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Quids in! ISSUE 42 SPRING 2019 / WWW.QUIDSINMAGAZINE.COM
OVERRATED Why a C V is the last thing jobseekers need
SAVINGS
FLOP
Savings boost scheme fails millions on low incomes
TURNING IN HIS GRAVE?
WHY S S O L S E C ' N I PR N I A G R U O IS
TAKING CONTROL
e Stepping in to help thos ts left high and dry by cu
EXPERT ADVICE ON: ✔SPENDING ✔SAVING ✔BORROWING ✔INCOME
D THE N I H E B S WHAT’
S W E N Welcome There’s a bit of a theme running through this issue of Quids in!. There’s a lot about winners and losers in this new world we’re living in. In the digital age, pop stars can no longer force us to pay for the music we want to hear. But then, we've gained free access to it. Post-Brexit, jobs will be left vacant by European workers feeling unwelcome. Employers will have to invest in people closer to home. One person's loss is another's gain. Thing is, do we want it when we get it? If not, we all lose. People wanting jobs, for example, and people needing new homes to be built or loved ones to be cared for. Both have a vested interest. The government’s Help to Save scheme was supposed to boost 3.5 million people’s bank balance but next to no-one signed up. There are winners everywhere failing to claim what is theirs. If people feel life has dealt them lemons then, as the saying goes, they better start making lemonade. Some people love lemons, though. I just hope they start drinking it.
Jeff, Editor
editor@quidsinmagazine.com
MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY:
‘RUDD MUST ACT ’
● Mind calls on minister to tackle ‘appalling’ link between UC and poverty
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n February, Work and Pensions Minister Amber Rudd admitted a link between Universal Credit (UC) and a rise in food bank usage. She told the House of Commons: “We are committed to a strong safety net where people need it. “It is clear there were challenges with the initial rollout of Universal Credit. The main issue that led to an increase in food bank use could have been that people had difficulty accessing their money early enough.” Now Mental health charity Mind is demanding she do something about it. Welcoming Rudd’s admission, Policy and Campaigns Manager, Paul Spencer, said: “It’s appalling people are being pushed into destitution when trying
In this issue…
to access support from our social security system. “Amber Rudd must act now to prove how her department will prevent people facing delays to payments under this new scheme.” Spencer said that unless there are changes, “many people including those with mental health problems will see their benefits stop entirely and risk even greater dependency on foodbanks.” The Trussell Trust runs the largest network of foodbanks. They say that on average, 12 months after UC has been rolled out, foodbanks see a 52% increase in demand.
Leave the CV:
Love thy neighbour:
Streaming savings:
Bring yourself to life Page 4
Time to pay something back? Page 7
Free tunes for all Page 8
Quids in! magazine
◆ Address 3 Princes Street, Bath BA1 1HL Tel 08456 8049 06 ◆ Editor Jeff Mitchell Email editor@quidsinmagazine.com ◆ Comms Officer Dan Fineman Email dan@ socialpublishingproject.com ◆ Advertising Opportunities Lisa Woodman Email lisa@ socialpublishingproject.com ◆ Copy Sales Lisa Woodman, Rhiannon McNamara, Email lisa@ socialpublishingproject.com, rhiannon@socialpublishingproject.com ◆ Design Joe Burt ◆ Cartoon by Rachel Wotton www.harmfulraes.com ◆ Agony Aunt: Jayne Bellis at PennySmart © This magazine may not be reproduced in part or full without prior written permission 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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12 months after UC has been rolled out, foodbanks see a 52% increase in demand.
OUR PURPOSE Quids in! magazine is designed to help people understand and manage their money better. It is published quarterly by the Social Publishing Project, a social enterprise.
Quids in! is not for profit but all about creating a better life for each of us. Honest, trusted and independent, we make money easier to understand and offer practical advice to people on lower incomes. We believe we should all be considered in decisions that affect us and we oppose how it costs more to be poor.
NEWS
LIFTING THE LID ON… THAT EU MONEY Prime Minister Theresa May says it’s time to start thinking about poorer communities. After Brexit there should be some money to do that. No-one has actually confirmed how much, though. It will be the new UK Shared Prosperity Fund that steps into the breach to pick up what the EU funded here. It
will need £2.4 billion a year just to match what quietly went into poorer neighbourhoods across the UK. But then someone also promised the NHS £350 million a week… so, £18.2 billion a year. And no-one can agree yet on how much Brexit will save or cost us anyway. The arguments have only just begun.
