In exchange for a year's membership of their Curve Metal account, Curve had asked me to review the service for my readers.  This is a sponsored post however opinions are as ever my own. 

What is Curve?

Curve is a smart payment card and app designed to simplify your banking. You connect your debit and credit cards through one simple application available for Apple IOS or Google Play. Curve has been designed to combine all your Visa and Mastercard accounts into one, so you can leave them all at home, you just use the one Curve card. 

Sign up to Curve here with my affiliate link to get a £5 credit after making your first purchase.

How much does it cost?

Curve has three membership options below.



As you can see there is a range of benefits and the more you play the more you get. The basic package is however free. 

All Curve cards give you 1% cashback on a number of companies, for a set amount of time, fee-free foreign exchange, and fee-free ATM withdrawals. The free account has these benefits time-limited and there are different limits on the ATM withdrawals.

Ordering the card

The Curve Metal Mastercard was easy to order and came quickly. The Curve Metal looks smart with its brushed steel, I went for the blue steel but there is also a limited edition red and a rose gold colour too. It feels luxurious in your hand as it's not made of plastic. Once you receive your card you have to activate it online to start spending. You have to link a card and every time you do a small charge (less than £1.50) is taken to verify it. This is then refunded back to your card straight away. 

You can also select up to 6 retailers listed on the app to get 1% cashback with them when you pay with the card. With companies like Sainsbury's, Boots, Amazon and Uber included then this is a nice little perk don't you think? If you do your grocery shopping with Sainsbury's, for example,  pay on the card and spend £100 a week, the money you could get back works out at £52 a year - better than nothing!

Travel benefits



There are a number of big benefits if you are travellers.  

Immediately on ordering the card I was sent documents via email for the worldwide travel insurance included with the Curve Metal account. The travel insurance seemed comprehensive and is from AXA, a well-known travel insurance company, giving you peace of mind. It included Collision Damage Waiver for car rental insurance and electronic gadget insurance as well up to £800. I was impressed with the coverage as medical coverage was up to 15 million pounds, enough for coverage to the US where medical bills are high.

When you use your Curve Metal card abroad you get unlimited fee-free foreign currency exchange, and fee-free ATM withdrawals up to £600 a month too.  This is a great perk and I can't wait to see how this works when we go to Spain next month. With the exchange rate against all foreign currencies being dire at the moment with Brexit on the horizon, anything that helps you save money abroad is much needed.



The last major perk of using the Curve Metal card if you are a traveller is the discounted airport lounge access with Lounge Key at £15 per person for you and a guest. To access this you need to download and register the Lounge Key app with your Curve card. You can then see what airport lounges are included. I was pleased to see the Plaza Premium lounges and No 1 Lounges at Heathrow included for example, and even our local airport Cardiff is included, as well as hundreds of other lounges worldwide. Just show your card as eligibility when you arrive at the lounge and your payment of £15 per person is taken on the card there and then.  

Time travel



Ok, well you won't turn into Dr Who but they say time travel is included with every card. What that means in practice is that the Go Back In Time feature allows you to switch which card you use for each transaction, within 14 days of your purchase. This is useful if you have personal transactions and want to swap them over to business transactions, or if you have got to the top of your credit limit on a card.

Day-to-day use


So daily use of the card is easy. You use the smart card like you would normally with a debit or credit card. You are allocated a 4 digit pin number but this is then easily changed through an ATM. There is a £200 a day cap on the amount you can take out.



I used the contactless feature on the card to pay for groceries at the supermarket with no problems at all. What is great is that the app categorises each transaction so that it is easy to see what you spend your money on, for example, Groceries, Transport, Travel,  and so on. It also allows you to add a receipt, write a note or mark it as a business purchase. A feature I like is that you can immediately see what you spend as it happens. Other useful features include being able to lock your card with one tap, view your pin and get instant customer support.

Curve also offers its own customer protection in case of things going wrong which is good to know.

If you are interested in trying out Curve for yourself, download it for free with my affiliate link and enter the code JEWEL for a £5 credit after making your first purchase.

As you can see Curve offers some interesting ways to spend and manage your money. Let me know what you think! 

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There may be situations in your life as you come up to retirement where you need to access money. Maybe you need to find a way of funding your elderly relatives nursing care or your child's university fees, or that extension you have wanted for years.

If you are a UK homeowner 55 plus you may be able to access the money in your home with the Saga Equity Release Advice Service.
*PR collaboration. This post is for information purposes only always seek an expert for financial advice.

