Regular paid work can be tricky to maintain alongside studies. But, if you are still in need of some extra cash, there are plenty of ways you can make the most of your spare time when it comes up!

Take a look at these 8 ways that you can make money in your spare time as a student.

• Become a tutor
• Test websites, apps and games
• Sell photos
• Get crafty
• Take up odd jobs
• Use your car
• Write a book
• Become a promoter

Put your student skills to work!

As a student, you’re always acquiring specialist skills on subjects others might want to know about.

Earn back a bit of extra cash with tutoring, or offering your skills to teach online for sites like Coursera or Udemy. If devising a whole course sounds like too much, you can always help school students with particular subjects. Maybe you can help with their maths or English homework. Parents are always looking for extra study help for their children, and it’s a flexible job you can start right away.

Test out websites, app and games

Whenever you’ve got a spare 20 minutes, sites like UserTesting can earn you great money for just trying out a website and reporting back on the user experience. You’ll need to complete a trial run, have a good microphone, and clearly narrate what you do as you do it.

Once you’re approved, sites contact you to arrange assignments. You can take these assignments when you need some extra cash!

If you’re a gamer, you can also get paid to play games. Find out how here. 

Sell stock photography

If you have a camera that can take decent quality images, capitalise on the chance to keep a little income trickling in. Sites like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock are always looking for contributions. Every time someone purchases one of your photos, you receive a small royalty fee.

Take clear, quality photos and submit them. The site itself will often let you know what sorts of themes and content they are requiring. Find out more about selling your photos here.

Get crafty!

If you’ve any talent for handicrafts, Etsy was made for the craft enthusiast at home. It’s easy to get started, and once you have some intriguing trinkets, you can advertise them online and start making sales.

Alternatively, you can flip items at home. Gumtree or eBayare perfect for these kinds of sales, and will allow you to make a tidy profit on unneeded goods.

Or, get into ‘flipping’: purchase items at low cost from car boot sales and sell them on for profit. Show off your newfound treasures online and get the best price. Learn how to be “amazing at selling on Ebay” with this article.

Take up odd jobs

Whether you’re handy around the house or a willing babysitter, whatever odd jobs you can help out with are available to view on sites like Fiverr or TaskRabbit.

If you’d rather not do odd jobs around the house, you might consider other kinds of jobs as a freelancer. Sites like Upwork and PeoplePerHour make it easy to list your skills, find jobs that people from across the globe need doing, and get to work! They do charge fees for every successfully completed job, but you can still find yourself taking on work which is interesting, and pays you a little extra.

Use your driving skills

If you have regular access to a vehicle, why not get paid as you travel round town?

Uber takes a little bit of time to become fully registered with, but if you’re a good driver with a full licence and no issues on your record, you can make extra money from just driving people around. This leaves the earning potential up to you, as you can agree to take passengers whenever it suits you.

Sell a book online

Are you passionate about any particular subject? Is there a large audience for it? Do you have a flair for fiction? Put it to use and write a great eBook!

There are lots of great ways you can get your book out there and sell it. Even for a few quid a pop, these things can add up! If your book becomes popular enough you never know what it could lead to.

Become a Nightclub Promoter

If you love a good party (and as a student, you just might!) then why not make some extra cash from promoting events?

Being sociable and forging strong connections with DJs and nightclubs is crucial to make this work. You will need to convince people that this event is the right one for them, and that starts with your fun personality.

Interested? Read more with our article on how to get paid to party. 

Make the most of your spare time as a student, and use these ideas to get started!

The post 8 ways students can make money in their spare time appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

But here’s the good news: you could save over £1,000 a year with a few smart tricks.

This complete guide is packed with money-saving tips for travelling around London, from TfL hacks and railcard discounts to free days out and hidden concessions. Whether you’re commuting, sightseeing, or planning cheap family adventures, this is your ultimate travel cheat sheet for 2025.

1. Use Contactless or Oyster to Maximise Daily and Weekly Fare Caps

Never buy paper tickets in London—they’re often the most expensive option. Instead, use Oyster or contactless cards, which automatically cap your fares:

• Daily cap (Zones 1–2): £8.50
• Weekly cap (Zones 1–2): £42.70

Savings tip: Switching to contactless/Oyster could save you £300+ per year if you’re still using Travelcards or paper tickets.

2. Save 33% on Rail with a Railcard (Yes, Even in London)

Railcards aren’t just for long-distance travel. Many work on off-peak TfL and National Rail services within London, giving you serious savings.

Popular 2025 railcards:

• 16–25 Railcard – £35/year
• 26–30 Railcard – £30/year
• Disabled Persons Railcard – £20/year
• Two Together Railcard – £30/year
• Family & Friends Railcard – £35/year

Savings tip: Using a Railcard for just 2–3 off-peak journeys a week could save you £200–£300 per year.

3. Concessions & Free Travel Schemes for Londoners

If you meet the criteria, free or discounted travel is up for grabs:

• Freedom Pass – Free off-peak travel for older or disabled Londoners
• 60+ Oyster Card – Free travel after 9am for London residents aged 60+
• Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card – Up to 50% off for those on Universal Credit
• Veterans Oyster Card – Free travel for eligible ex-forces personnel

Savings tip: Eligible users could save £800–£1,200 a year through these schemes.

4. Cycle with Santander Bikes from Just £1.65

Santander Cycles (aka Boris Bikes) are one of the cheapest ways to get around London:

• £1.65 for a 30-minute ride
• £3/day for unlimited 30-minute journeys

Savings tip: Switching from Tube or bus to Santander Bikes just a few times a week can save £300–£500 a year.

5. Walk or Split Your Journey to Cut Travel Costs

Sometimes, walking a few extra minutes between stations can help you avoid crossing zone boundaries or unnecessary changes.

Examples:

• Walk from Elephant & Castle to Borough to avoid Zone 1 fares
• Walk instead of switching Tube lines during peak times

Savings tip: Smart walking and journey splitting can save £100–£200 a year.

SEO keywords: how to avoid Zone 1 fares, cheapest ways to commute in London, walking vs Tube savings

6. Cheap Days Out: Free Attractions & 2-for-1 Deals

Make the most of what London has to offer without breaking the bank:

• Check Bablands for free family events, play spaces, and holiday activities
• Use National Rail 2-for-1 deals for big attractions
• Get a London Pass or Go City Card for bundled entry savings

Savings tip: Families using these offers could save £400+ a year.

7. Advance Tickets, Cashback & Discount Sites

Booking early and shopping smart can boost your savings even further:

• Book train tickets in advance for up to 60% off
• Use TopCashback or Quidco for cashback
• Browse Wowcher and Travelzoo for travel and show deals

Savings tip: You could save £100–£200 annually with cashback and deal sites alone.

