may 2014 | issue 65

Jersey Issues

Money Matters During March of this year the Consumer Council and Community Savings ran a survey to “check Islanders’ financial health” to see what problems people were facing, particularly as a result of the recession and how the organisations might best help with any issues raised.

During March of this year the Consumer Council and Community Savings ran a survey to “check Islanders’ financial health” to see what problems people were facing, particularly as a result of the recession and how the organisations might best help with any issues raised.

“I am extremely pleased with the quality of information that our statistically robust and representative survey has produced” says Advocate Rose Colley, Council Chairman. “We will produce a more detailed report on the responses in due course but in this newsletter we would like to share the results from some of the key areas of the survey for readers’ information.”

Do we share the household financial responsibility? Our Money Matters survey highlighted that for the majority household finances are not a shared responsibility, with just one family member managing the money.

There are both generation and geographical splits; older respondents are more likely to have a household with just one person managing the finances. Additionally the survey highlighted that, those residing in St. Helier are the most likely to have sole responsibility for holding the family purse strings.

IncomeA possible effect of low interest rates in more recent years is reflected in the fact that only 4% of respondents say that they rely upon investment income as their main source of income.

The results illustrate that many islanders are still being prudent saving for their future, either by virtue of 27% paying into a work pension plan or 57% contributing to personal savings.

Attitude to money50% of respondents felt that they were not ‘impulsive’ spenders but rather managed their finances prudently and are contributing

to savings. However, this does not mean that Islanders are finding it easy at the moment as 33% commented that they struggle each month to make ends meet.

It was also noticeable that all age groups under 65 years old they were emphatic that more financial education at school would have been helpful.

Emergency mattersOf particular concern was the issue of emergency funds, for example how long can a household survive financially should their main source of income stop. 43% of respondents had an emergency fund less than Jersey’s Citizen Advice Bureau’s (CAB) recommended level of 3 months income.

Budgeting The results indicate that whilst respondents are prudent savers, long term money planning is not a high priority with 25% not planning a budget. Of those who budget; 70% indicate that they are able to stick to their weekly or monthly budgets.

(Money Matters continues on page 2)

NEWS IN BRIEF...PAYDAY LOANS P2by Malcolm Ferey

A GUIDE TO... P5Home Contents Insurance

REGULATED BY JERSEY P5FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISIONWhat does this really mean?

WE NEED YOU! P8A health focus group opportunity

BUDGETING PAYS P8 Where does your money go?

2 | may | www.jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je

jersey issues

Short Term Payday LoansPayday loans are short term loans that are often used to get through a rough spot. Unfortunately, there are very few situations in which these loans actually end up being helpful. Before you use one, make sure you understand the costs and risks. Here’s a quick overview of how payday loans work, and ideas on how to avoid them.

If you can’t repay your payday loan when it comes due, you can “roll it over” so that the loan is extended. You don’t have to repay it, but fees keep accumulating.

In general, payday loans are extremely expensive. You end up paying an annual percentage rate (APR) that may be several hundred percent.

The main pitfall with payday loans is their cost. Due to extremely high fees, they don’t help you solve the real problem. If you’re having financial difficulties, payday loans can only make things worse. You’re paying a really high rate of interest which means that your expenses are just going up. As a short term strategy – maybe once or twice in your life, if that – payday loans can get you through a rough patch. For example, you might need an emergency repair for your car so that you can get to work and keep earning income. As a long-term strategy, payday loans will pull you under.

Instead of using a payday loan, consider some alternatives:

• Build up an emergency cash fund in your savings account (sometimes easier said than done)

• Build credit so you can borrow from mainstream lenders (in moderation)

• Keep an open credit card for emergency expenses

• Get a signature loan (or unsecured loan) from your bank or credit union

• Pick up a part time job for extra cash

• Negotiate a payment plan with your lenders (ask about loan modification)

• Investigate overdraft protection plans for your checking account

• Try peer to peer lending services for a better deal.

If you need to consider a payday loan, it is a good indication that your finances may be in disarray and need re-structuring. In this respect the CAB money advisers can help.

Please contact us on: Tel: 0800 7350249 orEmail: advice@cab.org.je Website: www.cab.org.je or come in to see us St Paul’s CentreNew Street St HelierMonday to Friday 10.00am to 3.00pm.

Malcolm FereyChief ExecutiveJersey Citizens Advice Bureau Limited

(Money Matters continues...)

