Latest news with #MoneyMagpie
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Warning issued to anyone thinking of getting a puppy or cat this summer
MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry shares some seasonal money-saving hacks to keep pets healthy without a huge bill Our pets are part of the family – but they are an added expense to the household budget. From pet insurance to vet bills and even day-to-day food and treats, the cost of owning a pet can be a financial pressure. The good news is there are plenty of ways to reduce the costs of owning a pet this summer. Don't be fooled by summer living The sun makes everything seem better – and that includes the idea of getting a (or another) puppy to add to your family. If you haven't thought through getting a puppy, but your summer routine of being outside more, walking, and going on beach trips tempts you to consider a new puppy: think twice! It's easy to think life will be really easy with a new puppy. But the summer can be misleading: it makes it easy to forget about the rainy days and long nights of autumn and winter, which will arrive just in time for a summer puppy's most crazy time: adolescence. If you've been thinking of getting a puppy and have made plans, by all means go for it. But don't get one on a whim while you're inspired by outdoor living in the few months of the year it's possible to do in the UK. Think about how you'll cope with a young dog when bad weather, long nights, and no-annual-leave-left-til-Christmas hits. Use monthly flea and tick subscriptions Keep your pet healthy with monthly flea and tick medication. It's far cheaper to prevent fleas or tick-related disease than treat it. Your vet is likely to run a monthly payment scheme that includes monthly flea, tick, and wormer medication, as well as extras such as annual vaccination boosters, discounts on dental treatment and discounts on prescription food. However, it can run quite expensive to use these plans, especially if you don't intend on using the other benefits such as nail clipping appointments or physio discounts. There are mail-order subscriptions that can reduce the cost of monthly flea and tick medication, sent to you each month so you don't forget to renew. Check the terms and conditions, as some might lock you into an annual plan in the fine print! However, these plans often work out much cheaper than the vet's scheme if you only want the regular medication and not the extras. Pets at Home and VetBox are examples of these schemes. ItchFlea for Cats and Dogs starts from £7.95 a month with the first month free. Get the best deals and tips from Mirror Money Get a tick remover Ticks carry disease that might not show in your dog immediately – and can be very expensive to sort out. When you've taken your dog for a walk in long grass or in areas where deer are known to roam, always check them over for ticks after the walk. You don't need to go to the vet to remove one. A tick remover tool costs less than £4 and fits in any pocket to take wherever you go. Keep an eye on any bites once removed in case a ring 'bullseye' rash appears – if this happens, take your dog to the vet. Use vet-approved over the counter medications Your vet is only legally allowed to recommend animal-specific medications. However, there are often human over-the-counter alternatives that are more affordable and safe to use. Don't be scared to ask your vet for the alternatives – they're used to the question and will know what they can recommend. Never give an animal human medications without talking to your vet first. Keep your pet cool to avoid emergencies With two heatwaves already gone this summer, it's likely we're going to see more of them over the coming months. Overheated pets can be a medical emergency, racking up a huge vet bill that you may not have planned for. Some pet insurance may also not cover treatment for what could be argued as a preventable problem, too. It's vital to be prepared to keep your pets cool. This might mean running a fan for them near to their bed, or investing in a cooling mat. Ensure they always have access to water – lots of people like to pop ice cubes in the bowl to keep it nice and cold, too. If you have an outside space, splash pads or kids' paddling pools offer cheap and effective cooling. Choose ice and cooling toys, too. You can freeze some chicken broth in an ice cube tray for a salty delicious cool treat, or get a reusable freezable toy to keep them cool while they chew. You may also wish to consider investing in a portable air conditioning unit to keep your bedroom cool at night. This will ensure your pet stays cool too, and that means a better night's sleep, which is good for everyone's health. While it's an investment, if you look for one with a dehumidifier function, like the S1 Pro Personal Air Conditioner by Morphy Richards, it'll be useful all year around as the dehumidifier can help reduce damp in the winter time, making the investment more valuable. Never, ever leave your pet in a locked car in the summer, even for a few minutes. Heat exhaustion can strike much faster than you think! Take your pet on holiday If you're going away in the UK, consider taking your pet with you. Not only will you be able to create some wonderful family memories together, it can save a lot on kennel boarding or pet sitting costs. While some accommodation options will include a pet fee, this will be cheaper than other options like kennels. But if you've already booked non-pet approved accommodation, or you're heading abroad, look at alternative options to expensive boarding kennels. House sitters can look after your home and pet at the same time, and many people will do it for free (and expenses) because it gives them a small holiday from home, too. TrustedHouseSitters is a reputable site to find someone to look after your pet without extortionate costs. Some of the brands and websites we mention may be, or may have been, a partner of However, we only ever mention brands we believe in and trust, so it never influences who we prioritise and link to.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'I saved £300 with little-known train perk that many people don't know about'
MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry explains how interrailing can be a cheap way to see Europe – if you know some savvy hacks The European rail networks are brilliant, connecting countries and making it easy to get around the continent. If you've never thought about travelling by train for a holiday (probably put off by your experiences in the UK!) then think again. Rail travel can be one of the most cost-effective ways to see a lot of Europe even in a short space of time. You just need to know a few tips to get started! What is interrailing? The rail networks in Europe offer a pass-type ticket that covers all trains, across all countries (check the website for limitations or restrictions). This means you can travel all around Europe on a single rail ticket, which is much, much cheaper than UK rail travel! Many people go Interrailing because it is a fantastic way to see lots of countries in a short space of time. You can even upgrade for special trains, like the panoramic Glacier Express, to take in amazing landscapes. You can buy tickets for a number of days or weeks. Choose from a continuous pass, which starts from the first date you use it, or a flexi pass, which counts only the dates you travel. Travel off season Travel in winter, spring, and autumn to avoid the highest prices overall. However, while tickets might be cheaper in these seasons, make sure you check accommodation too – some areas will have different peak seasons! That is, the mountainous regions which offer brilliant skiing during colder months, will have a higher demand for accommodation. This pushes up prices – so make sure you do the maths well in advance to check if it will be cheaper for your planned trip. Wait for an interrail sale While Interrail tickets offer amazing value for money at full price, there are frequent deals and sales that can significantly reduce the price. Planning your trip several months in advance will mean you can pick up a discounted ticket when one of these sales rolls around. Top tip: often, the sale means a first class ticket isn't much more than a standard, but gives you access to much better cabins and seat options. Book seat reservations off-peak You don't need a seat reservation for every train. You will need them for the high-speed trains and also if you're on a nightsleeper or overnight train. Make sure you plan these particular trips and book in advance to take advantage of cheaper reservation fees. Maximise night trains When you're travelling on a train overnight, that's a night's accommodation you've saved on! Not all trains offer night services, but they can be useful for the longer parts of your trip – especially if you're not bothered about missing some of the scenery. For example, you might have gone one way during the daytime and been able to see amazing landscapes, but then don't want to see the same on the return leg to your next journey. Check if your interrail ticket covers UK travel This doesn't apply to all trains, but some UK trains will be covered by the Interrail ticket. This can save you a lot of cash getting to and from your initial European destination – even if you are going by air to begin or return from your trip. For example, one of the MoneyMagpie team recently took an Interrail trip and found that their LNER train to and from Kings Cross and York came under the Interrail ticket. This saved them about £300 in UK rail travel – which was almost the entire cost of their first class, two-week Interrail ticket! Research the route well in advance to see if you can take advantage of these opportunities and save a lot of money getting to and from Europe to start and finish your trip. Travel light While there aren't luggage restrictions on trains in the same way as flights, travelling light will save you money when it comes to getting taxis (you won't need a large one), or being able to hop on a flight for your journey home without luggage fees. Travelling light also means you won't need to pay expensive luggage storage fees if you decide to hop off the train for a day's wander around a new city or area. Having a large wheeled suitcase isn't ideal for going around tourist areas, hiking trails, or monuments, so you'd need to store it at a luggage locker. Doing this several times across a couple of weeks quickly racks up the price. Assume you'll need to carry your bag everywhere, all the time. Include a small handbag or foldable backpack for day trips when you've got a couple of days in a hotel between rail trips, too. Download TooGoodToGo This brilliant food waste prevention app is available in so many places across Europe, and it's a great way to pick up food from shops and restaurants that they can't sell but is still good to eat. Book accommodation with cooking facilities – many people opt for hostels, as they are cheapest – or take some basic equipment with you. A travel kettle, foldable bowl, and cutlery will ensure you can make a wide range of things on the go like noodles and porridge, or even instant meals like Huel or cup-a-pasta type sachets.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
All the freebies parents can claim during summer holidays including swim lessons
MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry warns parents to act now to prepare for the September school term by claiming these free things The summer holidays are a lot of fun… and expense. And then there's the back-to-school costs to consider on top of that! To make sure you save money during the summer holidays and stick to your budget for September prep, check this round-up of free things you can claim as a parent this summer. Free coach travel all summer If you're going out and about with the kids this summer, try going by coach. National Express is offering free travel for up to three children aged 15 and under until September 30, 2025. All you need to do is book your tickets online, including one paying adult, and use the code KIDSFREE at checkout to claim the free tickets. Kids eat for free and cheap Make sure you're not over-spending on the entertainment budget this summer by planning your trips to venues and restaurants with great free kids meals options. There are loads of places where kids eat free this summer, such as Yo! Sushi and Bill's restaurants. But make sure you know where you can take the family to eat free or cheap in the term-time, too. TGI Fridays, Hungry Horse, Brewers Fayre, and even Travelodge have some great deals that can keep family feeding costs down all year round. Claim benefits for parents You might think you aren't eligible to claim state support (aka free money) – but when did you last check? The rules change quite frequently, and that could mean you're missing out on things like free childcare. Check your eligibility for benefits using the Turn2Us calculator to find out if you could be entitled to support. Remember that being eligible for some, such as Universal Credit, may also entitle you to further support like free school meals. Children in reception, Year One and Year Two all automatically get free school meals, but if you think you're eligible beyond those years make sure you claim with your school before term begins. Free school uniform Uniform Exchange is open to every family in the UK. They provide good condition second-hand school uniform items to anyone that needs them. You can help support them by washing and sending in your child's old school uniform that they've grown out of, too. Visit the Uniform Exchange website to find out more and request free uniform. Your local authority may also be able to help with funding for some or all of your child's school uniform. They will usually identify parents in need and contact them directly, but if you are on means-tested benefits and a low income and think you might qualify, get in touch with them. Your school may also offer an exchange or bursary scheme for those in need. Free books and audiobooks Whether you want to help your kids get into reading during the summer holidays, or help them access study materials during term-time without breaking the bank, your local library is the place to go. Libraries offer so much free stuff! From free books, e-books, and magazines to free DVD and computer or board game rental, it's easy to get a library card online to get started with borrowing straight away. With e-book and audiobook borrowing, this can be done as soon as you have your card and download the Libby, Hoopla and/or Borrowbox app (depending on which your library uses). The library can also offer a safe and quiet place during term time for older children with study needs, or to go on the weekend to participate in workshops or events. As well as a library card, try some free trials during the summer, too. Bookbeat is a streaming service for audiobooks, meaning you can listen immediately without needing to go on the borrow list for popular titles at the library. If you use the code TRY75 when signing up, you can try for 75 days (40 hours) of free listening before you decide if it's a service you want to pay for. Free swimming lessons Most local authorities and some privately-run leisure centres offer free swimming lessons for children. These may run for a short time during the summer holiday, or be a weekly term-time activity. Look for information on your local council's website and make sure to check out your leisure centres too, as they might run similar programmes for other sports such as football and tennis, too. Free school stationery and supplies Sign up to deals and discounts newsletters now, to stay alert of upcoming offers. It's a good idea to create a separate email address to avoid your main email being filled with offers every day! As August rolls around, keep an eye out for these emails with free school supplies, stationery, even backpacks and lunchboxes. You'll be amazed at how much free stuff you can get – just make sure to act fast, as numbers are often limited.
Daily Mirror
13-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mirror
Full list of products you can get 20% VAT relief on if you have a disability
MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry celebrates Disability Pride Month with some top mobility and accessibility gadgets that are as stylish as they are functional About 16 million people in the UK are disabled, which is about 24% of adults or a quarter of the adult population, and that doesn't include people who are temporarily disabled by accident or illness. So, why do so many gadgets and mobility aids designed to help us manage our disabilities look so... beige? We've rounded up some of the best-looking accessibility aids and gadgets for people living with chronic conditions to take some of the 'hospital grey' out of the picture. What is an accessibility aid? An accessibility aid is something that helps a person living with a chronic condition that impacts their ability to do a task. It might be something they need daily, like people living with Parkinson's who need a walking aid to steady their balance. However, something doesn't need to be designed specifically to help someone with limited mobility, fatigue, or other challenge to be an accessibility aid. Some everyday products can benefit anyone, so some things on this list are specialist items and others are not specialist but still used by people living with disabilities that help them with daily living. Get the best deals and tips from Mirror Money Electric tricycles An electric tricycle is brilliant for so many reasons. Not only is it more stable than a bicycle, the extra power of battery assistance means people can go further and for longer, regaining their independence. Jorvik