
Aberdeen weekend night bus services to return
Aberdeen City Council announced it has awarded First Bus a contract to provide services for five routes from the city centre on weekends from the evening of Friday, June 27, for the next three years.
The reintroduction of the night bus services follows on from the successful pilot service over the 2024 festive season.
All services will operate on Friday night and early Saturday morning and Saturday night and early Sunday morning only, from midnight to approximately 3.30am.
READ MORE: Police Scotland urged to reject 'misogynistic' pregnancy loss guidance
Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard welcomed the news as he said it will help support businesses in the area and will give people more choice on how they will get home.
He said: 'The return of the night buses will be welcomed by businesses in the city centre and are part of our Purple Flag status for city centre safety and vibrancy.
'The Aberdeen City Council move will help to support businesses by giving people another transport option for getting home.'
The night bus services will be funded by bus lane enforcement revenue.
The local authority said single fares will apply on the service and that people will be allowed to use both concessionary and Under 22's National Entitlement Cards on the service.
(Image: Norman Adams)
Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill added the service will be launched in time for the popular Tall Ship Races which is due to set sail from Saturday, July 19, to Tuesday July 22.
He said: 'The night bus service over Christmas and New Year was popular. I am delighted the City Council is bringing night bus services back year-round. These services being in place in time for the Tall Ships arriving in the city is a real bonus.
'Over the Tall Ships weekend, many more people than normal are expected to be enjoying the cafes, restaurants, and pubs in the city centre. The night buses will provide safe and efficient transport for visitors to our city centre.
'I hope as many people as possible take advantage of this cost-effective and safe transport to get home.'
The routes announced for the service are as follows:
N1, City Centre (Alford Place) – Danestone, via Seaton; Dubford and Ashwood
N17, City Centre (Union Terrace) – Inverurie, via Great Northern Road, Bucksburn & Dyce
N23, City Centre (Bridge Street) – Kingswells, via Summerhill and Sheddocksley
N201, City Centre (Bridge Street) – Banchory, via Mannofield; Cults; Bieldside; Milltimber; and Peterculter
N18, City Centre (Bridge Street) – Cove/Charleston via Kincorth.
David Adam, head of operations at First Bus Aberdeen, welcomed the new service as he said: 'We are delighted to be working with Aberdeen City Council to launch this night bus service in Aberdeen, making it easier for people to get home later in the night, while continuing to support local businesses in the city.
'It's important people have the confidence they will be able to get home safely and affordably when going to enjoy a meal, some drinks or a night out at one of the fantastic venues in the city centre. We hope the introduction of the new night bus routes will do just that.'
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Metro
4 hours ago
- Metro
We're halfway to Christmas — start this savings challenge now to put away £2,850
The UK is currently enjoying a glorious heatwave so, understandably, the last thing anyone wants to think about is Christmas. But hear us out. As of right now, we're over halfway through the year, with 180 sleeps until the big day. While that may seem like light years away as you slap on the sunscreen and hit the pub beer gardens, it'll come around sooner than you think. This means the dreaded yearly panic will too — when you realise you haven't bought any of your loved ones' presents yet, nor do you have any disposable cash to do so. So, in the spirit of Christmas, and to make the stressful parts of the festive season easier, we thought we'd give you a financial helping hand in the form of a 150-day savings challenge. It's exactly what it says on the tin really: you save a slightly higher amount of money each day for 150 days, bringing you to up to the festive shopping season (just before the Black Friday sales, in fact) with a healthy few pounds in your back pocket. Maxine McCreadie, personal finance expert at UK Debt Expert, can't recommend starting to save early enough, commenting: 'It's easy for the huge costs associated with festivities to creep up on you, so planning ahead can make all the difference.' Before you begin the challenge, Maxine recommends working out how much you typically spend on presents, food, travel, and events. Then, divide it by the number of weeks until December. 'Saving even a little each week helps avoid the last-minute financial squeeze,' she adds. