Keeping in touch with friends and family at home when you are living or travelling abroad used to be an expensive luxury, but the internet has changed all that. It is not just about keeping a travel blog, emailing the latest news or even instant messaging: service providers using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) can help you access low-cost – or even free –telephone calls home, wherever you are in the world.

There are three types of VoIP solutions available. With hardware based solutions you get a dedicated hardware router that connects your modem to your phone so you can make and receive phone calls just like before, but they are actually routed through the internet. Software based solutions are installed on your computer or smartphone to allow you to make calls over the internet. Internet based solutions are accessed via a web page that you visit or by using direct access numbers you can call from a traditional phone.

Hardware based VoIP solutions

Vonage

Vonage makes your VoIP experience very similar to a traditional telephone service. Simply plug the Vonage adapter into an internet connection and then connect a phone to the adapter. Although you need an internet connection, you might want to consider a bundled one that includes both voice and cable television (pop over to this website to know more). That way, you can enjoy three services at a lower cost. Having said that, it should also be noted that a computer is not necessary to use Vonage VoIP calls.

The beauty of Vonage (http://www.vonage.co.uk) is that you can choose your phone number. You can select a local number for your friends and family so they can call you at local rates, whilst you can call them – and others based all over the world – and benefit from the low call rates offered by Vonage. You can travel with your home phone number and receive calls on it by taking the Vonage box with you and plugging it in wherever you are based. Vonage to Vonage calls are free so you can save even more if others are already using the service.

Skype phones

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennis_vu/4098909409/

Skype is best known for offering voice or video calls through the computer, but it also offers an accessible hardware solution that could help save you money whilst travelling abroad. With a Skype phone you can make calls over the internet without a computer. There is no subscription but you will need to buy the phone. Calls to other Skype users are free and there are substantial savings on calling other international numbers.

Software based VoIP solutions

Skype

Most people’s first introduction to internet based telephone services is probably through services like Skype, which allow you to make voice and video calls through a computer. Skype Lite is available for smartphone users making this a very portable VoIP service for travellers. There are free calls to other Skype users and unlimited call packages to nominated countries for low monthly rates. If you buy a personal phone number you can let friends and family contact you wherever you are at a local rate.

 

Other providers

Other providers offering services similar to Skype include Windows Live Call, Yahoo! Voice, WengoPhone, Pfingo, Vopium and Truphone.

Internet-based VoIP solutions

Providers

You can make cheap international phone calls over VoIP without even having an internet connection – as long as you have a landline or mobile. To do this you first dial a hotline before dialling the number you wish to reach. Other services are accessed by entering the number you wish to call on a web page and it will route a call through your phone. Internet-based providers include Jaxtr, Jajahand Rebtel.

VoIP savings

However you choose to access them, VoIP calls can make calling home from abroad so much cheaper. This means you can stay in touch easily and without feeling limited in how long or how often you talk.

Over the last few years it has become normal to speak of and be concerned about the ‘austerity measures’ and ‘economic downturn,’ so is it any surprise that children are feeling the effects of the current financial climate?

From news reports and social media sharing to dinner table chit-chat, it’s become impossible to escape the influence of nationwide concern over money and related issues such as personal debt and job security.

As a result, people are now starting to see how the recession has impacted on children as young people speak out about the traditionally adult-oriented topic of personal finance.

The Youth Have Spoken

The results of a recent survey, commissioned by the Personal Finance Education Group and National Children’s Bureau, found that just under half of the respondents were concerned about money.

Worryingly, one in eight of the participants, who were all aged between seven and sixteen, admitted to borrowing money without being sure of how they would be able to pay it back.

Almost all of the 1,001 participants said they would like to receive financial education at school in order to prepare them for managing their own money when they start earning.

The survey results suggest that children don’t feel they are learning enough about personal money management in school and have concerns about how they will cope when it comes to paying bills, saving and spending wisely.

Why the Concern?

The average debt of a family in the UK has rocketed by almost 50% in the last 12 months and with this increase there has also been a dramatic rise in people seeking support from debt advice charities, particularly concerning credit card debts, bankruptcy applications and home repossessions.

The old adage that children are the future has never seemed so relevant, as if Britain is to recover as a nation it needs to ensure that the next generation is taught how to make better financial decisions and alter the ‘buy now, pay later’ culture that’s become ingrained in the very ethos of Britishness.

