stuff to a car-boot sale. Complete online surveys that offer incentives like vouchers, discounts and chances to win prizes. Think of as many other ways that you can earn around your baby’s schedule too. How are your arts and crafts? Can you bake or knit? Are you good with a computer? Basically, think of the ways you can use your skills to bring in a bit of extra cash.

Cut down on your wastage by planning your weekly shop and cooking with fresh, local produce. You could even plant your own vegetables in the garden. Don’t be afraid to stretch out any leftovers the next day. Making soup can be a great way to use up any excess veg too.

This all sounds great for everyday but what about marking special occasions on a tight baby budget? Well, there are just so many occasions in your baby’s first few years, all of which you’ll want to mark with something special, that it can be a real concern financially. Putting these things on your credit card can be tempting but it’s just a way to build up debt that the whole family will feel the effect of in the future. To keep costs down; throw a garden party if the weather’s nice, encourage friends and family to bring some food for a picnic and play some party games.

Above all else, dealing with your debt while bringing up baby relies on how well you manage your money. Luckily, there’s support out there to help you manage your debt while you’re on a baby budget.

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Your wedding day will be one of the most expensive days of your life. The average cost of a wedding in the UK is £20,000 but for what could well be the happiest and most memorable day of your life, who’s counting?

Of course, you don’t want to be preoccupied with cost cutting measures on such a wonderful occasion but on the other hand, neither do you want your honeymoon to be tainted with debt stress. Also, do you want to start your life together with the weight of a mounting debt? Instead of dashing the blushing bride’s dreams of a fairytale wedding with crippling frugality, simply making a few savvy selections at the planning stage can bring down your wedding budget without blowing the big day.

Debtsolver understand the effect that debt related stress can have on your relationships. Like all debt problems, you can minimise the stress by tackling any potential problems early. So, if you foresee difficulties in being able to afford the wedding you’ve always wanted, remain focussed on what’s important, plan the day carefully and draw up a reasonable budget. The more detailed your budget, the easier you’ll find it to manage your spending. To help with that, here are 5 areas that could potentially save you money on your big day.

The Invitations

When it comes to wedding invitations, drawing on the talents of your friends or relatives can be a charmingly personal way to save some money. If you know someone artistic, they will no doubt be touched by the thought and relish the opportunity to design your invitations.

The Venue

Of course, the venue will mean different things to different people. For many, a specific venue will have been an integral part of their dream wedding for a long time. If this is the case, it can be difficult to make a substantial saving in this area. If it hasn’t though, a village hall or even borrowing a big garden can be beautiful when they’re properly decorated. If you’ve got your eye on the ideal venue, consider a date out of season or even have the ceremony during the week, rather than at the weekend. Be prepared to haggle too; the best deals are worth working for.

The Flowers

If you discuss your needs with your florist, draw on their expertise and take their advice on seasonal options, you could make substantial savings. Like any other service, it’s important that you shop around and see who might be willing to do you a good deal. It could even be one of the areas that you can entrust to a talented amateur, like a friend or relative. When it comes to choosing the flowers, think seasonal but also think domestic.

The Dress

As you’re only going to be wearing it once, the dress can seem a hugely expensive outgoing. If you’re prepared to wear a second hand gown, there are some fabulous examples to be picked up quite cheap. Of course, this won’t be for everyone so you should also look down the high street as a great many of our old favourites have a bridal range that looks great without breaking the bank.

The Cake

The only real concerns with your wedding cake are that it photographs well and stretch far enough to give everyone a small piece. So, once again it might be time to draw on the talents of one of your guests. If you know someone who’s a keen baker, you should ask them to make you a cake rather than get you a gift. Otherwise, by plain iced cakes, tier them up and decorate them with fresh flowers.

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Cutting your carbon emissions and your fuel bills at the same time? Where’s the catch?! Well, actually, there isn’t one. This is one of those things where a few small sacrifices can save you money and save the planet, all at once. If you’re trying to tackle a mounting debt problem, you might feel that you have to give up on the organics and fair-trade produce that comes at a premium. However, you can still do your bit for the environment while making a substantial saving in terms of your outgoings.

