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Money Saving tips/ Awgrymiadau Arbed Arian

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Money Saving tips/ Awgrymiadau Arbed Arian

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A budget helps you make sure you’ll have enough money every month. Without a budget, you might run out of money before your next payday.

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Food Shopping Tips/ Cynghorion Siopa am Fwyd

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Food Shopping Tips/ Cynghorion Siopa am Fwyd

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'Refurbished phones': what does it mean?

The term 'refurbished phone' generally refers to a pre-owned handset that has been sent back due to a fault and has been repaired for re-sale.

Not all phones described as refurbished were at one stage faulty, though. Some networks and retailers classify 'refurbished phones' as handsets that were returned by customers who changed their mind within the 30-day cooling-off period after they signed up for a contract.

Before being put on sale, all refurbished phones have been thoroughly checked and tested to ensure they're in full working order.

Tests carried out by the seller typically include whether the battery charges and checking the buttons and cameras work. The seller will also verify audio quality and screen responsiveness, as well as how the phone connects to Wi-Fi and 3G/4G.

In keeping with Data Protection Act, the seller will securely wipe any data on the phone. So to all intents and purposes, you'll be starting afresh.

Some refurbished phone sellers update the handset to the latest version of the operating system that powers it.

Should I buy a refurbished iPhone?

Let's face it, an iPhone has been the must-have piece of tech for the last decade. But unfortunately they come with a price tag to match. So, if you're looking into getting an iPhone but don't want to spend a fortune, buying a refurbished iPhone might be a good alternative.

Where can I buy a refurbished iPhone?

When buying a refurbished iPhone, we always recommend using a reputable retailer. Luckily, most of the best-known UK providers now sell refurbished phones on monthly contracts.

If you want to buy a refurbished phone outright, mobile specialists such as Carphone Warehouse and Direct Mobiles stock a huge range of refurbished iPhones. Alternatively, popular sites such as Amazon and eBay will also have a wide variety to choose from. Just be sure you read the small print to check what condition it's in before you buy it.

You can even buy a refurbished iPhone direct from Apple.

Will a refurbished iPhone be covered by Apple if it has any software issues?

Yes. If you have any problems with the software, you can take it into an Apple Store and an Apple Genius will take a look at it for you.

Buying a refurbished iPhone that's almost as good as new

We bought a certified pre-owned (CPO) refurbished iPhone 6S from buymobiles.net. And I have to say, we were very impressed.

It came in official iPhone-branded packaging with an Apple charger included in the box. So far, so good. Even more impressive, the device itself looked every inch the shiny new smartphone, without a single scratch or blemish to indicate that the device was refurbished.

And once we fired it up, the iPhone 6S worked just as smoothly and speedily as any brand-new Apple device we've tried. As the reviews on the site attested, it really would be difficult to spot the difference between the refurb and a new handset.

Buying a refurbished iPhone in good condition

We ordered a refurbished iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 from Direct Mobiles.

As you'll note from the photos, this time around they didn't come in the original packaging and instead arrived tucked in generic white packing boxes.

They also didn't include chargers, headphones or the pin you require to open up the phone and insert your SIM.

The Lightning Connector cables that you'd find in the box if you bought the phones new were missing too.

So you'd have to stump up extra to get hold of those. Unless you've got old ones hanging around, that is.

Any nicks and scratches, though? Well, under forensic inspection we noticed the tiniest blemish at the top right on the rear of the iPhone 7. But we had to look very hard to see it.

Conversely, the iPhone 6s looked perfect. If you'd positioned it next to a genuinely new 6s and tasked us to tell the difference a la Pepsi Challenge, we'd have been stumped.

Once again, we spent a week with them for testing purposes. We got a day's full use out of the iPhone 7 on a full charge and about six hours or so from the 6s. Both worked with the sort of zip you'd expect from a new handset too.

When you buy a pre-owned phone from Direct Mobiles you don't get a manufacturer warranty.

But you are covered by a 12-month warranty from Direct Mobiles, so you've got some recourse in the event that a fault does become apparent some way down the line.

Should I buy a refurbished Samsung phone?

In the interests of research, we bought a refurbished Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and brand new edition of the same phone from mobilephonesdirect.co.uk.

So what was the difference? What were we missing out on buying a nearly-new phone? Essentially, nothing at all.

On the right in the photos here is a freshly unboxed, brand new S7 Edge.

On the left is the refurbished model. Housed in an identical Samsung-branded box, the refurbished phone arrived free of blemishes, nicks or scratches to the screen or body. It's genuinely as good as new.

In the box for the refurbished S7 Edge, there was an official Samsung charger, Samsung headphones, instructions and a pin for opening the SIM tray. These were all identical to those supplied with the new handset.