Summary: Estimated Annual Savings

Total possible saving: £1,200–£2,000+ per year

Conclusion: Travel London for Less in 2025

With fares rising and household budgets stretched, this is the year to get smart about how you travel. Whether you’re commuting, parenting, or planning a staycation, these tips can help you save over £1,000 a year.

Get started today: switch to contactless, apply for a railcard, check out Bablands, and start stacking those savings. London is yours to explore—without overspending.

The post How to Save Over £1,000 a Year on London Travel in 2025: Tips, Discounts & Hacks appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Lots of businesses are feeling the pinch at the moment. Unfortunately, this can have a knock-on effect on the freelancers that work for them too. Freelancers might have projects cancelled or postponed, or might find that they’re being asked to accept lower rates than usual. Finding freelance clients in this kind of market might seem daunting, but it doesn’t need to be this way. 

Below we’ve set out a few things that you should think about to ensure you don’t need to compromise your own worth (and the amount you’re being paid) in these potentially tough times. 

• Make sure your digital channels are up to scratch 
• Finding freelance clients via online networking  
• Set your terms early on 
• Finding freelance clients via recruiters 
• Working for free 

Make sure your digital channels are up to scratch 

You probably don’t need us to tell you this, but it’s vital that your website, online portfolios and social media channels are up-to-date and include all your recent work if you’re going to attract the kind of clients that you want. Here are some questions that you might want to ask yourself: 

• Have I included my most recent projects on my LinkedIn profile, on my website, and in my online portfolios? 
• Could I ask for more recommendations or testimonials from colleagues or friends? 
• Do my social channels still display the message that I want to portray? 
• If I have a business or a limited company, is everything up to date with my current branding?

If you’ve got some down time between jobs and whilst you’re waiting for work to come in or for people to get back to you, this can be a perfect time to get these essential aspects of your marketing up-to-date. 

Finding freelance clients via online networking  

Even though networking takes time (and sometimes money), it’s the most valuable marketing you can do. Here are a few ways that you can keep your foot in the door and make sure your name and services stay in people’s minds:

• Be part of the conversation online: make sure you have an opinion on current debates within your industry, and that you’re available to offer interesting points of view on trending topics. A viral retweet is worth a lot in our incredibly social economy!
• Join virtual networking events: these might be for freelancers in your local area, or within your specific industry. Search online, and make sure you contribute to the discussion in a meaningful way once you’re there. You’ll find that there are more virtual industry events than you’d expect!
• Reach out to old clients: this might be as simple as a quick email to see what they’re working on, how their business is going, and whether they need any extra help. If they haven’t got business for you, they’ll appreciate your efforts to stay in touch. They might, though – and if they do you’ve just scored yourself some extra work!

If you’ve got a decent audience, why not host your own virtual networking event? Set a theme and a date, and invite those that you know within your industry to get involved. This can be a great way to get to know new people and potential clients, and position yourself as a leader in your field at the same time. 

Set your terms early on

You need confidence in yourself and your offering if you’re going to pull in clients that pay you the right amount of money even when the economy improves. One way to do this (a very important way) is to be clear on your prices. 

To do this, you should set a day rate based on what you would be earning if you were employed by a company. From this, you can work out your hourly rate. You can then weigh up whether the work that comes your way will be worth your time. 

For example, if your hourly rate is £20 per hour, your day rate (based on a standard eight-hour day) should be £160. If you know a project will take you two full working days, you should charge £320. 

If the client believes that this is too much for their budget, you’re very much within your rights to stand firm. Use the following to politely remind them of your fees: 

“Thank you for coming back to me on this. As a freelancer my day rate is set at £160 per day, hence the pricing I’ve set on this project. Do you have any flexibility within your budget? I’d be very happy to discuss this further.” 

If they come back with a compromise or with a price that’s close to your day rate, it’s up to you to decide whether these terms are going to work for you. If they aren’t, you should walk away (and never accept a job that’s far below your day rate – it won’t be worth your time). 

Consider asking for other benefits

Sometimes, you’ll find a client you really want to work with who just doesn’t have the right budget. This happens a lot with charities and startups in particular. Here, it’s a good idea to consider asking for other ways to receive benefit in return for a reduced fee. For example, if it’s a charity, ask if you can have an article about your work for them put on their website. Or, if it’s a startup offering software, request free access to it. Perhaps there is a direct skill-swap possibility too. If you’re a graphic designer, for example, perhaps you could work with an accountancy firm for a reduced fee in return for your tax return being completed pro bono!

Finding freelance clients via recruiters 

It’s always a good idea to have someone else on your side, especially if you’re looking to find new freelance clients in budget-conscious times. Contacting recruiters and getting on their books can provide you with long-term project and contract work, which you can work on at the same time as any other freelance projects that you have on the go. 

There are lots of benefits to finding work through recruiters, including that potential clients are very unlikely to try and underpay you when they have to go through someone whose job it is to ensure that that doesn’t happen. Once you’ve found work through a recruiter they are more likely to put you forward for other projects in the future, too. 

The main downside of working via an agency is that, typically, they set your rates. You may have to accept a lower daily rate in return for guaranteed regular work. Alternatively, some agencies take a percentage from your fee when they place you – if this is the case, raise your rate! Agencies are, however, most often paid by the client – so they’ll be charging the client more than your day rate to make a profit themselves.

Working for free 

Working for free is something that many people will tell you never to do. It’s something that we wouldn’t encourage in general, either. However, there can be some occasions where it might be helpful to you. These are very specific though, so don’t let anyone take you for a ride! 

You might consider working for free if: 

• You’ve never worked in the industry before and need to build a portfolio to prove yourself 
• You need to make edits or changes to work that you previously completed, as per the terms of your freelance contract (although always try to negotiate an edit fee in this case – it can’t hurt to ask!) 
• You’re in a secure financial position, and you have the time and resources to offer your services either pro bono or to charities for a specific purpose 

Do not work for free if: 

• The client has promised you paid work “later” (this is unlikely to ever materialise)
• You have a lot of experience and proven work in the area in question, unless you’ve made a conscious choice to give your time to a charity or non-profit (as mentioned above) 
• You are promised “exposure” or “contacts”, or told that this would be a “great opportunity” for you. This might be the case, but it’ll still be true if they pay you (and exposure, of course, doesn’t pay the rent) 
• You’re working for a corporate company that makes a profit, e.g. a bank  

Chat to other freelancers for more ideas!

One of the common misconceptions about freelancing is that everyone is super-competitive with each other. You may be surprised to learn there are lots of supportive online communities for freelancers! Many will share referrals from clients, or share larger projects with the freelancers they know.

The post Finding freelance clients in a budget-conscious market appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

You could spend the next few months lounging around at your parents’, or working hard in a soullessly air-conditioned shop on the high street… or you could get paid to travel, and be basking in the sun as you crush grapes in southern Italy, perhaps immersing yourself in a new culture as an au pair, or living it up at an American summer camp.

