Personal Finance Guide and Blog

What do you do when you see the perfect dress in the window at a shop - but don’t have the cash on hand to pay for it? If you’re like a growing number of people in the UK, you whack it onto your credit card and pay for it when the bill comes in. You may even use a cashback credit card and earn yourself a little discount for doing it. Using credit cards has become a way of life, and despite the doomsayers who tell us that we are becoming a nation of debtors, reports from various government offices say otherwise. In fact, most people who use them, use credit cards responsibly, and by making the effort to compare credit cards, actually profit from their choice to use credit.

We’re living in a buy it now culture. Gone are the days of putting aside a few quid a week to buy that new stereo or update your wardrobe with a new jumper. A credit card means that you can buy that jumper now - not next season when it’s already gone out of style. It means that you don’t have to carry wads of cash with you and risk losing it. Depending on the credit card, you may even save a few pence here and there when you use a cashback credit card or rewards credit card to buy at your favorite shops.

So what is the best credit card to use? That depends entirely on you. There are dozens of different kinds of credit cards available to UK consumers, and the best credit card for one is not always the best credit card for another. A person who tends to frequently charge small things at the corner shop and pay off the account each month will actually save money if they’re using a cashback credit card that pays back .5% to 1% in every purchase. The person who uses a credit card to pay for an emergency purchase - new tires for the car, perhaps, or a refrigerator to replace the one that suddenly shut down - and will be carrying the balance on account may be better served with a low interest credit card. Still another looking to reduce their debt may find that the best credit card for their use is a 0% balance transfer credit card. There are even bad credit credit cards that will help you recover from a difficult spot in your credit record.

With all the choices available, it’s important to compare credit cards before you apply for one. If you take the time to visit a user friendly comparison site, you can compare credit cards by interest rates, application fees, cash back and rewards and other features that can help you choose the best credit card for your spending habits.

These days, there’s no need to wait for the little rewards and necessities. Having the right credit card in your pocket and using it responsibly can let you enjoy life now without paying too dearly for it later.

Bedding

* In terms of bedding, you have to remember four things: sheets, comforter, pillows and pillow cases.
* You can go all out with the bedding. There are so many designs and colors out there that it shouldn’t be hard finding one that reflects your personality.
* Many people like reversible comforters because it’s basically a two-for-one deal.
* Check the size of the bed at your college. Most are, however, twin XL.

Corkboard /Magnet Board

* These are great for decorating and brightening up a dull room. You can use them to put up pictures or post memos. It’s also a great way to save tickets and little mementos of college life.
* You should also consider getting a small dry erase board as a way to communicate and leave notes for your roommate.
* Remember to buy thumb tacks, magnets, or dry erase markers (depending on what you get).

Lights

* College dorms are almost never bright enough. Not only is it a mood-dampener, but it’s also bad for the eyes and overall studying. Make sure to bring at least one lamp.
* A lamp with a flexible neck is ideal because you will be able to direct the light in whichever direction you wish.

Notebooks

* Notebooks, or binders if that is your preference, are absolute necessities for a college student. Even with the introduction of laptops in the classroom, there will be times when hand-writing your notes, or drawing something by hand, will be more efficient.
* Bringing a pack of at least 5 college-ruled notebooks to college is a good idea.
* Remember to buy looseleaf paper refills if you’re more of a binder user.

Pens /Pencils

* Naturally what is paired with notebooks is writing utensils. Bringing both is a good idea because professors all have different preferences.
* Make sure to buy white-out or erasers. Those are lifesavers during tests.
* If you’re not the type to care much about comfort, save a couple of bucks and buy pens and pencils in bulk. You can always save what you don’t use one year and use it the next.

Stapler

* Students always underestimate the importance of the stapler. One of the biggest pet peeves for professors is unstapled work. Sometimes, they won’t even accept a paper if it’s not stapled!
* A small one like this mini stapler above is perfect for tossing it in your bag in case of last-minute stapling.

Folders

* College professors give out handout after handout, and before you know it, you have towering stacks of papers that need to be organized. Prevent that mess by buying folders and keeping track of what goes where early on.

Trading or collectible card games were first launched in the early ’90s, and since then have developed a strong following amongst children, teens, and even grownups. Typically these are two person dueling games that revolve around one theme. Anyone can play anywhere as long as they have their deck with them. To start developing a game deck you need to buy either a starter set or a starter deck. What’s the difference? Essentially it is buying for one or two players either with or without prior expertise.

• Starter Set: A starter set will include everything needed for two players to start a game. Along with an instruction manual to explain the game, there are also two prearranged card packs (one for each player) in order to teach new players the most basic elements of the game. After mastering the basic concepts of the game, players may opt to purchase booster packs or theme packs to expand and enhance their deck.
• Starter Deck: If a player has already tried out a game (say at a friend’s house), most often they will have a feel for the game and will probably opt for a starter deck, also called a tournament deck. It includes enough basic cards (40-60) for one player to start off without additional booster packs, although additional sets can be purchased in the future to strengthen the deck. Also note that the cards have no specific order in a starter deck, assuming that the player already has an idea of how to play the game.
• Booster Pack: As a player improves his or her game, additional expansion packs of cards should be purchased to complement the person’s deck. These can be theme packs or basic booster packs. Typically these sets will contain anywhere from 8-16 random cards. Often these are what people use to trade as these are more specialized cards with higher strengths and particular abilities. They make great stocking stuffers.

There are many trading card games to play, each with its own flavor, style, and rules. Most games are designed to suit either young children or teens and adults. Here are a few of the most popular games categorized according to age group. Keep in mind that within many of these games there are various themes that branch off the main game. Keep in mind that there are many more games out there besides those listed below.

* Apples to Apples : It’s a barrel of fun for many with this party game that focuses on interaction and word play. Good for teens and adults. * Quiddler : A great game for word lovers, but also useful for early spellers as well. It’s directed at players age eight and older, but don’t think that just because you are a better speller that you will win. All players have a chance at winning in this fast-paced spelling card game. * Set : This simple card game forces you to match sets of colored objects in pairs to win points. Easily adaptable to the whole family even though the box recommends that only players aged eight and up play it. The only complaint has been the flimsy construction of the cards. * Sequence : This is an easy to learn, fast-paced game of logic that is fun for all ages and easily adaptable to make it more or less challenging. * UNO : A fast-flipping family card game that deals with numbers and colors. It can take 15 minutes or more than an hour and there is no limit to the fun that can be had with this game. Plus, since it has been around forever, now there are new sets with popular characters on them, such as the Simpsons.