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Opportunities abound in the Barcelona student property market: the current situation and prospects for growth

ABC Staff
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Opportunities abound in the Barcelona student property market: the current situation and prospects for growth

It is high time to invest in Barcelona student property: the number of international students in the city is growing and demand for residential property exceeds supply threefold.

Studying in the universities of Barcelona is increasingly attractive with each year: in 2015, the capital of Catalonia came sixth both in the QS “Top European Cities to Get an Education” ranking and on the Reputation Institute “Top Cities of the World” list.

Experts at Tranio.com share some insights on how the popularisation of education in Catalonia has increased the number of students, as well as demand for property in Barcelona.

 

Demand: international students on the rise

The total number of students in Barcelona shrunk by about 10% between 2010 and 2015 to 170,000, a trend which characterised the whole of Spain. The total number of students in the city is decreasing due to the outflow of Spanish students who come mostly from Barcelona. This has occurred for three reasons:

— the population of Barcelona has shrunk (by 1% between 2010 and 2015)

—the number of Spaniards aged 18 to 34 has decreased (between 2000 and 2014 it fell by 16%)

— the population of Europe in general is ageing (the percentage of young people declined from 28% of the total in 2000 to 20% in 2014).

At the same time, the number of international students in the region increased, having grown from 2005 to 2015 by factors of 2.1 in Spain and 2.5 in Barcelona. The percentage of international students in the Catalonian capital is small (less than 5%, or 8,000 people) in comparison with the same figure in the largest cities of the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and France (10–20%). This means that Barcelona still has a potential for growth in the number of international students.

In spite of their paucity, the international students affect the general demand for residential property in Barcelona: for instance, as of 2015, about 33,000 students, approximately a quarter of them international, applied for places in local residence halls.

In the future, the number of Spanish students will keep decreasing due to demographic changes, but the number of international students will continue growing, largely thanks to the governmental 2015-2020 “Strategy for the Internationalisation of Spanish Universities”. The programme’s objective is to attract as many international students as possible to Spanish universities through a set of measures, including easing the visa regime for international students and bilinguilisation of courses (increasing the percentage of bilingual courses from 20% to 100% in many universities).

Barcelona comes second in popularity with foreign nationals after Madrid. Many universities popular with students from abroad are in Barcelona. Therefore, a significant portion of the newly arrived international students will stay in this very city. In addition, the Catalonian capital attracts a great number of young people who come to study in the Erasmus international student exchange programme, as the University of Barcelona is the main programme coordinator in Europe.

An additional factor of growth in the number of international students in Barcelona is the affordability of local education as compared to that of other Spanish and European cities. To study in Barcelona is on average 20% cheaper than in Madrid, 20–30% cheaper than in Amsterdam or Paris and twice or thrice cheaper than in the big UK cities. Along with that, Spanish higher education institutions, including the universities of Barcelona, will become more popular in the near future thanks to the national economic recovery and a decline in the youth unemployment rate.

 

Barcelona’s universities

Top universities. Barcelona is home to eight university campuses: five of the higher education institutions are public and three are private. Four of them make the QS 2015/16 World’s University Rankings:

University Catalan name 2015/16 QS University Ranking
University of Barcelona Universitat de Barcelona 166
Autonomous University of Barcelona Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona 190
Pompeu Fabra University Universitat Pompeu Fabra 295
Polytechnic University of Catalonia Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya 299

 

Languages. The languages of instruction are Spanish and Catalan. There are also courses and programmes in English.

Tuition fees. As reported by QS, the average tuition for an international student at one of Barcelona’s universities is about €2,350 per year. According to Espanarusa.com, the tuition depends on the university, major and the cycle of education. For example, bachelor’s degrees in business administration, English philology and tourism cost from €1,500 to €10,000 per year. Master’s degrees in bioinformatics, political science, business administration or tourism and hospitality management cost from €3,500 to €14,000. The cost of Ph.D. studies starts from €750 per year.