Helping ourselvesHard life experiences are impacting on our local residents with respondents reporting an extremely responsible attitude to money with 43% saying that they would attempt to earn extra income or cut back to make ends meet. In fact 74% would cut back on living expenses with 83% cutting back on luxuries should money become short.

Here are some general anonymous quotes which capture the financial mood...

“Although we do not have any commitments apart from rent, I would initially turn to the family for support. However, if this was not possible, I would look to sell

personal items such as our laptops and jewellery”

“Contact mortgage provider and try to come to a sensible solution”

Family values Family support appears to be very strong with respondents saying that they would approach family for financial support and advice rather than take out loans.

It was also heartening to note that Islanders take the responsible approach of contacting their own banks or agencies such as CAB or Community Savings for help.

“Ask family for help and sell furniture/ any non-essential household items”

“Approach lender to see if alternate arrangements could be made”

Payday loansOur survey indicates that people are extremely wary of payday loans with very few taking them out. Of those who did, however, 50% did not fully understand the terms, conditions and critically the interest rates attached to these short term loans.

“Two of our key objectives are to make people aware of how important it is to budget and to save for that unexpected problem” says Stuart Stables, Executive Officer at Community Savings. “I am delighted to see that so many people say they are achieving these goals. However, for those who find it hard we offer free budgeting support to our customers. It is also interesting to note that

many would have liked to receive more financial training when at school – a gap that we hope to be filling with the Consumer Council as a result of our joint schools “Money Management training programme.”

ConclusionMalcolm Ferey, CEO CAB is delighted that the Jersey Consumer Council and Community Savings undertook this enlightening and challenging survey. He said that ‘the results will be extremely helpful to our organisations work, as a key community organisation we see those affected by financial difficulties, but this survey has covered a wide range of people in Jersey and whilst we cannot ignore those residents with difficulties the financial challenges are not overwhelmingly endemic. The results will help us to tailor our services and help our advisors to meet the needs of our community’

Thank you to everyone of our randomly selected islanders for being honest and baring their financial souls.

www.jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je | may | 3

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Life Insurance...Is life insurance another expensive ploy? Our research indicates that life insurance is a worthwhile commitment depending upon your circumstances.

There are lifetime events that might lead you to consider purchasing life insurance; such as becoming a parent, getting married, a change in your income level, moving home, buying a house or taking out a substantial loan (for buying a car etc).

What different kinds of life insurance are there?There are many types of life insurance available which can be taken out to suit your individual circumstances and budget, such as term assurance or whole of life policies.

The idea is that you take out a suitable policy for a period long enough to cover the term of your mortgage or provide income protection in your absence. It is especially sensible if you have a joint mortgage, as if one of you were to die then it could lead to the surviving partner losing their home if they are unable to meet the mortgage payments by themselves. It is important to remember that if you die after your fixed term ends then there won’t be a pay-out.

A life insurance policy will usually be paid out as lump sum in the event of your death, but it can also be paid out over a predetermined length of time to replace lost income. There are also many other beneficial options that you could add to your policy if your budget allows, such as Critical Illness and Income Protection. Some providers also have additional free options such as Children’s Cover or Medical support and advice.

How much cover do you need?Ideally you should be looking at enough cover to ensure that your dependants are able to maintain their standard of living after you are gone. How much really depends on your commitments in terms of the size of your mortgage, salary, debts or number of dependents. Council research indicates that a ballpark figure is typically 10 times your current salary – although, people without children may require less cover than this.

Once you have decided how much insurance cover you need for your circumstances it is recommended that you meet with an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) who can help to find a policy that meets your needs and

fits your budget. The advice provided should be free of charge as the IFA is typically remunerated by the policy provider if you decide to proceed. As with any insurance policy, it is essential you shop around to get the cover that is right for your situation and will actually pay out in the event of your death.

People tend to buy life insurance and then forget about it – but a change in your financial situation or a birth, death, marriage, or divorce in your family, could require you to update your beneficiaries or the amount of insurance you need. Since rates have been coming down for years due to longer life expectancies, it may also be a good idea to see if you can purchase the same amount of insurance for a lower cost, especially if your health status or lifestyle has improved. Just be sure that you’ve secured a new contract before dropping your old one, check any exit costs if you ‘drop ‘ your old policy.

Protecting your family is important but so is making sure you’re not wasting money on insurance that could be used for other financial needs. The key is to find the right balance for you. The Council has been advised that a basic policy may not be as expensive as you think, for example a healthy nonsmoking male age 35 could obtain level cover of £100,000 for about 30 pence per day (much less than the cost of a posh coffee).