The refurbished phone was also fully wiped, so there's no trace of the former owner's data. Or any intimate photos that you really don't want to see.

We used the phones for a week and in that time found the refurbished phone to be just as speedy and smooth as the new one. From the camera to the responsiveness of the screen, everything was in full working order. And we found no difference in battery life either.

It's perhaps not too surprising that refurbished phones from mobilephonesdirect.co,uk are a good buy.

A bit of research reveals that the previously-owned phones the retailer classes as refurbished have been used for a maximum of 14 days, before being returned by a customer who changed their mind.

They weren't returned because they were faulty, so there's peace of mind in that. And they'll have been tested by engineers before being resold too.

It's also well worth nothing that the retailer's refurbished phones come with a 12-month warranty. Unless you opt for an iPhone that is, in which case your warranty is six months.

One thing we did discover is that although the headphones were included with our refurbished S7 Edge, they're not included with all refurbished phones sold by mobilephonesdirect.co.uk.

But given that you can pick up pretty good headphones for not much more than £10 on Amazon, that's something we can live with.

As for pricing, there's certainly money to be saved by opting for a refurbished phone.

We found a deal from mobilesphonesdirect.co.uk that got you 3GB of data and unlimited calls and texts for £32 a month, with no upfront cost for the handset. Which means that, over a 24-month contract, you'll pay a total of £768.

If you'd bought the phone brand-new from O2's website with the same allowances, you'd be looking at paying £40 a month, plus £9.99 upfront for the handset. Which, over the course of the 24-month contract, would set you back a total of £969.

So that's a saving of £201 overall. Which means you can book a citybreak or that spa weekend you've been promising yourself.

Compare mobilephonesdirect.co.uk refurbished phone deals.

Refurbished phones: pros and cons

'Should I buy a refurbished phone?' is a question Uswitch Tech is frequently asked via its Twitter feed and on Facebook. We can't make that decision for you. But here's what you need to know to help you make up your mind.

With some brands and retailers you can make significant savings, especially if you don't mind whether you've got the latest handset.

When you buy from a big network or established retailer you'll get a warranty, which is usually 12 months.

They'll also include a charging cable or charger.

It's not guaranteed whether you'll receive other accessories that were originally bundled with the phone, such as headphones.

You definitely won't get the original packaging. Refurbished phones tend to come in plain boxes or network-branded packaging. So you won't quite have that nice feeling of unboxing a brand new phone. But if you manage to save money on the deal, that might not bother you.

Where to buy refurbished phones

Lots of networks and specialist phone retailers sell refurbished phones, including O2, Vodafone and Mobilephonesdirect.co.uk.

You can also pick up a refurbished phone from auction sites, high-street retailers and specialist re-sale-and-recycle sites such as Envirophone.

How much cheaper are refurbished phones?

That depends. With newer handsets, especially iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s, there's often very little, if any, difference in price between refurbished phones and brand-new ones. So you may as well buy brand new.

But with some brands, you can definitely save money.

For instance, at the time of writing, the total price difference over the course of a two-year contract between a refurbished Samsung Galaxy S7 on EE and a brand new one also on EE was about £100. That's for the same monthly allowances.

You can also save money if, say, you want an iPhone but aren't fussed whether it's a newish edition. Discontinued models, such as the iPhone 5s, can he had very cheaply on refurbished phone contracts.

Do refurbished phones come with a warranty?

Warranties with refurbished phones depend on where you buy them.

Buy from a major network or retailer, which are the only refurbished phone vendors we have on Uswitch, and you'll get a 12-month guarantee.

That's the case with O2, for instance. And same goes for Vodafone and Carphone Warehouse subsidiary Mobiles.co.uk.

Buy from a trader on eBay or Amazon and they'll also typically offer a guarantee of up to 12 months.

If you're buying from an individual/private seller rather a trader on eBay, the process of getting a refund is more complicated and could depend on the written description of the phone on the listing.

What's better refurbished or used?

If a phone is described as refurbished and you're buying it from a network, an established retailer or a trader on an auction site, you can be sure the phone has been tested, cleaned, wiped and is covered by a warranty. So you've got peace of mind in every way.

The term 'used' is harder to define, so you'll need to be more cautious. It's usually favoured by private sellers on auction sites and could mean anything from a few scratches, to battered by frequent drops.

Under eBay's terms of use, a faulty item can still be returned to a private seller within 30 days for a refund.

Refurbished phones grading

All refurbished phones are given a grade that reflects their condition. There's no universally applied standard for grading, so it's best to check before buying.