 

Supply: not enough student accommodation for all

Most students in Barcelona live in residential halls. There are about sixty of them there. The total room capacity is 11,000, 85% of which accounts for large dormitories (over 300 places).

Given the total number of places available (11,000) and the number of students needing accommodation (33,000), it becomes clear that only a third of the students in Barcelona can be accommodated. The nationwide student housing provision rate is 56%. At the same time, in Barcelona, the problem of student property shortages is especially acute: according to Savills, the residence occupancy rate is 100% during the academic year.

Almost all the residence halls offer single or small double rooms. Some of them have shared kitchens and bathrooms. In some cases, Barcelona apartments are merged into three, four, or five-bedroom flats with shared kitchens and bathrooms. Some residence halls offer studios, duplexes, and rooms with separate bathrooms and kitchens, as well as spacious double rooms.

The average residence rental rates are around €600 per month, but they can vary depending on the following:

— the dormitory type (public are on average 25% cheaper than private)

— the policies of a certain dormitory (e.g. accommodation in Vila Universitària costs €300-400 per month, while in Barcelona Diagonal Residence Hall the prices start at €1,000)

— the number of roommates (single rooms are on average 20% more expensive than double ones)

— the rental term (when renting for a short term (one to three months), the monthly rental rate is on average 20% more expensive in comparison with long-term rentals (the whole academic year))

— the service package (most dormitories include cleaning in the rental price, some include meals or offer them as an additional option).

 

Average residence rental prices in Barcelona, EUR per month

Source: Residence halls’ websites

Residence hall Number of places in a room Short-term rentals Long-term rentals
Barcelona Diagonal Residence Hall 1 1,259 1,110
2 1,075 950
Campus La Salle Residence Hall 1 679 566
2 444 370
Lesseps Residence Hall 1 509 424
2 379 316
Melon District Marina 1 821 720
2 690 587
Onix Residence 1 892 784
2 759 664
Residencia San Marius Gracia 1 625 550
2 450 395
Residencia Universitaria Pere Felip Monlau 1 556 463
2 450 375
Sant Cugat del Vallès 1 737 627
2 440 330
Torre Girona Residence Hall 1 696 557
2 465 512
Vila Universitària UAB 1 393 325
2 385 305

 

Only the two largest of Barcelona’s universities — the University of Barcelona and the Autonomous University of Barcelona — have residence halls of their own. The rest of the universities work with residence halls under cooperation agreements, while the halls themselves are owned by private companies. The best-known of them are Melon District, Onix Residence, RESA and Residence San Marius. RESA also manages its own properties.

The main alternatives to residence halls are rental flats and rooms offered by private companies. Due to the unavailability of housing, many students rent flats jointly. According to the Spanish real estate website Pisos.com, 53% of the requests for flat-sharing in Spain come from students. The main problem that the students coming to Barcelona encounter, according to HFB Benchmark, is that they have to find flats and rooms provided by private firms, given the lack of places in residence halls.

Another homesharing opportunity is getting accommodation in exchange for taking care of elderly people as part of the Viure i Conviure programme. The University of Barcelona, for example, offers such an option.

The number of places in the residence halls of Barcelona is unlikely to increase significantly in the near future, and, due to the limited supply, jointly renting accommodation in the private sector will grow in popularity. As of early autumn 2016, the prices for single rooms range from €150 per month in the district of Gràcia and the neighbourhoods of Navas and El Clot to €400 per month in the high-end district of Eixample.

Taking into account that there are about 33,000 students in Barcelona who need accommodation and the total residence room capacity is only 11,000, the demand exceeds the supply almost threefold. This situation will favour the growth of residential property rental rates, which may further encourage the developers to carry out new student-housing construction projects. This is the reason that the investors find the segment attractive.

Yulia Kozhevnikova, Tranio.com

 

Is your behaviour at home increasing your energy bills?

ABC Staff
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Is your behaviour at home increasing your energy bills?

Gas and electricity bills seem to go up every year, and many people struggle to pay the rising costs. However, energy and heating shouldn’t be a luxury, and no one should have to worry about expensive bills. Thankfully, you can alter your habits at home to reduce the costs of your energy bills.