One final note on this is that even if you don’t currently need life insurance, you may still want to purchase it now. That’s because if your health deteriorates, it could be a lot more expensive or you may no longer be able to purchase it at all

when you need it. So if you anticipate needing life insurance in the future, it might be a good idea to get it while you can.

A few additional points to consider when researching a policy:

• My monthly income isn’t going as far …can I stop my life insurance or what should I do? Am I still covered?

• How quickly will the policy pay out in the event of death or maturity? What needs to be done to access the money?

“ Protecting your family is important but so is making sure you’re not wasting money on insurance that could be used for other financial needs. ”

4 | may | www.jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je

jersey issues

Credit rating – What’s the score?The importance of your credit history is not overrated. Your credit history information is of interest to a lot of people. A bad credit history can make it harder for you to obtain loans and even a mobile phone contract. Landlords and potential employers can and will also look at your credit history report.

Banks have changed the way they decide to lend money since the financial crisis. Essentially, the lenders now want to take fewer risks with their cash.

Basically, being granted a credit facility enables you to repay over a set term usually having interest added and paid back with the initial advance on a monthly basis.

A credit check doesn’t just dictate what products you’ll receive, but can also determine the rate of interest you will be charged. For example, most loan rates are ‘representative’, meaning the APR (Annual Percentage Rate of charge) depends on your credit score/rating; with credit cards, if your score/rating is too low for the fab deal you wanted, you might get accepted but not on the terms advertised.

Whether you are approved for new credit isn’t a simple calculation based on how much you earn. Nor is it about some mythical ‘universal credit rating’ or blacklist. Lenders evaluate you to predict your likely behaviour in relation to the product you apply for.

Kevin Harris, Managing Director of Acorn Advisory Ltd, says that he considers each application for credit on the 3C’s:

• Character – residential and employment status and stability, age, previous management of credit, what you want the money for etc. – this is basic ‘Know your Client’ stuff.

• Capacity – affordability of the monthly repayments, (Acorn will review bank statements and your personal budget.)

• Collateral – can Acorn secure the loan? Is there an asset, for example the car being the security/collateral on a car loan.

Kevin urges all loan applicants to ‘be honest with the information they provide’ if you are economical with the truth it may come back to haunt you and adversely effect your current and future credit application.

Also remember that short-term high rate loans are not the answer to pay any outstanding debts or living expenses – as inevitably the short-term loans will attract higher and higher interest rates – compounding your debts and liabilities. Instead if you find you are tempted down this road seek help from either your bank, lender, Citizens Advice

Bureau or Community Savings Limited.

Paying rent and household utilities doesn’t mean you have a credit history, as these may not be recorded with the credit agencies. The twist? NOT paying the rent and household utilities could show up negatively on your credit history because you’ve failed to pay as agreed, resulting with a judgment which will be detrimental to your credit rating.

Kevin goes on to say that increasingly we are seeing more information relating to monthly mobile phone contracts and mail order payments. The credit reference agencies categorize these, for example mail order and communications so your credit history is detailed and illuminating – there is nowhere to hide!

If you are concerned or wish to keep a track of your history you can check the information held about you with the three UK based credit reference agencies and the local agencies.

How credit history reports workA credit history report shows how you’ve managed your credit so far. Every time you pay your loan instalment, credit cards or apply for credit, you’re adding to your credit history, and that information is noted by credit reporting agencies. If you fall behind with payments, this information will also show up in your credit history. Your credit history is used to assess the risk involved in lending you the money, the higher the risk, the more chance you will be declined or charged a higher rate.

Remember that it is a continual two-way flow of information between loan companies and credit reference agencies, not every agency holds the same information, some Banks and Finance companies supply data to all the agencies and some only to one or two. Agencies may also hold information relating to bank accounts and over drafts, etc.

What can you do to protect your credit history?Get your credit report (always check how much this will cost; whether you are buying a one off or a monthly report, attracting an ongoing charge) and take steps to monitor your credit. Proactively managing your credit history will eliminate any unpleasant surprises for you when lenders,

property managers, and potential employers investigate your financial reports. You can put a file note of correction on your report - for example if you went through a divorce and joint credit cards were unpaid during the settlement phase and you dispute your side of the liability, you could indicate by way of a correction that this was the reason to provide a more balanced credit picture.

Building a good credit history takes time and patience. Make your payments on time, and carefully manage your open accounts. By managing your finances responsibly, your credit history will improve, which should eventually have a positive impact on your credit score/rating.

