You can't turn over the corner of a Kindle page...

We’ve finally been Kindled. 

It took a while but this year Sheconomics came out on Kindle edition. 

As it’s four years since our book was published it's fabulous that people still want to buy it. Even last week a PR contact popped this at the bottom of her email:

 Ps I think your book is working. I went into Space NK last weekend and bought one thing instead of 3 so I think that's progress

How do you feel about Kindle books? As a voracious reader I’ve been pondering the pros and cons…..

Pros

• ·       I can hear Mariella Frostrup raving about a book on Radio 4 and have downloaded it before she’s done gushing.
• ·       I can take 14 heavy books abroad with me and stay within the measly baggage allowance that punitive airlines inflict on passengers these days.
• ·       With my Paperwhite Kindle I can read at night without waking my husband by flooding the room with light so he thinks there's a police raid. I can even adjust its lighting levels depending on where I am.
• ·       Kindle editions are usually cheaper than printed books. In fact I’ve downloaded hundreds of classics for free.
• ·       I can highlight away to my heart’s content and view my clips in an electronic version on my computer later. I used to laboriously copy our favourite passages and quotes.
• ·       (I know others say an advantage of the Kindle is that others can’t see what you’re reading [in a Fifty Shades kind of way] but I don’t care who sees what I’m reading. It's just not racy that anyway).

So would I eschew printed books in favour of my electronic friend? 

Here are what I see as the cons of the Kindle …

• ·       I love the feel, smell and completely tactile experience of a real book; technology doesn’t offer the same sensual pleasure as a much-loved paperback with turned-over corners.
• ·       I like reading in the bath. And, yes, I confess I do take it in there with me sometimes. But I know it’s only a matter of time before it slips through soapy fingers and stops working. I'd read in the shower too if I could.
• ·       I love passing favourite books on to friends. I still do that sometimes, but that means buying them the real thing after I’ve read it on Kindle (and how sheconomical is that?).
• ·       With non-fiction I love to dip in and out or flick through the pages for bits that catch my eye. That's tricky to do on a Kindle. 
• ·       I have read whole books on Kindle without having the foggiest idea of the book’s title. Or the author. That’s because I see it once –at the start – but it never appears again. At least with a real book the cover gets imprinted on the brain and you know what you’ve read.

So, the choice is yours. If you’re a Kindle kinda girl you can buy Sheconomics on Kindle for £4.99  

or if you want to see it in all its pink glory and dip in and out of real pages, then you can buy the print copy of Sheconomics on Amazon, where the average rating is still five lovely stars.

I'd be interested to know whether you think these electronic devices spell the end of the real book. Or whether we'll always want the thrill of crunchy pages, musty smells and jazzy jackets..... 

How to dress for success

Watch a video here about first impressions and how to dress for success.....



it's great to see our University of Hertfordshire research featured in this video, which reinforces the message conveyed in an earlier post that dress disasters can ruin your job prospects ... without you even knowing it.

Wardrobe Under Construction…and On a Budget

We are thrilled to have this guest blog from Jennifer Baumgarter, Psy.D. 

Jennifer is author of You Are What You Wear: What your clothes reveal about you. Here she shows you how to manage your wardrobe wisely.

These are tough financial times that we live in, but having a small budget does not mean that we need to skimp on style. Contrary to popular belief, you can build a fabulous wardrobe without compromising your credit! Here's how:

• Assess and Clean the Slate: The best wardrobes are built on items that are already in your closet. Before you shop, examine what you already have. Keep what works for your lifestyle, age, body, and coloring, and what actually makes you feel good. Remove anything that does not work with other pieces in your closet, has not been worn, does not work with your external self, and does not enhance the internal. The clothes that you choose to sell or consign will give you the seed money for new pieces.

• Find Your Look and Stick to It: Don’t walk out the door to shop until you know what your look will be. Use the pieces that remain in your wardrobe as a guide. Determine what your wardrobe classics are, not the ones that you are told are classic. If you are still having trouble, take the time to create a style file with magazine pictures or online images. You will notice a pattern of items and looks that you prefer, and it is those that you should shop for. Anything that doesn’t fit within your look, whether it be colourful or monochromatic, classic or trendy, safari or nautical, should not be purchased. This ensures that all items work together, and you will actually get wear out of what you buy.

• Less is More: Paradoxically, the fewer pieces you have in your wardrobe the more options you have. Spearheaded by Donna Karan in the 1980s, a capsule collection was composed of the least amount of pieces that would create the most outfit options. When you are on a budget you should focus on capsule pieces, such as a sheath dress, jean, blazer, or trousers, that will work in all seasons, for different events, throughout weight fluctuations, etc. These pieces must be multipurpose and multifunctional…and machine washable! If you must change things up for the season or trend, switch your shoes, jewellery, handbags, and other accessories that are often less expensive items.