This guide offers you a dazzling array of ideas for escaping your hometown for something new, whether you hop on a plane abroad or decide to stick to these shores. Just remember to call home once in a while, so your mum knows you’re okay…

• Summer camp
• Holiday rep
• Winemaking
• Summer Au Pair
• House sitting
• Get paid to travel in a cruise ship

Summer camp

You’ve seen summer camps on American TV shows and in movies, but have you ever longed to join in the fun?

Camp America is an organisation with HQs in the US and London, which runs a scheme to place you in a camp for you to work at all summer. There are several different types of camp, including private, day, Girl Scout, special needs and Christian ones, so if you have a particular interest you can explore it here and get paid to travel.

It’s essentially a cultural exchange programme, and you pay a fee (currently £752) for your visa, police check, interview and event costs etc., while all your food, accommodation and flight costs are met by your camp; you can earn whilst you’re out there., and CA will help you if you seek work in the US afterwards.

The scheme is recognised by employers worldwide, who know you have gained experience as a role model, leader, and team player, so the experience will massively boost your CV while you have an incredible time.

 If a summer jaunt to the USA is a little out of reach for you, or not your thing, why not work at a camp in the UK?

PGL runs several schemes for 7-17-year-olds every year and you could work for the company in housekeeping, catering, retail, admin, maintenance, or as a sports instructor or group leader. PGL have 23 centres across the UK, France, and Spain, and are a leading outdoor activities company, so if this sounds like your high-octane cup of tea, sign up for the 2017 season now.

There are also plenty of other camps, such as Brighton-based Kingswood, Supercamps, and the international Camp Cooper in Scotland.

holiday rep

Holiday reps are responsible for looking after guests on package holidays at resorts, making sure they enjoy their time away and that everything runs smoothly.

It’s a tough job, but if you’re up to the challenge, it’s a great way to be paid for seeing the world, while guiding other people through their getaways. Combine your love for partying with a job working by checking out the jobs board on Career in Travel for a broad range of the latest opportunities.

Thomson and TUI Travel Jobs, among other top companies, recruit directly on their websites, so have a look sharpish!

Winemaking

Winemaking is a global industry which is constantly recruiting new workers to help them during their busiest times. If you’re willing to put he work in, you could be picking grapes anywhere across Europe this summer, get paid to travel while escaping the grey drizzle.

PickingJobs and WineIndustryJobs list work throughout the world, suitable for summer backpackers and anyone willing to travel, while for something closer to home, Wine Jobs England has loads of opportunities at entry-level and up. If you do jet off, save money on the outset by using Student Money Saver’s tool to compare flight costs and pick up the latest deals.

Summer au pair

Summer au pairs typically live with a host family for a short period of a few months during the summer holidays, and provide support in the household, including childcare and light housework in return for food, board and a wage.

You get paid to travel and experience a new country from the perspective of a resident, gain experience in looking after children, and any experience working abroad in such a position of responsibility is really attractive to employers beyond uni.

SeasonWorkers, Au Pair World and Smaller Earth are just a few of the agencies that can help you find a placement. Again, there are plenty of families in the UK crying out for help with their kids during the long summer holidays so if you fancy mixing it up and living with a British family for part or all of your summer, there are plenty of chances to do it – ask around or look on job sites for your next job. Bear in mind that a driving licence is a huge bonus in this kind of work.

House sitting

Love The Holiday? Ever wondered what it would be like to live in someone else’s house for a while?

You could get paid to travel across the world on free accommodation as a house sitter, offering peace of mind to families jetting off on holiday by looking after their house (and often their pets, too).

Trusted Housesitters helps you find a place almost anywhere in the world, while housecarers.com is Australia-based and House Sitters UK is, yes, Brit-specific.

So long as you’re relatively clean, tidy, conscientious and do the job properly, you can spend your whole summer living it up anywhere in the world.

Get paid to travel in a cruise ship

Working on a cruise ship is fun, especially if you love travel, water, making friends and exploring new places.

These ships take you around the world, and you can go to places you haven’t been to, all for free while you also get paid to do it. The best part about working on a cruise ship is you can take up a variety of jobs, including nursing, childcare, steward, cabin crew, among others.

You can search for cruise ship jobs from sites like indeed, voyages to antiquity and The Agency.

Which of these ideas appeals to you? Would you like to get paid to travel? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post Get paid to travel appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

You don’t have to be a professional to do it nowadays.

Have you ever taken a photograph, uploaded it to a social networking site, and been surprised by just how many people comment on it? If so, it’s likely you could make a bit of cash if by selling your photos online.

• Why sell your photos online?
• How does it work to sell your photos online?
• Top tips for perfect pictures
• How much can you make if you sell your photos online?
• Sell news photos for big money

Why sell your photos online?

Although photography was once considered a rather expensive and complicated hobby, modern technology has created many a budding Herb Ritts or Mario Testino.

Yes, there are a lot of amateur photographers about, but the demand for digital images is also increasing. Every day, new photographs are needed for company websites, public sector newsletters, corporate presentations and thousands of other uses.

This means if you have a camera and an eye for a good image you can sell your photos for good money.

Selling your photos is not hard to do. There are buyers all around the world, so sell your photos online and you can make money while you sleep!

This isn’t child’s play, but if you’re a fast learner you can get up and running quickly. If you can capture an image that is well-constructed, well-lit and properly focused, we’ll show you how to set up a passive stream of income.

How does it work to sell your photos online?

Step 1: Register with an online agency

There are lots of online agencies. Some popular sites include

• Alamy
• Shutterstock
• Getty Images
• Adobe Stock

When you register your details, the site will usually ask you to send between five to ten photos so it can test the quality and type of photos you send them. If your photos don’t conform to the site’s requirements, they will be rejected.

If this happens, don’t worry – just try again, taking their comments into consideration. Sometimes it may just be because they already have too many of the sort of photo you’re sending.

Step 2: Upload your pictures

Once you’ve received the go ahead from the agency you can upload batches of pictures. Each photo is manually checked by the agency in question, so if you want your pictures to go on sale quickly, send them in batches of 5 or 10.

Step 3: Pictures Are Go!

After your pictures have been checked and cleared you’ll be notified when they go live on the website, usually after about 24 hours.

Then there’s nothing to do after that except wait until people buy your photos. Once your account reaches a certain limit you can get your hands on the cash. The usual method of payment is by cheque or PayPal. You can drive people to your photos faster by building a social media following and posting them there – but make sure you keep the watermark on them to avoid people stealing your pics!

Top tips for perfect pictures

Subject matter

It can be tempting to take pictures of things that are pretty or cute – a great sunset, a bluebell wood, or an adorable shot of your cat peeking out of a plant pot. These types of pictures are in a very competitive market, however.

Stock libraries want a wide range of pictures, covering many different subjects, ideas, concepts, cultures and issues.

When a buyer types a search term – no matter how obscure – into their site, they want to find an image to match their needs.