Tricycles are a great example of electric tricycles that look great while also being useful for people with limited mobility. It's not just road tricycles, either: off-road electric tricycles with fatter wheels mean people can enjoy trips to the beach, a picnic in fields, or just manage countryside tracks with ease. Having a disability doesn't mean you can no longer go on bike rides with friends! Remember, too, that if you're buying an electric tricycle to aid a disability, it can be VAT-free – which is 20% off the advertised sale price. Cool Crutches Crutches and walking sticks tend to come in a few colours: hospital steel, grey, black, or wood. They're also not always very comfortable to use! After a quad bike accident at the age of 19, Amelia Peckham knew she would never walk unaided again. But, when she found the hospital supplied crutches caused pain, blisters, and eventually required weeks of bed rest for hand recovery, doctors told her to get a wheelchair. Which made no sense: her hands were not the reason walking was difficult. Persevering with crutches, Amelia soon realised a gap in the market: mobility aids that look great as well as perform well, leaving no blisters, not slipping from under you, or have annoying clicking sounds. That's how Cool Crutches & Walking Sticks was born. Amelia said: "Using our crutches changed my life, it's the sole reason I'm walking today and why our business has gone on to do the same for over 40,000 others." The range is full of bright colours patterns, and even glittery options, with comfort grips and accessories to customise walking sticks and crutches to make them comfortable to use. The Safe Stick is a handy addition too, wrapping around the stick to ensure it can be hung or stood upright anywhere without being dropped. Chatsie phone The Chatsie phone is new to the market. It simplifies smartphone use for people who find the usual Android or iPhone devices too complicated and overwhelming. While it's aimed at older users with less tech confidence, it is also an ideal solution for anyone who finds phones difficult to use because the icons are unclear, the text is too small, or the number of apps is overwhelming. It looks just like a standard smartphone on the outside, and includes the usual elements like a camera, so you can still take photos. But the best feature is the UK-based support if you get stuck using your phone. It's easy to get in touch and be guided through, so tech overwhelm doesn't ever become a reason to stop using your phone anymore. Drive Nitro Sprint Rollator Rollators are versatile and useful mobility aids for people with all kinds of disability, from arthritis to Parkinson's and more. They provide a stable base to help people walk independently, while also providing a seat at any time the user needs to sit down. It's easy to attach a bag to them, too, so the user doesn't have to carry their stuff separately. But many folding rollators can be bulky, or have small weight limits not suited to larger people. The Drive Nitro Rollator at Fenetic Wellbeing has a high maximum user weight of 350lbs while still being sleek and light enough to fold into any car boot or storage cupboard. The bag can be clipped in three different positions, making it easy to customise how it's used. 1-Up Hair Tie For anyone with limited hand movement, keeping long hair tied up can be tricky. The 1-Up Hair Tie available from Active Hands is designed for one-handed use, making it super easy to get hair into a ponytail with one hand in seconds. Costing between £8.95-£11.95, it comes in different colour options and in child or regular size and means anyone with longer hair can be in charge of their own hairstyle by putting it into a ponytail in seconds. Active Hands also produce lots of easy-use gadgets like a cable puller to get charging cables from your phone with ease. Robo vacuum and mop The final two gadgets on this list are something ideal for any home, but have extra benefits for people with limited mobility or fluctuating conditions. Robot vacuums like the Ultenic T10 Lite have gained popularity in recent years, and for good reason. You can quickly 'set and forget' your household chore of hoovering the floor, leaving time for other tasks – or rest. The vacuum maps out your floorplan, learns where your furniture is, and uses sensors to move around. You decide when your cleaning gets done, so it can even happen while you're out of the house, which is ideal for those with noise sensitivities, too. For those who aren't sure a robot vac is ideal for them, a light cordless vacuum cleaner like UItenic's U20 can be the answer – and also gets under the furniture with a flexible wand, snapping up dust and fluff from corners without the need to move heavy items. Portable air conditioner Finally, as the summer heat looks set to stay this year and in years to come, a portable air conditioner is an investment anyone with heat intolerance should consider. Heat can have a negative impact on many conditions, causing bloating, swollen joints, and additional fatigue – not helped by being unable to sleep when it's too hot, too. A portable air conditioner can reduce the room's temperature to one that is comfortable, and can be put in any room. The S1 Pro Personal Air Conditioner by Morphy Richards, looks stylish (instead of the boring white box of most air con units) and can also be useful for reducing damp in cooler months, which is ideal for those with respiratory issues prone to flare in winter. Claim VAT relief You can claim VAT relief of 20% on products designed or adapted to help manage your disability. This is usually easiest to do direct from specialist suppliers, like those listed above. This VAT exemption also applies to adaptations you make around your home to remain independent, such as installing ramps and handles, or changing a bathroom to a wetroom. Speak to your contractor about the VAT exemption before agreeing to any quotes or starting the work.
