How to Beat the Energy Price Hikes This Winter

The cold’s creeping in this winter. With Christmas and the New Year to think about everybody is looking to cut costs where they can. The cost of energy is definitely one of those costs.

This year has seen many of the big energy suppliers announce yet another round of price hikes. This hits everybody and it means that a lot of people are opting to turn the heating off in a bid to store up some extra cash. 

In fact Watchdog Consumer Focus found in a survey that as many as six million homes in the UK were planning on reducing their heating over the coming winter over the issue of the price hike

How can we combat price hikes?

It’s understandable that you’d want to reduce your energy bill and free up a little money. However this doesn't mean you need to freeze all winter long.

Start by thinking about your supplier. If they’re like British Gas and Npower, two energy firms set to increase their tariffs, with the more expensive prices due to take effect from November, why not try switching to a cheaper provider.

There are smaller energy companies out there that offer energy prices that provide better value for money. They realise that you need to keep warm and pay the bills this winter. Don’t let the big providers corner your energy production.

Trim the budget

Staying warm this winter is a must, however cutting back on essentials like food isn't the way to make sure you can pay your energy bills. There are far better ways to free up some cash by trimming the budget.

Take a good look at your household finances and identify any areas where you can make savings. Think about travel expenses, leisure activities etc. Cover the shortfall needed to pay the energy bill by trimming the budget where you can get away with it.

Cover the shortfall

For a particularly stubborn energy bill, you might not be able to cover the shortfall from your budget. However this doesn't mean you can’t cover the shortfall.

Why not try taking out a loan. With a loan you can keep yourself warm this winter, cover the essential costs and keep to your budget.

As long as you keep your circumstances in mind, you’ll be fine. Find the loan that’s best for you, that offers great interest rates and reasonable repayment plans. If you need help finding the best loan for you then why not try seeking professional help.

AK Management is a company dedicated to helping you find the right loan for you. Simply get in contact, talk to a member of the AK team about you, your circumstances and what you need and they’ll let you know the right  loan for you. 

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Tips to Cheaper Cooking This Christmas

When it comes to the Christmas menu you’re bound to spend some cash. There’s no way of getting around it. All the good food for the family costs. At the AK Management Blog we’ve talked about how to save money in the supermarkets this Christmas. There are some great deals in supermarkets and there are plenty of opportunities to save a few pounds. However we get that with the costs of the holiday season piling up you want to save a few pounds wherever you can. Have you ever considered the fact that you can actually save money by how you cook?

It’s a general thing but it applies even more at Christmas. There are certain methods that you can use to make food last longer and make it go further. At Christmas we all really like to eat our fill so you need to make sure that the food is going to go a long way. Furthermore you need to find a way of achieving this without spending more in the cooking process than you have on the actual food. That is why this holiday season the AK Management blog has provided you with a few top cooking tips geared towards lowering your food budget this Christmas!

Water It Down: If you’re buying pre-made sauces a little goes along way. Why not try adding water or milk to the recipe. It means that you can make it last for longer and pay less.

Spice It Up: Rather than buying a pre spiced dish that costs more, why not buy something cheaper. It may be a bit blander but you can simply spice it up for yourself. It may take a little more work but it’s a lot cheaper to add the seasoning yourself, trust us!

Pad It Out: Sometimes with some dishes it’s about adding extra ingredients to pad it out and make it go further. Flour is a classic example. Flour is cheap, it won’t affect the flavor of the dish and it has a tendency to add consistency to the food. Pad it out in such a way that it won’t lose taste and will go further.

Use Cheaper Ingredients: If you’re making a big dish for the Christmas meal you don’t have to use all expensive ingredients. You could use less expensive items for the ingredient that don’t matter as much in the eventual dish. This is a way of reducing the cost but keeping the flavor!

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A Few Handy Ways to Fight Debt

The British economy is finally recovering. The nation has endured a double dip recession and all indicators suggest Britain is finally coming out of it. It’s been a tough few years for the majority of people in this country. Belts have had to be tightened. Stricter budgets have had to be drawn up and be meticulously stuck to. Savings have had to be made anywhere possible. Everybody’s managed to weather the storm and make it through. However in times like these, debt can sometimes be unavoidable. It’s something that a lot of us have had to deal with in this country over the past few years.

Even when the economy is recovering, personal debt can seem insurmountable. It really isn’t though. There are ways and means to deal with everything. At AK Management we know a few great ways you can deal with your debt. Just read this list and decide which method is best for you and your debt and take it from there.

Draw up a Budget: Sometimes the best way to deal with something is the simplest way. You’d be surprised how much you might spend unnecessarily in a month. This is money that you could quite easily be putting towards your debt. Draw up a budget but make sure that it’s a realistic budget that you can actually live by. Then make sure you stick to it, you’ll find yourself freeing up extra cash you can put towards your debts.

Debt Consolidation Loan: If you have more than one loan and it’s the interest of your loans that’s running up your debt bill, then there is a way to deal with it. Why not try a debt consolidation loan? This is a loan that pays off all your other loans, this way you only have one monthly repayment. The best bit is that these loans usually come with a low interest rate. This frees you from the burden of high interest rates and frees up more cash to pay off the actual debt.

Negotiate: Sometimes it’s really is simple as calling the debtor and negotiating the payment. At the end of the day they don’t want you to default on your payment, they want the money to be repaid. They might be willing to accept a lesser payment in certain circumstances. It’s worth a try.

Debt Management Plan: This is an extension of negotiation. Why not try ringing a debt management company? They will go through your expenses with you and draw up a plan of how much you can save and put towards the debt. You can then submit this plan to the debtor. The debtor has the right to refuse the plan but if it seems reasonable they’re likely to accept it. 

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