Here are six things that you might be doing that increase the costs of your energy bills, as well as tips and tricks to help you lower the costs.

Using a Power Shower or Bath

Running a bath uses up more power than a normal shower, but a power shower uses twice as much energy and water as a bath. If you want to lower the cost of your energy bills, consider cutting out baths completely and replacing power showers with a more cost-effective shower pump.

While this may seem like an expensive way to reduce the cost of your energy bill, it is extremely effective. A high-quality pump will cost between £50 and £100, and it is a one-off payment that more than pays for itself.

Turning the Heating Up

According to the Energy Saving Trust, lowering the room temperature by 1ºC can lower the cost of your energy bill by up to £90. The lower temperature won’t be very noticeable, especially if you are wearing a jumper and socks, and the savings are well worth it.

You can save even more money by switching off the radiators in the rooms that you use the least, such as a spare bedroom. You can also by a smart thermostat that lets you adjust the heating remotely from your laptop. Very convenient, and a great way to lower the cost of your energy bill!

Leaving Appliances on Standby Mode

People often leave their appliances on standby mode as they think it will save energy, but it is much more energy-efficient to just switch them off. When something is on standby mode, it is still using electricity, so it will increase your energy bills. Make sure that you turn off computers and televisions when you have finished using them, and make sure that you don’t leave your laptop plugged in overnight.

Draughts in Your Home

Cold air will quickly get into your home through the space under the door, cracks near windows and your letter box. This means that you have to spend more money on heating to keep your house warm, but you can draught-proof your home to reduce the cost of your bills.

You can buy draught excluders for all of the doors in your house, and you can use draught-proofing strips around your window frame. If you have a chimney, you could consider buying a large pillow or a cap to block the hole.

Using Out-Dated Appliances

If you’ve had your fridge and freezer for years and they still work, you probably haven’t thought about replacing them. However, old appliances use old technology, which isn’t as energy-efficient as more modern options. If you’re thinking about replacing your fridge and freezer, check out some new models with energy star ratings. It may seem more expensive than an older model, but it is well worth it as it will significantly lower the cost of your bills.

Not Insulating Your Home Properly

If your home isn’t properly insulated, most of your heating will quickly disappear through the walls. You can insulate your loft and cavity walls fairly easily, and insulation is fairly cheap to buy. Once you have replaced the insulation, your home will hold heat more efficiently, so you won’t need to switch the heating on as often.

If you are ready to lower the cost of your bills, it is time to make adjustments to your home and replace your items with more efficient choices, such as a new pump for your shower. It won’t take long – and it will be well worth it for the savings.

Defibrillators in the Workplace: What You Need to Know

ABC Staff
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Defibrillators in the Workplace: What You Need to Know

Defibrillating machines have made their way into public consciousness in recent years, largely due to prominent footballers falling victim to cardiac arrest.

Just one example is Bolton Wanderers player Fabrice Muamba, who was infamously ‘brought back from the dead’ after his heart stopped beating during an FA Cup quarter-final match in 2012. He credits a defibrillator with saving his life.

As a new petition, which campaigns for the Football Association (FA) to make Public Access Defibrillators (PAD) available at all stadiums takes off on social media, bigger questions of how these machines can save lives in other settings, most notably the workplace, is being asked.

According to the British Heart Foundation, over 30,000 people resuscitated by the ambulance service, suffer from cardiac arrest in Britain every year and sadly, a lack of rapid first aid intervention means that less than 1 in 10 people survive.

At present, the lack of life-saving intervention generally occurs because first responders, such as family members, work colleagues or people in the wider community, fail to recognise the symptoms of a cardiac arrest or lack the skills, knowledge or equipment necessary to intervene effectively.

A survival rate of less than 1 in 10 is worrying, but with training and access to defibrillating equipment it’s actually very easy to improve. In fact, the Resuscitation Council (UK) estimates that early defibrillation can increase survival rates by up to 70%.

