Our first Christmas Competition!

Here at Freedom to Insure, we want to add a little bit of excitement to the Christmas card routine and get you and your children involved in our first Christmas competition! We don't want to send out 'the same old' card this year, we want your children to design us our perfect Christmas card with the chance for them to win some great vouchers to enjoy over the festive period.

So, we are calling children under the age of 11 (with their parents permission) to get creative and design the front cover of the Freedom to Insure Christmas card for us to use this year. There are 5 prizes up for grabs: the winning entry will receive a £25 Toys R Us voucher, and there are another 4 Toys R Us vouchers, to the value of £10, for each of our runners up. 

We'd love to see schools, nurseries and children across the country take part in our competition, so get creative and get your kids to give it a go and see if they can win a voucher! Whether they want to use paint, pens, pencils or any other materials, we want to see it - its so easy to enter and finally, Good Luck! 

 If you have any questions, or want to enter via email, please email me: henry.batterbee@freedomtoinsure.co.uk

Here's the rules in detail:

1. Entries to this competition will be accepted via email and all Freedom to Insure social media sites. Simply upload the picture, along with a contact name and email address. 

2. The winning prize consists of  a £25 Toys R Us voucher. There is no cash alternative. The prize winner agrees to post-promotion publicity, this will be confirmed, in writing, at time of notification of prize. There will be a further four competition winners, who will each win a £10 Toys R Us voucher. The cards will not be printed, but publicised. 

3. Competition is open to UK residents only. 

4. All entrants first names and a photo of their entry, will be posted on our website and social media sites. 

5. Entries to the competition will be accepted from entrants of any age, but must be on behalf of a child under the age of 11. However if the prize winner is aged under 11 years on the closing date, the written permission of their parents or guardian will be required to confirm acceptance of the prize and agreement to post-promotion publicity. 

6. The winner(s) will be chosen by the Freedom to Insure judging team.  

7. The winner will be contacted via email or post. The winner's name will be displayed on the Freedom to Insure website and social media sites, and on the final Christmas card produced.  

8. The Judge's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The decision will be made on the 20th of December 2014 at 5.00pm. 

9. Freedom to Insure is compliant with the Data Protection Act 1998. Our policy is such that we will not pass on your details to any third parties.

Supporting Cancer Research UK

Here at Freedom to Insure we can't think of a better cause than Cancer Research UK. That's why we want to support the incredible work they do by donating £5 when you fill out our 'social life insurance' quote form* between the 24th of November 2014 and the 31 December 2014. It's that simple.

  

1 in 3 of us in the UK will develop some form of cancer during our lifetime, but due to the work of charities like Cancer Research UK, our chances of beating cancer are getting better and better. Half of those who are diagnosed with cancer now survive for at least another 10 years, but cancer still takes too many lives. 

That's why Freedom to Insure want to donate to Cancer Research, raise awareness and make sure your life is insured. Freedom to Insure offer life insurance policies that protect against the unexpected and can offer financial security and peace of mind.So get your life insurance quote today.

*One valid quote form per person. The form must be filled out between 24 November 2014 and 31 December 2014. 

10 ways to save money at Christmas

Parent or not, the likelihood is you are going to spending a considerable part of your pay cheque this month on other people. Whether you're all for Christmas, or you're sat in your 'ba humbug' hat, cancelling Christmas is not an option. However, you don't have to max out the credit cards and start the new year in debt. Follow our 10 simple steps and start 2015 without a spending hangover. 

1. Make a list. Check it twice

It's not just Father Christmas who makes a list every year. You should be doing the same. Not quite listing which of your friends and family have been 'good' or 'bad', but list exactly want you want to get them and stick to it. It's the impulse buys that can kill a bank balance and something you should stay clear of when buying at Christmas. 

2. No present pact

It happens every year. You and a friend exchange presents, both items of similar value, the presents aren't essential and rarely make it out of the box. You're £25 down and you have even less room left in the loft than before. However boring it sounds, but maybe it's time to make a 'no present pack' with friends and focus your time and money on the kids... or your savings.