SAVINGS BOOSTER FAILS TO CONNECT
Government scheme to help low s earners build a savings buffer flop
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scheme to reward savers with 50 per cent bonuses has reached just one in forty of those it aimed to help. Help to Save was launched in September 2018. Around 3.5 million low income customers should benefit but just 2.3 per cent of these have taken it up. Experts say a rainy-day fund of £1,000 protects us against most domestic setbacks. In 2018, Quid in! research found three quarters (74%) did not save for shock events. Just one in three (30%) used a savings account. Those on Working or Child Tax Credits and Universal Credit, on less than £542.88 a
month, can apply. Accounts stay open for up to four years. On each second anniversary, a 50 per cent bonus is paid against the highest amount saved in that period. Savers can stash up to £50 each month, so a maximum of £2,400 in four years and £1,200 in bonuses. “They could start by letting people know about it,” says Karina, a Quids In! money tutor. “But it can also be difficult for people to use the Government Gateway to get onto it.” Luckily, the Government Gateway is being phased out from March 2019. Find out how it works and if you can apply at: qimag.uk/helptosave
JOIN THE CONVERSATION… HABIT-FORMING I’m doing the Penny-A-Day challenge. Save 1p on day one, 2p on day two, and so on. I’m on day 30 and decided to read someone else’s paper rather than buying one. It’s changing my habits. Received via quidsinmagazine.com
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POST The Editor, Quids In! 3 Princes Street, Bath BA1 1HL EMAIL editor@quidsinmagazine.com TWEET @quidsinmagazine
Have you got something you want to tell us, or a money-saving hint or tip to share? Each issue we’ll send £50 to our best letter writer, emailer or tweeter! Don’t forget to include your name and address.
AGONY AU NT PREMIUM IDEA? Dear Penny,
I’m sorting my money out this year and everyone tells me I can save loads by being online. I don’t really know what this means. Mike T, Wiltshire Penny says: Thanks for your question, Mike. You are spot on about saving money online. Last week I read a report from Lloyds Bank that claimed we could all save around £400 a year. That’s just using things like cashback websites and voucher codes. Add to that being able to check our account by banking online to avoid nasty surprises such as overdraft charges. We can use web-based budgeting tools to see what’s coming in and going out and what might be left over. Which? has put together some top tips for saving money online – see qimag.uk/whichtips. Getting online is a great resolution, so good luck with all your money saving, let me know how it goes!
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? G N I T N U H B JWhO d e e n u o y g in h t t s y a CV is the la As Quids in! launches a new centre for helping people on low incomes stretch and grow their finances, editor Jeff Mitchell throws out the rule book on job hunting…
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tart looking for work and most advisors will tell us to update our CV. I think that’s the last thing we should do. Right now is a great time to be getting a foot on – or up – the jobs ladder. Bosses were already struggling to recruit as more people have jobs right now. But with Brexit, many migrant workers have had enough. And they’re leaving jobs vacant. The numbers coming from the EU fell by 100,000 in the two years since the Brexit vote. It’s a problem for employers but for the taxman too. Migrant workers poured £7 billion into the UK’s public purse. As queues form in coffee shops and
home helps take longer to reach older people, managers must look closer to home. Anyone thinking about finding an income boost should consider the options. So, what’s wrong with pulling out an old CV and starting to brush it up? The trouble is, it skips some crucial stages. Even CV-writing courses cut corners and jobseekers all end up looking the same on paper. We’re not all good team players or highly organised but we are lots of other things. Our confidence grows pinning down what we really have to offer. We are unique. A CV should stand for ‘Clear Vision’ and it should tell an employer our own story.
QUIDS IN! OFF THE PAGE AND INTO THE ROOM Working with our partners at Clean Slate, Quids in! will open a new service in Gloucestershire from March 2019. It offers a drop-in service in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud. Review sessions will look at managing on tight budgets and thinking about a new job. It is open to anyone but first in line will be:
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∆ Renters whose landlord is a council or housing association ∆ Benefit claimants ∆ People in work but on short hours, insecure contracts or minimum wage Paid work is on offer to jobseekers to help others sort out their money.
For more information: www.cleanslateltd.co.uk or contact emma@cleanslateltd.co.uk Quids in! works with support agencies to provide money skills help. Glos is our second centre, after Bath, and we are talking to partners about opening more centres around the UK.
