Fashion Contrast

We all struggle when it comes to putting money aside into savings accounts from our poor current accounts.

Below is a guide to saving money using 10 simple tips – Enjoy

1. Keep a tab – At the beginning of each month why not make a list of all your expenses, make sure you know how much you can afford to spend without having to struggle. It’s a simple but effective way of keeping tabs on what you spend.
   
2. Spend wisely – Once you know how much you can afford to spend, don’t think that you HAVE to spend that money, that money is there if you need it. Of course, don’t deprive yourself of all life’s luxuries but try to budget and spend wisely, whatever you are left with at the end of the month is a bonus.
   
3. Think ahead – Have an aim for yourself; set yourself a target of how much you want to save in the coming months. Having something to aim towards helps get you motivated in your mission to save.
   
4. Credit card payments – If you regularly use your credit card, make sure you check what your monthly payments are, and make sure you are not being charged too much interest. If you find a better credit card deal elsewhere then don’t be afraid to switch providers.
   
5. Credit card rewards – If you use your credit card regularly make sure you are being rewarded for it. There are so many different types of card available on the market that there is a card for everyone. Different card providers offer different rewards, for example if you’re a shopaholic, you might want a card that will offer you a percentage off your next purchase.
   
6. Shopping – When you go shopping take a list with you of what you need. Try and stick to your list by avoiding any unnecessary or impulse purchases. This method can help you save more than you think.
   
7. Cycle to work – If your place of work is not too far away from home, why not cycle for a week? You’ll save yourself the cost of fuel and help the environment in the process. This is not the most obvious form of saving money but it is becoming more and more popular.
   
8. Price comparison websites – These are fantastic for saving some money on many necessities, from checking your gas and electricity bills to checking your phone tariff. Price comparison websites do all the hard work, so you don’t have to; they are a top way to save some money.
   
9. Loyalty cards – If you regularly use the same supermarket to do your weekly shop then see if they have a loyalty card. If they do, it can be a quick way to save some finances or build some in-store credit.
   
10. Savings accounts – Set a specific amount of money each month to put away in a designated savings account. If you are based in the US the Lifetime Savings Account offers fantastic benefits. Whatever you put in your account is not tax-deductible, but whatever returns you earn from your LSA are tax-free.

First and Foremost I’d like to take this opportunity to apologise for the distinct lack of blogging from Fashion Contrast I have been fairly busy with some very interesting stuff at work and my music under the guise of Mother Nature – if you dont have anything better to do, you definitely should go take a listen especially to new track Flake which should soon be finished of by the vocal crooning of excellent Reggae singer Mark Shine.

Anyway, back to the point of this article.

Recently I was offered the opportunity by a friend to go with them to Mumbai in India, in an all expenses paid trip – AMAZING I hear you say. Yes, It probably would be but like all things I’m extremely busy and unfortunately I had to say “No, Thank You”.

I thought however it would definately be worth writing a little post about why I really should have go on a flight to India’s best place. Debatable!

Now technically I would have had a return flight to Mumbai paid for me and I am busy! As you can see im still fairly irritated.

Below is the first paragraph of all around brilliant site Wikipedia’s thoughts on Mumbai (lazy I know at copying, but it makes sense).

Mumbai (Marathi: ?????, Mumba?, IPA:Mumbai_pronunciation.ogg [?m?m.b?i] , formerly called Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai, the most populous city in India, is the second most populous city in the world, with a population of approximately 14 million.  Along with the neighbouring urban areas, including the cities of Navi Mumbai and Thane, it is one of the most populous urban regions in the world.  Mumbai lies on the west coast of India and has a deep natural harbour. As of 2009, Mumbai was named an Alpha world city.  Mumbai is also the richest city in India.

Traveller frankieboy puts this account in regarding Mumbai

Considering there is almost 22 million people in Mumbai I was expecting the same sort of chaos as the other cities. Still crowded as hell (in fact 22,000 people per square km) but seems to be a little less chaos and nary a cow to be seen. Of these 22 million or so people 55% percent lives in slums. Very sad.

Nothwithstanding the massive slums Mumbai seems to have a better infrastructure, more parks, a lot less garbage than the other places I have been to in India. Great restaurants, some high end designer shops and the impressive Taj Mahal Hotel (this is where the terrorists struck last year). I actually went for dinner here and the security is surprisingly lax.

Life is still lived on the street with some of them being blocked off with people hawking their wares.

I think a trip for myself is necessary and needed.

Related articles by Zemanta

• History and Travel Mumbai (easiatravel.suite101.com)
• Mumbai! Mumbai! Mumbai! (flickr.net)
• Should The UK Fund Toilets In Mumbai Slums? (teabreak.pk)

Its not often I see a video on Youtube which is frankly awesome. Axis of Awesome are a comedy troupe which make me laugh. Here is how they do lots of pop songs using 4 chords. Success is in the 4 chords people.

This video has a few naughty words, so watch out!