Daily Mirror
12-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
'Golden hour' could see you boost your bank balance by £1,000s
MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry shares tiny hacks that take less than an hour a week total to save you hundreds or even thousands of pounds a year It's so easy to let our finances run away with us. We'll pay for convenience over price, or let subscriptions run even though we're not using them, or simply not have the time to search for better deals and discounts. However, with the golden finance hour, you could end up with hundreds of pounds saved. Enough for your next summer holiday perhaps, or for your Christmas fund, or even as your emergency or rainy day savings. Schedule time in your diary for these tasks and see how much you save in a year! Write down every expense This might seem really time-consuming, but it's not! Go back to an old-school paper budget book (a simple notebook works fine), or use a notes or spreadsheet app on your phone. Make it a habit to write down what you've spent every time you spend money. It takes literally five seconds or less, but will help you become more aware of what you're spending every week. If you don't want to write it down, you can use a banking budgeting app that analyses your spending on your bank accounts automatically. There are several available, like the Emma app, but the only problem with these is taking the physical act of considering the expense away from you. Taking a few seconds to write down an amount can help you keep track of your spending, rather than reviewing your expenses after the fact with an app. Use a cashback website Before you buy anything online, go via a cashback website like TopCashback, Quidco, or Swagbucks. If you always forget to do this, simply set your cashback website as your browser homepage. That way, it's already open when you start shopping online. Register for each of them, and if the retailer you're looking for isn't available on one, it could be on the other. Cashback builds up quickly when you use it for most of your online purchases, especially if you also use a cashback website for annual purchases like comparing and renewing broadband, mobile phone, and insurance policies. Search for a discount code Some cashback sites include exclusive discounts. However, sometimes it's better to find a discount code (even if it invalidates the lower-return cashback). Always look online for a discount code for the online retailer you're using before you check out. You might have to try a couple to find one that works, but this could mean you regularly save 10% or more on all of your shopping. Total time: 10 minutes Sign up to deal voucher websites Set up a separate email address so your main account doesn't get overwhelmed with discount emails. Then, sign up to sites like Groupon and Wowcher to make sure you stay alert to the latest voucher discounts. This does take some willpower, so only sign up to deals websites if you know you can only buy what you need. Otherwise, getting regular 'amazing discount!' emails can be tempting and cause you to overspend. Total time: 3 minutes Shift discount savings into your emergency fund We've all heard of 'round up' savings tactics. This is where you can 'sweep' spare change from your current account into a savings account, by choosing to round up your payments to the nearest pound (or chosen amount). It's an easy way to save some change. But an even savvier way to keep adding to your emergency fund or rainy day savings is to make a habit of saving the difference on your discounts, too. For example, if you buy something and get 20% off, put the difference from the discounted and retail price (the 20%) into your savings. If that makes things tight for yourself, set a rule such as you'll sweep half of every discount saving into your fund. Total time: 8 minutes Pay yourself first This is a monthly task, so the total time isn't even what you need to do each week. But, every time you get paid or receive an income, make it a habit to pay yourself first. This means sweeping a certain amount into your savings, ideally across a long-term savings and an easy-access savings account. It is so easy to see our bank balance is positive through the month and end the month without anything left to save, because it's all been spent. Moving money across at the start of the month means you won't see it in your bank balance, so it's easier to forget about. A Direct Debit between your accounts automates the entire process, and reduces the time you need to spend on this habit each month even more. However, some people prefer to do it manually if they have fluctuating income or expenses, to allow more control over how much is saved each month. Schedule renewal dates Whenever you buy a new insurance policy, mobile phone contract, or even subscription (especially if you start with a free trial!), make a note in your calendar a week, and three days, prior to it renewing. This will give you time to shop around to save money – and make sure you don't miss huge payments going out on renewed annual policies you no longer need. Check all financial accounts Take some time every week to get a snapshot of every financial account you hold. Log in to all of them to check the statement balance, transactions, and any messages on the apps. This will help you quickly notice any transactions which could be fraudulent, identify possible issues such as being accidentally overdrawn, and also means you always know your financial situation when making decisions. Check credit card statements when they come in each month, to determine how much interest you're paying – and whether it's time to look at shifting everything to a balance transfer card. If you have savings in stocks and shares, make sure you check them regularly, too. Active traders will check their accounts every few days or daily, but if you have 'set and forget' investments, make sure to take time every month to review them. Watching them regularly when you're not an active trader can be stressful, as they can dip and rise a lot over a short period of time – a monthly check reveals a more accurate average for you to assess. Total time: 12 minutes And there you have it: 58 minutes per week will keep you in better control of your finances, help you make regular savings, and put you on track to save hundreds of pounds every year! Some of the brands and websites we mention may be, or may have been, a partner of However, we only ever mention brands we believe in and trust, so it never influences who we prioritise and link to.
