Quids in! 35

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Quids in!

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Advice on: ✔ Spending ✔ Saving ✔ Borrowing ✔ Earning

The UK’s Number 1 Money Magazine | ISSUE 35 Summer 2017 www.quidsinmagazine.com

“I WAS ALWAYS A LITTLE SCARED OF MONEY”

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QUESTIONS

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£50 cash with our super prize crossword

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FOODBANKS Welfare changes: A million taking food parcels

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YOUR MONEY

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Something in what our cover star Gethin Jones told Quids in! really struck a chord. He’s right, it doesn’t take much to be little nicer to one another. It’s easy to say. A cliché even. But in these dark and confusing times, it’s a reminder that the smallest gestures can shine the brightest light.

Same with the food banks. It’s shocking to think over a million people across the UK have to turn to them but there is something so positive about the fact that they run on the kindness of strangers. Many will say, ‘Oh, I don’t believe people are that hard up’, but until they can walk a mile in other people’s shoes, they should not judge. Assuming the worst of others says more about us, whereas making a donation is our chance to feel like we’re making a difference.

We could use a little good news right now. There is so much uncertainty in the world. But, do you know what? We can lift the gloom a little in our own worlds by taking Gethin’s advice and making a gesture to a stranger that costs nothing, with a smile or a helping hand.

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Jeff Editor

‘WE WILL NOT BE MOVED’ Shock research finds those not online reject digital Lloyds bank report finds online bankers save twice as much, but 2/3 of people not online refuse to go digital. qimag.uk/qi35lloyds

Lloyds Bank has found that people banking online or by mobile save more than twice as much as those who do not. But it also found a staggering two thirds of those not banking online cannot see any reason to switch to digital.

The UK Consumer Digital Index was set up to test customers’ ability to cope with financial setbacks. The 2017 report is the second Lloyds has published.

Martha Lane Fox of campaigning group DotEveryone said: “Put plainly, those who

are highly digitally capable save more money, more often than those without the skills to use the internet.”

1.1 million opted to develop IT skills in the previous year. Almost half (45%) started by asking friends or family to get them started.

Internet surfers discovered they could save an average £444 using discount and cashback websites alone. That’s £8.54 per week to spend on treats or essentials.

Two thirds of those surveyed had avoided scandalous overdraft fees by staying on top of what was coming in or going out of their accounts by checking online or by mobile phone.

Quids in! research found two in ten readers (21%) do not have access to the internet and are missing out.

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editor@quidsinmagazine.com

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Welcome

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In this issue…

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The Food Chain

Cash for Questions

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Giving and receiving at the foodbank Page 4

Make money in your 8 spare time page 6

Our cash prize crossword page 7

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Quids in! magazine

m Address 3 Monmouth Place, Bath BA1 2AT. Tel 08456 8049 06 m Editor Jeff Mitchell Email editor@quidsinmagazine.com 12 m Comms Officer Dan Fineman Email dan@ socialpublishingproject.com m Advertising Opportunities Lisa Woodman Email lisa@ socialpublishingproject.com m Copy Sales Lisa Woodman , Rhiannon McNamara, Email lisa@ socialpublishingproject.com, rhiannon@socialpublishingproject.com m Design Joe Burt m Cartoon by Rachel Wotton www.harmfulraes.com 16

Quids in! makes every effort to ensure content is correct at the time of going to print. Readers should take specialist advice where necessary. Quids in! has no political allegiances, and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or editor. Any relationship with advertisers or sponsors is always on the understanding that we retain our editorial independence.

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Quids in! magazine is designed to help people understand 17 and manage their money better. It is published quarterly by the Social Publishing Project, a social enterprise.

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Quids in! magazine is supported by Aon and Aviva. Aon arranges home contents insurance with Aviva for tenants of social and council housing. Ask your landlord if they have a scheme in place.

BUZZ

The latest news affecting you and your finances

CREDIT CLAMPDOWN CALLS FCA wanting to wade in on spiralling debt Household debt spikes by £5bn in one month, to £1.5 trillion, sparking @bankofengland and @TheFCA to look at further clampdown on lenders

UC WATCH

of living while wage increases remain low could leave consumers unable to cover their debts. Head of Policy at StepChange debt charity, Peter Tutton, responded saying UK debt was already at a record high and that “we urgently need action” to prevent more households falling into debt they cannot manage. He called for a ban on credit limit increases brought in without request and for firms to take action as soon as it appears customers are struggling.