But as a rule of thumb, the grades range from A-D and break down like this:

Grade A. This is as nearly new as nearly new gets. At best, it'll be a phone returned within the 30-day cooling-off period, so is to all intents and purposes still a brand new phone. At worst, it'll show negligible signs of wear.

Grade B. Expect the odd chip or scratch, but nothing too unsightly.

Grade C. Refurbished phones graded 'C' will have perhaps up to five blemishes and will look like they've been used.

Grade D. A grade D refurbished phone will be broken in some way, will look second-hand and will have been well used.

Most networks will only sell grades A-C. You can get grade D phones from some refurbished phone traders on eBay, but even they'll typically recommend you only buy one if you're able to repair phones yourself.

To complicate things further, some networks use their own grading system. O2, for instance, favours the grades 'Perfect', 'Almost Perfect' and 'Perfectly Fine'.

But where networks do use their own system, you can usually find a key explaining grades on their site.

Found a refurbished phone you like off contract?

Good news. Now you just need a good SIM only plan.

You can compare SIM only contracts at our dedicated comparison page.

Looking to sell your old phone?

From how to write product descriptions to tips for cleaning up your phone so it looks its best, head to our guide to help you get the best price when you sell your phone.

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Should you buy a refurbished phone? A complete guide

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The term 'refurbished phone' generally refers to a pre-owned handset that has been sent back due to a fault and has been repaired for re-sale. Not all phones described as refurbished were at one stage faulty, though.

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Travel to Work/College Cyrraedd y Gwaith/Coleg

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Travel to Work/College Cyrraedd y Gwaith/Coleg

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Tools you can use/ Offer mae modd eu defnyddio

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Tools you can use/ Offer mae modd eu defnyddio

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Budget Planner | Free online budget planning tool | MoneyHelper

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Discover our free online MoneyHelper Budget Planner calculator to gain a better understanding of your money coming in and out, and how to improve your finances.

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Essential support for under 25s

Cheap, reliable, green and keeps you fit. Is there any reason why you shouldn't be getting on your bike? Here's what you need to know before you hit the road.

Buying a bike

Need a bike? You can often pick up a decent second-hand bike through ads in the local paper or post office window. If you want a sparkly new one it's worth asking if your employer is part of the Bike2Work scheme, which lets you buy a new bike tax free and spread the payments over several months.

If you don't want to commit to buying a bike you could always hire one. There are now bike share-schemes running in several cities across the UK.

Wearing a helmet

It may not be a legal requirement (yet), but wearing a helmet offers vital protection for your precious head. It's essential you try it on before you buy because helmets that don't fit snugly around your head will offer little or no protection, and you'll be put off wearing one that's uncomfortable.

It's also a good idea to wear light clothing or, ideally, high-visibility gear like a reflective vest to make sure other road users can see you.

Riding a bike

We know you can ride a bike, but if you need a confidence booster before you tackle that busy roundabout or box junction it's a good idea to get a refresher course. There are a number of organisations around the country that offer (sometimes free) cycling proficiency courses, as well as mountain bike skills training to help you make the most of your bike off-road.

The Highway Code

As well as staying safe yourself it's important to ride in a way that's safe for others.

If you cycle on the roads the Highway Code applies as much to you as other drivers, so it's worth being aware of what rules apply to cyclists.

If you're cycling on the roads at night or in poor visibility it's a legal requirement for your bike to have:

A white front light

A red rear light

A red rear reflector

Amber pedal reflectors on the front and rear of each pedal

You're allowed to use either steady or flashing lights, provided they're bright enough.

Planning your route

Cycling on busy roads can be risky, so if you can check out routes that aren't so busy. Several local councils have produced their own cycling and walking maps showing recommended routes. Check with your local council to find out if there's one for your area.

The National Cycle Network, coordinated by the sustainable transport charity Sustrans, also covers over 12,000 miles of traffic-free paths, quiet lanes and traffic-calmed roads. A map of the whole network can be downloaded from the website and the site also has an interactive mapping facility that lets you find dedicated cycle routes near where you live.

Lock up your bike

It's important to lock your bike to something solid and immovable (ideally a proper cycle parking stand), in a well-lit area, using a strong lock. It's worth putting a lock around the wheels as well as the frame, especially if they're quick-release.

It's a good idea to take a photograph of your bike and make a note of the frame number and any other distinguishing features. This information should help the police identify it if it ever gets stolen. It's also worth registering your bike for free with Immobilise and getting it property-marked or tagged.

You might also want to consider insuring your bike.

Taking your bike on public transport

Most train companies allow bikes but you often have to book in advance, so check with the individual company before you travel. Local bus services don't usually allow bikes, but long-distance bus and coach services will often let you put a bike in the luggage hold if there's room. Again, check with the individual company.