The problem is we don’t give credit the amount of thought we should as its important to think about the future. You don’t want your credit history to get in the way of achieving personal or professional goals

Credit Reference Agencies

Channel Islands Data Service Ltd. 1st Floor 4 Market Street St Peter PortGuernsey GY1 1HFTel: (01481) 720028 Email: admin@offshorecreditcheck.comWeb: www.offshorecreditcheck.com

Trades Advisory Bureau (TAB’s)P O Box 4Jersey (C.I.) JE4 8NBTel: (01534) 508855

UK Based Credit Reference Agencies

Equifax Ltd.Credit File Advice CentrePO Box 1140BradfordBD1 5USWeb:www.equifax.co.uk/Products/credit/statutory-report.html

ExperianCreditExpertPO BOX 7710NottinghamNG80 7WETel: 0844 481 0800Web: www.experian.co.uk

CallCreditTel: 0845 366 0071Web: www.callcredit.co.uk/

Because of the differences in local electoral roles the UK credit reference agencies are unable to use this as part of your rating.

www.jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je | may | 5

jersey issues

COMMUNITY SAVINGS...

Who we are and what we do?Community Savings is the only viable alternative to a high street bank based in Jersey. There is no other government or third party agency that is able to offer the range of services described below to all Island residents. We operate an “open door” policy and with virtually no restrictions based on residency or credit history we are able to help the majority of people who come to us.

To access our services customers need to join “an interest group” (similar to being a member of a credit union). Our biggest group is based at our town premises in Seale Street, St Helier by the Town Hall. Open from Tuesday – Friday from 9.30 am - 12.30pm our front desk services are provided by a team of welcoming volunteers. Applicants need only bring some photographic ID and proof of address and an account can be opened immediately if all is in order. Wages or income support can be paid into an account and direct debits paid out. In addition customers can have a Cred-E card which acts as a “top-up” debit card.

Community Savings was established as a charity in 2001 to provide access to basic account facilities to those who might otherwise not be able, for whatever reason, to access mainstream banking facilities. In addition, we provide our customers with budgeting support and ongoing mentoring if required in the belief that if someone can effectively manage their money they are more likely to remain financially independent. Customers are also eligible to apply for limited discretionary emergency funding in the form of small low interest loans or one off grants if they are unable to access emergency funds from any other source.

If you want to know more about Community Savings do access our website www.communitysavings.org.je or call us on 737555.

We are always happy to help if we can.

REGULATED BY THE JERSEY FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION

What does this really mean?The Commission is the Island’s financial services regulator. It is responsible for regulating and supervising businesses involved in banking, funds, investment, insurance, money service and trust company business – these are “regulated” activities.

If you deal with a regulated business this means that important checks have been carried out by the Commission to try and ensure that it is legitimate and will operate its business to the high standards which the Commission expects. These checks cannot guarantee that everything will run smoothly. However, if the Commission finds that the business has not behaved properly it may be able to take action against the business.

Not all financial activity is regulated in Jersey. Some types of activity are not regulated (e.g. advising purely on loans or mortgages) and some types of activity which are generally regulated may have exceptions (e.g. investment activity is generally regulated but, investments in

stamps, fine wines, antiques and other so-called “collectible” items are not regulated). If a business is not regulated, the Commission does not carry out checks to make sure that it is operating to high standards.

You can check if businesses you are dealing with are regulated by going to the Commission’s website (www.jerseyfsc.org) and clicking “The Commission” and then “Regulated Entities”. This provides a list of regulated businesses.

Before buying financial products or services you should also read the free and impartial advice which the Commission provides to help consumers at www.protectyourmoney.je.

A guide to Home Contents Insurance Have you ever heard people talk about how they were affected when their homes were burgled or damaged by flooding or fire?

If you don’t have contents insurance, think how you would replace or repair your TV, computer, carpets or sofa if the worst happened. Even a small flood caused by a broken washing machine or a burst pipe can cause expensive damage. If you don’t buy home contents insurance, can you afford to put money aside to replace all your home contents if the worst should happen?

With thanks to Islands Insurance for their help in developing our home contents insurance guide. See our website or call the Consumer Council for a copy.

6 | may | www.jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je

jersey issues

DANGER: DIRECT DEBIT BANDITS AT BAY

Have YOU checked your statements lately?When was the last time you checked your bank statements? Are you aware of all the direct debits you currently have set up? And did you know that ANYONE can initiate a direct debit on your account, so long as they have the correct sort code and account number?