CLEAR VISION
1
When I work with jobseekers, I ask them about their proudest achievement. There’s usually a group of us, so everyone lists all the things this says about them. We end up with 20-odd words: Committed, reliable, likes working outdoors, attention to detail, and so on. On our own, we can write it down and imagine what we’d think of someone else doing it or ask a friend what they think. Create a list of skills and qualities
It's only worth writing a CV once we've pinned down what makes different to the next candidate
4 5
Think of different times we’ve put these skills to use. Even if the best example is looking after kids or fixing up a bike, use it
Then it’s time to find a vacancy that takes us towards our One Big Thing. If the goal is to become a chef, it’s perfectly okay if step one is flipping burgers
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6
3
7
Now think about the thing we enjoy doing most. Examples include playing football, looking after kids or driving. Write down what’s enjoyable about it
Think of a job that involves something from No 2. and edit the list of skills to six that would be most useful for it. I call this goal the One Big Thing – something to work towards. One Big Thing creates magic. Things start to happen. The goal can change but always have one
Draft a 50-word statement of intent. Something like “I’m looking for (describe the job on offer), where I can put my (list three skills) to use, working towards my end goal of (One Big Thing)
A Clear Vision CV shows confidence in ourselves. It is unique to us because it comes from what we achieved and what we love doing. Our story comes alive to an employer. We stand out and we can back it up. Clear Vision is also the basis for a strong interview, so re-read the CV beforehand. Bosses are not so creative and we can expect the same questions: Why do we want the job? What skills do we have? Where do we see ourselves in five years’ time? We’ve got it covered.
Lastly, draft a CV. Contact details at the top. Then the statement of intent. Then a list of six skills and qualities, backed up with a line about when we’ve used them. Summarise work history, schooling and interests below that. Try to keep it to a page – and definitely no more than two
≠ Jeff’s book for jobseekers, I’m Ready – 7 signs that show we’re right from the job is available at qimag.uk/7signsbook
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Odds & Ends TRICK OR GET TRICKED Don’t miss out on the tips that save other people hundreds
LOOPHOLE LOLLY Club Quids in! offers Readers £50. If win to nce cha the members n, both get they get a friend to joi prize draw. entered into a monthly BUT IT’S It’s only for members… re’s nothing FREE TO JOIN and the Once you’re stopping you right now. your friends a member, start getting ing your to do the same, mention joins gets name. Each friend who the draw! you another entry into t for more Subscribe and look ou IClubReg details at qimag.uk/Q
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hey’re all at it. Shops, cinemas, restaurants… Offering deals to the few, paid for by the many. It’s annoying but most deals are online but easy to find, even on a smartphone. Sitting down to a bite to eat in town? Type in the name of the restaurant and ‘voucher’ and see what comes up. No burger is worth £14, (Byron Burger), but if we can bag a two-for-one offer, it’s not so bad. Many favour Primark over Gap when it comes to price. But the Gap+ App offers daily discounts and the heads up on promotions that sometimes means rock bottom bargains.
Readers Club CROSSWORD
Then there are the legal loopholes. Money blogger SkintDad exposed a way to get half price cinema tickets and dinners out. By taking one day’s travel insurance for just £1.05 on comparethemarket.com, he was able to sign up for Meerkat Movies and Meals. Simples. It feels wrong but remember, you can’t scam a scammer. Even a legal one. Quids in! readers can cash in with the latest tips and tricks. The Quids In Readers Club is a money email service that focuses on how to stretch a modest budget, grabbing great deals and getting all we’re entitled to.
Missing the crossword? There’s a new one waiting for you online at qimag.uk/qicrossword
✆ 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
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(✆ 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 ✆ 03444 77 20 20 England call ✆ 03444 111 444 • Christians Against Poverty (CAP) www.capuk.org. ✆ 01274 760720
Quids in! Readers Club Pleased to receive your free Quids in! every three months? Now you can stay in touch all the time with our new Readers Club. Join the growing crowd of money-saving, savvy-shopping, debt-beating, cash-boosting Club members and receive freebies and top tips throughout the year.
Sign up here: qimag.uk/QIClubReg
The Prime Minister says the worst of times is over. It’s good to hear but how does she know when so much is up in the air right now? Only one thing to do…
LEAVE IT
TO US W
ith public spending cut to the hilt, services are stretched to the max. Changes to welfare has led to queues out the door at foodbanks. We’re living longer but an under-funded NHS and staff shortages across the care sector pect. means retirement is a scary pros urs hbo neig , In our grandparents’ day a than e Mor knew each other by name. p rste doo single bottle of milk on the check was reason enough to knock and aps, perh , time everything was okay. It’s wait t can’ to pull together again. We r for politicians to come good on thei promises.