Folding bikes are much easier to carry on all forms of public transport and are usually treated as an ordinary piece of luggage.

Looking after your bike

You don't have to spend your weekends obsessively scrubbing off every speck of dirt, but it's important to clean your bike regularly, as well as oil the chain and gears to keep it in good working order. It's also a good idea to get it serviced at least twice a year. Your local bike shop will probably be set up to do this.

Photo of bikes by Flickr

Next Steps

Chat about this subject on our Discussion Boards.

Need help but confused where to go locally? Download our StepFinder iPhone app to find local support services quickly.

By Amy Turner

Updated on 29-Sep-2015

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Welcome to The Mix, a support service for young people. There are loads of ways you can get support from us, including our articles, videos, helpline, counselling, forums, apps and more. To find which service suits your needs use the drop down menu below.

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Essential support for under 25s Cheap, reliable, green and keeps you fit. Is there any reason why you shouldn't be getting on your bike? Here's what you need to know before you hit the road. Need a bike? You can often pick up a decent second-hand bike through ads in the local paper or post office window.

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If you consider yourself a cash-strapped student, yet you're feasting on Tesco's Finest Parma ham and M&S brie, you're doing something wrong.
Your years spent surviving on a Student Loan budget at university is the prime time to discover the art of supermarket downshifting: swap your luxury buys for cheaper alternatives, and you'll knock a shedload off the cost of your shopping basket.

By using the supermarket downshift mentality next time you shop, you can save around a third on your weekly food spending. So if you normally spend £30 a week on food, you can cut that down to roughly £20! That's a saving of £520 a year!

If you're really up for a challenge, try living off £10 for a week - find out how we did it!

What is supermarket downshifting?

The supermarket downshift method is based on the premise that supermarkets stock four different price levels of their staple products, with the only real difference between the products being the price tag.

The four levels are:

1. Premium brand: Luxury & organic brands such as Tesco Finest or Sainsbury's Taste the Difference

2. Manufacturer's brand: The brands we know and love - Heinz, Bird's Eye, Walkers...

3. Supermarket own brand: Supermarkets' own versions of our favourite brands, such as Tesco cornflakes

4. No-frills value products: Economy packets with basic packaging, for example, Tesco Everyday Value chocolate, Asda Smartprice onions or Sainsbury's Basics bread.

More often than not the only noticeable difference between these brands is the packaging, and supermarkets will trick you into reaching for the more expensive packet by placing these products at eye level (and that's not the only trick they use, either).

Tesco is slowly ditching its classic Everyday Value brand for some new more farm-y sounding ones: Stockwell & Co. for cupboard staples like tea, coffee and baked beans, Eastman's Deli for cooked meats, Hearty Food Co. for ready meals and Ms Molly's for sweet treats.

Same quality, different packaging!

It's also worth noting that the top two tiers may switch around - sometimes the branded product is even more expensive than the luxury brand.

Either way, the principle remains: try to move down at least one pricing tier as part of the downshift.

Can't bear to part with your favourite brands?

Trading down to a shopping basket full of no-frills alternatives can be a massive ask for some people, and if you can't bear the thought of parting with your Heinz ketchup, that's ok!

As long as you try downgrading on some items that are less important to you, such as washing up liquid, cooking oil, sugar and chopped tomatoes, you'll still make a substantial saving.

These are all basic student staples that won't make a difference to your life if you compromise on 'quality'.

How much can you save with the supermarket downshift?

Just in case you don't believe us, we've decided to illustrate the point by comparing some standard student essentials within the same supermarket.

1. Coffee savings at Tesco

Premium - Tesco Finest Ethiopian Instant Coffee 100g: £3.19

Manufacturer's - Nescafe Fine Blend Instant Coffee 100g: £2.27

Supermarket's Own - Tesco Classic Coffee 100g: 74p

No Frills - Tesco Everyday Value Coffee Granules 100g: £0.74

By switching from Tesco's Premium brand to their Value coffee (Stockwell and Co), you can save £2.45, meaning you can afford to juice yourself up for a last minute rush to the essay deadline.

You'll need all the help you can get if you're trying to write a 3,000 word essay in a day.

Click here to shop at Tesco "

2. Cheaper cheese at ASDA

Premium - ASDA Extra Special Handmade Wookey Hole Cave-Aged Cheddar 200g: £2.00 (£10 per kg)

Manufacturer's - Joseph Heler Handcrafted Vintage Cheddar Blackstone 200g: £2.00 (£10 per kg)

Supermarket's Own - ASDA Mature Cheddar Cheese 250g: £1.75 (£7 per kg)

No Frills - ASDA Smart Price Mild White Cheddar Cheese 385g: £1.88 (£4.88 per kg)

Cheese is one of those things that you don't realise is so expensive until you go to uni. But at just £4.88 per kg, ASDA's no-frills cheddar is almost three times cheaper than their premium offering, and less than half the price of a branded cheese!