The nation has fostered a generation of school-aged children who have been brought up with everything they want when they want it, but they have also experienced the other side of the coin.

Financial hardship, job loss, relationship breakdown and even hunger have impacted on many families over the last few years and as a result children are deciding that they want a different future, which will only come from implementing a structured programme of financial education at an early age.

Positive Action

Since 2008 schools in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been required to address financial education in some form, but there has been no requirement for this in English schools. However, the Department for Education is currently looking at the curriculum to assess the possibility of introducing mandatory money-management classes that would follow a set structure in all schools.

As these changes are discussed and mulled over, young people have started to take steps of their own to fill the gap. Junior representatives from the Young National Children’s Bureau have petitioned MPs in a bid to ensure financial education is available to all school-aged children.

Additionally, the charity has launched a tool kit that’s been created by young people with the purpose of providing resources and support for children across the UK who wish to campaign for the inclusion of personal finance classes in their school’s curriculum.

 

This guest submission was contributed by Lloyd on behalf of IVA Expert.

Image courtesy of stock.xchng.

 

If you have just received your renewal notice for your car insurance and you have decided to shop around because the renewal premium has increased significantly compared to what you have been paying, have bought your first home and are looking for a home insurance quote or have invested in a property that you intend to rent out and require landlord insurance then there are a number of different places you can obtain quotations.

The old-fashioned way it to get out your Yellow Pages and telephone a few of the insurance companies listed and/or some insurance brokers and provide each of them with the information they request in order to obtain quotes for you that they will then send out in the post or e-mail to you along with details of the product you are considering arranging. If you have any other questions or want to proceed with the cover you will often need to phone them. This process is rather time consuming and repetitive.

You could pop into your bank, building society, Post Office or insurance broker in your local high street and, again, provide each of them with the information they request to obtain the necessary quotations and supporting information for you to peruse. Yet again this a little time consuming and repetitive.

Another alternative is to go on to the Internet, key “car insurance quotes”, “home insurance quotes” or “landlord insurance quotes” into your browser’s search box and you will be presented with numerous websites of the likes of insurance companies, insurance brokers and insurance price comparison sites offering to provide you with quotations.

If you then go onto one or more of the price comparison websites such as www.cancancover.com which is a good website to use for comparing the above types of cover and prices you will find that their search facility is simple and quick to use as you will only need to key in the required information once.

Whilst price comparison websites do not have access to all insurance companies offering the type of insurance you require they often provide access to many of the major providers. They can also help with other areas of insurance, for example, looking on websites such as Price can help with finding what you may need with car-related queries.

Once you have keyed in the requested information the price comparison website will do much of the “spadework” for you and usually within less than a minute you should be presented with a number of quotes from different insurance companies together with the option to be able to look at the product particulars in detail of each company’s policy so that you can analyse which plan and deal is best for you. Remember-cheapest is not always the best option as the insurance cover must meet your requirements.

Once you have decided which company to take out the insurance policy with you can usually set up the cover online, arrange payment such as setting up a direct debit to pay monthly and the insurance company can often send you the policy details by e-mail.

Quick and simple – all done from the comfort of your home at a time to suit you and you may have been able to obtain the cover for a lower premium than you have just been paying. Looking ahead to next year, you can do the whole thing all over again but that little bit quicker as the price comparison website will still have your details on file that can be quickly updated. This will help enable you to keep on top of your finances at a time when most people are looking for ways to contain or reduce their expenditure.

When people hear “driving tech” often they think of expense, however the opposite can be true as there are some extraordinary and unique gadgets in the market that can actually save us money. Technology is constantly been updated to improve our driving experience and everyday life. Most people aren’t aware of the money saving benefits of everyday driving technology and so don’t invest into buying them. Below are just a few examples of technology that can save you money.

Sensors and Cameras

Parking Sensors and Cameras: One of the most common accidents that occur is accidentally backing into unseen objects. These little accidents can be expensive, especially if the thing you backed into was another car. However, don’t despair there are several useful gadgets that come standard with many modern cars that solve this problem. There are two types of devices; cameras that show you a view behind your car and sensors that beep faster the closer you are to hitting something. Both do the same job and can save you from costly accidents. If we were to talk about similar technology in a more futuristic sense, we could take a look at autonomous vehicles that come equipped with such sensors, along with additional technology that can allow them to create a 3D image of their surroundings so as to prevent any accident in the event of human absence. You can learn more about the different tech advancements in autonomous vehicles by heading online to Torc Robotics or similar websites.