Anyone of any age can be hit by sudden cardiac arrest, but the likelihood of incidences occurring increases for older adults, particularly men, individuals with common heart conditions and those who have other lifestyle risk factors such as stress, smoking, obesity and high cholesterol levels.

This means that those most at risk are likely to be of working age and although there are no official statistics about the number of cardiac arrests that occur in the workplace, the greater the workforce, the greater the likelihood of a life-threatening situation arising, becomes.

This places responsibility on employers to ensure that onsite first aiders are adequately trained to intervene and save a life if necessary.

With effect from 31st December 2016, the Health and Safety Executive requires all workplace first aiders who complete First Aid at Work, Emergency First Aid, and refresher training courses to be taught how to use Automated External Defibrillator (AED) equipment.

This does not mean that all workplaces are legally obliged to install defibrillating equipment on their premises, however the potential life-saving benefits of having one onsite will, for many employers, outweigh any associated purchasing costs and their installation is recommended by the British Heart Foundation and Resuscitation Council UK.

These changes also mean that employers are not required to immediately retrain first aiders with the new AED course content. However, as first aid qualifications expire and refresher courses or new trainees are inducted, programmes must include defibrillator training.

It’s important to note that training is intended to give first aiders the knowledge and confidence they need to respond quickly; in the event of a cardiac arrest, every second counts, but everyone, regardless of whether they’re trained or not could be able to use the AED.

Defibrillators are purposefully designed to give any user simple, clear instructions on how to help someone in cardiac arrest so intervention should be encouraged across your workforce.

 

Latest wine investment trends that can make your finances better

Sam Allcock
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Latest wine investment trends that can make your finances better

Whenever we consider a certain type of investment, there are potential risks and rate of returns which should be considered along the way. Wine has always been one of the main players in the world of investments and fine wine has found its place in the category of luxurious investments.

However, just because we may know our way around wine, it does not mean that this is enough of a reason for someone to start investing in it. A lot of research, knowledge and skills as well as being familiar with latest trends is what can turn a simple investment into a successful one. Therefore, let’s discover together the latest wine investment trends that can make your finances better.

Great opportunities for wine investors

You cannot start a business just because you like wine but if you put your time and efforts into discovering more about what a wine business involves, you might discover that this is the perfect opportunity for you. You will need serious money as a startup capital for any type of return but if you follow the right steps in an intelligent manner, the end-results will be totally worth it.

 wine

Stay clear of fraud and you will win big

Wine is highly influenced by its province as well as the condition of the bottles in which it is stored. Moreover, when you choose to purchase your merchandise from secondary markets, you must be more than careful. A lot of fraud has been registered in this industry in the last few years and you may find yourself ending up with nothing. However, when you surround yourself with the right people and make sure you only make high-quality, reliable purchases, the results will not delay from appearing.

wine1

Consider your options before taking the next step

No investor could ever be certain of what might happen with wine in the future. However, there are always few great opportunities to buy futures of wine that has been recently barreled and which is currently aging in chateau cellars. This is one of the smart moves that any person interested in liquid assets and smart investments could make this year, as far as wine retailers and specialists in the industry say.

Moreover, the rarer the wine is the better the chosen investment will become. Rare wine is the most powerful latest trend on the market and these continue to be the popular vintages. Over time, these continue to become more and more valuable because they are finite and slowly but surely decrease in quantity. This makes them chased by a global clientele and they always go well up in price this way.

What latest trends also consider to be a huge opportunity is the focus on vintages of fine wine like Bordeaux from 1982, 1990 up to 2010. Specialists think that the real opportunities lie in those fancy wines that everyone is interested in.

wine2

Secular changes in the market are predicted

Fine wine investment experts also predict secular changes in the industry. Some vintage ones will become the new trend whereas others might completely disappear from the market for not complying with requirements. The absence of certain brands will start to be noticed soon, when a more serious selection will be self-established given the high risks as well as huge opportunities revealing themselves in front of new and old investors.