Think about the types of photographs you see in the news.

• A story about food hygiene might be accompanied by a shot of someone washing their hands.
• An article about petrol prices might show someone fuelling their car.
• We use a lot of pictures of money, credit cards and simple pound signs!

These descriptive images are the real money spinners. Think about what you see in corporate communications, branding, even advertisements – these are the types of images that will do well, especially if you can take several variations of the same products or actions. If you’re using people, make sure they sign waivers to allow you to sell their image, and try to be as diverse as possible with your casting.

Picture quality

We’ve all taken dud photographs. Maybe it’s a family portrait in which Aunt Molly has been accidentally decapitated. Or a group shot, with an unknown stranger throwing crazy dance moves in the background. Perhaps overuse of the flash has left your subjects looking like Casper the Friendly Ghost.

If you’re using a digital camera, a bad shot is not the end of the world. But there are a few rules of thumb that you can follow to improve picture quality.

• Buyers often want high resolution images they can crop to fit into a particular space.  Leave a little extra space around the subject of your picture, so it can be cropped to size without losing anything crucial.
• Generally speaking, buyers want clear, bright colours, as anything washed out or over-saturated will not reproduce so well. It’s often worth playing with the exposure settings on your digital camera to improve this.
• Try to get a ‘clean’ shot. This means there is nothing in the background that will detract from the focus of your picture. And hold the camera steady and straight.

While it can be tempting to want to learn how to do all kinds of fancy photo editing stuff with Photoshop or other software, remember that your photo is going to form the base of someone else’s work. That means they usually don’t want things that have lots of digital alterations already – so keep things simple, and only use editing software to enhance your image (such as correcting a slight colour issue, or removing a person from a background that shouldn’t be there).

There are hundreds of websites offering tips on digital photography. But remember, rules are made to be broken!

Legal considerations

• Pictures of identifiable houses or models (any person who is in the photo) will in most cases need a release form. This is signed by the model or house owner to cite that their permission has been given for you to profit from their personal belongings. Each website has a release form for you to download if you need it.
• Avoid taking pictures of car registration plates, company logos (these might be Registered Trade Marks) and anything that could be considered inflammatory (racist graffiti, for example). You should also be careful of some buildings if they are registered as artworks. For example, you can take photos of the Eiffel Tower – but not of the light display at night, which is a copyrighted artwork.
• Finally, decide how much control you want over how your image is used. In UK law, a photographer automatically owns the copyright to his or her work unless they sell it on and sign a contract.
• Most online agencies allow the photographer to retain copyright, but they sell the pictures under different licenses. The buyer will have to specify whether they intend to use the photo in a magazine selling 100,000 copies a month, a website with a medium number of unique visitors, or for private personal use. The price will reflect this scale of use.

It is quite possible that you could sell an image through an online agency for £3, and discover it is on the front page of a book being sold around the world. If you are concerned about this look for a site that allows you to sell ‘rights managed’ images, and to apply restrictions to the sale of your photographs. It’s a complicated topic, but Alamy explains the different structures well.

Submissions guidelines

Most of the stock sites specify that if you want to submit a photo to sell, it has to be a high quality (low compression) JPEG.

The higher the image resolution, the more you’ll be paid. Image resolutions are grouped into web resolution (below 1200 by 1000 pixels, this will fit straight onto a web page), medium resolution and high resolution. The high resolution shots will normally take a few minutes to download.

How much can you make if you sell your photos online?

The price you earn depends on the resolution of your photographs, as higher quality images are more expensive.

The types of photo-selling websites can be divided into microstock (high volumes of photos, low prices paid per photo) and macrostock (vice versa). There have been suggestions that microstock sites devalue photography, but on the other hand, selling a photo for just a few pounds can give a beginner a confidence boost.

Microstock

To make money on these sites, you’ll need to aim for volume sales.

The royalty structure on iStockphoto is 15%, but you could make up to 45% for exclusive pictures when your ranking is high. This being said, its rates of pay are very low and depend on the buyers, so you may not get anything for web resolution photos. This site is probably only good to look at when you can sell high resolution photos of very good quality.

Macrostock

Alamy supplies a high-end market of editorial, advertising and publishing companies, so it’s safe to say anything you submit has to be high quality that follows their submission guidelines strictly. If you do, you have the potential to earn 65% commission. Their prices begin with £35 for a web resolution royalty-free photo, and up to £230 for the highest resolution royalty-free picture. Exclusive pictures command a slightly higher selling price.

Sell news photos for big money

If you witness a potential news story or have an interesting celebrity encounter, get a snap of it and you could make serious money by selling your photo to an agency.

Agencies will sell your photos on to major newspapers and magazines in exchange for commission.

They will pass images on to the Daily Mail, The Sun, The Daily Telegraph, Heat and the Daily Mirror to name a few. Most agencies accept images in all formats, including those taken on a mobile phone.

The clearer your image is, the better it’ll sell, but if yours is the only photo available, quality won’t be as much of an issue.

How much can I earn?

How much you can earn depends on what the photo depicts. If it’s a huge, unexpected occurrence which will become global news, you stand to make hundreds if not thousands.

Likewise a celebrity snap – if you manage to capture someone famous in an embarrassing or unusual situation, there’s potential for you to make serious cash.

However, a photo of a Z-list personality walking down the street won’t be anywhere near as valuable. Nevertheless, every little helps develop your portfolio online and nab that extra bit of cash.

Get snapping!

Got any picture-perfect money spinners? Tell us about it in the comments below.

The post How to Sell Your Photos Online appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

If you’re the sort of person who likes to take some reading material into the bathroom with you, then why not try to make money on the toilet instead?

Here are 10 things you can try:

1. Do an online survey – or three
2. Check Free Postcode Lottery for a chance to win money every day
3. Slogan competitions
4. Save money by switching your gas and electricity
5. Earn while you surf
6. Save money by switching your car insurance
7. Save money by your home insurance
8. Come up with a killer business idea
9. Come up with a new TV game show format
10. Sell your toilet roll tubes
11. Play Games

Do an online survey – or three

Online surveys are a quick and easy way to make money on the toilet. They can be quick or long, depending on which one you do.

We like Inbox Pounds. It’s easy to sign up simple to use wherever you are. Including the bathroom.

In fact they give you £1 just for signing up, so you’ll be making money even If it’s a very quick visit.

Take a look at our article on how to make money with online surveys to see even more survey sites that will can be used to make money on the toilet!

Check the Postcode Lottery for a chance to win money every day

Now this really is a quick and easy one.

Check the Free Postcode Lottery for an opportunity to win money every day. On some days they have over two thousand pounds to give away if it’s been a roll-over.

All you need to do is sign up with your email address and postcode. Then you check the site each day to see if your postcode is the winning one. It’s that easy. Read our article about it here.

