How to save money in Spain

It does not matter where in the world you live, 2017 is set to be a challenging year financially for many of us. Not only are we going to see a new President in the United States of America, but the UK is going to start the Brexit process as well. Both events may have fundamental impact on global financial markets, and on our purse strings.

If Mr Trump decides to tear up trade agreements with leading nations, we could see higher import duties and price hikes on goods. Things made in China may become more expensive, and if the Chinese start to produce less, it may have a knock on effect on the global economy.

Some Brexit factors may not be affecting us as yet, but the UK Sterling has already taken a hit. Are there more upsets to come? If you are relying on an income in UK Sterling, now is good time to check out your options. Make sure that you are getting the best rates on international currency transfers and try to save some money for a rainy day.

But, how can you save money in 2017? The first thing you need to do is to get a hold of your daily living expenses. Set up a spreadsheet on your computer and found out where you can make some savings. Be savvy and check out electricity deals and other energy prices at the same time.

Saving money on daily living costs matter a lot. Get to know your local supermarkets and find out which ones have the best offers. Remember that supermarket loyalty may not pay off. It could be better to shop around, and make the most out of those loyalty cards that you have in your wallet. By shopping around, I have picked up a lot of extra points and cash on my loyalty cards. You will even find that supermarkets are happy to give you discount vouchers when you don't visit them every week.

Insurance costs are another one of life's burdens. When was the last time you made sure that you got the best deal on your various insurances? We all have them, but often we do not check that we are still getting the best deals and value for money. Saying no to an insurer, often makes them prick up their ears. Even insurance companies need a healthy customer base and hate to lose a customer.

How much is your bank charging your for banking services? Banks are slow in handing out good deals for their customers, but like to charge money for all sorts of things. Yes, they are businesses but make sure that their practices benefit you not just them.

The waste less concept is becoming increasingly popular. Most of us are now more aware that we may throw away too much stuff. Whether it is food or clothes, have a little think how you can use it. Don't buy food that you don't need and clothes you are not going to wear. If you have close that you are bored with, perhaps you can sell in second shop or consignment shop and get some money back. Don't be afraid to re-use your clothes. You be surprised what you can make out of cast off clothes.

More than anything, perhaps we should adopt the attitude that if we don't need it, we should not buy it. Never be afraid to ask for a better price or see if you can get a better deal elsewhere. Remember that it is your wallet and bank account, and your hard earned money. Waste not want not seems to be a principle that we have forgotten. I keep wondering if it would make a good motto for all of us in 2017!

Happy New Year and make sure that you check back every so often for new ideas on how to save and make money online and elsewhere in your life.

Are you sure that you are making the most out of your money? The world of finance is moving on all of the time. Currency exchange rates change and new ideas for investing your money are always cropping out. Are you keeping up to date with them?

Your first instinct may be to phone a financial adviser to find out if there are any new options for you to take advantage of when it comes to your personal finances. The only problem with financial advisers is that they are not always that creative. They may for instance suggest that you do something with your pension pot, and transfer it to another scheme to get a cash advance. You really need to ask yourself a few questions before you do that. How long will that cash advance last you, and can you gain any interest from it. Number two, will it be affected by currency exchange rates. A lot of investors forget about currency exchange rates.

When you are hoping to make the most out of your money, it could be a good idea to take personal control and think outside the box. Needless to say, you should always make sure that your money is safe and that you do not invest in the wrong scheme.

Once you start looking around the Internet, you will soon find that there are now a whole host of money making invest schemes that you can personally take advantage of when you have some money to invest. You should at all times pay attention to currency exchange rates because this is where you can both gain a lot of money and lose money.

Make sure that the scheme that you invest in has some basic good investment criteria. A track record is important. Before you hand over your hard earned cash, make sure that other people have actually made money from the scheme. Don't take the investor's word for it. Try to find independent reviews on the Internet and ask if you can speak to others who have tried the scheme.

Be careful of companies that ask for a lot of money. It is better to spread out your investment over a range of schemes than to invest in one scheme only. That way, if something goes wrong, you know that you will still have money available and hopefully still an income as well. Never get talked into gambling your pension pot on investment schemes which are not covered by some sort of state insurance such as the European insurance of €100,000.

Check that the company is legit and that you have a contact person to speak to. If you are new to a company, it could be a good idea to invest a small amount of money first of all. Once you have more confidence, you may want to add to your investment or set up another form of investment with the company.

You do have to be careful, making sure that you have enough money to live on for your daily expenses is vital. Some people forget all about daily living expenses and go into investment schemes with eyes wide shut. Investments are all about making money, not running out of money.