Everyone will try to find the best products to invest in, no more compromise on quality will be made given the high value of the initial investment funds and only those who offer good merchandise will remain part of the real side of the investment world. Therefore, if you are currently a wine investor or think of becoming one in the future, you should analyze all your options well before taking the next step.

Analyze the options, the risks, surround yourself with specialists in every segment of your business and you cannot go anywhere but up with your investment in terms of financial revenues. Focus on the value of en primeur wine that everyone has an eye for lately and make it your new key element for success in the business world. Your clients will be more than satisfied with your offer!

Driverless Cars Projected to Add 5% to European GDP by 2050

Elliot
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Driverless Cars Projected to Add 5% to European GDP by 2050

Driverless cars are on course to generate €17 trillion for the European economy by 2050, according to new research.

New independent economic analysis shows that autonomous vehicles will start adding 0.15 percent to Europe’s annual growth rate in the decades to come.

As a result, the European gross domestic product [GDP] will, cumulatively, be over five per cent higher in the year 2050, by which time autonomous vehicles will have contributed a total of €17 trillion to GDP.

Fully ‘autonomous vehicles’ are predicted to be providing fully ‘hands-off’ door-to-door transport on the road within the decade. Nissan Europe polled 6,000 people in UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Norway to discover their attitudes to driverless motors.

Freedom to do things other than driving was voted the biggest benefit – no surprise as four out of five confessed to already ‘multi-tasking’ while at the wheel. Reading books or catching up on news is what most of Europe said they’d do with their extra time in the car, followed by sleeping, doing paperwork and watching TV or films.

The survey also revealed that almost a quarter of those planning to buy a car in five or more years would consider an autonomous car.

Paul Willcox, Chairman of Nissan Europe, said: “This independent report highlights that we are in the midst of a social and economic revolution.

“It shows that autonomous technology will have a fundamental impact not just on the automotive industry but across European economies and societies and it suggests that leadership within all levels of government is needed.

“At Nissan we believe, for the full benefits of autonomous drive technologies to be realised, governments and municipalities across Europe should review the report’s findings, work hand in hand with the automotive industry, and play a vital role in ushering in this new technological era.”

Infographic detailing findings of Nissan's review of autonomous drive opportunities
Infographic detailing findings of Nissan’s review of autonomous drive opportunities

Why a Local Plumbing Supplies Company Should Be Relied On

ABC Staff
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Why a Local Plumbing Supplies Company Should Be Relied On

When it comes to your plumbing supplies, it’s always a great idea to try and go local, for a huge variety of reasons, such as searching for local plumbing services in fontana. Whether you’re keen on helping your local community, you know, supporting the high street, smaller local stores and your nearby economy, helping stimulate local jobs. Or, if you’re much more into something more tangible such as more convenient store, getting the parts and fittings that you need the first time round or much more helpful knowledgeable staff, then local is the way to go.

By dodging huge online companies, and big franchises you also dodge the hassle of talking to people whose entire job is a million miles away from the plumbing supplies their store carries, and their knowledge can sometimes reflect that. Have you ever tried to return something to an uncommunicative online company? It’s possibly the most frustrating thing in modern life! That’s why you should always try to go local.

We spoke to Bristol based BBS Plumb, looking at the key reasons they believe buying local when it comes to plumbing supplies is so important.

No more incorrect parts turning up on the day you need them

When you order online, you’re often ordering blind. Sure there might be a couple pictures of the best part in the batch, taken under highly flattering lighting, in a professional studio, but you really have no idea as to the actual quality, look and feel of the part or fitting that you’re ordering. It’s impossible to gauge size and shape from just photos, and this is sometimes going to result in accidentally ordering the incorrect parts, which can be a massive waste of time. Going to a local supplier means you can properly investigate and study the parts being provided, so you can check they’re up to spec and right for the job you’re doing.

