Currently there is a boom in IVF where those seeking egg donors have to travel abroad in search of a donation. In the UK the current rate for egg donors is just £250, as the process to retrieve the eggs are so gruelling and require time off work and discipline not many women step forward to donate their eggs to couples who are not able to conceive naturally.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority are unveiling new plans that will allow donors to receive thousands of pounds in compensation for their time and inconvenience caused. This move would mean that IVF couples will no longer need to travel great distances in order to achieve the dream of having their own family.
The HFEA are calling for a review to be made with many welcoming this plan as a breakthrough in IVF in the UK. In America women are paid up to £5,000 for donating their eggs to infertile couples, other countries such as India, Croatia, Spain and Bulgaria are also known for their abundance in donated eggs as many young women do it as a solution to money problems.
There are some organisations that argue however that many women will use this as a way to make money without knowing the full risks and complications that can arise when ‘harvesting’ eggs. Powerful and dangerous drugs are inject to stimulate egg release, women can be prone to gaining weight and retaining fluid as well as being left scarred if the eggs are retrieved incorrectly.
A few years ago a young woman decided to donate her eggs to a couple who sought help through the local newspaper, as she had already had a child she decided to go through the gruelling process of harvesting her eggs. When the eggs were retrieved it left scarring in her fallopian tube, this meant she was unable to conceive naturally without help. After much investigation it was found that the harvested eggs were not taken out correctly leaving the poor woman unable to bear children naturally.
Many believe that those who are conceived using donor eggs may not know their real families and may end up with a ‘brother or sister’ as their partner unaware that they share the same mother. Cases like this are rare but have happened across the world. Another problem that this is likely to create is that those who do not earn that much will be forced out of the IVF market and will be forced to buy eggs illegally.
Last month the government announced that they would scrap the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) as the new coalition government tries to save and recover money from the faltering economy. EMA was introduced in 2004 as financial support for families who were on low income. If parents of 16-18 year olds earned less than £30,800 they would be eligible to receive a weekly EMA payment of £10 to £30, an additional £30 – £50 was also awarded if students arrived on time for a whole term as an incentive to stay in education.
When EMA was introduced it provided a lifeline for students who needed to find money to fund transport as many who choose to go to college have to travel a fair distance to study the course they desire. As many families were under financial hardship EMA meant that 16 – 18 year olds no longer needed pocket money from their parents and could get the basics for school such as transport, books, food and other educational expenses. Money is the biggest issue when it comes to staying in education as many cannot find or fit in a part time job as well as studying full time.
The government is still adamant that they plan to stop EMA for good with applications being suspended and no longer accepted. As much as 70% of students will not be able to continue studying as a result of this because the cost of transport and educational material such as textbooks cost too much, as the recession continues to bite the chances of getting a part time job is also bleak.
Of course like everything there are also many who have abused EMA and turn up just so they can receive the money to spend on themselves, this is unfair to those who want to learn as they cause disruption to lessons and those who want to learn are affected. EMA benefits many working families and with it now being scrapped the government should be braced with an influx of teenagers who will just go on to claim job seekers allowance.
EMA should be stricter as I have seen so many families who earn above the £30,800 thresh hold still able to claim the maximum £30 a week for their children. If you have the means to pay for transport and other expenses then it should not be abused. It is unlikely that EMA will be resumed any time soon so I will be keeping an eye on what happens next and how many more students are going to be penalised for the minority who do not deserve or need EMA.
Have you ever wondered why some things are less than half price in a sale? Well it’s usually because they want to get in new stock so the older stuff is no longer ‘in season’ or fashionable anymore. When people see sales they jump at the chance to save even 10% but there are some retailers that slash prices by up 70%. Everyone loves a good bargain but what happens if you buy something cheap then find that the price has gone up slightly?
Well you would be the lucky few who cashed in on time but is it right to put up prices in a sale when an item was previously sold at a cheaper price? This is exactly what happened to me. I recently bought a whole new wardrobe from ASOS as the sale items were very tempting and not available in the shops. Here is how I saved money:
Party dress £14 down from £46
Cardigan £14 down from £48
Winter coat £40 down from £80
Dress £13 down from £28
Maxi dress £14 down from £40
Total cost: £95
If I had bought the same items before the sale the total cost would’ve been: £242 so by getting the items I needed not wanted I saved a whopping £147! Now it has only been two weeks since these purchases and I went back to look for something on the website, funny enough some of the items that I bought have gone up in price! The difference I would pay now is an increase of £30 so how can sale items go up after the peak time of a sale has ended?