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video If you're feeling anxious about saving money each day, the first thing to do is find a vessel for your cash, or set up a separate account if you prefer to keep things digital. Certain banks also allow you to automate deposits (such as Monzo's Pots feature), which is particularly useful for those who struggle to stick to a plan due to sheer forgetfulness. Once you've sorted where your money is going to go, look at your finances and see how much you can afford. This challenge sees what you put away increasing by a set daily increment, but you can choose what that looks like for you. For example, if you wanted to start with 50p and increase the amount by 50p each day, it would leave you with over £5,660 in the bank by December. That said, towards the end, you'd be putting away £75 a day, which isn't doable for many. So, for the sake of this article, we're going to increase the amount daily by 25p. See the table below for an example of how much you need to save each day, plus the amount you'll have at the end. If you started tomorrow, going up in increments of 25p, this is what your savings schedule would look like… June 29: £0.25 £0.25 June 30: £0.50 £0.50 July 1: £0.75 £0.75 July 2: £1 £1 July 3: £1.25 £1.25 July 4: £1.50 £1.50 July 5: £1.75 £1.75 July 6: £2 £2 July 7: £2.25 £2.25 July 8: £2.50 £2.50 July 9: £2.75 £2.75 July 10: £3 £3 July 11: £3.25 £3.25 July 12: £3.50 £3.50 July 13: £3.75 £3.75 July 14: £4 £4 July 15: £4.25 £4.25 July 16: £4.50 £4.50 July 17: £4.75 £4.75 July 18: £5 £5 July 19: £5.25 £5.25 July 20: £5.50 £5.50 July 21: £5.75 £5.75 July 22: £6 £6 July 23: £6.25 £6.25 July 24: £6.50 £6.50 July 25: £6.75 £6.75 July 26: £7 £7 July 27: £7.25 £7.25 July 28: £7.50 £7.50 July 29: £7.75 £7.75 July 30: £8 £8 July 31: £8.25 £8.25 August 1: £8.50 £8.50 August 2: £8.75 £8.75 August 3: £9 £9 August 4: £9.25 £9.25 August 5: £9.50 £9.50 August 6: £9.75 £9.75 August 7: £10 £10 August 8: £10.25 £10.25 August 9: £10.50 £10.50 August 10: £10.75 £10.75 August 11: £11 £11 August 12: £11.25 £11.25 August 13: £11.50 £11.50 August 14: £11.75 £11.75 August 15: £12 £12 August 16: £12.25 £12.25 August 17: £12.50 £12.50 August 18: £12.75 £12.75 August 19: £13 £13 August 20: £13.25 £13.25 August 21: £13.50 £13.50 August 22: £13.75 £13.75 August 23: £14 £14 August 24: £14.25 £14.25 August 25: £14.50 £14.50 August 26: £14.75 £14.75 August 27: £15 £15 August 28: £15.25 £15.25 August 29: £15.50 £15.50 August 30: £15.75 £15.75 August 31: £16 £16 September 1: £16.25 £16.25 September 2: £16.50 £16.50 September 3: £16.75 £16.75 September 4: £17 £17 September 5: £17.25 £17.25 September 6: £17.50 £17.50 September 7: £17.75 £17.75 September 8: £18 £18 September 9: £18.25 £18.25 September 10: £18.50 £18.50 September 11: £18.75 £18.75 September 12: £19 £19 September 13: £19.25 £19.25 September 14: £19.50 £19.50 September 15: £19.75 £19.75 September 16: £20 £20 September 17: £20.25 £20.25 September 18: £20.50 £20.50 September 19: £20.75 £20.75 September 20: £21 £21 September 21: £21.25 £21.25 September 22: £21.50 £21.50 September 23: £21.75 £21.75 September 24: £22 £22 September 25: £22.25 £22.25 September 26: £22.50 £22.50 September 27: £22.75 £22.75 September 28: £23 £23 September 29: £23.25 £23.25 September 30: £23.50 £23.50 October 1: £23.75 £23.75 October 2: £24 £24 October 3: £24.25 £24.25 October 4: £24.50 £24.50 October 5: £24.75 £24.75 October 6: £25 £25 October 7: £25.25 £25.25 October 8: £25.50 £25.50 October 9: £25.75 £25.75 October 10: £26 £26 October 11: £26.25 £26.25 October 12: £26.50 £26.50 October 13: £26.75 £26.75 October 14: £27 £27 October 15: £27.25 £27.25 October 16: £27.50 £27.50 October 17: £27.75 £27.75 October 18: £28 £28 October 19: £28.25 £28.25 October 20: £28.50 £28.50 October 21: £28.75 £28.75 October 22: £29 £29 October 23: £29.25 £29.25 October 24: £29.50 £29.50 October 25: £29.75 £29.75 October 26: £30 £30 October 27: £30.25 £30.25 October 28: £30.50 £30.50 October 29: £30.75 £30.75 October 30: £31 £31 October 31: £31.25 £31.25 November 1: £31.50 £31.50 November 2: £31.75 £31.75 November 3: £32 £32 November 4: £32.25 £32.25 November 5: £32.50 £32.50 November 6: £32.75 £32.75 November 7: £33 £33 November 8: £33.25 £33.25 November 9: £33.50 £33.50 November 10: £33.75 £33.75 November 11: £34 £34 November 12: £34.25 £34.25 November 13: £34.50 £34.50 November 14: £34.75 £34.75 November 15: £35 £35 November 16: £35.25 £35.25 November 17: £35.50 £35.50 November 18: £35.75 £35.75 November 19: £36 £36 November 20: £36.25 £36.25 November 21: £36.50 £36.50 November 22: £36.75 £36.75 November 23: £37 £37 November 24: £37.25 £37.25 November 25: £37.75 TOTAL SAVED: £2,850 After seeing the figures laid out, this savings challenge still seem daunting. But remember, it's more of a guideline than a hard and fast order, and you can tweak it to suit your circumstances. That may mean skipping a few days, reducing the incremental increase, doing it for fewer days, or splitting the deposits with a partner — whatever works. Alternatively, if you're looking for some more general advice around saving up for Christmas, Maxine has shared her top tips to help families spread the cost. This includes making the most of cashback rewards and early deals: 'It's not just the gifts – food, travel, and social events can quickly add up,' explains the expert. To avoid becoming overwhelmed, she recommends creating a simple breakdown to track what you'll need for each area, adding: 'This gives you a realistic view of your total spend and makes it easier to stick to your budget.' According to Maxine, two-thirds of Brits start Christmas shopping as early as August. However, for those a little less eager (yet still eager enough to be prepared) she advises spreading out your purchases, alongside looking for early offers or discounts, so you can tick items off your list bit by bit. 