Mums Finance

Come on girls, handbags at the ready! for people in Northern Ireland the shops are throwing stock out at incredible prices right now. Thousands of shoppers packed into Belfast’s Castle Court complex over the weekend hoping to beat the post-Christmas blues by bagging a bargain…and they did.

With big signs advertising up to 70% reductions outside some stores, and big savings on many top-of-the-range items, there was plenty to tempt people out on these chilly late December afternoons. If you can brave the cold temperatures right now – and it certainly is cold here in NI at the moment – you will pick up some fantastic items at brilliant prices.

Yesterday, the normally packed out shopping outlet was significantly more busy than normal. Dozens of shoppers were piling through the entrance every minute while there were long queues at the checkouts in many stores. If you want to think ahead to next Christmas then head on to the Christmas Store where crowds were still very thin on the ground and lots of specials on offer. Yeah it’s cold, but you can always warm yourself with a coffee at one of Belfast’s many great cafe’s while you plan your next assault.

Popularity: 19% [?]

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Coldwell Banker. All opinions are 100% mine.

It has been said many times that in order to make money you have to spend money and with regards to real estate this is certainly true. With the recession the homebuyer has found it difficult to get a foot on the property ladder, and if you are already an occupier you will have been hesitant to make the move to a new property. The tax credits scheme will enable prospective homebuyers – and first home buyers – to take advantage of these lucrative tax credits on offer:

- If you are a first home buyer you can benefit from up to $8000 in tax credits. This offer also includes those who have not owned a home for the previous three years. The limit of the price for the new home purchased is $800,000.

- If you have lived in your current home for five of the eight past years you can benefit from up to $6,500 in tax credits. This is particularly useful in encouraging current home owners to ‘trade up’. The scheme has been expanded to include those in this category so take advantage of it.

- Due to restrictions there probably will be no more extensions on this scheme so with this in mind you will need to have a written, binding contract by April 30, 2010 and must close by June 30, 2010.

- There are income limits: $125,000 for singles and $225,000 for married couples with a $20,000 phase-out of the credit for both.

More information here which explains how important the 2010 Homebuyer Tax Credits scheme is in getting the home industry back on track:

What this guy is saying basically is that homebuyers are vital to the nation’s economy – first homebuyers and subsequent buyers all make a significant contribution to keeping the economy stable. We need folk to buy homes, we need folk to sell the homes – and the easier and less complicated it is made to achieve this the better.

I encourage you to visit the site and get informed about this scheme; even if you have only been considering buying your first home in 2010 you can still qualify but you need to get moving. Try starting the search for your next/new home while you there!

Popularity: 20% [?]

There had to be a catch to it somewhere eh…? but it is a genuine offer. One US vaccine manufacturer is offering a novel incentive for people willing to take part in a drug trial for a remedy for ‘holiday tummy’. Up to 900 volunteers can apply for a free holiday in Mexico or Guatemala to the value of £1,400 – and all they need to do is eat, drink and see if they get sick.

Accommodation in three-star hotels is included, as well as flights, and travellers can go where they like – as long as they are within three hours of test centres where they can provide blood and stool samples if they are struck down with a stomach upset. The trips are being billed as ‘almost like going on a package holiday’, and recruitment clinics are opening up in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Belfast, Glasgow and even Reading. All they have to do is wear a patch on their arm for six hours, three weeks before they go away, followed by another the week before travel, then take their holiday as planned and see if they get sick.

The vaccine has already been tested on American volunteers who travelled to Mexico and Guatemala, and results showed the drug reduced incidents of diarrhoea by 75 per cent.

Volunteers can find more information on the study at www.trekstudy.com. and if you are up for it then why not…?

Popularity: 15% [?]