■ Free debt advice is available to anyone who feels they are losing control of repayments. Contact National Debtline, StepChange or Citizens Advice for help – see page 7 for details.

£17,576

The real Living Wage for outside London. Ikea, Lush, Aviva and Everton Football Club are among employers who pay at least £8.45 an hour

£15,600

National minimum wage for over-25s since April. £7.50 an hour

£1,976

How much better off per year a full-time worker on the real Living Wage (outside London) compared to the minimum wage

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avoid the pitfalls.

‘Check you have all the benefits you’re entitled to,’ said one. ‘Have up-to-date ID, a bank account and an email address ready in advance,’ added another.

The list of tips, including how to prepare for two months without any income, is on qimag.uk/qiucadvice. Only Readers Club members can access it – to join for free, go to qimag.uk/QIClubReg

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JOIN THE CONVERSATION… I hate waste. I found a full and unused carton of eggs in the fridge. They said ‘best before’ the month earlier but I popped them in a jug of cold water and as they didn’t float to the top, I knew they were fine.

Omelette was great.

M Dolan, Glasgow

£20,280

Living Wage (London, based on 40 hours a week), says the Living Wage Foundation. That’s £9.75 an hour

Universal Credit is coming

Benefit claimants have been drafted in to help others moving onto Universal Credit to share ‘what they know now that they wish they’d known before’.

Workshops were run by Clean Slate Training & Employment under its Step Up programme helping low income workers maximise their income and win better paid jobs. Claimants discussed the advice they would share with people across the UK to

NO EGG ON MY FACE

£27,600

Average wage in UK. That’s £13.27 an hour

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New fears for consumers’ finances have been triggered as personal debt has rocketed by a whacking £5 billion, according to the Bank of England.

Household debt now exceeds one and a half thousand thousand million pounds with £5 billion being added in one month this year.

Finance sector watchdog the FCA said it must now take a closer look at all lending.

Experts warn that increases to the cost

NUMBER CRUNCHED WAGES

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WE LOVE HOLLY VLOGS Here Channel 4 follow her slashing over-spenders’ bills. qimag.uk/summer17vid

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A I N C H D O O F THE families feature of life for the worst-off y da ery ev an me co be ve ha s Foodbank ms are forcing claimants to or ref re lfa we nd fou s ha t or rep in Britain. A new rs to keep their families fed turn to the kindness of strange

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felt embarrassed. It’s like begging for food. People I know say they would rather get in more debt than be seen going to a foodbank.

“But I had no money left. I had large bills to come out and £1,500 rent arrears due to a mix-up with housing benefits and some bad advice. I had debt collectors writing to me.”

Finally, Quids in! reader Helen had no choice but to ask for help and turned to her local foodbank.

What would we do if all our income stopped? Whether through a mix-up or while moving onto Universal Credit, how would we cope if it took months to sort it out?

We pay taxes so we are taken care of when we’re out of work or when disaster strikes. But the system is not working. It seems there’s not enough to go round and

what money there is for benefits takes weeks to kick in.

Helen is one of more than a million people in the UK forced to turn to a foodbank last year. The largest network of foodbanks, run by the Trussell Trust, has over 425 and supplied donated goods to 1.2 million hungry customers.

FILLING THE WELFARE GAP A report by the Trussell Trust reveals that things are getting worse in places where the government’s new Universal Credit (UC) is rolling out. The new benefits system pays a month in arrears and takes at least six weeks to start but many claimants find their claim is difficult to set up and waited three months for their first payment. The research found in these areas, numbers of people needing their support doubled.

To receive 3 days’ worth of food and support, users are usually referred by a support agency, like Citizens Advice or a housing or employment support project, or even a GP. HAPPY TO HELP Part-time worker and student Helen had children to feed. “The foodbank helped me save money for a week’s food and meant I wasn’t worrying about feeding my family.

“The process was good and the staff were so friendly and discreet. They asked what I needed, then gave me toiletries, loo roll and enough dry food – pasta and tinned food – for a week.”