Easy returns, easy exchanges, easier overall

A local plumbing supplier or hardware store is always going to be a lot easier to return incorrect or faulty parts to, compared to an online supplier. There’s no messing around with postage, and no waiting to receive the right part. As well as this, there’s no back and forth of email trying to guarantee a refund. All this amounts to less time wasted, and allows you to get the job done quicker and to a better standard. Time spent trying to sort things long distance is always frustrating, and there’s always the risk of getting ripped-off, or being sent an equally-useless replacement part. That’s why you should use a local supplier, and save yourself a whole bundle of time and effort.

Local smaller suppliers know what they’re selling

How many times have you found yourself awkwardly ordering something online with no real idea whether it’s suitable or correct? With so many niche or unusual parts out there, with limited information and spec on them, you can never really be 100% whether you’re buying the correct thing. Even with reviews, too few sites offer a proper, reliable guarantee. This is where buying local is very different. You can talk to an experienced, knowledgeable and helpful clerk, explain what you need the part for, and they’ll probably point you in the direction of a more suitable part and save you a load of trouble. Local suppliers will often give very useful guidance and help, which you otherwise would’ve gone without, potentially making costly, time-wasting mistakes.

The high street still needs our help

The fact is, the internet has not often helped the high street, and regardless of your attitude to going shopping, and it would definitely be a sad and tragic thing to see the British high street begin to disappear completely. Supporting your local businesses also helps your local area grow and develop, and provides jobs in the community. Supporting your local community and high street is an amazing by-product of making the most of your local plumbing and hardware suppliers. As well as this, they’re local! Meaning its two minutes up the road, so it’s easier for you, anyway.

Featured image released under CC License: MoToMo – Plumber James gets manly and fixes the kitchen sink.

Is It Really Safe To Play (And Pay) Online?

Sam Allcock
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Is It Really Safe To Play (And Pay) Online?

 

Amidst the myriad other worries we have in our day to day lives, online security often ranks fairly highly. We use the internet for so many things – for almost everything in some cases – and if we can’t trust it then our usual way of doing things can be completely turned upside down.

Online payments are always a big cause for concern, and when playing online games in casinos, the idea that someone might be able to find out our personal and payment details, and use that information for their own gain, leaving us out of pocket, is a frightening one. It can put people off altogether.

However, innovations in technology and online payment systems mean that many people now feel a lot more confident in having a good time online, sure that their payment and banking details (and therefore their money) is absolutely safe. Casinos such as Mr. Smith Casino implement a variety of different payment options so that customers can choose the one that suits them. So just what are these most secure payment options?

Paypal

Perhaps the most well known of the alternative payment options (that is, a payment option that doesn’t need you to enter your card details onto the site itself), Paypal used to be the preserve of eBay only. However, it’s ease of use and popularity, not to mention the fact that, should something go wrong, users are protected and will quickly get their money back, meant that it soon outgrew its original intended use, and now it can be found all over the internet. The advantage of using Paypal is that once you have signed up, you only need to use your email address to pay.

Skrill

Similar in terms of usage to Paypal, Skrill is a newer payment option that is extremely secure. As well as payments, you can link bank accounts, storecards, send and receive money, and even pay using your mobile in some shops. There is a fee to pay to receive money, but it’s just 1%, so it’s perfectly acceptable in most cases.

security-1202344_960_7201

Paysafe Card

A Paysafe Card is a great option for not only paying securely, but also for keeping to your budget when it comes to gambling or shopping. Find a shop that sells the cards and use it like a phone top up – you chose how much to put on the card, and once that amount is spent, the card will no longer work. So if you don’t like the idea of inputting your debit or credit card details in a website, but neither do you want to sign up for an online payment option, this card is the ideal solution.

Entropay

Entropay is another pre-paid card, only this one is virtual. You will be emailed a card number once you have signed up and deposited some money. Use that number to play online at Mr Smith Casino and other exciting websites!

 

Don’t Let Debt Get You Down: How To Overcome A Bleak Financial Future

Elliot
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Don’t Let Debt Get You Down: How To Overcome A Bleak Financial Future

Whether you are hundreds or thousands of pounds in debt, the idea of owing so many people and having little cash to live on can really get you down. In fact, it can start to swallow you up and define who you are – but before you enter a state of despair it’s important to remember that’s there are always things you can do to make your financial situation better.