Click here to shop at ASDA "

3. Bargain bread at Sainsbury's

Premium - Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Ancient Grains Thick Sliced White Bread 800g: £1.10

Manufacturer's - Hovis Soft Medium Sliced White Bread 800g: £1.15

Supermarket's Own - Sainsbury's Soft Medium Sliced White Bread 800g: 55p

No Frills - Sainsbury's Basics Medium White Sliced Loaf 800g: 45p

Toast is every student's comfort food, and saving 80p on every loaf you buy will save you loads in the long run.

Click here to shop at Sainsbury's "

4. Stone-cold bargain ice cream at Waitrose

Premium - Waitrose 1 Madagascan vanilla ice cream 500ml: £3.69 (73.8p per 100ml)

Manufacturer's - Carte D'Or Madagascan vanilla ice cream 1l: £3.50 (35p per 100ml)

Supermarket's Own - Waitrose vanilla dairy ice cream 1l: £2.65 (26.5p per 100ml)

No Frills - essential Waitrose vanilla soft ice cream 1l: £1.30 (13p per 100ml)

Downgrading a few levels on everyone's favourite dessert is a great way to save. Ice cream is ice cream as far as we're concerned, so you won't notice the difference. Plus, a saving of over 60p per litre is amazing.

Click here to shop at Waitrose "

Tips for saving with the supermarket downshift

So you're up for trying the supermarket downshift? Here are a few additional tips to ensure that you're working that downshift like a boss:

1. Taste test no-frills products - Some supermarkets do no-frills brands better than others, so it's a good idea to do the rounds of different supermarkets sampling your favourite staples. Keep a shopping diary and rate products out of 10 to remind yourself what tastes best, where

2. Use your judgement - Whilst store cupboard staples are perfect options for downshifting to value products, you might not want to compromise on the likes of fresh meat. Just make sure you choose which products you downshift wisely

3. Downshift to a budget supermarket - Supermarkets like Lidl or Aldi can offer some serious savings, as they're almost entirely stocked with budget brands you've probably never heard of (but which taste just as good!). Beware that your Heinz won't be cheaper here, though, as manufacturer-branded products are generally the same price as in other supermarkets

4. Remember to do the maths! - Never assume that no-frills value will undisputedly be the cheapest option. Sometimes supermarkets will have good deals running which mess up the whole downshifting theory - in some circumstances you can find luxury products selling for the same price as no-frills. Make sure you always do the maths!

Are you savvy to the dirty tricks that supermarkets pull to try and get you to spend more cash?

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Try the supermarket downshift: Save £520 a year with one small change

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If you consider yourself a cash-strapped student, yet you're feasting on Tesco's Finest Parma ham and M&S brie, you're doing something wrong. Your years spent surviving on a Student Loan budget at university is the prime time to discover the art of supermarket downshifting: swap your luxury buys for cheaper alternatives, and you'll knock a shedload off the cost of your shopping basket.

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MyBnk's My Moneycast - Episode 9: Budgeting

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Welsh students are not just students from Wales. Your nationality is important but is not the only consideration. You're a Welsh student if you're any of the following:

a UK national or Irish citizen and been living in UK and Islands for 3 years before the first day of the first year of your course

have been granted settled status and been living in UK and Islands for 3 years before the first day of the first year of your course

have been granted settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme and been living in UK and Islands for 3 years before the first day of the first year of your course

All of the above will also need to live in Wales on or before the first day of the first academic year of your course.

You can also have an eligible exception residency type such as a refugee, stateless person or humanitarian protection.

If you're not able to identify as a Welsh student you may still be eligible for funding as a European Union student.

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Full time, undergraduate students | Student Finance Wales

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Welsh students are not just students from Wales. Your nationality is important but is not the only consideration.

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Education Maintenance Allowance/ Lwfans Cynhaliaeth Addysg

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Education Maintenance Allowance/ Lwfans Cynhaliaeth Addysg

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Education Maintenance Allowance | GOV.WALES

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You may be eligible to receive a £30 weekly EMA award if:

you are above the compulsory school age

you will be aged 16, 17 or 18 years old on or before the 31 August

you normally live in Wales

you are studying an eligible full-time academic or vocational course

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You may be eligible to receive a £30 weekly EMA award if: you are above the compulsory school age you will be aged 16, 17 or 18 years old on or before the 31 August you normally live in Wales you are studying an eligible full-time academic or vocational course

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Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It's paid monthly - or twice a month for some people in Scotland.

