Five Tips To Help Beat the Credit Crunch

The Employee Benefits Scheme can help you make savings on the things you need as well as the things you want.

1.       Weekly Shopping - Shop at Asda, Sainsburys, Marks & Spencer or Iceland and save up to £8 per week on a shopping list to the value of £100. In a year that would be a whopping £416.  Asda and Sainsburys vouchers can also be used at the petrol pump cutting the price of filling up your car.

Order your ASDA vouchers by the 30^th September and be entered into a prize draw to win hundreds of £££'s of free vouchers. (Minimum order value £100.)

2.       Fuel bills are on the up so why not save £25 and consider changing your provider to Ecocity. Ecocity are focused on investing in renewable energy and promise to match the standard price of each regional supplier so you shouldn't need to pay more - even if you're not an eco warrior you can still make your carbon footprint a little smaller!

3.       Car Maintenance is essential when getting ready for the winter - you can get discounts on tyres, MOT's, Servicing and for that extra security why not join the AA and get 25% off for new members and 10% off for existing members.

4.       Holiday or Weekend Away - Save up to 17% off travel including package & tailor made holidays (UK & International), flights, hotels, airport parking, car hire, ferry crossings and coach hire. No strings, so you won't have to take specific travel insurance, you simply make the booking and are refunded the commission the travel agent would normally keep. For example family holiday to Menorca via Thomsons normal cost £2020, book the same holiday via the employee benefits helpline and pay £1895!

5.       Computers & Electricals - Many of you will be buying teenagers laptops as they start back for a new college or school year so why not check out the prices in PC World Comet, Curry's or John Lewis buy your computers or electricals from here and save up to 10% off with the Employee Benefits Scheme.

'Making The Most of Your Money' financial awareness sessions, delivered by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), were recently piloted within POS with much success.  It is hoped that these could be the start of a rollout programme to cover the whole of the Council.  The FSA have further hints and tips on their website www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk.

For more information see the Employee Benefits pages on FISH or log on at www.fifedirect.org.uk/employeebenefits to find how to take advantage of the great savings.