Automatic Breaks: Another great feature of some modern cars, that can save you not only money but potentially save you from personal injury are automatic breaks. Automatic breaks work differently depending on the car but usually there is a sensor at the front that predicts impact and turns on the breaks accordingly. At the moment this is only a fledgling technology but it won’t be long until it is the standard in safety.

 

Vehicle Tracking and GPS

A great new feature that is become increasingly popular with younger drivers is having Vehicle tracking technology installed. Vehicle tracking can help save you money in three distinct ways.

Insurance Saving: Many insurers now offer vehicle tracking service as a way to monitor your driving and reduce your premium. By tracking your driving habits many drivers are able to reduce their insurance costs as they are proving they are safe drivers. Using Vehicle tracking you are also able to state the hours you wish to be allowed to drive and other features which can further lower your insurance premium.

Stolen Vehicle Tracking: The ability to track your vehicle also means that it is far more likely to be recovered if stolen. As a side bonus to being able to get your car back, having a tracker can also reduce your insurance premium as you are seen to be taking methods to help prevent theft.

Speed Awareness: The final and probably the greatest way sat navs can save you money is through speed awareness. There are two ways in which a sat nav can do this: Firstly satnavs warn you about fixed speed camera locations and limits allowing you to make sure you aren’t speeding in unfamiliar locations. Secondly sat navs can also monitor your speed warn you if you are going over the local limits. It can be very easy getting caught out slightly speeding in unfamiliar locations or when driving on unclearly marked roads. Getting caught speeding can result in a hefty fines and worse points on your licence which could potentially lead to a driving ban.

 

This was a guest post by Sam Fisher on behalf of Teletrac Inc. Specialists in gps tracking and feet management solutions.

Saving money is an extremely important thing to do – and yet it is one of the most challenging, especially when finances seem tight. You don’t have to despair, though, as you could help boost your savings account simply by using your employment union.

Financial advice

One of the great advantages of joining a union is that they are there to help you with regards to your work. Their job is to protect you against any difficulties you might have with your employer – including your finances.

In addition to giving you – often much-needed – support with the company you work for, they also help to promote other forms of assistance and guidance. This includes financial advice.

Taking care of your money can seem incredibly complicated and most of us find it a challenge keeping on top of things from time to time. So by being able to access monetary assistance, this will help you sort out your accounts. You could find you’d be better off investing your savings in stocks and shares or putting it in property, or you may get suggestions on how to boost the amount of money you save every month.

Negotiate better pay

Unions have a reputation for encouraging demonstrations and fighting the corner for their members – and all this is part of what they do. Other things they get involved in that often attract less attention in the press include negotiating better pay and conditions for employees.

They can set up talks with bosses if you feel you’re not getting paid what you deserve, and this may put pressure on them to boost your salary. If conditions are particularly bad, discussing things isn’t making a difference and there are a lot of employees who think the same, this is when things might turn a little more serious and strikes and demonstrations go ahead, with the aim that this will improve workers’ incomes – and, subsequently, their savings.

Pension

Workers who sign up to unions like members of Prospect will also be able to receive guidance on how to make sure their bosses are honouring their pension commitments.

Companies are obliged to contribute to a pension scheme if you sign up to a workplace retirement initiative with the firm. So it is important you make sure they are sticking to their side of the bargain. If they’re not, this is when unions can step in – and save the day!

Joining a pension scheme is one of the best ways to save for the future, as it will encourage you to put aside something for your retirement every month, which can make a huge significance when you finally come to finishing work. What’s more, having your company contribute something every month – this will vary depending on your employer – will certainly be significant to the savings pot in the long term.

Before you sign up to any pension scheme though, it is important to read the fine print! You should make sure the amount your company will contribute is appropriate and ensure the conditions in claiming the money you’ve put away are agreeable to you.

If they are not, your union can help you once more. By helping to protect the finances you gain while working, you will be able to improve your savings, putting aside more in your nest egg than you would otherwise be able to, which could make a huge difference in the future.