Finding the right car can be a difficult process. Do you buy privately, from a franchised dealer or from an independent garage? Then there is the style, the model, the colour, the specifications. Once you have found the right car there is a myriad of options on how to pay for it and in this post, I will explain some of the car finance options available.

• Copyright: Minerva Studio Shutterstock

Cash

Ideally, a cash deal is the simplest transaction and often a discount can be negotiated for cash if you part-ex your car. This does, however, need some forward planning and not everyone will have the cash available to pay for a new or second-hand car. Do you have a car to part exchange or a car to scrap to raise some cash? 

Personal Loan

According to What Car magazine, a personal loan is the most popular way to finance a car. Borrowing from a bank, building society or another loan provider allows you to own the car instantly, as opposed to leasing a car and not owning it until the last payment. 

Generally the better your credit history, the lower your A.P.R or Annual Percentage Rate - the interest you pay on your loan. If you have had problems paying back loans in the past there is car finance available for people with bad credit,  however, interest rates may be higher.

Personal Contract Purchase

A Personal Contract Purchase (P.C.P.) is another popular way of financing a car. Similar to hire purchase, you pay a deposit, there is a fixed interest rate and then monthly payments, usually between 1 and 3 years.  At the end of this time, you have options to keep the car, trade the car in or return the car to the supplier. 

The car's Guaranteed Future Value (G.F.V.) is set at the start of the agreement. If you keep the car there is a final payment to be made,  if you return the car and it is in good condition and you haven't gone over the agreed mileage then there is nothing to pay. If you trade the car in the G.F.V. is used to calculate anything owed.

Hire Purchase

With Hire Purchase, the car is owned by the company until the final payment. A deposit is paid, usually around 10% and then there is fixed monthly payments. You have no legal right to sell the vehicle until the final payment has been paid. 

Sometimes you just need a break, we all do from time to time. Perhaps things have got on top of us, work has become very busy, family life has become increasingly hectic and it feels like ages since you've been on holiday. Maybe you have had a health scare or a death in the family and you think, 'What is it all for?'

* A guest post by Rebecca Smith, Bex blogs over at Futures, a UK lifestyle blog and Keen On Saving , where she advises on how to save money.

When it comes to our savings, we all have the urge to dip into the pot when the going gets tough.

Some people are resilient and manage to resist the urge but for many of us, sometimes we just have to use that cash we have so steadfastly saved for so long. Perhaps it is for something crucial like car repairs or perhaps you just have a little too much month left at the end of your money. Either way, when this happens, something needs to be done - and what better way to up your savings account than by spending less and earning more! 




Cut back on any unnecessary expenses

Do you really need Sky, Amazon Prime or Netflix? Are you really using the gym to its full potential? If the answer is no, cancel your subscriptions and put the money you would usually spend away in your savings account. You weren’t missing the money when you were spending it so why not boost your savings?

Empty pockets of change every day

Whilst it may seem like a small amount, this will soon add up and make a nice addition to a savings account. You don’t have to add the gold coins, not even the silver ones if you really don’t want to but you will soon see the savings pot go up!

Develop some side hustles

People often have hobbies that can be monetised – these should be taken advantage of. Homemade jewellery sales, dog walking and even shopping can be made into monetised hobbies. Who wouldn’t love being paid to shop? Make some money and save it for a rainy day. Even better if the hobby is free or fairly cheap!

Get cashback

When I say this, I mean in one of two ways. Use a cashback site like TopCashback or Quidco when buying online. Why not make some extra cash when you are spending some?

Declutter & sell



An obvious choice but something people are reluctant to do. I have resisted selling some stuff ‘just in case’ but realised that this was not helpful to me or my savings account. Plus it left my house cluttered and left me feeling down as it just seemed to be everywhere. Adding the small amounts you make from selling your old stuff to your savings account will soon make a difference.

There are plenty more ways in which people can save more and spend less in 2016. If you happen to have a personal loan from a licensed lender make sure to make regular payments and automate your debits. It is all about taking a step back and taking a long, hard look at your finances. Cut out any unnecessary spending, develop some side hustles and you can have a bigger, better and bulging savings account come the end of the year.

* contains affiliate links

Financial security is something I feel strongly about. Old-age pensions are small and gone are the days of generous final salary pension schemes. Recent changes in my circumstances mean I have spent time researching this area. My son is off to University in September and a change of job in the last couple of years meant a complete overhaul of our families financial affairs.  

This simple guide will give you an insight into the type of savings to make you more financially secure. I am not an expert in the field so always take advice from an independent body such as The Money Advice Service and if you use a financial advisor ensure they are independent and not tied to any bank or financial company.

Why Save?