They also have other ways to win such as an Emoji Lottery and a Video Lottery. So if you happen to be someone who takes a little while on the toilet, then this may be worth a try.

Check it out and sign up for free here.

Come up with slogans for competitions

We love competitions at MoneyMagpie. In fact, we often tell you about upcoming contests in our newsletter (sign up here to get them sent to your inbox).

As you can see in our article on how to get money and freebies through competitions, some companies run slogan competitions, here you have to come up with a clever little phrase about their product to win the prize.

Save money switching gas and electricity

If you’re reading this on your smartphone right now, you could be saving yourself a tidy sum just by switching your gas and electricity provider. You don’t even need your bills to see how much you could save. Just put your postcode into the box here and see which companies are offering you a cheaper deal.

It’s likely that it will be one of the smaller suppliers. They are doing their best to get into the market and compete with the larger providers who dominating it.

Check it out now and make some money!

Earn while you surf

You could win up to £250 a month just for surfing the net with this competition site called Neilsen.

They have been known to give up to £30,000 away every year.

 Save money switching your car insurance

Again, while you have your mobile phone on you consider switching your car insurance. Your car insurance premium may have gone up since you last checked, but you can save yourself money by switching to a cheaper deal than you have now.

Take this time do explore the different options that are available.

Switch to a better car insurance deal here.

 Save Money switching your home insurance

According to Which? Magazine you should be able to save money by switching your home insurance. While sitting on the throne you may have some time to kill. Why not try this?

Do it here. Switch to a better home insurance deal.

Come up with a killer business idea

Is visiting the loo the only time you get some peace and quiet and time to think? It is for some people, if so then spend a bit of extra time to ponder a killer business idea.

You probably already have one rattling around your mind. Use this time to work out how to do it, what you will need to start and how to make a profit.

We have plenty of ideas for you, as well as lots of help and advice to hey you started here on our small business section. For example, take a look at this article with twenty tips for setting up your own business.

Come up with a new TV game show format

Feeling creative? Being on the toilet can be a good time to come up with story ideas for a novel or other creative pursuit.

But have you ever considered creating a TV game show idea?

Game shows can be hugely lucrative if you can come up with an original concept it right. People make hundreds of thousands from a successful idea they came up with which was then sold to production companies all over the world.

See our article here on how to come up with a winning TV game show format.

Sell your toilet roll tubes

It’s possible to sell the cardboard insides of your toilet rolls on eBay. There really are people who need them for craft projects and will buy them off you. Sell them for about £7 per 50. If you have a family you will probably get through a lot and will be able to gather 50 rather quickly.

It’s not a major income by any means, but it’s simple enough to do.

Play Games

For all the gamers, help to improve game development by getting paid for testing games. Find out how here.

Sign Up – Newsletter

The post Ten ways to make money, while on the toilet! appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Thankfully, there are plenty of summer jobs available around the UK, from the relatively easy to the more challenging, but all will get you out of the office, away from the shops and into a new adventure. So here’s our roundup of ways you can gain employment this summer – start looking now to make sure you have something good lined up for your summer months!

• Earn money fruit picking
• Take up gardening
• Work a festival
• Air BNB your house or garage
• Have fun as a child minder
• Be a pet walker
• Sell your photos
• Become a lifeguard
• Remote admin work

Earn Money Fruit Picking 

Over the last few years, there’s been a shortage of willing fruit pickers offering their services to British farms. As a result there are usually plenty of fruit-picking jobs available throughout the summer. 

What you’ll be picking will depend of course on the farm but also on the month. For example, strawberries and gooseberries are often picked from early June to mid July, plums and apples are picked in late August, and apples and pears are picked in September. 

Your best bet would be to travel to your local farm and speak to the owners directly. Also look out for adverts in local shop windows and village halls. Find a farmers’ market near you and ask about any jobs going. 

Picking Jobs is a useful website where you can put in a search for fruit picking in Europe and see what’s available. Anywork Anywhere has a similar set-up and can be used to search for all kinds of other seasonal jobs both here and abroad. When you see a job that interests you, email the employer directly giving a few basic details about yourself and the dates you can do. 

You’ll be working outside so wear old casual clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. You may be standing in fields for hours on end so comfortable shoes are a must. You’ll also need a hat and sun cream so you don’t get burnt. Insect repellent is a good idea, and make sure you drink plenty of water. 

Earnings are often cash in hand and if you earn enough you will be expected to take care of all your own taxes. It’s unlikely you’ll make a lot of money, so you may not exceed your personal income allowance. For this year, the personal allowance is £12,750.

You’ll typically be paid minimum wage: 

• £12.21 per hour for workers aged over 21
• A rate of £10 per hour for workers aged 18–20 inclusive 
• £7.55 per hour for all workers under the age of 18 (hours may be restricted due to employment laws)

Depending on the farm you’re working for, you might be paid hourly or daily, but sometimes you’re paid according to the amount you pick (e.g. you get x amount per kg or pound). This system is called ‘piecework’ and it’s fruitful (sorry) for those who work particularly hard.  

Take Up Gardening 

If you’re green-fingered then gardening for cash is an ideal way to make some extra money. Lots of people start thinking about the state of their garden in the weeks leading up to summer so it’s the ideal time to pounce on their insecurities! 

Offer your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours your services as an expert lawn mower, weed eradicator and plant potter and you’ll be a renowned small-time gardener in no time at all. 

Start attracting business by handing out cards and flyers (you can get free business cards printed from Banana Print) and by knocking on doors. Once you’re up and running, word of mouth should spread and work should roll in on a regular basis. 

Ideally, you’ll need your own lawnmower, garden tools and transportation to get from place to place. 

In terms of tools, get yourself a sharp pair of secateurs, a pair of tough gloves and a long, thin trowel.  A spade, fork, and rake are also versatile and useful. There are plenty of different tools out there to help make your job in the garden a bit easier. Here are a couple of useful websites: 

•  Robert Dyas 
•  Gardening Direct 

Don’t think too big to begin with – offer basic services that people generally don’t have time to do themselves for a reasonable price. Professional gardening companies charge around £15 for simple tasks, so long as you can beat their quotes you should have plenty of business. 

Work a Festival 

Are you interested in getting FREE festival tickets? Fun in the sun at Reading Festival might seem a world away at the moment, but if you want to get some free festival tickets, you need to start planning now. Being a charity volunteer will get you into the festival for nothing and you’ll only have to work a few shifts – then you can enjoy the music with everyone else! 

You’ll need to join an events recruitment company. Here are a few we tracked down for you: 

• Festaff supplies casual staff for over a dozen music festivals in the UK, including Bestival, Creamfields, Wickerman, Camp Bestival, Isle of Wight Festival, Sonispshere, Rockness and Beachdown. Some of these are currently recruiting, so if you’re interested, fill out their application for summer positions. 
• Delaware North Companies Ltd (DNC) runs a food and catering service at both Wembley Stadium and Emirates Stadium. They provide full training for all the roles, and job vacancies range from bar staff to sous chefs. See the Hospitality Staff website for full details on DNC job profiles and how to apply. 
• Jam Staffing employs people for events all over the UK. They’re looking for waiters/waitresses, security staff, models and much more. You can apply through their website. 
• For something a bit different, how about mobile catering with MJR Tom? This involves walking around events at stadiums, football clubs and racecourses. You will then sell whatever it is you’re told to. 