The shelves at foodbanks are stocked through donations by shoppers who pick up a few extra items to pass on to people who need them. Some supermarkets have collection areas, emptied by one of over

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“The process was good staff were so friendlyand the discreet. They asked w and needed, then gave me hat I loo roll and enough dry ftoiletries, and tinned food – for a ood – pasta week.”

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40,000 volunteers nationwide.

Quids in! reader Michelle says she checks what the local foodbank say they need most before donating. “It’s normally something like a tin of beans, long-life milk, shampoo or cereal.”

“I donate because I know that people in my local area are struggling to make ends meet,” she adds. “I can donate something small each week without really noticing it on my food bill.”

MORE THAN A HAND-OUT The Trussell Trust found having no income created more problems than hunger.

Among those moving to UC, one in four felt their mental health was affected, two in five had worsening debts, and one in five reported that it impacted their ability to work and/or their housing. In response, a number of foodbanks now also offer

The real Benefits Street now includes foodbanks and advice agencies.

Places to access the internet and set up bank accounts are also the 'go to' locations for many claimants

money advice, support for families with children over the school holidays and courses for cooking on a budget.

There are no signs that the tough times many communities are facing or the changes to the benefit system will end any time soon. Foodbanks and similar schemes, like community kitchens and neighbourhood food parcel projects, may become all too familiar.

Helen says she found more than a hand-out at the foodbank. She met others in a similar position and linked into other support on offer to her and her family.

“They gave me a cup of tea and a biscuit. They actually spoke to me. People played with the kids and I found out about a toddler group for the children.” ≠ To find your nearest foodbank, go to: http://qimag.uk/findafoodbank

Quids in! says

Foodbanks are a practical way to help our neighbours. It’s only like harvest festival! No-one is immune to tough times so let’s make it an everyday thing to bung in a couple of extra tins and some hygiene products.

For anyone of working age on housing benefit, tax credits, income support or out of work benefits, it’s worth building our own personal foodbank. In advance of moving to Universal Credit, start saving goods in jars and tins that will make life a whole lot easier when we have to wait for money to come in.

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A PEN NY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

for our thoughts Experts say we can bring in more than £200 a month, paid just

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e might give market researchers a wide berth on the high street but more of us are signing up to take part in surveys at home. And why not? There’s over £200 a month to be had simply by telling companies what we think.

“I signed up to a number of sites when I was between jobs,” says Dave from Dartford. “I enjoyed it, including a number of surveys testing stuff before it’s on the market.”

There is more to do than answer questions. People are earning money trying out new games, reviewing ads and shopping.

Do a little research to find out how different surveys work (and only use recommended ones to block out the spam or even scam emails*). Some pay in credits to turn into vouchers once enough have built up. Some add incentives with targets and badges, making it more fun. Others simply pay for our time. Keep at it and try out a number of schemes as we go.

According to one of Quids In’s favourite money bloggers, Ricky Willis at SkintDad, some of the best money-spinners include:

¬ SWAGBUCKS – earn ‘bucks’ entering competitions, watching videos, playing games and shopping

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¬ VALUED OPINIONS – do surveys and review ads, earning up to £5 in vouchers for each ¬ TOLUNA – collect points for each survey and cash them out later. 500 points just for signing up ¬ SURVEYYEAH – quick and easy to do, build cash for each and claim it once you have £5 or more ¬ MYSURVEY – take surveys, test products and record a diary to earn points… and turn them into cash “I soon worked out my profile kept getting rejected on some sites so I unsubscribed from them.” Dave adds helpfully.

“It doesn’t stop feeling great when you spend vouchers on something nice. It’s like you’re getting it for free.”

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¬ For more details, see Skintdad’s blog at qimag.uk/qi35skintdad

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*To report scam emails go to qimag.uk/qiscamemails

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We’ll be working with one of the most trusted names in the UK to see what you think about money and how we can all make it work better for us.

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Enter online at qimag.uk/qicrossword or simply complete the crossword and pop it in the post to us.

Don’t forget to include your name, email (if you have one) and address. Send your completed crossword to £50 cash, Quids in!, 3 Monmouth Place, Bath BA1 2AT. Or you can enter by taking a pic of your completed crossword and sending it to editor@quidsinmagazine.com. Closing Date 11th August 2017.