'Even just picking up one or two gifts each month can help you avoid panic buying and inflated prices later on,' Maxine notes. 'There's no need to overhaul your spending habits, just be smart about how you shop,' says Maxine, adding that cashback apps and loyalty schemes can earn you money back on everyday purchases. More Trending Simply redirect those rewards into your Christmas savings pot to give your budget a helpful boost. Maxine has some strong words of advice here, and they couldn't be truer: 'Christmas is about joy, not debt.' Ultimately, if the numbers don't add up, don't be afraid to scale back. A 'thoughtful, well-planned Christmas' can feel just as magical – if not more – than if you burnt through your entire bank balance. View More » Plus, your future self will thank you for starting January without the stress of overspending. Because let's be real, many of us enter the New Year with a regular type of hangover, we don't want a financial one as well. Looking for another way to make a bit of disposable cash for Christmas? Anna Cash Davidson, from Margate in Kent, has a very fitting moniker. The 27-year-old works in the music industry, but significantly increases her income by buying vintage items in bulk and reselling them online. She's one of a growing group of Britons who are earning money from second-hand clothes, children's old toys and abandoned household items worth hundreds of pounds. Read Metro's full article, plus find advice for aspiring fashion side-hustlers here. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Credit card customers can save up to £1,679 with a simple debt 'spring clean' MORE: Pride doesn't come cheap — the LGBTQ+ 'queer tax' has cost us thousands MORE: Make money from your living room with these 7 investing tips for absolute novices Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.


The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Budget moves to make now to plan for Christmas
As Summer is in full swing and half of the year is gone, it comes as no surprise that some people are already thinking about their Christmas presents, plans and budgets. Although it may seem early, it's often believed that the earlier you begin to budget and save for big events, the less stress it is down the line. Whether it's presents for the family, a winter getaway or even hosting Christmas dinner, this year, it can be an expensive period. Personal finance expert at NerdWallet UK Amy Knight says that 'in an ideal world, we would start budgeting for Christmas on Boxing Day.' Acknowledging that most people won't do this, Knight reassures as we are only halfway through the year now, there is still a good amount of time to reset finances, look at budgets and start thinking of Christmas spending with these tips. Have a conversation 'Now is a great time for you and your family to look at budget and see what you aspire Christmas to look like this year,' Knight explains. 'A lot of people will be spending time with their loved ones at some point over the summer and sometimes it does come up in conversation about who's turn is it to host and what exactly Christmas will look like. 'You might actually find that there are other members of the family who've been secretly wanting to change things up and maybe spend a bit less so if you broach it now, you could be the person that initiates this conversation about dialling things down a little and put less pressure on.' Figure out your Christmas budget 'You need to know roughly how much you're spending, how many people you're buying for and how much per person you want to spend,' Knight says. 'Then you need to think about other Christmas costs like your festive food shop, any parties you're likely to be invited to. Then get the total and think about how you can spread that over the months that you've got until Christmas. Knight used research from NerdWallet and found that, on average, people in the UK aim to save £469 for Christmas. With about 25 weeks left until the holiday, that breaks down to saving approximately £19 per week. 'Once you have worked this amount out, then you have to review your current budget and set up an automatic payment as soon after payday as possible to go straight into a Christmas savings account,' Knight advises. Use notice accounts 'If you are somebody that already has an emergency savings pot, then you can look at higher interest rate options,' Knight says. 'We have enough time before Christmas that you can use notice accounts which pay a high rate of interest.' A notice account is a type of savings account where the bank or building society requires advance notice before you withdraw any of your money. 'For example, let's say you have got £400 to save, there's a provider called Emma with a 45-day notice pot and a 4.18% interest,' Knight says. 'If you've got £1,000 to save, then one of the best rates currently is StreamBank with a 90 day notice account – this is where you can't take the money out of there for three months but you will benefit from a 4.45% interest rate. 