Air BnB Your House

Your part of the world could very well attract people to your very own B&B, run from your house. Think about what makes it special and what would encourage people to visit. Do you live in a picturesque village by the seaside, or in a busy and bustling city? How close are you to transport links and tourist attractions? Could you offer weekday stays for commuting professionals? Is your area the sort of place that people will want (or need) to come to and stay in?

Having a big house with lots of rooms is only half the battle won. Think about your unique selling point. 

You might also consider doing a survey to find out what people want from a B&B. Send it to friends, family and colleagues to get a good range of responses. Use that to inform your plans. Once you get going, ask guests for feedback. Also ask them to review your place on TripAdvisor and Google – both of those are useful ways to get business in for free. 

If you want a more regular income across the year, and a good spare room, consider the Rent a Room scheme which allows homeowners to earn £7500 tax free as they take in a lodger.

Have Fun as a Nanny or Babysitter

Are you great with kids? Looking after someone else’s offspring every now and then can be a fun summer money maker. A spot of good weather (hopefully) will mean that you can take the children for fun days out and not be stuck indoors too often. 

If you need some inspiration when it comes to entertaining children, Day Out With The Kids is a brilliant website full of places to visit for both indoor and outdoor activities in your region.

Childminding is different from babysitting or nannying. If you are babysitting for a few hours, you don’t need any qualifications. Nannies who work from their client’s home (and only look after the same family) don’t, either. But a childminder needs to register with Ofstead if they’re working from their own home or looking after children under the age of 8. Regardless of which you do, it would be good to take a child-specific first aid course.

You could charge around £12 an hour. The long summer holidays can be a real pain for working parents so there should be plenty of work. Whilst looking after children, be prepared for every eventuality. Keep phone numbers for parents and emergency contacts if for some reason you can’t get hold of them. Ask about allergies, medication or anything else you might need to know. 

Want to make it make it a more regular gig? Professional childminding and babysitting is a different story. If you’d like to look after the children of strangers on a regular basis, you’ll need to be a registered childminder and have the proper checks to be able to work without fear of a lawsuit. 

You can register with agency websites such as Sitters and Childcare.co.uk where you can advertise as a babysitter for free. The agency then makes all the arrangements for you. Also, drop a note through your neighbours’ doors to let them know you’re available to look after their children. You could even send out a group email to friends or work colleagues informing them of your new babysitting venture. Make sure you include a price list to establish the fact that it isn’t a free service from the start. 

Having a DBS check (formerly CRB) will make it easier for you to get work. If you don’t have one, you need to be willing to get one when an agency hires you.

Written references from people for whom you have already worked with make a big difference. However, even if you haven’t given babysitting a go before you can get character references from a teacher, your bank manager or another professional who knows you well. 

If you do find that you’re struggling to get work, initially keeping your rates down to a minimum will do your reputation a lot of good – then you can always increase your fee later on once you’ve established some regular clients. Don’t go below minimum wage, though!

Be a Dog Walker 

If you’re fit, active and enjoy spending time with animals then walking people’s dogs can be a really enjoyable and easy way to make some quick cash. 

You can find your first customers just by asking around. Start by asking neighbours and others you know if they require your services. If your workload seems a little feeble, you could try advertising with a poster or notice at your local veterinary clinic, pet shops and at rescue centres, if they’ll let you.  

After that, if you’re good and reliable, you’ll get publicity through word of mouth. Many dog walkers get clients when they meet them in the park. 

You can also join a local dog-walking agency such as PetPals or register yourself as a dog-walking company at NarpsUK. Narps members can access discounted rates for insurance and it can also help you find more work through its pet owner postcode search facility. You’ll earn less per hour but the work would be more regular. Just put ‘dog walking’ into your search engine with your local area and see what comes up. There are lots of little, local agencies all over the country. 

The biggest expense will be insurance. Pet Business Insurance offers a number of packages including: 

• Public liability – if the dog runs out into the road and causes a pile up, or bites someone 
• Care, custody and control – looks after the pet itself if it gets injured while under your care 
• Loss of key – if you lose your employer’s keys they’ll pay to change the locks 

You’ll also need a ready supply of pooper-scoopers and bags. Perhaps some doggy toys, too, but owners will usually supply their own.  Make sure you check with owners before feeding their dog any treats – and stick to those specifically made for dogs, no human food.

Sell Your Photos

If you’re a dab hand with a camera, try selling your summer holiday snaps to photo agencies and libraries. Each time one of your photos is sold you can earn a commission. Most sites will ask for a selection of photos to test the quality and there’s a chance they’ll be rejected. But if you don’t try you’ll never know! Also, there are lots of photo sites to choose from and there’s nothing to stop you from signing up with all of them. 

Even if you’re not going away, why not get out and about with your camera and start taking some pictures? For an idea of what stock libraries are looking for visit the websites themselves. They usually need images of people’s hometown, street, groups of people, and people in business and work shots. 

Sites such as Adobe often have a travel section for professional-quality photographs of interesting things and places. Others such as 123RF operate in a similar way. 

You can also try contacting smaller travel magazines – send an email to their pictures editor and find out their rates. 

If you want to submit a photo to sell, it has to be an RGB JPEG saved at a high setting (such as Photoshop level 10 setting or 48 MB in size). They must not be compressed file sizes. Usually the higher the image resolution, the more you’ll be paid, so keep files large. 

Do be careful about the pictures you submit – such as pictures of identifiable houses or models. Any person who’s in the photo will, in most cases, need a release form. This is signed by the model or house owner to cite that their permission has been given. This is because you will profit from their personal belongings. Also, some properties and logos are trademarked and therefore will not be accepted. 

What you charge is completely up to you, but it’s advisable to only charge what you think people can afford.  

Become a Lifeguard

If you’re a strong swimmer why not become a lifeguard for the perfect summer job? It’s a great way to meet people and although it’s a serious job (your role is to look after and possibly save someone’s life) it can be lots of fun too. 

There are two types of lifeguard: 

• Swimming pool lifeguards – employed by a leisure centre, private club, local authority, hotel or holiday centre 
• Beach lifeguards – employed by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) 

Once you’re qualified try sites like Leisurejobs, Gapyear.com and Gumtree to find work. Also, contact your local pool and ask about vacancies. 

To be a pool lifeguard you’ll need one of the following qualifications: 

• The National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) 
• The National Aquatic Rescue Standard (NaRS): Pool Lifeguard 
• NPLQ and NaRS courses are based at local swimming pools or leisure centres. They are run through approved centres, such as colleges and swimming clubs. 