Theft through fraudulent direct debits is becoming an increasing problem and it is estimated that well over 100,000 Britons have fallen victim. Back in 2010 (interestingly, the most recent statistics we could find), insurance group LV= found that direct debit (DD) fraud accounted for over 10% of ALL identity theft.

LV=estimated that during 2013 alone there would be 41,000 cases of people being targeted in this way and they also found that, on average, victims lost £540 to the scammers, before they noticed – that equates to at least £22 million worth of theft in just one year! (Have you stopped reading this article and checked your statements yet?)

You will probably be as surprised as we were to learn that, according to BACS (the organisation which runs the DD system in the UK), a DD is set up when your bank simply receives an instruction with the correct combination of sort code and account number - at no point does anyone check that the name on the account is correct, which in many fraudulent cases would raise the alarm! DDs are sucked out of your account by the payee’s bank, whereas standing orders, are sent BY your bank and are therefore the safer option of the two.

Occasionally, erroneous DDs are set up because of the slip of a digit when completing a DD

instruction, but mostly they have been initiated by fraudsters who have got their hands on your details - never leave your bills and paperwork lying around!

Sometimes, they contact you by telephone or in writing, claiming to be one of the organisations with whom you have an existing DD. They then ask you to update the bank account to which your DD is sent – providing you with new account details. A phone call/letter or email like this should set your alarm bells clanging and you should always call back your usual contact with the organisation concerned, to check that the request is genuine. Otherwise, the first you’ll know of it, is when your real payee notifies you that your DD has been cancelled – which could have huge implications, especially if it is for something like insurance and you need to make a claim.

The worst of it is, that lots of us are just letting them get away with it, because we so rarely check our statements to notice that we’re being robbed (surely you’ve got your statements out by now and are going through them line by line?)

The good news is that where fraud has occurred, following a verifying investigation, in most cases a full refund will be offered under the DD guarantee system. If you think that you have been a victim, phone your bank immediately to report

the unauthorised payments and they will advise you on how to proceed.

For more information on your DD rights, check out www.financialombudsman.org.uk.

And finally, what about the DDs which you set up months, or even years ago – things like memberships and subscriptions; mobile phone payments or insurance on white goods. Did you ever get around to cancelling them? One man was paying £16 a month unnecessarily – not a huge sum, but it was for six years – wasting a whopping £1,600! Ouch.

You’d better go and check your statements now – just in case!

Article references:www.lv.com/about-us/press/article/fraudulent_direct-debits

BBC News Online: www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24085200

Financial Ombudsman Service www.financialombudsman.org.uk

Action Fraud (for reporting fraud and internet crime) www.actionfraud.police.uk

www.MoneySavingExpert.com

Send documents to Kindle for free!Every Kindle device owner gets an email address. This is so you can send things to your Kindle via email. It is also the only e-reading device that allows this. Sending yourself books costs money UNLESS you use the free version: free.kindle.com.

If you would like to download your personal documents for free, you can send attachments to “name”@free.kindle.com to be converted and e-mailed to your computer at the e-mail address associated with your Amazon.com account log-in. You can then transfer the document to your Kindle (1st Generation) using your USB connection.

For example, if your Kindle email address is Jay@

Kindle.com, send your attachments to Jay@free.kindle.com.

If you have a wifi unit, you can simply turn on your wifi and your free documents will be downloaded. If you are out of wifi range, you will receive an email that your Amazon Kindle documents are ready to be downloaded and a notice will show up on your 3g Kindle homescreen.

www.jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je | may | 7

jersey issues

STAYING SECURE AT...

Automatic cash points LINK is the UK’s cash machine network, providing you with access to your cash. The number of free machines is at an all time high, and to help you manage your money effectively you can also check your balance free of charge at any LINK machine.

LINK have provided a number of simple steps which all cardholders can take to help fight ATM crime:

• Check to see if anything looks unusual or suspicious about the ATM showing it might have been tampered with.

• If it appears to have any attachments to the card slot, cash slot or key pad, do not use it and if possible alert nearby staff or call the police.

• Stand close to the ATM and shield the keypad with your hand when keying in your PIN.

• If your card gets jammed or retained by the machine or no cash comes out, report this immediately to your bank or building society, ideally using your mobile phone

while you are still in front of the machine. Check that others in the queue keep a good distance from you.

• Keep your PIN secret. Never reveal your PIN to anyone, not to someone claiming to be from your bank, the police and especially not to a “helpful” stranger.