I haven’t bought anything from other retailers so I am unable to compare if others are also doing this but I feel that all of them are the same. They lure people with cheap sale prices then eventually put them up a little but unless you know the original sale price you won’t know if you have truly saved money.
Some items are very overpriced anyway and just by doing a little research you can see how much some items vary. I saw a travel cot ranging from £80-£120 but can’t understand the huge price difference when it’s the same item? If consumers were a little wiser when it comes to shopping then maybe retailers wouldn’t be able to get away with such huge price differences and unworthy price tags. I have found that going to the source or even ordering from abroad can save you money, the new Nintendo DS is retailing for $250 or £152 but here in the UK it will be put on the shelves with a £220 price tag!
Have you noticed a price increase in your weekly shop?
If you have then you are part of a large majority of consumers who have found that supermarkets and other stores have hiked up their prices by more than the 2.5% VAT increase. Stores are expected to inflate their prices by up to 8% as unsuspecting customers go about their weekly shop. By law retailers do not have to change their in store label prices until February 1st the latest, so they are taking advantage of this and hiking up their prices more than they should.
Unfortunately you cannot do anything about this as many store do have notices up stating that their in store label prices may not yet reflect the new VAT increase. Although the average weekly isn’t supposed to increase by that much I and many other shoppers have found that since the VAT increase some products have gone up far too much!
Some stores have decided not to increase their prices to include the new increase and will instead cover the 2.5% keeping their prices lower than other stores. But when demand gets too high they too will be forced to reflect the VAT increase but may add a little more to make a profit.
Just before the VAT increase petrol went up and then with the VAT increase it went up by a further 2.7p a litre, the average price for a litre of petrol is £1.25p a litre and with another rise indicated in fuel prices in April it’s only going to get more expensive.
At present children’s clothing, newspapers and food are not subject to VAT but many shoppers have found that many items at the supermarket have increased so is this just a coincidence? On demeaning part of the VAT increase is that all the stock that was bought under the 17.5% VAT conditions will now be re-sold at the higher rate, therefore retailers will be making a profit. Everyone knows that retailers buy in bulk therefore make a profit on goods sold anyway. So by increasing the VAT it will be the consumer that loses out whilst the retailers line their pockets.
Some experts believe that as the nation continues to grip harder on their finances retail prices will be a joke as people will not pay, instead many will boycott or buy things that ‘fell off the back of the lorry’ as a way to save money and make a stand. Most goods are overpriced anyway and the only way retailers make a sale is because people are willing to pay the silly advertised prices. The sooner everyone wises up and refuse to pay the better and cheaper products will get.
As less people choose to get married in the UK each year competition in the wedding market is still high and the average wedding can cost in excess of £20,000. For a fraction of this you can get married abroad in a hot country and combine it with your honeymoon.
When you have a package wedding abroad that also consists of the wedding cake, flowers and reception dinner you should always check that they also have insurance. What happens if the company goes bankrupt or things do not go according to plan? You could always get insurance through the travel agent as they would be most unlikely to dispute any problems as all companies they use are handpicked and chosen because of reliability.
What can ruin a wedding abroad?
Wedding cover abroad can be as little as £20 so it’s advised to buy a policy even if the company you are booking with is reliable and says that they do have insurance. Most times problems occur because of the language barrier or lack of specific instruction; so many couples leave all the planning and preparation up to the wedding planners that are to arrange for the big day abroad. Obviously there’s not much you can do unless you are in the country but you should accept that things may not go smoothly on the day.
Photographs and filming of the wedding is a very important souvenir but each country differs in the level of professional photography so what happens if the ‘professional’ pictures that were taken are far from it and are not worth the price you paid? Will you be re-reimbursed or have to pay for it out of pocket, these are all questions that need answering.
Do remember that with most claims you will need to pay an excess and this will depend on how much you voluntarily agreed with when you took out the policy. Things are most likely to go wrong abroad than they are to go wrong in this country as you can keep a closer eye on things here. When you go abroad to get married you have to trust someone else to arrange everything and make sure all is going according to plan.
