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We're with you on the go (Global Image)

Loren

So, the festive period is boxed away and we’re embarking on another year. There’s lots of bad we could talk about, but here at Monese we’re using the reset as a chance to get wise with our money management. Let’s make this year’s goals a reality, whether it’s saving for something special or finally feeling confident with our finances, we’ll get there by kicking off the year with #dryspendjan. 

### __Buddy up with your budget __
Our budgeting feature is your new best friend. If you don’t get your Monese salary paid into your account (find out how to do that here!), then deduct all your direct debits and known outgoings before moving the rest to your Monese account. Now you’ve got your disposable income and you can set a budget on each spending category with live transaction alerts.

We let you know when you’re at 80% of your budget, as well as a notification for when you’ve overspent, so you’ll know for sure that unfortunately buying lunch out multiple days this week is not viable at this moment in time…At the end of January, you’ll see your spending habits and can adjust your budget accordingly for Feb. 

### __Believe second(hand) is the best__
Don’t just think of charity shops for clothes - although a great place to start if you’ve realised a raincoat should have been on the Christmas list! If you need to buy presents this month, they’re brilliant treasure troves to discover homeware or vintage books and records. A unique gift for someone else that saves you money, donates to charity *and* avoids buying new -what’s not to love?

Consider holding a clothes swap party with friends too. It clears those unworn and unloved clothes in return for clothing that’s new to you, without relying on the fast fashion cycle. 

### __Food for less__
Shake up the way you food shop. Maybe not the sentence ending you were expecting, but just making a couple of changes could help you keep spending to a minimum. Plan your meals using online recipes, stick to a shopping list and don’t turn your nose up at the reduced section. Make a cheat code for yourself by buying easy meals to make when you can feel the takeaway temptation beckoning. 

### __Top the Pots__
Hopefully you’re already using our [Pots](https://monese.com/it/en/products/pots "Monese Pots") feature as it’s an easy way to save by rounding-up transactions and keeping your savings right where you can see them. Hold a (friendly!) saving competition with someone else that’s on Monese and see who can reach £100 first. Not invited anyone yet? Get a [referral bonus](https://monese.com/gb/en/invite-and-earn "Friend referral") of up to £30 for each friend you invite using your link under the Invite tab on your app.  

### __Kiss social media ads goodbye__ 
Social media seems to know exactly when you are most vulnerable to bombard you with targeted ads. Like we suggested in our post Covid spending control blog, hit the ‘x’ on ads as much as possible. Not only will it help against impulse spending (no, you do not need an electric pencil sharpener), but it also protects against [purchase scams](https://www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/advice/business-advice/purchase-scam-business/ "What are purchase scams?") which are on the rise. 

### __Step up__
For the less active amongst us, another 2-4-1 is more moving and less spending on small transport trips by making the most of walkable journeys wherever possible. You could download an exercise tracker -if you don’t have one already -and see how the little choices can add towards your activity for the day. If you've just joined a gym or want to start a new hobby, how about popping a pound in a Pot every time you go? Reward your motivation and grow your savings too!

### __Lay foundations __
If being more financially savvy is on the vision board for 2023, this one’s for you. We’ve lowered our [Credit Builder](https://monese.com/ie/en/features/credit-builder "What's our Credit Builder?") to only £2.50 a month, less than a cup of coffee. You choose the amount you can afford to put away each month, and using it for a year could give you a glowing credit score which equals better deals on credit cards, payment plans and even mortgages. Building a better life can start here! 

The final tip is to make sure to keep one treat that you know is good for you -body, mind or soul. If that’s your gym membership, a meal at your fave pasta restaurant, or an extra large coffee on a Monday then keep it! This month it’s just about thinking before we buy, keeping spending at a minimum, and making the most of things that don’t cost the world. 

Got another tip to share with the community? Share with us on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/MyMonese "Monese Facebook page"), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/monese "Monese Twitter"), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/monese/ "Monese Instagram") or write to us at community@monese.com. We’ll post our favourite ones! 


January-budgeting-tips-header

Gift, top open with a percentage wheel inside, coins and notes elevated and are all around the wheel

Blog post > Tips & Tricks > January money management

Let’s make this month all about money management

Top budgeting tips for January and beyond

Overflowing inboxes with flashing banners, targeted ads in every corner of your social feeds, the lead up to Black Friday seems to start earlier every year with seductive sales and discounts. But with shopping scams on the rise and the current financial climate, this year requires a little more vigilance. Nothing the Monese community can’t handle, though!

The good news is that it’s a perfect opportunity for early Christmas shopping, especially if you have any tech-lovers in your life, as this is where the best deals and reductions are. Comparing sale prices on the higher priced items and sticking to a pre-planned budget is always sensible. You could even make a [Monese Pot](https://monese.com/gb/en/products/pots "Monese Pots information") to put aside exactly what you’re working with (if you’ve already done this, you have permission to be smug) plus, it makes it harder to give in to the dopamine chase of an impulse buy. Our [rewards platform](https://monese.com/gb/en/offer-6f52b052d5574047a0fa317ef74a5567 "This week's rewards") has some brilliant offers on SIM cards and home Broadband, so you could be upgraded whilst paying less. 