MOUTHS TO FEED food Donating to, or volunteering for, a our in er bank will help combat hung t’s neighbourhoods. The Trussell Trus 2 2,95 foodbank network gave 1,33 is emergency parcels to people in cris to t wen e in 2017-18. 484,026 of thes r iste min ent children. When a governm ing mak is admits its welfare scheme Only this worse, it’s time for us to act. ort supp a people referred by a GP, s or advice charity, or some landlord can we so can receive a food parcel, per know it’s meeting a real need. 48 ers read in! s cent of working age Quid e wer they not working full-time said . arch rese st skipping meals in our late
“We can’t wait for politicians to come good on their promises ”
NOT ONLY THE LONELY According to Age UK, over a million older people feel lonely. The charity says it’s as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and run a number of befriending schemes. (See: ageuk. org.uk) Befriend A Family, in London, trains volunteers to support families struggling with money, housing, schoolwork or relationship breakdown. (See: befriendafamily.co.uk) It doesn’t have to be a formal scheme, of course. Families opening their doors to a lonely neighbour could mean an extra pair of hands to help with child care. So long as no-one is at risk or feels put upon, it could save money and free up parents to work.
SUITED AND RE-BOOTED Finding work is often more about jumping through the jobhunting hoo ps than it is about being able to do the work. Most jobs mean applying onli ne, even if the role never requires the use of a computer. Maybe someone coul d use a hand finding their way thro ugh this process. Equally, most workers won’t wear a suit each day but sma rt clothes are a must for interview. Suited for Success, for example, takes donations of interview clobber in the West Midlands. (See: suitedforsuc cess. co.uk). Smart Works seek donatio ns and volunteers to help women with their job search across London, Edinburgh, Greater Manchester, Reading, Newcastle and Birmingh am. (See: smartworks.org.uk)
SPEAKING UP How many of us have come away from a doctor’s appointment or Job Centre interview wishing we’d asked something important? Having somebody with us can be a real help. The NHS website has info about how to line up an advocate and pointers on who we could volunteer with. (Search: NHS advocate) Local volunteer centres will know who is recruiting but, again, it need not be organised formally. Just make the offer next time a friend or neighbour says they are struggling. Being a listening ear or shoulder to lean on can be enough. Attending difficult meetings can take the heat out of the discussion and ensure everyone is clear.
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S E IM T E H T F O N IG S er for pop stars The digital age has made it hard did selling to make the fortunes they once we can stream albums. Their loss is our gain as tion music like it’s a personal radio sta
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odging the cost of new music has come a long way from friends sharing cassette tapes in the 1980s. Since the internet, and notably pirate website Napster, it’s never been so easy. Despite the industry’s best efforts, a digital download is as easy to pass on as a text message. A last-ditch battle has been raging to maintain some control over digital recordings. Most publishers reached an uneasy agreement with streaming services, like Spotify and YouTube, where we can find almost any song for free. But some stars, like Prince, issued an outright ban on anyone playing their tracks without paying for it. “I don’t see why I should give my new music to anyone,” the pint-sized pop star was reported to have said. “They won’t pay me an advance for it and then they get angry when they can’t get it.”
PERSONAL RADIO STATION
He may as well have added that they’d only get hold of it ‘over my dead body’. Less than a year after his untimely death at the legendary Paisley Park studios, his songs appeared on various online platforms. Both YouTube and Spotify offer internet users free access to just about any music we might want to listen to. Other platforms include Deezer and, of
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course, Google and Apple. It’s generally free, so long as we don’t mind adverts popping up every few tracks. But often there’s a premium service where we can pay to cut out the ads. It’s like we can create our own radio station that only plays what we want. Platforms often recommend other music we might like based on what we’ve been listening to or watching. And fans put together their own playlists, just like old ‘mix tapes’, to share with other fans. Fancy trying it out? Quids in! has compiled two Prince playlists for readers. Check out his biggest songs and some hidden gems. There’s even a couple you might not realise were written by the purple one, like Sinead O’Connor’s smash Nothing Compares 2U and 80s classic Manic Monday. See how Spotify works at qimag.uk/princespotify or watch the videos at qimag.uk/princeyoutube.
MUSICAL LEGACY
Prior to his untimely de ath in 2016, the Purple Rain pop sta r made a Prince-ipled stand to protect his livelihood. But the int ernet puts choice in our hands an d most artists have faced up to a com promise. Prince may be turning in his gra ve over all this but at least his mu sical legacy is available to all of us.
MIND BLOWING STATS ∆ Spotify is thought to off er access to over 40 million tra cks ∆ 7,125,560 people listen to Prince on Spotify each mo nth ∆ YouTube has 1.3 billion vie wers and 30 million people wat ch videos each day ∆ ‘How To…’ videos are am ong the most popular. Want to fix a bike, draw Bugs Bunny or sew on a button? Almost everyt hing is there, including cooking and gaming tips