You can always opt for additional extras such as marquee cover that will give you peace of mind should anything go wrong. It’s worth getting a customised quote if the level of cover is not suitable and you would need more compensation for one item compared to the rest.
There is so much help available now to people who want to travel, you can get assistance for those travelling with young children, the elderly and also disabled. There are strict laws that mean travel agencies and airlines cannot discriminate against people with disabilities. So if you or someone you know are in a wheelchair, have prosthetic limbs or need assistance of any kind whilst travelling by law travel agencies and airlines are obliged to assist you.
If you go abroad for a holiday many hotels now have specially adapted rooms for those that need them, more room for wheelchairs and ramps to help with accessibility. You will need to think about travel insurance as having an injury or accident abroad can be costly. Insurance is not only recommended for accident and injury but also for cover on travel money, delays and lost luggage.
As the demand for disabled holiday insurance has increased dramatically over the last five years alone competition is high for customers, as a result of this you should be able to get a reasonable quote for any circumstances whether it’s for a serious ailment or a less problematic condition.
Example of policy coverage for disabled holiday insurance
Each policy will differ in what they cover but usually you can pick your own cover from a list and also choose level of cover so you won’t be left out of pocket. Most places will also need you to pay an excess should you need to make a claim, the general rule is the higher the voluntary excess the cheaper the quote, so if you can afford an excess of £500-£1,000 you should get a good deal. Only opt for this if you have the money to pay should you need to claim. You can also choose customised cover for holidays abroad that involve sports and activities like, snowboarding, skiing, cycling etc. You can also get cover for the family so there is no need to have a separate cover for just one member of the family.
Always make sure that it is safe to travel before booking, your doctor may want to run a few tests to make sure that you are fit and healthy enough to do so. Other than this there is no reason why anybody should miss out on having a holiday whether it is abroad on in the country.
As the VAT rise continues to pinch at our purse strings many shoppers have had to start shopping wisely just to save some money. Its estimated that women shoppers spend on average £1,000 a year on clothes shopping with the new VAT rise that equates to £200 in VAT alone, for those who can afford to spend £5,000 on clothes shopping (one in ten women) it equates to a whopping £1,000 in VAT!
Clothes are an essential part of living, though where you shop and how much you spend can be debatable on if it’s a luxury item and if it’s worth the price tag. More and more people are opting to shop at charity shops for some budget buys and others are using the internet to shift their unwanted clothes and make some money to put towards purchasing new clothes.
Children’s clothes not only cost less because they require less creativity when designing and making they are also VAT free, even so parents spend more than £500 a year for kids clothes . There have been many women who have found that depending on their dress size they can also fit into children’s sizes for a fraction of the price. One such retailer is Marks and Spencer’s who sells 16 year old clothes with a 30” waist, the same as an adult size 12, there are many other retailers out there who have size charts that you can compare.
Unfortunately there are many retailers that have caught onto this idea and have changed their sizing guides for example La Redoute, age 16 clothes are a few inches less than what they used to be so depending on the adults measurements they wouldn’t be able to fit into their children sizes.
It does seem unfair that adult and children clothes are very similar in terms of latest fashion and fabric but adults have to pay VAT on them but unfortunately that just the way it is. Unless people start shopping wisely like at outlets and during the sale only the prices that are stated on clothing will continue to sell as people are prepared to buy them.
Try to shop wisely and seek out the bargains, you can save money on clothes shopping all throughout the year if you want to you just need to know how to look. There are large retailers out there that regularly sell clothes up to 70% all year round, so if you cannot wait for the quarterly sales shop at the permanently discounted stores.
For the last few years since the recession hit the country we all know how hard it is to find a good mortgage deal let alone be approved for one, if the Financial Services Authority (FSA) have their way then applications are going to be more intrusive and many more mortgages are going to be turned down.
The FSA are hoping to push through new guidelines about how to perform risk assessments on customers to make sure that they can afford the mortgage repayments. If the proposal goes through then you will be penalised for having a gym memberships, going on holidays and even for spending money on leisure and entertainment. In future mortgage lenders will ask to see bank statements for the last 6 months, these will then be analysed to see what potential mortgage customers spend their money on. Using this as evidence a lender can choose to decline lending the money for a mortgage if they could prove that the customer wouldn’t be able to afford it.