After all the bills have gone out,  it is important to put something aside for emergencies and for your old age.  Did you know the most you can get from a state pension is only £115 a week? Not a lot to live on is it?!

The earlier you can make provisions for your old age the better. Putting aside money on a regular basis in a UK bank account can add up to a tidy sum before you know it. A mix of emergency savings, ISA's and a pension or savings for your old age cover most eventualities. 

Emergency Savings 

Things can happen in life that takes us by surprise, such as a loss of a job, unexpected repairs or the breakdown of a relationship. At times like these, you may need to draw on emergency savings.  The Money Advice Service recommend putting aside 3 months essential outgoings in an instant access savings account.  

If you set up a standing order or direct debit into a saving account, it won't be long until that money is there, for those unpredictable life events.

NISA

A New Cash Isa or NISA is a tax free way of saving. In the simplest term, it is a savings account you don't pay tax on.  A Stocks and Shares ISA is another option but with this type of ISA, you are investing in bonds, shares and funds and is a more risky type of investment. You can save just over £15000 an ISA and this can be a mix of a NISA and Stocks and Shares ISA.

A NISA savings account is especially good for medium to long term investing, such as saving for a house deposit, a wedding, or university fees.

Interest is paid on regular savings accounts after tax has been deducted, unless you are a non-taxpayer yet with a NISA interest is tax-free.

If you want to read more about NISA's including the difference between a Cash Isa and a Stocks and Shares ISA, take a trip to Money Saving Expert.com.

Pensions



More than half the people in the UK are not saving for their old age, or are not saving enough for the lifestyle they aspire to on retirement.  If you do not have enough saved when you are looking to retire you may have to work for longer.

The basic state pension is based on 30 qualifying years of paying in National Insurance contributions. If you have not paid in the right amount you may not get much at all. The full amount of state pension at a little over a hundred pounds a week is not enough to live on, on its own, and because of this many people have other savings for old age. 

Opting in to your companies pension scheme or taking out a private pension on top of this is one option. Alternatively putting money aside in a long term savings account, or investing in relatively stable commodities such as gold or property is another.

Recommendations from industry experts always state a pension is worth investing in though.  Think of a pension as another savings account with the important point that you get tax relief on the savings. The money you save on a regular basis is invested so that is provides you with an income on retirement. There are also new rules about pensions including being able to take money out of your pension pot early, read up on the rules here.

Putting money aside is a good idea for big life events, unexpected costs, an emergency and for retirement planning, but who can you trust when you want the right savings account and how can you limit your risk?  

www.moneysupermarket.com are asking Bloggers to write about thirty ways to save £1 or more for a competition they are running.

As a generally thrifty person, who loves holidays, in particular, I find saving money where I need to goes towards my passion for travel!

This is my list:-

1.  Do your food shopping online. I find this saves me money as I am not tempted by the bakery products like fresh bread and cake. It is also easier to take account of special offers and 2 for 1's which are all listed in one place. In this day of rising petrol prices, it could be cheaper paying for delivery than driving to your local supermarket too.

2. If you do you food shopping in the local supermarket, check out the bargain section for products that are reduced.

3. Teach yourself sewing and make your own clothes. Although you will have the initial outlay Sewing machines can be bought cheaply these days and before you know it you could be making your own curtains or cushions or clothes for the kids at a fraction of the price. Over time it can save you lots of money.

4.  Use comparison sites like www.moneysupermarket.com ;-) to get the best deals.

5.  Make sure you register for your favourite shop's newsletters. You may get discounts and offers not available to the general public. For example, recently a well know chain of stores was giving out a code for 30 % off all online orders.

6.  Use Freecycle. You can post wanted items, but it works best when you have items to advertise too. 

7. Bulk in bulk. Items such as washing powder are often cheaper in larger quantities and don't go off. 

8. Get a cup from your local coffee shop and refill it with coffee from your house. That walk to work in the morning will be cheaper without the expense.

9. If you are used to a branded food product, try the next one down from it. If you are used to Heinz then try Branston, or if you are used to Branston try a supermarket own brand. I have now persuaded my husband to eat Sainsbury's baked beans from Heinz.

10.  Have a good clear out once every few month, and use sites such as Ebay, Gumtree or local Facebook groups to sell the items you know longer need. Take advantage of free listing days on eBay  to save more. Use eBay auctions for a bargain too!

11. Use your local library rather than buying a book! You can often order titles and If you don't use it, they will disappear.

12.  Organise a clothes swapping party. This works especially well if you work with a number of people. Rather than buy - swap! Saving you loads.