Be wary of items that don’t offer value or might even have an increased original price to make the discount seem better. There’s lots of commentators giving advice on what’s truly a deal or not, and the consumer testing and review company Which? offers trusted insight. 

![Black Friday Dos & Don'ts](//images.ctfassets.net/96dxy75w1gjr/6t7RnBW4G8ZS0W4RDcrjBM/dd990fb88db37a0cd5e89c6c7aeb4223/Featured_Image.png)

Unfortunately, a lot of people are in financial difficulty and may turn to scamming as a way to make money quickly. There’s been a 14% rise in purchase scams over the past year; goods are advertised on Facebook Marketplace or Instagram and people send money to scammers directly by bank transfer, only for the items to never show up. Always buy from trusted retailers and if it seems too good to be true, it probably is! 

Be careful of texts and emails asking you to click on links, especially from what seems like a parcel delivery company, even if the sender has the same name. If you’re expecting a delivery, you should have tracking information through a verified email address -which could be checked by a quick Google search. It all may seem obvious, but it’s good to be aware and to pass on advice to family members that might not be as confident. 

Citizen’s Advice Bureau have a [handy tool](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/check-if-something-might-be-a-scam/ "Citizens Advice Bureau scam checker tool") to check for scams and don’t forget to take a look at our [top tips](https://monese.com/gb/en/blog/fraud-awareness "Staying fraud aware blog post") for staying fraud aware. 

Finally, have fun! 


Black Friday shopping

Black Friday hero image

Shopping bags next to a tablet with a mouse hovering, a security padlock is hidden amongst the bags

Blog post > Happy Black Friday > 24/11/22

Let's make it a good one

Happy Black Friday!

You may think you’re already quite scam-savvy, but as technology advances and our digital footprints grow, there’s an ever-increasing number of ways that you can be targeted by fraudsters. Take this [quick quiz](https://businessquiz.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/ "quick quiz") to see how you fare faced with potential scams. 

(And the first tip would be to check hyperlinks through a website safety checker like [Google Safe Browsing](https://safebrowsing.google.com/ "Google Safe Browsing")!)

Thankfully, safety precautions and systems are only improving but we can all do our bit to ensure we stay alert. The national Take Five campaign actively encourages everyone to follow these three steps before making a payment or disclosing information: 

__STOP__ - Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe. 

__CHALLENGE__ - It’s ok to reject, refuse, or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you. 

__PROTECT__ - Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud. 

Remembering these action points keeps us fraud aware but what’s to be done when we come up against specific types of scams? 

![Types of fraud 1](//images.ctfassets.net/96dxy75w1gjr/31v6NDU2DXyMdg01OsLgEG/86a7f42cce52bd83a468229f4e1cd557/1.png)

![Types of fraud 2](//images.ctfassets.net/96dxy75w1gjr/5dOSFIG3Ad2IaCnVPfLrVt/ce47adc135162899f4715c44d33eb744/2.png)

But as a lowly copywriter, don’t just take my word for it. Over to our Head of Risk and Compliance, Colin Darby, and Chief Security Officer, Aneel Sandhu. 

Aneel says,
> “Only install apps on your phone from trusted sources, so on Apple devices that’s the App Store and on Android, only download from the Playstore. Downloading or installing apps straight from the internet could contain hidden malware that can be used to take over your banking apps, including Monese." 

Colin says,
> “According to the Annual Fraud Report, there’s been a spike in investment, delivery and purchase scams over the last year due to more people spending and shopping online from home. Look out for our in-app messaging that asks you to confirm you’re comfortable making these payments.” 

You can read the full Annual Fraud report [here.](https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/system/files/2022-06/Annual%20Fraud%20Report%202022_FINAL_.pdf "2021 Annual Fraud Report") 

Find out more about the Take Five campaign [here.](https://www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/ "Take Five campaign") 

Sign up to the Citizens Advice Bureau #ScamAware [mailing list](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/our-work/our-campaigns/awareness-raising-campaigns/scams-awareness-campaign-2022/ "Citizens Advice scam aware mailing list") and encourage family and friends to do so too. 


Fraud aware

Staying fraud aware

Blog post > Staying fraud aware > 15/11/22

Top tips for being scam-savvy

At Monese, we’ve always been an advocate for ending IBAN discrimination.  Last year, we shared a [blog](https://monese.com/blog/iban-discrimination "IBAN discrimination (yes, there is such a thing!)") with tips on what to do if you’re ever faced with this sort of injustice from an employer, merchant or any other company in SEPA (the Single Euro Payments Area) refusing to accept your SEPA-enabled IBAN for euro payments or direct debits. 