3. Ebay it

Plain and simple. Ebay it. With people from across the world selling their goods, some new, some used, you can find some great deals and save money finding the perfect Christmas presents. Don't just buy, but sell too. Get extra cash by selling what you don't need, want or no longer fit into and make sure you don't find yourself with minus figures going into the new year. 

4. Don't overbuy food

We know, it's tempting. There's deals on everything including chocolate, nibbles, soft drinks, alcohol and festive favorites, but just because you buy it, doesn't mean it will be eaten. If you're like many families, who buy the Christmas pudding and find yourselves throwing it away just days later, then resist the urge - you'll save money (and piling on the pounds from all that food you don't really need!)

5. Kids aren't snobs

Unlike some of us adults, children aren't snobs. They don't care if their new t-shirt has a well known logo on it, they don't need the latest iPhone or Beats headphones. As long as it works, looks good and fulfils their needs, there is no need to break the bank. Shop around, look online and see if you can find a cheaper alternative to the top brands.

6. Vouchers are king

Vouchers really are king and can be a real money saver around the festive period. If you have 'clubcard points', make sure you are getting the best out of them. Don't spend them on food, use them to buy gifts or vouchers for your friends and family. Find out more about how to make the most of your Tesco Clubcard points: Tesco Clubcard (other Supermarkets and loyalty cards are also available!) 

7.  Set a budget & stick to it

Often plans and budgets go out of the window, but they don't have to. If you set a strict spending limit for everyone you want to get gifts for, you can plan ahead and make sure you don't have to dip into savings or your overdraft. If you want to make it even harder to go over your budget, put your funds on one card and only use that card when doing your Christmas shopping.

8.  Make your own... everything

If you are lucky enough to be creative or have a skill, there is no reason you can't hand make some of your presents this year. They'll be cheaper and mean more to whoever receives the presents. Some gifts you could make include Cookies, Personalised phone cases, jam, sweets, candles and canvas art.

9. Buy presents after Christmas

If your kids are grown up and the 'magic' of Christmas has started to fade, buying presents after Christmas is a great option. With the best deals starting on the 26th of December, you and your children could go out with a budget and find the perfect (and cheap) gifts.

10. Shop around.

You need to shop around. Look online, look in the stores and sign up to newsletters and apps that promise you to save money. There's hundreds of sites and shops that sell the same thing, but some cheaper than others. Look around and look again. Then you'll be sure to have the best deal.

Thank you for reading and everyone at Freedom to Insure wishes you a very Merry Christmas.

Freedom to Insure don't want to just save you money at Christmas. We can save you money all year round. As a broker, we can get you the best deals for all your insurance needs. Whether you want life insurance, buildings and contents cover or want help with your mortgage, call us on 0800 288 9141 or head over to www.freedomtoinsure.co.uk.

Life Insurance Infogram

Here at Freedom to Insure we love to bring you great looking content! Find out more about life insurance with our new infogram! (If you're looking on a mobile phone, we suggest you take a look on a desktop, laptop or tablet).

10 best Christmas gifts for under 10s

Halloween is over  (where we showed you how to carve the perfect pumpkin) and Christmas is just around the corner, as the temperature rockets in department stores and the Christmas songs belt out full blast. Here at Freedom to Insure we want to show you what kids up and down the country are going to be asking from Santa this year. It’s becoming more apparent that technology is on the wishlist of most of the kids in Britain, but not every piece of kit needs to break the bank. With extensive research undertaken (we asked our kids!), we’ve listed the top 10 presents on their wishlist this Christmas.!

1.            One of my personal favourites as a child and who wouldn’t love to jump on the  ‘JCB Dump Truck Ride On’? This is perfect for 7 year olds who love the outdoors, physical activity and helping out in the garden. At just £64.99, you could give your child countless hours of outdoor fun with this one!

2.            Does your child love Star Wars or Lego? If the answer is yes to both, the ‘Lego Star Wars Alarm Clock’ could make getting up for school that little bit more bearable. With a snooze button for those extra ‘zzz’s, £17.99 is a bargain for a less painful start to the morning. 

