At Home Magazine

If you're disheartened by the measly interest rates offered by most banks on savings due to the Bank of England base rate being at a historic low, it's good to know there are ways of getting a decent return on your cash.

With the current economic climate, holidays are the last thing on most of our minds. But when times are tough getting away from it all can be more important than ever. And it needn’t cost the earth. Long-haul flights are surprisingly cheap and the pound still goes a fair distance in certain countries. Doing it on a shoestring is all about embracing your spirit of adventure.

Losing your job can be a shocking and stressful experience, especially if you haven’t been given much warning.

Many women are guilty of wearing just 20% of what's in their wardrobes, according to the recycling charity, Traid (www.traid.org.uk).

Q: What’s the point of putting it in the bank if the interest rate is almost zero?
You put it in the bank because banks do pay you a little interest rate and a little interest is better than losing money. Look for a safe bank vehicle that will give you a reasonable return. Making a little is better than losing a lot.

'I had to change my ways to clear my debts'
Carol Pritchard, 35, is a magazine journalist who lives in London. She was £12,000 in debt but with a bit of dedication managed to wipe the lot.

In the first three months of this year the number of people out of work rose to 2.22 million. And many experts believe the unemployment rate is certain to get worse.

Times may be tough but that's when you need your friends the most, so why not treat yourself - and them - to a night in?

If you regularly find yourself counting coppers at the end of a month, you know it's time to work out a budget - but a realistic one you can stick to, without giving up the things you love.

With redundancy figures set to rise and more employees being forced to cut hours and salaries, it does make you feel grateful if you are still employed in this current economic climate. But some companies are taking advantage of this gratitude and not offering any added extras to employees in a bid to save money. It’s up to you to make sure you get what you deserve.