At the moment utility bills, council tax and other general bills are taken into consideration but if a lender sees that you are a shopaholic or spend too much on meals out and entertainment then you will be turned down for a mortgage.
In the FSA’s defence they say that when a customer applies for a mortgage they have to assume they will continue to spend money the same way prior to having a mortgage so they don’t take into account that most people’s spending habits change when they enter into a long term contract such as a mortgage. It’s hard enough for most people to get approval for a mortgage and it looks like it will only get harder, most people who apply for a mortgage have waited years are saving up and sacrificing holidays and or leisure spending. But there are a few that continue to live a blasé lifestyle and choose to grow up and mature only when they are forced to so.
The majority of mortgage holders find that when they have a mortgage and bills to pay things such as gym memberships, mobile phone contracts, Sky TV, holidays and even clothes shopping they sacrifice them so they afford to keep up with the repayments . In the current financial climate only 50,000 mortgages are being approved monthly compared to 135,000 a few years ago, if the FSA get their way then one in five mortgage applications will be denied under the new guidelines throwing the property market into further dismay.
For the last few years the EU have been trying to phase out the traditional incandescent light bulbs that have been used since the 1800’s. Currently the UK is working with the EU to phase out these bulbs permanently by 2012 with the United States following through by 2014. There are some places such as Brazil that have phased them out completely and use more energy efficient lighting in the home.
Energy efficient light bulbs are currently handed out for free by some energy suppliers for those who are on low income, they are cheaper to run therefore save you money on monthly electricity bills. The downside to them are that they take a long time to light up completely as they do not come on instantly like incandescent light bulbs, they also flicker sometimes which can cause problems with vision causing headaches and other sight related problems. Energy efficient lighting has also said to be bad for photosensitive epilepsy sufferers as the flickering lights can cause seizures, they have tried to get a get out clause for those that cannot tolerate the new lights but the government are not backing down on this one.
The ban has already forced retailers to stop stocking up on 100watt bulbs but by September retailers will not be allowed to buy 60watt bulbs either. Most places are not selling bulbs above 40watts anymore as there is a scheme being backed by the government to stop them from doing so. As a result of this ban manufacturers are increasing the price of energy efficient lighting as there will no longer be any competition. Currently the cheapest you can buy a light bulb is 33p this price is estimated to rise to £1 or more within the next few months, depending on the light fitting you may also be expected to pay as much as £3.
This will come as a blow for many as there are a vast majority of people who dislike energy efficient lighting and those that are adamant that they cause vision problems. Unfortunately these isn’t much we can do and it will also be the end of free light bulbs from energy suppliers as the government urges them to stop handing them out for free.
Expats abroad have vented their anger as although the prices are increasing in the UK they cost far more in the EU with light bulbs selling for as much as €9 compared to £1-£3 here.
As we know the cost of sending a child to university continues to increase every year but with the new coalition government it looks like many young people will miss out on the opportunity altogether as the average family will be unable to afford the new fees.
How much are university fees going to go up?
In England and Wales fees are set to go up from £3,290 to a staggering £9,000 a year, this will leave the average university leaver with debts of at least £43,500. The overall debt includes student accommodation, food, transport and other living expenses.
England will no longer be a place where students travel from all over the world to come and seek a university qualification as it will soon be known as the most expensive place to study in the world. Those that take out a student loan to cover the cost of university fees will only start paying it back when the earn the minimum amount required usually between £15,000 to £21,000. The more money a graduate makes then the more he is expected to pay back a year. The majority of students will only manage to pay off their debts when they reach their 50’s and those that cannot repay in time will have the debt written off after 30 years.
As a result of this mind boggling increase in fees parents and potential students will seek university placements abroad instead of their home country. Many countries around the world offer scholarships and bursaries to encourage young people to come over and learn whilst experiencing a different culture. All top universities around the world will welcome this new fee as it will benefit their country more as more families will look at ways to save money.
One other thing that just doesn’t make sense is graduates from a few years ago are still struggling to find a job in their field so they have been forced to work in low paid jobs such as call centres and supermarkets whilst they search for their dream job. As a result of this many graduates are just about starting to pay off their students loans but when they want to settle down and buy a house they will find it even harder to get a mortgage due to unpaid debts.
Degrees are pretty much worthless in this country as there are simply not enough jobs to go around so I just don’t understand how it is justified to make people pay for something that they have no guarantee will pay off in the future.