You may be able to get it if you're on a low income, out of work or you cannot work.

If you live in Northern Ireland, go to Universal Credit in Northern Ireland.

Sign in

Sign in to your Universal Credit account if you already have one.

If you already get other benefits

Universal Credit is replacing the following benefits and tax credits:

Child Tax Credit

Housing Benefit

Income Support

income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Working Tax Credit

If you're getting any of these benefits or tax credits, you do not need to do anything unless either:

your circumstances change

you get a letter called a 'Migration Notice' telling you that you must claim Universal Credit

You'll stop getting these benefits and tax credits when you or your partner claims Universal Credit. If you or your partner gets Pension Credit, this will also stop if one of you claims Universal Credit.

This will not affect any other benefits you're getting, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Carer's Allowance.

You can read more about how tax credits and Universal Credit affect each other.

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Universal Credit is replacing 6 other benefits with a single monthly payment if you're out of work or on a low income - eligibility, how to prepare.

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Energy Saving Tips/ Cynghorion arbed ynni

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Energy Saving Tips/ Cynghorion arbed ynni

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Whether you're a homeowner, private or social renter, student, or you live at home with your parents, there are many things you can do to reduce how much energy you use and how much is spent.

We're all responsible for the energy we use in our homes. Take a look at our quick tips and see if you're saving as much energy as you could be.
Please note, all savings on this page are based on figures for Great Britain and are not applicable to Northern Ireland.
1. Understand your bill

The information on a typical energy bill can be confusing, but understanding it can go a long way to helping you get to grips with your energy usage at home.

This video from Home Energy Scotland provides a helpful guide.

2. Switch off standby

You can save around £30 a year just by remembering to turn your appliances off standby mode.

Almost all electrical and electronic appliances can be turned off at the plug without upsetting their programming. You may want to think about getting a standby saver which allows you to turn all your appliances off standby in one go.

Check the instructions for any appliances you aren't sure about. Some satellite and digital TV recorders may need to be left plugged in so they can keep track of any programmes you want to record.

3. Careful in your kitchen

You can save around £36 a year from your energy bill just by using your kitchen appliances more carefully:

Use a bowl to wash up rather than a running tap and save £25 a year in energy bills.

Cutback your washing machine use by just one cycle per week and save £5 a year on energy.

Only fill the kettle with the amount of water that you need and save around £6 a year.

4. Get a head

If you've got a shower that takes hot water straight from your boiler or hot water tank (rather than an electric shower), fit a water efficient shower head. This will reduce your hot water usage while retaining the sensation of a powerful shower.

A water efficient shower head could save a four person household (e.g. a family of four or even a shared student flat) as much as £70 a year on gas for water heating, as well as a further £115 a year on water bills if they have a water meter.
Calculation is based on the assumption that a family of 4 takes 20 showers a week and replaces a 13 litre/minute power-shower head with a 7.7 litre/min water efficient shower head, and the family are charged £2.97 per cubic meter of water used (includes sewage charge).
5. Spend less time in the shower

Spending one minute less in the shower each day will save up to £7 a year off your energy bills, per person. With a water meter this could save a further £12 off annual water and sewerage bills.

If everyone in a four-person household did this it would lead to a total saving of £75 a year.

6. Draught proofing

Unless your home is very new, you will lose some heat through draughts around doors and windows, gaps around the floor, or through the chimney.

Professional draught-proofing of windows, doors and blocking cracks in floors and skirting boards can cost around £200, but can save around £20 a year on energy bills. DIY draught proofing can be much cheaper.

Installing a chimney draught excluder could save around £15 a year as well.

7. Take control of your heating

More than half the money spent on fuel bills goes towards providing heating and hot water.

Installing a room thermostat, a programmer and thermostatic radiator valves and using these controls efficiently could save you around £75 a year.

If you already have a full set of controls, turning down your room thermostat by just one degree can save around £80 a year.

Whatever the age of your boiler the right controls will allow you to:

Set your heating and hot water to come on and off when you need them

Heat only the areas of your home that need heating

Set the temperature for each area of your home.

8. Get savvy with smart controls

Smart heating controls are the latest innovation to help you control your heating and understand your energy use.

They allow you to control your heating remotely via a mobile app, meaning that you can manage the temperature of your home from wherever you are, at whatever time of day.

A smart meter with in-home display or energy monitor can help householders save energy by increasing awareness of energy use, helping to cut waste. Government estimates that a display or monitor could typically help reduce a household's electricity use by 2.8% and gas use by 2%.

9. Switch to LEDs

You can now get LED spotlights that are bright enough to replace halogens, as well as regular energy saving bulbs ('compact fluorescent lamps' or CFLs). They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and fittings.

