Jasmine Birtles – Financial Expert interview – First direct interviews financial expert Jasmine Birtles for its ‘Colourful Lives’ report
Jasmine Birtles of MoneyMagpie presents her Financial Expert interview – First direct interviews financial expert Jasmine Birtles for its ‘Colourful Lives’ report
To mark its 21st birthday, first direct commissioned the Future Foundation to explore and champion the unique individuals who make Britain great. The resulting ‘Colourful Lives’ report is a celebration of all that’s individual, quirky and just plain eccentric.
first direct Head of Marketing, Paul Say, said: “The research shows Brits are proud of their nation, with traditional customs and festivals such as cheese rolling, bog snorkelling and toe wrestling cited by 57 per cent as the main reason Britain is so eccentric. One in every 100 people in the UK is officially registered as a Jedi Knight – a statistic which proves Brits aren’t afraid to be irreverent even about such routine things as the Census.
“It’s because our customers are so colourful that first direct does banking in black and white. We wanted to get under the skin of these interesting characters to find out just what makes them tick.”
The next biggest driver of our intrinsic eccentricity is the class system (35 per cent) while a third (32 per cent) say it’s because Britain is not truly European. A quarter (24 per cent) think being an island fosters quirky characters and one in ten (20 per cent) credit the monarchy. Just three per cent associate wealth with eccentricity in modern society.
When it comes to breaking away from the norm, two thirds (62.5 per cent) of us believe Britain is the most free-spirited, creative and non-conformist nation of the top five Western European countries*.
The research predicts a continued trend of appreciating the peculiar and irreverent. Brits will increasingly be attracted to people and brands that are not afraid to express themselves in a personable, quirky manner – a manner which reflects the colourful nature and the intrinsically alternative mindset of contemporary Britain
Dating Study Results
According to Ros Fewster from London, any woman looking for a boyfriend will be enormously effected by any signs of altruism. There was a study done that showed women prefer men who are kind and the slogan of nice guys finish last is just not true. This view she has is supported by research in the British Journal of Psychology.
Maybe you are single and have been thinking about trying one of those online dating sites. Those in the UK can visit Parship dating site to take their compatibility test. This will be the first step to being matched with someone who has similar values and likes.
Dr. David Lewis, author of Loving and Loathing: the Enigma of Personal Attraction and member of the British Psychological Society said this finding did not surprise him at all. He added that women are drawn to men with masculine characteristics as well as soft hair on the forearms or long eyelashes. Unfortunately, people will have their mind made up about someone within seconds of meeting them. There was also evidence that appearance and physical factors are attractive but these are quickly outweighed by their personality. Altruism can play a part in attraction but it is not the deciding factor.
Safe house
Keeping your family safe is a 24/7 kind of job. There are dangers out there in the world that you must guard your family against, a lot of them you probably can’t even begin to imagine. But being paranoid isn’t the best answer to the problem either. There’s a saying in some countries that states that people only start locking their doors after their house has been robbed. But the intelligent and responsible person knows that you secure your home and valuables first, before they get attacked. And that’s the main reason why you get home insurance: to be the ultimate guardian of your house.
Home insurance is a relatively common term in every person’s vocabulary. But do you really know what kind of home insurance you have? Do you know, for example, if it covers the contents of your house? Do you know if it covers small repairs? And do you know what to do in case something does happen to your house? Keeping your house safe means more than just preventing harm from happening to it, it also means knowing what to do in case of an emergency. Your family will thank you when something happens and you are able to keep a cool head and follow a game plan.
Back up your used car
Backing up your used car, and protecting your investment is an essential step towards a stable financial future. Purchasing a car can seem overwhelming, but buying a used car can be a smart financial move. If you’re in the market for a vehicle, buying used is a popular option, one you should consider. There are many ways to ensure your car will be reliable, and of the highest quality.
Anything from a used audi, to a used ford is eligible for financing options. Finding a payment plan that works for you is important, as it will help you pay off the car successfully. Remember to only buy a used vehicle that is guaranteed by the seller, and has undergone several checks and tests for any flaws. If you’re looking to drive it off the lot, and still considering auto insurance options, there are temporary policies that can help you get the coverage you need. Many used car showrooms also work along with insurance providers, who can arrange a policy for you then and there. This allows you the time you need to find your own insurance policy, compare rates, and other details while still being able to drive your new car.
Online Dating: Great Option for Business People
Online dating is a perfect option for people that are incredibly busy. It saves time, money, and is an efficient way to find a person with a similar background. Or, some people find that opposites attract and want someone completely different from them. Whatever one person’s desires may be, online dating can open up a whole new world to people that try it out.
Business people especially may find online dating is a great option for them. Often, business people do not have time to go out on dates all the time. Business people may also not even have time to pick up the phone and literally schedule a date. Instead, through an online dating service, a business person may discover a world of convenience that is better than the hassle of traditional dating. Online dating can offer business professionals the option to email or chat with another person, before scheduling two or three hour dates with that person.
Online dating allows people to essentially “screen” their date before making an actual date. Think about how many times you have made yourself vulnerable on a date, only to be incredibly disappointed and perhaps having to pay a large check for dinner. With online dating, you can pursue those single people that you are genuinely interested in, rather than experiencing dates that are lifeless.