With plenty of self-discipline and the right advice, you can dig yourself out of any hole you’ve landed in, so here’s how to overcome a bleak financial future:

  1. Consolidate your debt

First of all, it’s crucial to settle those nagging worries in your head. Constantly panicking about who has been paid and who hasn’t will slowly drive you up the wall and make you more and more anxious, so perhaps start by consolidating your debt and paying it off with one of the handy Avant Credit installment loans available. Even though interest rates on an installment loan might be high, it’s not the same as a payday loan – an installment loan can last for several months and repayments are evenly spread out over the term of the loan. Added to which, an installment loan can be used to improve the credit score of people with bad credit.

While borrowing to pay back what you owe may seem like an unusual concept, it’s actually really handy as not only will creditors stop bothering you, you’ll also be able to benefit from low interest rates – and the chance to pay back your loan in instalments, which of course is handy if you’ve cash flow problems at the moment.

  1. Seek the correct advice

If you’re not a highly-trained financial advisor, don’t try and tell yourself what to do when it comes to money management. You’ll most probably tie yourself up in knots, so instead, sit down with someone who knows what they’re talking about and go through your situation bit by bit.

Sure, it can be embarrassing to explain yourself to a complete stranger, but it’s better to be open and honest than to suffer alone. Experienced professionals have heard it all before and will have the contacts needed to put you on the straight and narrow.

  1. Stay positive and live within your means

When experiencing debt problems, it can be easy to give up and start taking money from any source. Payday loans suddenly start to look attractive and you might even open new accounts simply to access overdraft funds. You might even consider chatting up friends and family who you think will lend you a bob or two, but this is highly unadvisable.

According to a survey by StepChange Debt, relationships can easily break down if money issues get in the way. What’s more, you may fall deeper and deeper into financial troubles without fully realising the true extent of your problems, so try to stay positive and live within your means – even if that requires serious self-control and multiple cutbacks. Waking up and facing the reality is key but that doesn’t mean you have to live a bleak life – after all there are plenty of fun things you can do for free.

Debt problems can be challenging but with strength and determination, the future will soon look brighter.

Commercial Cleaners For Your Business – An Investment Not A Luxury

ABC Staff
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Commercial Cleaners For Your Business – An Investment Not A Luxury

Running a business is not an easy thing to do, and whether you’re the top business owner or a manager of an office or regional department, the day to day hassles, trials, jobs and things you simply must get done can seem never ending, with literally not enough hours in your working day to get everything done.

So, alongside the jobs you need to complete, the paper work you need to work through, the staffing issues you need to solve and that accounts that seem to be always be running behind, you also need to make sure that the place of work is tidy and clean, and if you have to do this yourself or delegate it to a staff member, the chances of it getting done to a very high level are small, if it gets done at all. And then quite quickly, the workplace becomes dirty, grubby and unclean, and whilst a quick wipe over here and there might please a few people, in the long run, it will do nothing for your overall staff moral and happiness.

And this is where it might be time to consider an office or commercial cleaner to take this one task away from you and your team, and whilst it initially may feel that this is a task that you could save money on by doing yourself or in-house, in the long run, it will be one of the best investments you can make for your company.

Still not sure? Here are just a few key reasons why hiring a commercial cleaner or commercial cleaning company for your business really is an investment and not a luxury.

A Much Better Job

If you hire the right company, then generally, specialists will do a much better job than just asking a member of your team to put the vacuum around the office, or indeed, the manager having to clean the bathroom in the few minutes they might have between phone calls and meetings. A commercial cleaning company will clean day in, day out and it literally becomes what they are good at, meaning that the job is done correctly, with the right equipment and end result.

Saves On Time

Time is money and money is time, so if you can save a few hours a day or a week, then this means more profit for the business and this really is something that a commercial cleaning company can save you, as they have a team of professionals that will come in, clean, make nice and then head off, either outside of working hours or during. The more time you save the more you can be working on the things that earn you money, and whilst a clean working place helps to increase performance, you doing the job yourself does not earn the business the bottom line return.

