The good, the bad, and the downright ugly

It was a lovely day for a walk today, I think spring is here, so off I went down town. Calling in at the Cash and Carry as I was passing got me another bargain. The manager was filling up the new shelves, they are expanding, and he handed me a dented tin of red salmon. 'Want this for 50p', he said, 'normally £1.50'. 'Thank you very' much says I reaching for my purse, 'that will make me a dinner'. 

There was a lot of people in town, due to it being half term holidays. They had kiddie fairground rides up the middle of the High Street. I looked round the charity shops, I am looking for a lightweight pair of slip on shoes which won't take up much room in the big rucksack, couldn't find any. Paid a bill at the bank, and took a bit of cash out. Bought a map from WH Smiths. Bought six eggs from B & M, and a packet of cooked ham slices for the cats.

Our High Street seems to be sprouting money shops all over the place, we also have loads of nail bars. Even though people may not have a lot of money to spare the nail bars are always full of customers. Strange that.

Anyone who is struggling a bit with their finances would do well to go to one of these places. Credit Unions are the good guys for saving and borrowing. They wont rip you off, they wont rob you, they will give you good advice and put you on the right track. This is a good shop to go to.

If you haven't got much money this is a bad shop to go to. These shops are for people who are chasing dreams. The only sure fire winners in a shop like this are the people who own the shop. You will not find the answers to your financial problems here, in fact you are more likely to come out with more problems than when you went in.

This is also a very very bad shop to go in. They put tempting stuff in the window to lure you inside, swish furniture, desirable home electricals, big TV's, everything you need to bring your house up to showhouse standard. You don't even need to pay for it up front. Sounds good you may think, but there's a catch. They then charge you an arm and a leg in interest fees.

Before you know it you will be up to your eyeballs in debt. This is a very bad place to go in. They prey on vulnerable people, throwing stuff at them telling them how easy it is to have anything they like. Lovely three piece suite, wouldn't it look nice in your lounge, try it, sit down and see how comfortable it is. What about a plasma TV, you've got to have one of those. For God's sake don't get sucked in, don't even step over the threshold. Go up the street a few doors to the British Heart Foundation furniture shop, pick out something second hand that you can afford to pay cash for.

Well that's the good, and the bad, and now we have the ugly shops, the shops that want to throw cash at you. You can sell your belongings here to raise a bit of cash, but make sure you get a good price, don't take the first that's offered. They also give away money, or they would like us to think they did. Can you see the sign in the window, 'Are we cheaper than Wonga? Well they might be if that's what they are advertising, but I bet they are only slightly cheaper, maybe by a half a percent. Short term loans will cost you a fortune, avoid them like the plague. 

Here's another, log book loans. Don't do it, you will be sorry.

Anything to get you in the shop, dead easy, just come in and ask, we will give you anything you want. Look at the interest rate.

This is a good one, instant cash. Then it tells you how to qualify. You can walk away with the cash today. Yes, and you'll be paying for it for the rest of your life, it doesn't mention that bit.

Here's a few figures for you. Borrow £15,000 for seven months and pay back £18,000. Do it if you want to throw away £3,000.

The sign in the window offers Payday loans. Another expensive way of borrowing.

I can't give you any figures for the loans that these shops are offering but if you go onto Money Saving Expert forum, you will find these loan companies are mentioned over and over again by people who have got themselves in a mess with their finances. For anyone struggling to make ends meet, getting a short term loan is not the answer, it inevitably leads to misery. The sooner a problem is recognised the better, seek help and advice early, burying ones head in the sand only delays the inevitable. Tackling it head on is best. 

I've found an Asian shop, it's in a side road just off the High Street. Worth a look. I bought two tins of chick peas at 39p each, a lot cheaper than anywhere else. Also three tins of black eye beans for £1. Think I'll stick to the tinned version much easier than faffing around with the dried.    

I will add this shop to my list for cherry picking bargains, and call in again when I am in town. Toodle pip.