If the average household replaced all of their bulbs with LEDs, it would cost about £100 and save about £35 a year on bills.

10. Turn off lights

Turn your lights off when you're not using them. If you switch a light off for just a few seconds, you will save more energy than it takes for the light to start up again, regardless of the type of light.

This will save you around £14 a year on your annual energy bills.

Are you a homeowner?

If you're a homeowner, there are some other things you can consider to improve the energy efficiency of your home. These can be more costly to put in place, but will benefit you in the long term.

Are you renting?

Potential tenants don't always apply the same level of scrutiny to their potential home as buyers. But when it comes to energy efficiency, this could be a key mistake.

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Whether you're a homeowner, private or social renter, student, or you live at home with your parents, there are many things you can do to reduce how much energy you use and how much is spent. We're all responsible for the energy we use in our homes.

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You can save even more on train tickets with a Railcard. Here are our most popular:

Two Together Railcard

Travel together with another person and you will both save 1/3 on tickets. Visit twotogether-railcard.co.uk for more.

16-17 Saver

The 16-17 Saver gives 50% off Standard Season, Off-Peak, Advance and Anytime tickets for everyone aged 16 and 17.

16 - 25 Railcard

16 to 25 year olds (and some of you in full time education) get 1/3 off. And now get discounts in TfW First and Standard Class Advance tickets too. Visit 16-25railcard.co.uk for more.

26 - 30 Railcard

With a 26-30 Railcard you can get 1/3 off rail fares to travel across Britain. Visit 26-30railcard.co.uk to find out more

Family & Friends Railcard

With a Family & Friends Railcard you can get 1/3 off rail fares to travel across Britain. Visit familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk to see how much you can save.

Senior Railcard

With a Senior Railcard you can get 1/3 off rail fares to travel across Britain. Visit senior-railcard.co.uk to see how you can apply and how much you could save.

Disabled Persons Railcard

With a Disabled Persons Railcard you can get 1/3 off rail fares to travel across Britain for you and a friend. Visit disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk for more.

Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card

With the Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount card you can save 50% off rail travel. The card is free of charge and is designed to help people who are currently unemployed to travel to job interviews at a lower cost. The card will expire after three months of use.

You can save 50% on:

Anytime Day tickets

Off-Peak Day tickets

Season tickets (up to three months)

To be eligible for the Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card you must be claiming:

Universal Credit or Jobseeker's Allowance between 3-9months, if you're aged 18-24

Universal Credit or Jobseeker's Allowance between 3-12 months, if you're aged 25 or over

You can apply for a card at your local Jobcentre Plus - speak to an advisor for more information.
Please note: cards are given case-by-case individual basis.

Transport for Wales Railcards

You can make some great savings with a TfW Railcard. Here's what you can get:

What if I've left my Railcard at home

If a Railcard cannot be produced at the time of purchase or at any ticket examination then the full undiscounted fare will be payable as if no ticket or Railcard were held.

Subsequently, refunds can not be given on these undiscounted tickets but may be given on the unused part of the discounted ticket(s) - less the refund administration fee. No further or subsequent claims for refunds may be entertained.

A Railcard is not valid if the holder boards any train without having a ticket when the ticket office was open. In this situation, the customer can only buy the full Anytime Single or Return on the train with no discount. Accompanying children pay the normal child fare. On pay trains or when the ticket office is closed customers can buy tickets on the train at the appropriate discounted fare. In Penalty Fares areas customers should purchase a permit to travel before boarding the train.

A valid Railcard must be held for the full duration of both the outward and return portions of period return tickets.

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You can save even more on train tickets with a Railcard. Here are our most popular: Two Together Railcard Travel together with another person and you will both save 1/3 on tickets. Visit twotogether-railcard.co.uk for more. 16-17 Saver The 16-17 Saver gives 50% off Standard Season, Off-Peak, Advance and Anytime tickets for everyone aged 16 and 17.

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Save money by applying for mytravelpass to get discounted travel for all 16-21 year olds across Wales. Receive 1/3 off your travel with mytravelpass.

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Split ticketing/ tocynnau rhataf ymlaenllaw

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Split ticketing/ tocynnau rhataf ymlaenllaw

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The Official Split Ticketing Site - Compare Fares and Get the Best Value For Money Through Split Tickets and Booking Cheap Train Tickets Online + No Booking Fee

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Young Person's Coachcard/ Cerdyn Coets i Berson Ifanc

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Young Person's Coachcard/ Cerdyn Coets i Berson Ifanc

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Find out how a Young Persons Coachcard can pay for itself after just one trip

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email/ebost- gettingready@childreninwales.org.uk

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The Getting Ready Project provides support for young people to safely transition from care. We aim to empower young people by enhancing their knowledge and understanding of their rights and entitlements when planning to leave care, and we do this through the provision and creation of online resources produced in partnership with care experienced young people. All our resources are bespoke and specific to each local authority, taking into consideration geographical differences and if this is a strategy you feel would support your area then please do get in touch with us.

