Manage Your Finances With Ease: The Basic Bank Account

If you have had money worries in the past, you know that it can be hard to get a bank account and enjoy life when you’ve got a bit of a record.

Getting what you want out of life without a bank account is near impossible - nowhere for wages to be paid into, nowhere to cash cheques, nowhere to pay household bills like rent from and no cash card to use in-store or online.

Trying to run a modern life without a bank account adds stress that you just don’t need.

Unfortunately, the current economic climate means that it can be a bit harder for most people to manage their money these days. Sometimes this can leave you without a bank account.

The kicker is that this is an issue a lot of people have to deal with, it isn't just those who have experienced financial difficulty that find banks less than easy to deal with.

Anyone on a low wage or managing on a shoe string budget may have experienced problems with their bank. If you accidentally go overdrawn even once, or miscalculate how much money you had left in your account, the chances are that you will be slapped with a painful fine, which could be as much as £30. And this isn't a one-off charge; you could receive more than one in every month, if you repeat the misdemeanor.

This of course doesn't help anything as it leaves you with even less money than you started with, leaving you needing a way to keep tighter control of your money. Enter the basic bank account.

The Basic Bank Account

The basic bank account is pretty much what it says on the tin, a basic account. It’s a place to simply put your money.  No overdraft, no credit card, just an account and a cash card. It’s a great way to make sure you only spend the money you have and don’t run up any more bills.

It doesn’t matter your credit history, you will qualify. It can be restrictive when it comes to certain types of spending, but this means you can more closely watch your budget. Most banks won’t advertise that they have this option; it can lose them money; this is why you need to ask for it yourself.

However before you start watching your money more closely you might want a little piece of mind, you might want to start getting some bills paid off.

Get Everything in Order

In this case it might be a good idea to get them paid off; why not take out a short loan. This means you can cover the bills and give yourself a little breathing room to take advantage of the basic bank account.

There really is a loan for everyone out there. You just need to find it. This is where AK Management comes in. AK is a service which you can use to find the loan that’s best for you. Simple make contact and a member of the team will ask you about what you need. Then they’ll let you know which loan is best for you.

A basic bank account is a great way to keep your money in order; take advantage today and watch your bills become so much easier to deal with.

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AK Management: Smarter Shopping

We've all done it at times; shuffled down to the nearest supermarket rather than making a detour to the shop with the best deals.

But with many households still struggling to balance their income and bills and food which have risen more quickly than inflation, it's important to make the right decision when it comes to shopping.

Many people shop at a supermarket simply because it's the one they have always shopped at, never questioning whether it really offers value for money. But taking a closer look at how much things cost, can bring home some uncomfortable truths. Avoid the more expensive items and cut back on costs.

Another means of cutting back on the price of shopping without skimping on your favourite foods is to consider purchasing frozen goods.

Frozen food is often viewed as lesser in some way and more like convenience meals. However, a recent study by nutritionists found that even high end items such as prawns contained the same whether they were purchased frozen or chilled. With the price of meat being particularly hit by inflation, frozen food is a good way to reduce the cost without having to compromise.

How often have you gone shopping and ended up with a trolley load of items that you weren't planning on buying and don't really need? If this sounds like you, internet shopping might be another way of saving some money.

Most supermarkets charge a small fee for delivering your items but offsetting this against the price of the petrol you would use and the extra money you would spend, it could still work out cheaper.

In addition, for the first few shops you could find that you get it for free as different supermarkets frequently offer to waive the delivery charge for the first order.

The other advantage to home shopping is that you have more time to check out the best bargains without any pressures of time or children playing havoc in the aisles. This will give you more time to compare prices between different brands and, potentially, even different shops!

But no article on being a savvier shopper would be complete without a mention of the latest craze: couponing. Some people claim they can save literally hundreds of pounds!

Couponing can be a great way to save some money, but it's important to keep an eye on what you need to spend in order to get the discount. If, for example, you need to buy 10 tins of dog food to qualify for a free packet of breakfast cereal - and you don't own a dog - you could end up worse off.

Get more money

If these handy tips and tricks don’t cover the shopping bill, why not try increasing the amount of cash you have to put towards it. Why not look at taking out a loan?

You can get some fantastically reasonable loans that boast great interest rates and steady repayment plans that won’t stretch your budget too thin. However the market has so many options out there, sometimes it can be hard to know where to start.

This is why you should seek out a little helping hand. AK Management specialises in matching you to the loan that best fits your circumstances. All you need to do is get in touch and a member of the team will ask you a few questions to determine which loan is right for you.

With a bit of careful planning, it is possible to radically cut your shopping bill without having to go on a starvation diet. There are lots of different ways to save money and leave a bit more in your pocket, making household budgeting a little easier and less of a juggling act.

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. For other hints and tips from AK Management, why not visit our sister site Here.

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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