Accustomed to averting individual’s debt disasters, Debtsolver are keen to offer pointers on how you can save money on your fuel bills. Cutting down on your fuel usage is also great for the environment, so if you needed any additional incentive to go green, how about extra cash to put towards your debt repayments?

1. Growing your own can be a gateway to the good life. Even if it’s just a window box or a few potatoes, you could be save some money and cut down on the packaging and other little extras that come when you buy food at the supermarket.
2. Some surveys have suggested that half of your carbon footprint can be the result of a single long-haul flight. So, holidaying at home could cut your carbon emissions almost in half and no-doubt, save you a few quid at the same time.
3. Cut down on the amount of household waste that you’re producing by recycling as much as you can. Composting any food waste will help this too, as well as helping the garden. You never know, thinking economically could actually give you green fingers.
4. The first fuel bill that springs to mind will no doubt be the one you’re handed after filling up at the pumps. Cut down on the cost of petrol and your carbon footprint by walking, cycling or using public transport.
5. When it comes to fuel for heating your home, proper insulation will save you a substantial amount on your fuel bill.
6. Taking this to the next level, you might want to consider getting a quote from a green electricity provider. You’ll be surprised at how cheap you can make the switch and if you’re looking to save some money, it always pays to shop around.
7. There’s water to consider too. Taking showers rather than baths and putting a brick in your cistern are great, easy ways to use less water.
8. Reuse and recycle whenever you can. If you need to get rid of something, there are lots of websites that allow you to give things, get things and swap things. You never know what you might find for free.
9. Like we said, shopping for organic groceries in the supermarket can be expensive but farm shops and food boxes from local growers can give you the freshest of local produce for cheaper than you might think.
10. When it comes to reducing your carbon footprint, it’s quite often necessary to make an initial outlay in order to reap long-term benefits. Your financial situation, overall level of debt and monthly income will all be factors in deciding whether this kind of expense is a good idea. Get advice to help you work out whether an eco-investment will suit you.

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The first step to solving your debt problem is to face up to it. There are a staggering number of people who refuse to admit the extent of their debt problem to themselves, let alone to their friends and family. The act of burying your head in the sand is one thing though; what about those that just don’t know how close they are to the brink of a bad debt breakdown? That’s why the team at Debtsolver have drawn up this list of the top ten early warning signs that you are headed for financial trouble.

1. For starters, are you able to write down how much you owe and who you owe it to? Well, if you can’t, you’d be better to find out and make sure you keep that figure in mind. Basically, if you know that you’re in debt but can’t really keep track of how much, you’re either heading for debt trouble or you’re already there. Maintaining control of your finances is key to avoiding debt.
2. Is your monthly budget working? Wait, you don’t have one? Again, this about control over your finances. You need a budget to make sure that you’re not spending more than you earn. If you don’t know whether or not you are spending more than you earn, you could be heading for debt problems.
3. Only making the minimum repayment on your credit card? You may be keeping your head above water right now but only paying the minimum is a risky business. It does little to tackle the actual debt and really just knocks off the interest. That means you’ll be working on the debt for a long time.
4. For anyone who regularly uses their credit card to pay for those everyday items, including things like filling up the car or the weekly food shop, the habit could point to overspending and financial mismanagement of the sort that leads to serious debt problems.
5. Likewise, if you’re using your credit card to make repayments on other debts you could be caught up in an ever-worsening spiral of bad debt that it’s hard to escape.
6. Has making the odd late payment become a bit of a habit? How about charges for going over your credit card or overdraft limit? These charges can mount up quickly and will make a difficult debt situation even worse.
7. Any rainy day savings left? Your financial situation can change without warning and it helps to have a cash cushion to fall back on. If your employment circumstances change, you can quickly find yourself facing severe debt problems if you don’t give yourself a debt safety net.
8. You’ll find it very difficult to pay off your outstanding debt if your total debt, excluding your mortgage, exceeds your yearly income. You should be considering debt solutions now.
9. If thinking about your finances is difficult and talking to anyone about them even harder, the odds are that things aren’t going well for you financially. Debt denial is extremely dangerous though, so talk to a specialist debt advisor and solve the problem.
10. If the stress of mounting debt is affecting your health or your relationships with those close to you, you must do something now. The sooner you tackle the problem of mounting debt, the easier it is to solve. That doesn’t mean that it’s gone too far though. There is a debt solution to suit everyone.