3.            Do you have a professional seamstress or tailor in the making, or a little someone who wants to learn how to sew? There’s no better gift for beginers than the £10.95 ‘Owl Sewing Kit’ for children over the age of 7. Equipped with stuffing, buttons, a needle and thread, who said learning can’t be fun?

4.            Great for a little lad or lady who’s getting taller and taller by the day, have you ever wondered how you measure up to Elvis, Einstein or a baby giraffe? Probably not, but now you can find out anyway with the ‘Incredible Height Chart’. See how your children grow up for years and a great ‘keep sake’ for when you want to embarrass them on their 18th.

5.            Last Christmas, Frozen took the cinema world by storm, leaving girls across the country wishing they were Princess Elsa. But, what’s next best? Having your own, Frozen Snow Glow Elsa that sings to you. Create your own piece of winter wonderland for just £34.99. 

6.            Apple are already trying to coax me into purchasing their latest ‘i’ products for my loved ones at Christmas. With hundreds of thousands of fun apps and 75,000 education apps, the new iPad Mini could be just want your kids want. With the latest iPad Mini 3 priced at £329, or the slightly older iPad Mini 2 for £239, it’s not quite a bargain, but it is an all in one entertainment and learning centre with a lot of potential for a few hours of quiet time for you parents!

7.            Do you have a creative kid? If so, the chances are they’ve been howling at you to buy them some loom bands. For just a few pounds, bracelets, rings and and some incredibly interesting creations can be made. Available from most stores, or online, they make a fantastic stocking filler.

8.            Smart watches have been making the headlines recently as Apple look to enter to the market. However, the ‘KidiZoom Smartwatch’ has proven a popular choice with children all over the world. Costing £39.99, the watch has 8 different modes, allowing alarms, voice recordings and even games with a fully functioning touchscreen. You don’t need to spend hundreds on a great product that’s sure to help your children get a grasp on how time works while having fun.

9.            Recently snapped up by Microsoft, the Minecraft game is likely to be downloaded on at least one of your devices at home! If you think the kids will enjoy a ‘minecraft diamond sword’, a ‘Lego Minecraft Village’ or bringing their most popular character into reality, you should see what’s on offer here.

10.          Most boys and girls aren’t the biggest fan of the dark but with nights drawing in, this ‘Moonlight Cushion’ could make a big difference to your children. Forget the conventional ‘night light’, this is much cooler. Packed full of low energy LED lights, a few batteries is all you need to add a bit of colour to a dark room.

So we hope we’ve helped give you parents, family members and carers some inspiration on what to get  the kids this Christmas… let’s just hope they make it on to the right side of the list!

With family being such a big part of Christmas, have you insured the most important things in your life? Offering life insurance, over 50’s cover, income protection, healthcare insurance as well as buildings and contents cover, and Freedom to Insure will offer you all the friendly advice and help you need - so don’t delay, add this to your Christmas ‘to do’ list.

Happy shopping and we hope your kids love their presents. Stay tuned for more exclusive Christmas content and get ready to get involved in the exciting competitions we’ve got lined up!

Until the next time,

Freedom to Insure.

Pumpkin Carving with Freedom to Insure!

Who doesn't love a bit of pumpkin carving? We certainly do at Freedom to Insure! Take a look at our video to see how you can have some family fun with the kids.

Hello from Freedom to Insure

Welcome to the Freedom to Insure blog! So, a little bit about us. In 2007 we opened our doors, selling life insurance from a small office in Aldershot. Today, we operate from both Aldershot and London, offering a range of insurance  products, as well as mortgages and wills. 

Don't worry, we're not just going to blog about insurance! Freedom to Insure want to bring you exciting, new and helpful content that can be used in daily life. We're going to be getting you involved, offering great competitions and prizes as well as fun 'how to' videos for special occasions.

Freedom to Insure can't wait to start blogging! Just add us as a favourite and see what we do...