To be a beach lifeguard you’ll need one of the following qualifications: 

• RLSS National Beach Lifeguard Qualification 
• National Aquatic Rescue Standard (NaRS): Beach Lifeguard, run by the Surf Life Saving Association of Great Britain (SLSA GB) 

These qualifications can be gained by training with a commercial training organisation like Harlyn Surf School in Cornwal. Or, you can join a local RLSS Lifeguard club or SLSA GB life-saving club as a volunteer. 

You can get information on all lifeguard courses in your area through the Learndirect careers advice website. Expect to pay between £100 and £150, although if you receive benefits you may be entitled to discounts. Because you’ll be working with or around children, you’ll need to undergo a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service check). 

Remote Admin Work

If you want to earn some extra cash on the side in the summer without going anywhere special, consider finding remote admin work. You can pick up jobs on sites like Fiverr, or ask around friends and family. If you’re a dab hand with spreadsheets and Word shortcuts, there are plenty of people who would like some extra help with the boring-but-necessary business tasks they have.

Target other freelancers or small businesses. They are the ones most likely to need extra assistance as a remote PA, admin worker, or even stuffing envelopes! The work is often flexible and can be charged by the hour – try to get at least £15 an hour for most tasks. Target local events companies too, as they may have lots of upcoming event that require bag stuffers and leafleters.

The post Top Summer Jobs 2025 Edition appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Want to make quick cash right now? Check out our ten top ways to make money fast, with the least amount of effort possible.

Perhaps you’re looking for easy ways to make money online from the comfort of your sofa, or perhaps you want to make sure your credit report is accurate and up to date so you can get the best deals.

Here are our 10 easy ways to make quick cash, and don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter for weekly quick-cash-making and money-saving ideas.

• Earn with Pawns.app
• Join inCompass
• Make Money with Toluna
• Claim Your Free Money-Making eBook
• Save on Your Energy Bills
• Get Paid for Your Opinion
• Get Paid to Use the Internet
• Have a Free Financial MOT
• Make £400 a Month Mystery Shopping

Earn an average $12 a day with Pawns.app

You might have heard of apps like Swagbucks and Toluna, well, Pawns.app is in the same vein of money making apps. However, it adds an extra competitive advantage: there’s a leaderboard where, each week, top users could win an extra $300, as well as other unique earning opportunities.

Pawns.app is available in 190 countries, including (of course) the UK, and in 2023, it paid out $3.8million to users with an average daily earning for each user of $12. You can pay out as soon as you’ve earned $5.

Pawns.app works on desktop for Windows and MacOS, as well as Android and iPhones. You can claim an additional $3 dollar bonus just for signing up via this page! 

Join inCompass and earn £20 for your first month

Make Money with Toluna

Toluna is a great site to join. You not only earn points which you can later redeem for fantastic prizes, but you also have the opportunity to get free goodies.

Click the appropriate device to complete the survey! iPhone, Android, Desktop

Claim Your FREE Money-Making Email & eBook

Sign up for FREE to our Make Money Newsletter and every Tuesday we’ll send you the inside tips YOU need to succeed.

Grab hold of our expert cash advice and run with it – it’s been created with the sole purpose of making you quick cash. What’s more, each issue also contains a lot of special bargains designed to save you cash.

You could also hop over to our eBooks section and grab a FREE copy of our ‘Make £1000 Before Christmas’ eBook.

Win £850!

Want to win a nice wad of cash?

If you’re still not sure what it’s all about, you can read our article all about it here, which tells you everything you need to know so you can start winning.

Save Money on Your Energy Bills

Now is a perfect time to fix your deal as energy prices continue to rise or fluctuate dramatically. And check out lots more ways to save on your energy bill.

If you want to find the very best deal before you fix, shop around!

Click here to use our comparison tool and find a better deal for you.

Be Paid for Your Opinion

This is a sporadic way to make quick cash and it brings in a relatively small income, but it’s low effort and you’ve nothing to lose. It’s a great way to make quick cash from the comfort of your computer but make sure you NEVER pay to join an online survey site or reveal your credit card details.

Earn money for testing apps, games and surveys – find out how here

Inside tip! Here are our favourite online survey sites. They’re completely free and have received a big thumbs-up from many of you. For maximum earnings set up a separate email account (so your personal one doesn’t get flooded with survey-related emails) and then register for free with all of them:

• Branded Surveys
• Swagbucks
• InboxPounds
• Toluna
• LifePoints

If you like the sound of making quick cash through filling out online surveys make sure you check out our full article right here on the safe way to earn money by taking paid surveys.

Earn for Using the Internet

Get a Free Financial Health Check

Sense check your finances with a free financial health check – a 30-60 minute call or meeting with a local, well-rated IFA.With more than 4,500 independent financial advisers and over 60,000 reviews, VouchedFor is home to the UK’s top advisers.Simply leave your details and VouchedFor will find the best adviser to conduct your free financial health check.Get your free financial health check here.

Make Up to £400 a Month Mystery Shopping

Fancy getting paid to eat out, shop and even go on holiday? Try mystery shopping!

Our editor Jasmine has been a mystery shopper for over five years now, earning decent money on the side while bagging brilliant freebies left, right and centre.

Now you can too! Read all about it here.

The post Easy ways to make quick cash appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Top Easter Deals

Cheap Easter Eggs

Budget Easter Ideas

Affordable Family Activities

Shop Smart

Top Easter Deals in the UK for 2025

1. Aldi’s Easter Gonks ReturnAldi is bringing back its popular Easter-themed gonks on 3rd April. These charming gnome-like decorations are available in two designs for just £9.99 each, making them £15 cheaper than similar versions sold by Next. Given their popularity last year, it’s advisable to grab them early before they sell out.
2. Amazon’s Big Spring SaleRunning until 31st March 2025, Amazon’s Big Spring Sale offers significant discounts across various categories, including tech, beauty, fashion, and home essentials. This is an excellent opportunity to purchase gifts or essentials for your Easter celebrations at reduced prices.
3. Greggs’ Festive TreatsGreggs has introduced a range of new and seasonal items, including the Veggie Feast Pizza and festive Easter Jammy Biscuits priced at £1.30. These affordable treats can add a special touch to your Easter celebrations without straining your budget.

Cheapest Easter Eggs on the Market

Finding affordable Easter eggs can be a challenge, but several supermarkets are offering budget-friendly options:

• Aldi offers Cadbury’s chocolate eggs in the 96g size for just £1.45. Varieties include Mini Eggs, Freddo, and Buttons.
• Asda has a multi-buy deal where customers can purchase four eggs from a selected range for just £11.96.
• Sainsbury’s offers large eggs, such as Cadbury’s Mini Eggs egg and Nestle’s Munchies egg, for £2.50 each with a Nectar card, reduced from £4.