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For those of us who strive to keep up with the Jones’, recent figures suggest that we could be about to enter an era of heightened repossession risk. The warning comes as in the better-off parts of the UK, Credit Expert, the online credit monitoring service, has shown that individuals are under significant pressure to keep up with the extravagant purchases of their peers. Sadly, this is a damaging cycle that stretches our finances to breaking point. Debtsolver know the effects of this irresponsible spending can be severe and long-lasting.

The statistics, released in the Scotland on Sunday, have shown that about £45billion is being spent on expensive cars, designer fashions and big ticket appliances each year, with the Scots the most image conscious in the UK. This trend translates to a marked increase in financial pressure among Britain’s middle classes though, brought about by increased borrowing. So, even in times of austerity, we seem to find it difficult to maintain a responsible attitude to spending. The desire to better our peers and maintain the irresponsible spending habits that became ingrained pre-credit crunch is putting homes at risk in some of the most affluent areas in the UK.

The number of repossessions looks likely to increase before the end of the year and the trend will continue if we don’t do more to tackle reckless spending habits. We all know the theoretical perils associated with ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ but it’s important to understand that the threat of severe debt problems, bankruptcy and repossession is real and in some cases, imminent. Put simply, there are a lot of Brits living beyond their means and if their behaviour doesn’t change, they’re in serious financial trouble.

Peer pressure is something that we commonly associate with teenagers trying to fit in but it seems that roughly a fifth of us admit to irresponsible spending in an effort to compete with our friends and neighbours. A quarter of us will dip into our savings to boost our image in front of our friends and half of us often feel compelled to make gestures like buying expensive rounds if drinks.

Of course, the epitome of overspending to impress will always be when we’re out on a date but there are other situations when common sense takes a back seat to our ego. Parting gifts for colleagues, friends’ birthday presents and the latest designer fashions are just some of the areas where we are likely to spend far more than we are actually comfortable spending – but we do it anyway.

There has been much written about a sea-change in the stigma surrounding our spending habits. On one hand, we have this bleak picture being painted of a nation of image conscious, reckless over-spenders; on the other, being thrifty is cool, with clever insights into the best ways to reuse and recycle being regarded as the most valuable social currency. This is certainly better for your financial well-being and could have a significant impact on your health too; the stress of debt and compulsion to conceal our financial troubles can put us under a lot of strain.

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During a recession, it’s not just the economy that’s depressed. The stress of debt problems can have a significant effect on your health, both mental and physical. Whether you have lost your job or someone close to you has been laid-off; you find that you’re unable to afford life’s little luxuries for yourself or your family; scraping the money together to pay for those mundane, everyday expenses has become an unending source of stress and the constant financial doom and gloom being forecast by the media has started to get the better of you.

Naturally, in such difficult times, you can find yourself feeling pretty fed up. However, without making light of a situation that is unquestionably painful for a lot of people, you need to keep your morale up if you are going to maintain the motivation to tackle the debt problem. Here’s how to stay upbeat in a financial downturn.