• Be especially cautious if strangers try to distract you or offer to help at an ATM, even if your card is stuck or you are experiencing difficulty with the transaction.

• Regularly check your account balance and keep your receipt to check against your statement. If you think that you may have been victim to an ATM crime, contact the police. For further information about ATMs visit LINK’s website : www.link.co.uk/

Energy billsDoes it feel like your energy bills are always on the up? Find yourself scratching your head trying to understand your bills?

Whether you receive your energy bills through the post or electronically, you could learn a lot by taking a closer look at them, and familiarising yourself with what they’re telling you. Ask yourself questions such as:

• How does my bill breakdown, and do I fully understand what individual costs are really for?

• What time period does the bill cover?

• Is this bill significantly higher or lower than normal? If so, why?

• Do I pay by monthly standing order? If so, am I in credit or arrears?

• Do I pay each bill individually? If so, when is the next payment due?

• Am I on a tariff, and if so which one and what does it offer me?

If you’re unsure about any aspect of your bill, contact your fuel provider and they’ll be able to help, which should give you peace of mind that you’re spending your money wisely. Also, by better understanding you as a customer, they may

recommend different products or tariffs to give you greater value for money.

Once you feel confident in understanding your energy bills, consider the people around you who may not. Taking the time to run through bills with an elderly relative or neighbours could both broaden their understanding and potentially help them save money too.

Although the worst of the cold weather is now hopefully behind us, and we’re all looking forward to a nice warm summer, now is the perfect time to be preparing our homes for next winter. Whether you look to improve your home’s insulation, or upgrade your heating system, carrying out work during summer months is often a lot more convenient.

For further free and impartial advice on easy ways to save energy at home, please contact the Energy Efficiency Service on Tel 441611 or Email energyefficiencyservice@gov.je or visit www.gov.je/energyefficiency.

8 | may | www.jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je

jersey issues

H e lp us keep an accurate l ist

Jersey Consumer Council

Liberation Place, St Helier, JE1 1BB

Telephone: 01534 611161

Email: info@jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je

web: www.jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je

@jerseyconsumer

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jersey-

Consumer-Council/523388024389196

and

http://www.facebook.com/jerseyfuelwatch

editor Consumer Council Executive OfficerEmail: info@jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je

designer

Georgina PensriEmail: g.pensri@pensri.co.uk

Disclaimer: The Jersey Consumer Council takes very special care in the collection of information and facts. It would not knowingly publish anything that is inaccurate and therefore does not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in the content of this newsletter, nor any liability for and loss or inconvenience caused by or arising from any reliance on information contained herein.

Copyright: © The Jersey Consumer Council. The entire contents of this publication are protected by copyright. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written consent of the copyright owner.

Images sourced from 123rf.com unless stated otherwise.

BUDGETING PAYS –

Where does your money go?Knowing where and how you spend money can help you save. This can help you pay for unexpected bills and plan for occasions like holidays and Christmas.

In conjunction with Citizens Advice Bureau and Community Savings we have developed an on-line budget pack for you. Our budget planner is also available in paper format – please contact us for a copy.

Remember our Money Matters survey results highlighted that if you budget you are likey to manage your money more accurately.

Calculate the cost of shoppingDon’t be shy … take your calculator with you when shopping at the supermarket to check the pricing deals.

• Are two really better value if I buy them together?

• How much will each unit cost of the two different sized products?

• Am I really getting a good deal?

Be a consumer champion and calculate the varying prices, a little extra time may save you £’s.

The Council VAT listReaders have advised us that the following companies remove the VAT when shipping to Jersey.

Below is our list - please tell us if there are more.

• Amazon (must be Amazon themselves)

• White Stuff

• Boden

• John Lewis

• Lakeland

• M&M (if you call them to confirm)

• DABS

• Very

• Schuch

• Harts of Stur; Cookware Specialists

• Fashion at Simply Be

WE ARE NOT STOPPING OUR WORK ON PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

We need you!Following our island wide survey gathering islanders’ experiences with Primary Health Care, we are pleased to announce that we will be further investigating the issues that emerged. We have commissioned 4insight a professional independent marketing research company to run the next stage of research. This will be in the form of 8 focus groups with the general public, taking place at 4insight’s professional research studio.

The purpose of the focus groups will be to elicit the whys behind the statistics that were gathered in the survey and explore people’s perceptions about and any issues with Primary Health Care.

The focus groups will take place in the first 2 weeks of June; if you are interested in taking part in one of these focus groups please contact 4insight directly on 765360 or email catherine.morris@4insight.info