That’s why we’re very happy to be joining Wise’s [Accept my IBAN](https://www.acceptmyiban.org/ "Report it, so we can stop it!") campaign along with other leading fintech companies to put a stop once and for all to this all-too-common illegal practice. We and our peers in the fintech space realise that this is something our customers across Europe face daily — even though it’s against the law.   

<div data-comp="signup"></div>

## How can I report IBAN discrimination?
![acceptmyiban.org-smaller](//images.ctfassets.net/96dxy75w1gjr/4lR2J2utqXXUKp6HB1JDh/3bcc2e692be4aaccf9fcf3839383f133/acceptmyiban.org-smaller.png)
As part of the campaign, you can now visit [acceptmyiban.org](https://www.acceptmyiban.org/ "End IBAN discrimination") to report details of your case, which will then be passed on to the right authorities. Anyone can submit a case, regardless of who you bank or pay with. 

If you’re ever faced with this kind of discrimination, it’s important to remember to gather documented proof of the rejection, whether that’s written, a screenshot or any other interaction you’ve had with the merchant or organisation. This will help better support your case when eventually presented to the relevant authorities. 

Remember: anytime a service provider, salesperson or employer refuses to accept your IBAN, they’re breaking the law. 

Report it, so we can stop it! 

Monese part of the fight to end IBAN discrimination once and for all 

We’ve joined the Accept my IBAN campaign 

Accept my IBAN Hero (1)

EU IBAN screen Monese app blue background

Blog post > We’ve joined the Accept my IBAN campaign 

We’re very happy to be joining Wise’s Accept my IBAN campaign along with other leading fintech companies to put a stop once and for all to IBAN discrimination. 

You might have spotted our shiny [new card](https://monese.com/blog/2018/10/new-card-designs "Introducing our new card designs") popping up across London - as well as a great big meteorite outside King's Cross Station! This is part of a new campaign we’re launching:

![whateverhappens cr](//images.ctfassets.net/96dxy75w1gjr/4juNmqictHmQmWb1AFqWSg/902a78c6cac8a0ee90d02aaa43eee012/whateverhappens_cr.jpg)

We thought it would be a good time to tell you more about it!

<div data-comp="signup"></div>

## Do we really think there will be a post-Brexit apocalypse? 
Of course we don’t. 

And we don't expect a meteorite to wreck havoc on London anytime soon. Our installation, and our associated campaign posters, are a light-hearted response to some of the more extreme speculation on what life could be like in the UK on and after the Brexit date of 29 March 2019.

For example, in September, the UK was warned that it would be the last European country to know if there’s a meteorite approaching Earth, because it would have exited the European Union’s Space Surveillance and Tracking Programme. We thought this was pretty crazy stuff and it inspired us to get creative with our campaign.

![MoneseMeteorite PINPEP3-s](//images.ctfassets.net/96dxy75w1gjr/5FyX6IeeoKd8d34ZPp7Iy8/02322fd7198f076bcf4aaafe2714ab4a/MoneseMeteorite_PINPEP3-s.jpg)

## But seriously... 
It’s a time of uncertainty in the UK right now. So we also wanted to use this campaign to share our simple and clear message with you: whatever happens, we should all continue to build solutions to keep us connected. That’s what we’re doing at Monese, leading the way in keeping the UK and rest of Europe connected with our portable, dual-currency UK and European personal accounts.

Whatever happens on or after the key Brexit date of 29 March 2019, many people will continue to travel the world, study abroad or work in another country. They will need their finances to stay connected. We believe that your money should be there for you every step of the way. 

We’ve always held this view. You may even remember our Free Movement campaign from last year, which focused on the launch of our European accounts.

## What does Brexit mean for me? 
We understand that Brexit poses some very serious questions for some of our customers. At this stage we still don’t know what Brexit will look like. We promise to communicate clearly with all of you so you understand what you should do and who you should speak to if you are concerned about staying connected. 

## How is Monese keeping me connected?
Our portable, dual-currency UK and European accounts make sure that people and their finances stay connected to Europe. They’re fully portable across 20 countries, support 11 European languages, and allow people and businesses to spend, send and save like a local across the entire continent.

## Will Monese work after Brexit?
Absolutely – whatever happens, our services will not be affected, as we will continue to provide our award-winning services across Europe and the UK.
Feel free to join the conversation via the __#WhateverHappens__ hashtag, and stay tuned for some exciting updates about our campaign in the coming days!

You might have spotted our shiny new card popping up across London! This is part of a new campaign we’re launching...

Stay Connected, Whatever Happens

Hero Bus

Blog post > Stay Connected, Whatever Happens

You might have spotted our new campaign we're launching in London! Here's more about what we're trying to say.

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Top budgeting tips for January and beyond

Happy Black Friday!

Staying fraud aware

We’ve joined the Accept my IBAN campaign

Stay Connected, Whatever Happens

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