1. Come to terms with your financial situation quickly. Accepting the situation that you’re in needn’t mean complacency though. You can’t bury your head in the sand and pretend it’s not happening; neither should you try to hide the problem from those close to you. Keeping a secret like this can be extremely stressful and have a marked impact on your health. Don’t delude yourself into being blindly positive though. It doesn’t work and the pretence will wear you down. The real respite comes from knowing that you’re actually on the case.
2. Don’t beat yourself up about your financial situation. The majority of debt problems are not the result of irresponsible spending but rather a troubled economy, so don’t lay the blame solely at your own feet. Try to turn the stress of the situation to your advantage and use it to fuel your determination to safeguard your financial future. Be confident in your ability; steel yourself for a hard-fought battle to keep providing for your family.
3. The downturn will not last forever. Although it might seem like a long way off, there is light at the end of the tunnel and you just have to stay afloat until then. After all, there was life before the recession and there will be life after the recession. That doesn’t mean that you should lose focus on the present; be prepared to make sacrifices and tough choices now that will get you and those you care about through hard times.
4. Don’t isolate yourself from a potentially supportive community. In a national downturn, the odds are that you’re not the only one who’s been affected. So, band together and help each other out. It can do wonders for morale to talk to people in a similar situation. Getting a caring, sharing community vibe going can also save you money. If you band together, you can share resources; maybe not necessarily in terms of money but do consider helping out with a bit of DIY, childcare or carpooling.
5. Be proactive in actually making your situation better too. Get debt help, bring your budget back under control and start to manage your financial recovery. If you’ve lost your job, don’t wallow, get out there and look for another one. Look at your food budget and cut back on those unhealthy options. Keep fit and active if you find yourself with extra time on your hands. Remember the days when keeping fit didn’t demand a gym membership? Stay sharp, stay healthy and stay positive.

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1. Do you always go back to the dealer to have your car serviced? Smaller, independent garages will do the work a lot cheaper. It’s always a good idea to choose somewhere on the basis of a referral though. A good, reliable garage that has experience with your car is a great way to beat high dealer servicing costs but they can be hard to find.
2. When you do take your car in for its service, whether to your dealer or to an independent, don’t let them talk you into buying things that you don’t need. New wiper blades, air filters or high-performance, synthetic motor oil are all expensive extras that can, if needed, be bought cheaper elsewhere.
3. When it does come to wiper blades and that kind of thing, buy them and fit them yourself. It’s an easy job, takes no time at all and is the sort of added extra that you’ll often pay through the nose for if you leave it up to the garage to stick them on.
4. Although we’ve warned you about the inflated cost of dealer servicing, beware the false economy of dodgy garages. As we’ve said, the best way to find one is through a recommendation. When you check it out, look for a busy but well-kept garage and a mechanic that is happy to discuss the job and answer your questions. Get an estimate and make sure you sign off on costs before any work goes ahead.
5. If you find yourself replacing tires suspiciously often, or they’re wearing down unevenly, you could just be treating a symptom, rather than the real problem. Chances are you’re wasting money on tyres when you need to getting your tracking fixed, a wheel balancing, alignment or even suspension
6. Putting off problems with your car because you’re trying to save money will often just make for bigger bills later. For example, that squeak from your brakes might just be a source of aggravation right now but rather than just buying new pads, you could do damage to your disks. Of course, there is always the safety concern with your brakes too. Staying on top of thing like that will help to ensure that you’re not wasting money on costs that could be averted.
7. Keeping a record of the repairs that have been carried out on your car can help you monitor problems, like replacing tyres and brake pads too often, helping you to decide if something’s seriously wrong. Keeping the receipts can help you if the repairs go wrong too.
8. When it comes to insurance, liability is not an area you want to cut back. However, if you’ve got an old car that’s not worth very much, comprehensive insurance can effectively be a waste of money. Take the cost of a year’s insurance premium, add the excess that you’d be liable for and take it away from the value of your car. When you see the bottom line, is it worthwhile?
9. In terms of general upkeep of your car, tyres at the wrong pressure can be a huge waste of money. Improperly inflated tyres can cost you more in petrol, wear out more quickly and put you at risk of an accident.
10. Taking your car to the car wash can be a relatively expensive proposition these days. Rather than allow your dirty car to show you up though, why not wash it yourself? Take some pride in your pride and joy and get out there with the sponge and chamois. The brushes at the carwash can be quite abrasive too, so hand washing will keep the paintwork looking its best.

