Meath Tourism
Meath Tourism Historical Sites
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Shopping in Meath
This Blog has been established for two reasons. Firstly I have established this Blog to try and help shoppers in County Meath to identify the best value and service for your shopping experience in County Meath. Secondly I have established this Blog to help curtail the numbers of County Meath shoppers who are travelling north each week to do their shopping. Today (26/10/09) the Irish Times, Consumer Affairs Correspondent, Paul Cullen tells us that, "250,00 households in the Republic are now regularly doing their shopping in the north", and that this figure is up 25% on last year. Mr Cullen further tells us that alcohol sales in off licences in the north is up 30% while off licence sales in the Republic are down 7%. It is estimated that cross border shopping in 2009 will cost the retail sector 810 Million Euro compared to 640 Million Euro in 2008. I must also make it clear that I have myself shopped in the north on a number of occasions, however, having finally got over the initial excitement of going off somewhere different for the day i.e. Newry, I began to do the sums and had to seriously ask myself if the same value could not be found here in County Meath. We as consumers have a right to ask our retailers to offer better value and service for money, we will not get if we don't ask. Now that's what I am about, trying to point you in the right direction, I am doing this off my own back with no help or support from any business interest, I will try to do my best for you the shopper and I would ask that you give me your feed back on my Blog. I hope to run Polls about topical subjects and I hope to have some competitions so that you can win shopping vouchers and other prizes. It is my hope to make this Blog the number one reference point for people in County Meath who are about to do their shopping, you will get 100% Independent and hands on shopping information, this information will not be tainted with favour to any retailer but simply by my own experience. I will also offer helpful hints on other matters that may help you the shopper save money in these testing times. Happy Shopping where ever you shop.
Christmas
Christmas Fair
There will be a Christmas Fair in Aid of Crumlin Children's Hospital in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan on Sunday 15th November. The event is being organised by Loreto nun Sr Paschal. In the past 17 years Sr Paschal has raised over 80,000 for charity, she has just returned from walking the Great Wall of China that raised 5.5 K, well done.
Turkey and Ham
Already we are being offered package deals on the great Christmas dinner, this year more than ever there seems to be good deals available, yet don't rush in, unless you have been a loyal customer somewhere for the past 20 years and would not think of going anywhere else, look around and shop around, there are deals to be had. Pay off a few Euro each week and don't wait until a couple of days before Christmas when there is so much else to be done. It was a great relief for myself last year to pay off over a few weeks and simply collect on Christmas Eve. Keep the bills down and make sure to bring carrier bags with you for your shopping this can add up.
Home carers Tax Credit
A home carer is where one spouse stays at home to care for a dependant person, typically a child or an elderly/disabled person. To claim the full tax allowance, the home carers income must not exceed 5,080 in the year. The credit available in 2009 is 900 Euro.
There will be a Christmas Fair in Aid of Crumlin Children's Hospital in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan on Sunday 15th November. The event is being organised by Loreto nun Sr Paschal. In the past 17 years Sr Paschal has raised over 80,000 for charity, she has just returned from walking the Great Wall of China that raised 5.5 K, well done.
Turkey and Ham
Already we are being offered package deals on the great Christmas dinner, this year more than ever there seems to be good deals available, yet don't rush in, unless you have been a loyal customer somewhere for the past 20 years and would not think of going anywhere else, look around and shop around, there are deals to be had. Pay off a few Euro each week and don't wait until a couple of days before Christmas when there is so much else to be done. It was a great relief for myself last year to pay off over a few weeks and simply collect on Christmas Eve. Keep the bills down and make sure to bring carrier bags with you for your shopping this can add up.
Home carers Tax Credit
A home carer is where one spouse stays at home to care for a dependant person, typically a child or an elderly/disabled person. To claim the full tax allowance, the home carers income must not exceed 5,080 in the year. The credit available in 2009 is 900 Euro.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Medical Expenses
If you pay medical expenses within the EU, you may be entitled to a partial refund through a Tax reclaim. Most medical expenses and prescribed drugs Not reimbursed by the HSE or Medical insurance are covered (with a few exceptions). The claim must be made by submitting a Med 1 Form to the Revenue. You must also retain receipts for inspection upon request.
The best value that I found in County Meath this week was 3 for 10 Euro in Tesco. For 10 Euro I purchased an oven ready chicken, 6 burgers and a packet of minced beef. The burgers were of very good quality and size, my partner and I had two each for dinner on Saturday and the remaining two we had on Monday with mash potatoes. The Chicken was family sized and we had this for Sunday lunch, the remaining chicken was curried and we had this for Sunday tea with chips. The beef mince will be cooked today and will be served with mash for dinner this evening. Not bad for 10 Euro, the chicken could easily have been stretched for a family of 4/5 and the same with the burgers and mince.
For those cat lovers among us Tesco had beef in gravy pouches for 15 cent this week with the chicken in gravy at 30 cent, my cat loved these good value pouches. More of this please.
The best value that I found in County Meath this week was 3 for 10 Euro in Tesco. For 10 Euro I purchased an oven ready chicken, 6 burgers and a packet of minced beef. The burgers were of very good quality and size, my partner and I had two each for dinner on Saturday and the remaining two we had on Monday with mash potatoes. The Chicken was family sized and we had this for Sunday lunch, the remaining chicken was curried and we had this for Sunday tea with chips. The beef mince will be cooked today and will be served with mash for dinner this evening. Not bad for 10 Euro, the chicken could easily have been stretched for a family of 4/5 and the same with the burgers and mince.