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Voices from Care Cymru/ Lleisiau o Ofal Cymru

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Voices from Care Cymru/ Lleisiau o Ofal Cymru

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email/ebost
gettingready@vfcc.org.uk

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Have you seen our flyers out there anywhere?... Some official chat.... Getting Ready is a new and exciting project, delivered by Voices from Care Cymru with Children in Wales and supported by funding through the Welsh Government 'Suitable Provision and Support Innovation Fund - Homelessness Prevention Grant' 2019-20.

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There is an app to help you manage who owes what when you share a house/flat with others

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Splitwise is a free tool for friends and roommates to track bills and other shared expenses, so that everyone gets paid back. On the web, iPhone, and Android!

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Money- I need some/ Arian - Mae angen peth arna i!

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Money- I need some/ Arian - Mae angen peth arna i!

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One-to- one workshops/ Gweithdai un-i-un

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One-to- one workshops/ Gweithdai un-i-un

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We can run workshops for young people on any of the topic areas covered in our resources.

In the one-to-one workshops we are able to go into more depth on an issue, providing guidance based on the individual's needs.

For more information contact Bethan Wilson, Development Officer, Children in Wales. bethan.wilson@childreninwales.org.uk

Gallwn ni gynnal gweithdai i bobl ifanc ar unrhyw rai o’r meysydd pwnc sy’n cael sylw yn ein hadnoddau.

Yn y gweithdai un-i-un byddwn ni’n gallu edrych yn fanylach ar rywbeth, a rhoi arweiniad ar sail anghenion yr unigolyn.

I gael rhagor o wybodaeth, cysylltwch â Bethan Wilson, Swyddog Datblygu, Plant yng Nghymru. bethan.wilson@childreninwales.org.uk

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Your local council must provide you with support until you're 25. When you leave care there'll be a meeting to help you work out what you're going to do next.

16

You'll be given a plan to help you make the transition from care to independent life

18

You're no longer in care when you turn 18 but your council must still provide you with some support, including a personal adviser and plan

21

You can continue to get help and advice from the council and a personal adviser until you're 25, if you want to

What the council must do to help you

The council must:

give you a personal adviser who stays in touch with you once you've left care

carry out an assessment to find out what advice and support you need - they must also prepare a plan to make this happen (called a 'pathway plan')

make sure you've got somewhere to live and enough money (until you turn 18)

help you to continue living with your foster parent if you want to (until you turn 21)

Discussing your future

If you're leaving care you'll have a 'statutory review meeting' to discuss your future, including what support you'll need.

Things to consider before your meeting

These things will be discussed at your statutory review meeting:

where you're going to live (you can move somewhere where personal support and advice is always available if you want to)

if you're going to work, get training or continue in education

how much support you think you'll need from your social worker or personal adviser

Who should be at your statutory review meeting

The following people should be at the meeting:

you

an advocate, if you ask for one (an adult you choose who can help you explain things)

your social worker

your carers

any other people responsible for supporting you (like a mentor or a member of staff from your school or college)

an Independent Reviewing Officer (a neutral person appointed to make sure everything's done properly)

Complaining about your statutory review meeting

You can make a formal complaint if you're not happy with how your meeting went. Your social worker or personal adviser from the leaving care service and the Independent Reviewing Officer must tell you how to do this.

Supporting you in education

You should get a bursary of £1,200 a year if you stay in full-time education. Contact your education provider (your school or college) to find out how to claim the 16-19 bursary.

You can get a higher education bursary of £2,000 from your local council if you're going on to higher education (for example university).

When you reach 16

Your local council must write a 'pathway plan' when you reach 16 which helps you prepare for leaving care and says what support you should get.

It must include plans for your:

health

education, training and development

contact with family

financial management

Your personal adviser must take part in any pathway plan reviews until you're 21, or 25 if you want this support to continue. You must have a review:

at least every 6 months

if you ask for one

if your personal adviser or the council asks for one

Setting up home allowances

You can get a setting up home allowance (also known as a leaving care grant) to help you buy essential things when moving into your own home. Contact your local council to find out how much is available.

Finding work

You may be able to:

Benefits

You might be able to claim some benefits, like:

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Leaving foster or local council care - support from your council, review meetings and financial help

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Money Ready is a financial education charity dedicated to creating a financially fluent population. We believe that financial literacy should be considered a right for all because the language of money is a language for life.