Ultimately Saves On Money

A commercial cleaning contract in the long run is actually cost effective, as the cleaning professional will get the job done well and quicker than a non trained professional, as no matter how much you love cleaning, until it is your day job will you never really be able to deliver a great end result in a quick time. When you do something every working day, you get used to doing it quickly but well, which is why you could save money when compared to doing it yourself or employing someone in house to take care of the cleaning routines.

Frees Up Your Team

Your employees or work team are there to do a job, and generally, they will not appreciate having to clean the toilet on top of their daily routine, and even if you share it out between staff members, the end result will still be someone being taken away from their core job. This just does not make sense, as you hire someone into a role that suits their skillset, and if you have them doing lots of other things, then their main role and performance could suffer in the long run.

A Happy Place To Work

None of us, whether we work from home or work in an office of a hundred people want to work in a place that is dirty or grubby, with stained sinks and dirty carpets, and quite frankly, why would anyone want to? A clean working environment helps to create a happy working environment, and endless studies, research papers and work place specialists will only re-enforce this, meaning that a clean work place will undoubtedly result in a much better performance from its employees.

Can Essential Oils Help You Save Money?

Sam Allcock
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Can Essential Oils Help You Save Money?

Over the last decade, essential oils have grown into a big industry. Current estimates place the projected value of the world’s essential oil market by 2020 at $11.5 billion (£9.26 billion), making it one of the world’s fastest growing industries.

The reason for the rapid growth in popularity of essential oils is simple: they’re massively useful for everything from physical health to mental health, cleanliness, beauty, hair care and more. It’s tough to find a single aspect of life that essential oils don’t improve in at least one way.

But is it possible for essential oils to improve your financial life, much like they can improve your health and wellbeing? From replacing costly beauty products to simplifying everyday life around the house, you might be surprised to learn the ways in which essential oils can save you money:

Replace expensive skin creams

Great skincare products are far from cheap, with full routines from well-known brands adding up to hundreds of pounds every few months. Luckily for your wallet, essential oils such as argan oil offer many of the benefits of costly skincare creams at a fraction of the price.

Some of the most effective oils for skincare include geranium oil, lavender oil and cypress. Due to the strength of many essential oils, many skincare experts recommend mixing them with an existing skin cream or moisturiser to avoid potential skin irritation.

Earlier this month, People covered essential oils for skincare and beauty, noting that many of the world’s biggest stars are adding them to their skincare routines. Since essential oils cost a small fraction as much as many skin care products, they’re great cost-cutting products.

Simplify cleaning up and tidying

Did you know that essential oils double as powerful household cleaners? Since essential oils are highly concentrated, they act as a great alternative to chemical-packed detergents, soaps and other home cleaning products.

One of the easiest ways to use essential oils at home is as an all-purpose cleaner. Mix up to three drops of tea tree and lemongrass oil with hot water, then use them from a spray-top for cleaning surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom.

Essential oils also double as an inexpensive, organic bathroom cleaner. Try mixing four to five drops of eucalyptus oil and the same amount of tea tree oil with water for a simple shower and bathtub cleaning solution. Once you’ve cleaned up, rinse with water for a flawless bathroom.

Act as a cheap, healthy sunscreen

Finally, essential oils can be blended together to create an inexpensive, highly effective, organic sunscreen. Better yet, they can be stored long-term in a tupperware container to replace regular SPF sunscreen, saving you money and protecting your skin over the long term.

For a simple sunscreen blend, mix zinc oxide, shea butter, lavender oil and coconut oil to create a thick, comfortable organic sunscreen. For even better protection and healthier skin, try adding helichrysum oil to the mix.

Need to avoid mosquitos while in the sun? Essential oils can also act as a surprisingly effective, skin-friendly mosquito repellent. Blend citronella oil, eucalyptus and lemongrass oil with coconut oil to keep bugs away at the beach or in any other outdoor setting.

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