• Shop Smart: Before you swipe that card or take out that cash, answer one question as objectively as you can: Is this item a need or a want? If it is a want, and you are concerned about your budget, put the item back. If the item is a need, buy if you are able to afford it. When buying during sales or in discount or second hand stores, where you may be more tempted to buy inexpensive items, ask the same question. This also holds true when shopping with friends or sales associates who might influence you to buy items when you don’t truly need them. Treating oneself is important, but if your financial situation does not allow for extravagances, buying out of want is merely a waste of money that is better suited for a need.

Read more on Jennifer's blog on The Psychology of Dress here. 

Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @drjennyb

Do you know how much you are paying for your ISA investments?

(SPONSORED POST)

We (rplan) did some research and found that 89% of people had no idea how much they were paying for their ISA investments (and that's excluding the 30% who thought it was free.) 
In reality, you are most likely paying two sets of charges: when you buy the investment (the initial charge), and then on an ongoing basis (usually calculated annually.)
Why is this important? The charges can have quite an impact on your investment. 

ISA charges can seriously affect your investment

For instance, the initial charge can be up to 5% of your investment; the ongoing charge is usually around 1.5% for funds, and less for passive funds or ETFs. Over 10 years, these charges add up.
We found that the difference between the most expensive and a cheaper option could be up to £6,300 if you invest the full ISA amount each year. That's a big difference.
This is why we created a tool to see how much you could save on your investments by switching service provider. 

The tool is available here - it is free and easy to use. 

Simply enter how much you have invested currently and your current provider, and see how much you could save.
The charges you pay go to the fund manager (you are paying them for performance) and to the service provider (you are paying them for service.) Your service provider could be a financial adviser (IFA or bank), a broker, or an online service. In the case of a financial adviser, you are paying for the quality and frequency of the advice; in the case of a broker or online service, for their tools and customer service.
The key to understanding whether you are getting good value for money is understanding how much you are paying. Armed with that knowledge, you can then decide whether you are truly spending with power; and the savings could be significant.


Blog post by rplan.co.uk

Women get a grip on money in 2010, while men get ahead

The recession has certainly made us focus more on money management, but whereas women hope to get a better a grip on their finances in 2010, men are set on making as much as they can.

Men and women differ in their financial resolutions, according to our recent research. Men will be focusing on maximising income, with almost three quarters of them concentrating on making more money in 2010.

Although roughly half the women said making money was a priority for 2010, many more of them said taking charge of their finances was their uppermost goal for the coming year. Our survey revealed:

Women’s top 3 money resolutions for 2010:

1. Take charge of my finances more (66%)

2. Get better value for money (63%)

3. Plan my financial future (62%)

Men’s top 3 money resolutions for 2010:

1. Plan how to make more money (73%)

2. Plan my financial future (70%)

3. Get better value for money (70%)

The fact that more women want to get a grip on their finances is great news. But making money shouldn't only be a male domain, so why not unleash your inner entrepreneur in twenty ten?

The gift that keeps on giving?

After the Daily Mail ran a story about regifting, featuring my research, today I’ve done lots of radio interviews on this topic.

Regifting is getting more popular and many justify it because it’s green and economical.

I think we’re all passing on unwanted gifts simply because we have too much stuff.

But palming off your tat onto someone else isn’t going to solve the problem (and could lead to disappointed reactions and hurt feelings at Christmas).

My research with Ocado showed that luxury chocolates and champagne are sure winners (you can sneak them into the online grocery order too). Few people would regift those and many would be chuffed to get them.

But if we really don’t know what to buy someone why not give time, offer to cook a meal, babysit and do some gardening?

And instead of regifting those novelty socks or that hideous vase to someone else why not take it to the charity shop? I like the idea that a person might buy it as a gift for someone who then gives it to the charity shop and they sell it again...and so on...recycling with a conscience!

The real COST of Christmas?

Millions of pounds are wasted at Christmas on gifts that people don't need, want or even like. US academic Joel Waldfogel a few years back calculated the 'deadweight loss' of Christmas. He asked people what they would be prepared to pay for the gifts they'd been given. On average it was only about 80% of the true cost to the buyer. The difference in value amounts to millions of wasted dollars.

In his new book Scroogenomics he asks what is the point of gift sets? How many serious golfers would buy themselves those golf-themed knick-knacks, the golf bag wine holder or golfball festooned mug with novelty golf socks? Not many, and I'm sure most dads, uncles and brothers wish they were at least 18-holes away when they open such a gift on Christmas morning.

My own research, carried out recently in association with Ocado, revealed that men are more likely than women to be disappointed with the gifts they get. But women are better at hiding it and try harder to put on a happy face.

I've also analysed the subtle nonverbal signals that leak out when someone opens a naff gift. For more on this check out the info and report on my website.

Simonne says....Second-hand’s not second rate

Did you hear that the car scrappage scheme has been so successful that the scheme is being extended to fund an extra 100,000 car and van purchases?
Don’t we just love it when the government gives away money!
But, if you’re tempted by this offer, just remember that the £2,000 contribution towards a new vehicle will be wiped out in depreciation after just a few short months. It’s still far better value to buy a slightly older car, especially if the new car is being paid for via expensive credit.