'If you haven't got £1,000 right now, Moneybox has got a 95-day notice account that you can start from just £1 and that will pay 4.34%. All of those interest rates are well above inflation and are going to help you build up savings faster.' Find easy ways to save 'For ideas of getting the cash you want to save together there are many ways,' Knight says. 'For example, if you sold one unused or unwanted item from your wardrobe per week on Vinted for £20 from now to Christmas, you would have £500. 'With this, you would have to withdraw it and put it into your Christmas pot to make interest however. You also have to resist the temptation of spending it on the app, but it's a way to get the money without having to make any other changes to your budgeting or lifestyle. 'Another tip is cut back on buying coffees. If you were buying a coffee for £3.50, three days a week for 25 weeks and decided to stop and save it, you would save £262.50 towards your Christmas pot,' she explains. Trade down 'Trading down for example is if you currently shop in Waitrose and you trade down to make all of your food shops from now until Christmas at Aldi or Lidl – then the savings on what you have been spending on average on your food shop can be dedicated to Christmas,' Knight says. Future-proof your finances 'Some people may find themselves in a vicious cycle where they just can't seem to break out of putting everything for Christmas on to their credit card and leaving it to January to worry about,' Knight says. 'However I would firstly ask yourself to think long and hard about is the joy of the things you've bought worth the financial pain? Is the joy worth the pain that you're going to put yourself through if you do that again and if you repeat that cycle? 'If you want to break out of it, then you need to make a plan for how you're going to pay off any borrowing that you do this Christmas. If you know you won't have additional income coming in, then the only alternative is to make some cut back elsewhere.'


The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Edinburgh Christmas Market 2025 dates revealed ahead of festive season
The traditional Christmas Market will return to the East Princes Street Gardens with a multitude of market stall holders offering locally made crafts from wooden cabins. Visitors can enjoy mulled wine, big bratwurst sausages, strawberries and marshmallows dipped in chocolate with food and drink stalls placed throughout the market. More than 75% of the market was made up of local and Scottish traders last year, selling everything from hand-made Christmas ornaments to festive fare and organisers have opened applications for this year already. Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said: 'This year Edinburgh's Christmas looks set to light up the city centre once again with an exciting programme of events for everyone to enjoy. Read More 'I'm really pleased that the Edinburgh community will be a focus too, with discounted tickets, offers for local groups and fund-raising for local charities taking place. The Capital truly is a magical place to be at this time of year and there's so much on offer throughout the city.' Lawrence Thorburn, owner of Edinburgh's Nutcracker Christmas Shop said: "As local business owners, we are thrilled to see the return of Edinburgh's Christmas Market this winter. 'We have already submitted an application for what will be our 12th season at the Edinburgh's Christmas Market. As a local, family business, with permanent premises in the city we welcome the opportunity to showcase our products and provide Christmas gifts to such a large audience. 'Working with Unique Assembly over the past three years, we have seen the Market go from strength to strength and we are keen to return, looking forward to welcoming locals and visitors from around the world. The event has become imperative for our small family business and our team look forward to taking part each year." The LNER big wheel and the 80M Around the World star flyer both offer incredible views of the city at the markets, while other rides are available for those who prefer to stay closer to the ground. Other favourites making a return include the opportunity to meet Santa and his elves at Santa's Stories, with children able to write the all important letter and drop it straight into the Santa post-box while the outdoor ice rink also makes a comeback. The EH residents discount will return and offer locals more than 100,000 tickets at 20% off. Tickets will also be given to local community groups for people to enjoy the festivities. Roddy Smith, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh said: 'Edinburgh's Christmas is always a highlight of the year within our city centre. The attractions welcome thousands of residents and visitors to enjoy the most magical time of the year. 'With Edinburgh's city centre home to high class retail and hospitality businesses to suit everyone's tastes, this Christmas promises to be another fantastic time to visit and enjoy the best of Edinburgh.' Unique Assembly, producers of Edinburgh's Christmas said: 'We are thrilled to share this year's dates for Edinburgh's Christmas celebrations, with a seven-week programme packed full of family favourites, plus new events and attractions to be announced. 'This year's event promises to be one of the best ever and we look forward to welcoming everyone to enjoy some sparkle as the nights close in.'