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✆ QUIDS IN! USEFUL NUMBERS LOAN SHARKS The National Illegal Money Lending Team tackles loan sharks. To report a loan shark anonymously you can call them 365 days a year on ✆ 0300 555 2222, text LOAN SHARK and your details to 60003 or email them at reportaloanshark@ stoploansharks.gov.uk. In Wales call ✆ 0300 123 3311or send an email to imlu@cardiff.gov.uk

CREDIT UNIONS Credit unions are not-for-profit organisations that provide bank accounts, loans and savings. They may help people the banks won’t. To find your local credit union call ✆ 0161 832 3694 or visit www. findyourcreditunion.co.uk .

BENEFITS • For unemployment and work-related benefits talk to Jobcentre Plus.

• People with disabilities or carers should contact the Disabilit y Benefits Centre

(✆ 0345 605 6055) and for Child Benefit and tax credits call Inland Revenue (✆ 0845 300 3900).

• Council Tax and Housing Benefit is dealt with by your local council.

• Pensioners should call the Pensions Service (✆ 0800 99 12340).

• Free benefits calculator www.entitledto.co.uk

DEBT ADVICE For free debt advice and help, contact any of the organisations below.

• National Debtline ✆ 0808 808 4000 www.nationaldebtline.co.uk • StepChange Debt Charity ✆ 0800 138 1111 www.stepchange.org • Citizens Advice www.citizensadvice.org.uk.

In Wales call ✆ 08444 77 20 20 England call ✆ 08444 111 444 • Christians Against Poverty (CAP) www.capuk.org. ✆ 01274 760720

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IN THE KNOW…

GETHIN JONES LE P M SA “I’m only extravagant on family and friends. I’m not a big spender myself”

ly fans and Better known to Strict certain age, a f o s er ew vi er et P e Blu lking money ta w o n is t en g V T e th

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amiliar face and TV charmer, Gethin Jones has started helping young people manage their money through a series of online shows. Alongside One Show reporter Angelica Bell, Gethin presents NatWest’s Money Bite programme to get the UK talking about money.

Gethin is the nice guy who wishes we’d all be a little more polite to each other and who set up a charity to support kids with autism and their parents, as he explains to Quids in!.

how this generation hardly ever physically go to a bank.

Everything is done online or through apps. Their wallets are used for travel passes and ID cards! No cash!

Are you good with money?

I’m pretty good. I’ve been a good saver and invested carefully – in good people, rather than the business. So far, so good. I’m only extravagant on family and friends. I’m not a big spender myself.

What did you notice about how young people treat money?

It was interesting to see

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Quids in! believes we have to stay motivated to keep on top our finances but this applies to everything. As someone into sport and fitness, how do keep it up?

I’ve always thought that a healthy body leads to a healthy mind. But like anyone else, I have phases where I struggle a little with motivation. I try to “listen” to the body. Take a rest, try something different, do some yoga.

I’ve definitely pushed my body further than I thought it could go. I believe you can do that with your mind too.

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Money Bite looks at how people think about money.

Why is it important to know how to manage our cash?

I was always taught the value of money. The line which is always popular with parents is, “It doesn’t grow on trees”, so I was probably always a little scared of it, if I’m honest.

With my parents’ generation when you ran out, that was it.

This generation has overdrafts, which are dangerous because they allow you to live outside your means and it’s pretty impossible to catch up.

autistic nephews.

Together, using the expertise of our sisters, we thought we could help. And we are starting to!

We have been fundraising, taking on different challenges.

We’re now looking to set up courses to help parents (like our sisters needed), and supply local schools with iPads, balancing bikes, etc. I pay all of Nai’s expenses, so every penny goes where it needs to go.

Can you tell us about Nai, your autism charity?

“Nai” is Welsh for “nephew”.

My best friend and I both have

If you had one wish that could change something about life in the UK, what would it be?

My goodness. Tough one. There are many issues to address but I think we could all start off by being a bit kinder all around.

Let someone in when you’re driving, hold the door open, say good morning to someone on the tube or train.

Simple things can go a long way.

bad about the job is that you can never plan. The next few months involve rugby, dancing, and a ridiculous spartan challenge for Nai.

What next for Gethin Jones?

Life is varied. The good and

Money Bite: qimag.uk/ qimoneybite

Gethin Jones in Blue Peter (above) and Strictly (below)