13. If you have loose change in your purse, put it in a jar every few days. It will soon add up and you can use this towards a night out or special treat every few months.

14. Use a slow cooker, the type of long slow cooking means you can use cheaper cuts of meat for a tasty dish.

15. Use your local independent shops to nab a bargain! For example, if you are after a special gift, your local independent jeweller will be happy to negotiate a discount off a piece of jewellery when a chain store will be unlikely to.

16. Make one day a week vegetarian day in your household. Meat can be expensive and as well as saving pennies a meat free day will be good for your health.

17.  Check out your local colleges for cheap or even free haircuts, manicures and pedicures. Beauty students need people to practise on!

18. Make your lunch every day to take to work saving you money on shop bought food.

19. Want to have a dinner party on the cheap? Invite your friends around and ask one to bring the starters, another friend the accompaniments, another friend the desserts and another friend the wine while you cook the main course.

20. Really broke and can't afford a holiday at all? Take advantage of newspaper coupons for stays in holiday parks for as little as £5 per person. 

21. Turn your thermostat down a couple of degrees

22. Check out charity shops. These are especially good for growing children for clothes and for toys that they get tired of quickly. I have found some bargains in my local shops including a maxi dress for £10 when I was going to buy one for £200!

23. If you buy in certain shops consider taking out their own loyalty cards. Ikea gives family card members free tea and coffee and discounts as well as getting points for spends, and Debenhams, Boots and Superdrug have special offers as well as points and many shops do.

24. Have you ever made your own bread, yoghurt, beer or wine? They are all fairly simple to make and will save you money as well as the satisfaction of making it yourself.

25. Use cashback sites such as Quidco to give you money back if you go via their site.

26. Use discount coupons! In America they think nothing of it, check out magazines and newspapers and supermarket own mags for discount vouchers. If you are feeling really tight go through the mags in the Dr's surgery lol. 

27. Money save old style by making your own lip salve, makeup remover, and shampoo. Check out the internet, the local library or eBay for information/books on the subject and save a fortune on shop bought products.

28. For short journeys walk. It will save petrol and money and get you fit.

29.  Consider house swapping sites to save money on a holiday.

30. If travelling to work consider advertising for car shares. This works particularly well if travelling to a local city every day and costs of petrol can be shared.

What ways do you like to save money?

I have been given the task to review a new website for children called PKTMNY. PKTMNY is a new way for children 8 to 16 to learn how to earn, save, and spend wisely. 



PKTMNY is supported by a new type of VISA card and has an easy to use secure website that offers a range of savings tools. The website is designed for parents by parents and the interface is engaging and colourful to appeal to children. 

The parent and the child have their own login that they can use to monitor pocket money sent and pocket money received and any transactions, and is easy to use and control. The child can set their own pin and upload a picture to personalise their account.

What I like as a parent about this website is that you can set limits on how much the child spends on the card. It gives you control over their spending but still gives the child the illusion of control as they can spend within the guidelines you set.
As a parent, I feel it can incentivise the child to do certain extra tasks for pocket money which you can pay on top of their regular amount, for example for washing the car or doing well in school.
What did my son think of the site? My son is a 15-year-old teenager, at the top end of the age range they aim at. He liked the colourful nature of the site, however, we both felt it was geared to younger children. A more 'adult' interface or customisable interface was his idea for future improvements, and they are taking this into consideration.


My son used his card on Amazon to buy a gift voucher. He thought it was easy to use and had no problems placing the order on my Amazon account with his PKTMNY card. 

We are using the bank account to save for holiday spending money and we both felt it was nice to see a visual representation of the money as a saving goal on the website.  

As a parent, I think the website can help focus your conversations with your children about money, finances and also importantly the value of saving for a goal. 

PKTMNY charges a one-off joining fee of £5 per family and a monthly fee of £1 per child to use their services. This is deducted from the parent's outstanding balance, not the child's. The PKTMNY team are working on minimising any fees and keeping the costs low to run the account. There are no fees for using the Visa card online to buy products in the UK and no fees for funding the account via standing order. 

In conclusion, a colourful engaging bank account for pre-teens and teenagers that can help them manage and appreciate the value of money. 

Update PKYMNY is now called GoHenry http://www.gohenry.co.uk/why-gohenry/

This post is part of a project with BritMums, sponsored by PKTMNY, highlighting it's launch (http://www.pktmny.com). The new tool allows parents to easily pay and monitor their children's pocket money online, whilst allowing their children to earn, save, spend and manage their money in a totally safe and fun way. 

* We have been trialling the service and all thoughts and opinions are our own.