Celebrating Easter on a Tight Budget

Celebrating Easter doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are some practical tips to enjoy the festivities without overspending:

DIY Easter Egg Alternatives

With the rising cost of eggs, some parents are turning to creative alternatives like decorating and hiding potatoes for Easter egg hunts. This not only saves money but also adds a unique twist to the tradition.

Budget-Friendly Easter Feasts

Traditional Easter meals, such as lamb roasts, can be costly. Opting for more affordable cuts like lamb shoulder or breast and cooking them slowly can yield delicious results without the hefty price tag. Alternatively, consider non-traditional options like roast chicken or vegetarian dishes to keep costs down.

Budget-Friendly Easter Lunch Recipe: Roast Chicken with Seasonal Vegetables

Celebrating Easter with a delicious meal doesn’t have to be expensive. This simple roast chicken recipe, accompanied by seasonal vegetables, serves four and is both hearty and easy on the wallet.​

Ingredients:

• Whole chicken (1.5kg)
  Aldi: £3.75​

• White potatoes (2kg)
  Tesco: £0.15 with Clubcard​

• Carrots (1kg)
  Lidl: £0.33​

• Frozen peas (1kg)
  Asda: £0.61​

• Gravy granules (300g)
  Morrisons: £1.09​

• Oil (500ml)
  Sainsbury’s: £1.20​

• Salt and pepper
  

Total Estimated Cost: Approximately £7.13​

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Chicken: Preheat your oven to 190°C (170°C fan). Place the chicken in a roasting tray, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Roast in the preheated oven for approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until the juices run clear when the thickest part of the thigh is pierced.​

2. Roast the Potatoes: While the chicken is roasting, peel and chop the potatoes into even chunks. Parboil them in salted water for 10 minutes, then drain and shake them in the pan to roughen the edges. Transfer to a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Place in the oven with the chicken for the last 45 minutes of cooking, turning occasionally, until golden and crispy.​

3. Cook the Carrots and Peas: Peel and slice the carrots. About 15 minutes before the chicken is done, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the carrots and cook for 5 minutes, then add the frozen peas and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until both are tender. Drain and season to taste.​

4. Prepare the Gravy: While the vegetables are cooking, prepare the gravy according to the instructions on the granules packet.​

5. Serve: Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before carving. Serve with the roasted potatoes, carrots, peas, and gravy.​

By sourcing ingredients from various supermarkets offering the best deals, you can create a delightful Easter lunch for four at just over £7. Remember, prices and offers may vary, so it’s advisable to check the latest deals at your local stores before shopping.

Homemade Easter Treats

Instead of purchasing expensive Easter eggs, consider making your own sweet treats. Simple recipes like chocolate cornflake cakes, lemon drizzle cakes, or homemade fudge can be both fun to make and cost-effective. These homemade goodies can also serve as thoughtful gifts for friends and family.

Affordable Family Activities

Easter holidays provide an excellent opportunity for family bonding. Many local councils offer Leisure Passport cards, granting discounts or free access to sports facilities, theatres, museums, and cinemas. Additionally, organisations like the National Trust host Easter egg hunts at various locations for a small fee, offering a fun and affordable day out. If you have children, find out about school-run Easter activities, or organise an outing with several families to take advantage of a group discount.

Smart Shopping Strategies

With Easter egg prices soaring, it’s crucial to be strategic with your purchases. Shopping around for the best deals, considering supermarket own-brand products, and taking advantage of post-Easter sales can lead to significant savings.

By taking advantage of these deals and implementing budget-friendly strategies, you can enjoy a festive and memorable Easter in 2025 without straining your finances. Remember, the essence of Easter lies in spending quality time with loved ones, and with a bit of creativity, you can make the celebrations special regardless of your budget.

For more tips on managing your finances and making the most of your money, explore our other articles on MoneyMagpie:

• How to Save Money on Your Weekly Shop
• Where Kids Eat for Free Over the Easter Holidays

Happy Easter from all of us at MoneyMagpie!

The post Maximise Your Easter Celebrations in the UK: Top Deals and Budget-Friendly Tips for 2025 appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Blow to Economic Forecast

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast was a big part of the Autumn Budget, where Reeves stated a mission for economic growth. It has now been revised to just 1% – half of the previous budget. Reeves says plans such as the new Heathrow runway, pensions investments, changes to planning processes, and the National Wealth Fund will help tackle this. She also pointed out that the OBR have upgraded forecasts from next year and beyond, however.

Universal Credit and Other Benefits

The announcements last week are here to stay, according to the Spring Statement. Huge cuts to social security payments is the biggest (and most unpopular) change to the budget, in an attempt to claw back just under £5bn in costs. However, the OBR has confirmed that the actual savings would be closer to £3.4bn once costs of additional spending elsewhere is taken into account.

Along with the proposed cuts to in-work benefit PIP (Personal Independent Payment), which is currently under a green paper consultation review, today we heard about additional cuts to Universal Credit for some. The standard allowance will increase from £92 a week in 25/26 to £106 a week by 2029/30 tax year. However, the health element – additional money for those too sick to work or who cannot work full time due to illness – is going to be cut by 50% and frozen for new claimants.

There was no further detail about the already-announced changes, such as migrating PIP to Universal Credit and changing Work Capability Assessments. This is because they are currently in a green paper consultation and there are no further updates following last week’s announcements.

Reduced Govt Running Costs

Reeves promised to ‘fundamentally reform the British State’. She wants to introduce ‘efficiency savings’ to reduce the running costs of Whitehall by £2bn (15%) by 2030, with some job cuts and introduction of technology. This includes a £3.25bn ‘transformation fund’ of AI software, civil service voluntary redundancies, increased support for children in foster care for support in education and ongoing work, and new computer systems for the Govt such as for the Ministry of Defence and HMRC.

Massive Defence Spending Increase

With the world changing fast around us, the Chancellor committed a further £2.2bn spending on defence this year. This includes defence manufacturing and industry, as well as training for jobs – and also improvements to housing for military families.

Taxes

Despite a record tax burden, the Chancellor confirmed no tax increases (for now). However, changes announced in the autumn, such as the increase in National Insurance for employers (and cut for workers), stamp duty rises, and frozen Income Tax thresholds, will go ahead as planned, predicted to balance around £40bn of the tax burden.

Reeves did promise a ‘crackdown’ on tax evaders, with an investment in ‘cutting edge technology’ to help recoup an extra £1bn a year in unpaid taxes.

What About Fuel, Alcohol Etc?

Because this was not technically a budget but a financial ‘realignment’ because ‘the world is changing’ since Labour came to power, there was not a full breakdown on changes that usually are announced that impact the cost of our spending, such as fuel and alcohol duty. However, forecasts suggest households will be an average of £500 better off a year in future… but that remains to be seen, as they are only forecasts.

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