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The summer holidays are just around the corner and as much as we look forward to those few, fleeting days of home-grown British sunshine, it’s more likely that we’re considering the possibility of jetting off to warmer climes. Well, in the wake of recession, ongoing financial woes and unemployment, you’d be forgiven for thinking that we’re all tightening our belts and looking closer to home for our summer holiday.

We’re not though. The results of a recent poll conducted by the travel specialists at Lonely Planet seem to suggest that British holidaymakers will readily forego their frugal ways when it comes to funding their summer sojourn.  Although a lot of the blame for the recession can be attributed to a general ‘buy now, pay later’ attitude to our finances, the media coverage that was devoted to the credit crunch has instilled a strong sense of credit caution. When it comes to holidays, it seems we’re ready to take a break a break from responsible spending.

About a quarter of Brits said that they would sell some of their possessions in order to fund a holiday; roughly one in ten would actually go to the length of taking out a loan or extending their overdraft to afford it. Perhaps even more telling, the survey suggested that 35% of Brits travelling abroad will be quite comfortable with putting it on their credit card and a measly 1% would let not being able to afford it put them off.

The other side of the argument is of course, that almost two thirds of those asked would not take on extra debt to pay for their holiday. Rather than buy now and pay later, they held true to the far more sensible practice of actually saving up for something before buying it. Naturally, some of those would have been willing to use a proportion of their savings on a holiday but that’s at least their money. The potential problems that they face are inherently less risky than those faced by holidaymakers who go into the red to get away.

We recommend that you have a contingency plan for any unexpected change in your financial circumstances. If you use a credit card to pay for your holiday, there’s a strong chance that it’s going to cost you more in the long run. There is also the ever present risk of unemployment in this volatile financial environment. Returning from your holiday to find that you have lost your job will make it extremely difficult to meet these repayments. So, start your summer holiday preparations far in advance by saving up for it.

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If your idea of using the internet to save you money means socialising in a chat-room rather than in the pub, or the occasional search for vouchers, you’ll be surprised to hear just how much money-saving potential there is in cyberspace. Not only that, if used to its full potential, the internet can be just as good at making you money as it is at saving you money. Of course, there is no denying that the internet is particularly good at encouraging you to spend money too. So, with the help of the debt specialists at Debtsolver, you can take control of your online spending and begin getting the best return on your digital spend.

Firstly, there is no shortage of companies willing to offer incentives like vouchers and reductions for your participation in online surveys. Don’t buy things that you don’t need because they seem like a good deal though. Unnecessary spending is still just as unnecessary when you’re getting a deal. However, if it’s a product that you’d buy anyway, saving a few pounds here and there can soon add up.

Here are five survey sites that give you a financial reward for participation.

• Test and Vote – Test products and be awarded points that can be redeemed for vouchers.
• Synovate – Complete surveys for entry into prize draws and points redeemable for cash.
• Lightspeed UK – Various surveys that are rewarded with points and prize draw entries.
• The Great UK Survey – A 5 minute survey is rewarded with a £5000 competition entry.
• Valued Opinions – Build up real cash for your opinions, redeemable when you reach £10.

If you’ve got the time to scour the internet for potential bargains and take part in surveys that promise vouchers and rewards for participation, it’s easy to forget that the web offers far more tangible money making opportunities. Although being a serious savings hunter can seem like a full-time job, it isn’t. When it comes to real-life, actual job seeking, the net can be a valuable resource.

The major source of debt problems is not irresponsible spending but an unforeseen change in financial circumstances. Typically, this is losing your job. So, getting debt help, getting back on the job market and bargain hunting should be the first steps towards beating the debt burden for anyone out of employment.

Maintaining this focus on the digital world as a source of revenue, don’t forget to incorporate it into your real-life money making plans. If you’re looking around at all of those things you don’t really need and thinking about biting the bullet and doing a car boot sale, consider eBay and Amazon Marketplace too. They’re great places to offload your unwanted books, videos, CDs and lots of other things too.

So, there are lots of ways that the internet can help you to save money, or even make a bit more money, in order to lessen your debt burden. The first one though, should be to get specialist debt help from the advisors at Debtsolver.

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