For those cat lovers among us Tesco had beef in gravy pouches for 15 cent this week with the chicken in gravy at 30 cent, my cat loved these good value pouches. More of this please.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The Irish Times Reports on BOI
The Irish Times reports today that Bank of Ireland is investigating a computer fault that lead to a number of customers being "double charged" on laser card and ATM transactions late yesterday afternoon. So please check your accounts to ensure that you have not been "double charged".
Rent Relief - Tax Credit
A Rental Tax credit is available for rent paid for your main residence. If you are renting from a private landlord or a letting agent you are entitled to a rental tax credit. If you are renting from the council or a parent it is not available. This credit is available to you even if you dont rent for a complete year. With many now for many reasons turning to the rental market this is an important tax credit to remember. For single people under the age of 55 the rent releif tax credit for 2009 is 400 Euro. For married people or single people over 55 this is doubled.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Shopping in Meath
This Blog has been established for two reasons. Firstly I have established this Blog to try and help shoppers in County Meath to identify the best value and service for your shopping experience in County Meath. Secondly I have established this Blog to help curtail the numbers of County Meath shoppers who are travelling north each week to do their shopping. Today (26/10/09) the Irish Times, Consumer Affairs Correspondent, Paul Cullen tells us that, "250,00 households in the Republic are now regularly doing their shopping in the north", and that this figure is up 25% on last year. Mr Cullen further tells us that alcohol sales in off licences in the north is up 30% while off licence sales in the Republic are down 7%. It is estimated that cross border shopping in 2009 will cost the retail sector 810 Million Euro compared to 640 Million Euro in 2008. I must also make it clear that I have myself shopped in the north on a number of occasions, however, having finally got over the initial excitement of going off somewhere different for the day i.e. Newry, I began to do the sums and had to seriously ask myself if the same value could not be found here in County Meath. We as consumers have a right to ask our retailers to offer better value and service for money, we will not get if we don't ask. Now that's what I am about, trying to point you in the right direction, I am doing this off my own back with no help or support from any business interest, I will try to do my best for you the shopper and I would ask that you give me your feed back on my Blog. I hope to run Polls about topical subjects and I hope to have some competitions so that you can win shopping vouchers and other prizes. It is my hope to make this Blog the number one reference point for people in County Meath who are about to do their shopping, you will get 100% Independent and hands on shopping information, this information will not be tainted with favour to any retailer but simply by my own experience. I will also offer helpful hints on other matters that may help you the shopper save money in these testing times. Happy Shopping where ever you shop.
Buy Lo opens in Ashbourne
It is welcome news for Ashbourne that ten new jobs have been created as discount warehouse chain Buy Lo opens in the town. Anyone who knows Ashbourne will agree that a once quiet village has now become a bustling town that is only 15 minutes from Dublin. This new store in Unit 19 Ashbourne Retail Park will offer well known brands of food and non food items at discounted prices. For the moment this writer will simply welcome the creation of ten new jobs, the 'value' offered by this store will be checked out by this writer later in the week and will report back.
Shopping value, taxation and Employment Protection
The best value that I found in County Meath this week was 3 for 10 Euro in Tesco. For 10 Euro I purchased an oven ready chicken, 6 burgers and a packet of minced beef. The burgers were of very good quality and size, my partner and I had two each for dinner on Saturday and the remaining two we had on Monday with mash potatoes. The Chicken was family sized and we had this for Sunday lunch, the remaining chicken was curried and we had this for Sunday tea with chips. The beef mince will be cooked today and will be served with mash for dinner this evening. Not bad for 10 Euro, the chicken could easily have been stretched for a family of 4/5 and the same with the burgers and mince.
As promised this Blog is going to offer advice on a range of issues that could help you save money. For those who are working it is often easy to over look the many tax benefits that you are entitled to. It is important that we do all that is within our power to beat the present economic situation. If you are paying for the removal of your refuse it is important to remember that you can get up to 20% off the cost of that refuse charge by claiming a tax refund. Don't say I cant be bothered and then complain when the next tax levy is introduced. The maximun tax credit allowable for refuse charges is 80 Euro. The total relief that can be claimed is subject to an overall limit of 400 Euro per year.
If you have been made redundant and you are paying back a loan on a car or van are you still paying for employment protection on your loan each month. If you are continuing to pay insurance on your loan in the event that you are made redundant then you should cancel this immediately. Why pay employment protection on your loan if you are redundant. Write now to your bank manager or Finance company and cancel your employment protection payment. You can renew this protection plan once you find work again. Don't be embarrassed about asking for such a cancellation, or thinking I don't want anybody to know how bad things are at the moment, there are plenty of people in the same boat. Act now and take the pressure off. This could depending on the size of your loan be a saving of anything from 16 Euro per month up wards.
As promised this Blog is going to offer advice on a range of issues that could help you save money. For those who are working it is often easy to over look the many tax benefits that you are entitled to. It is important that we do all that is within our power to beat the present economic situation. If you are paying for the removal of your refuse it is important to remember that you can get up to 20% off the cost of that refuse charge by claiming a tax refund. Don't say I cant be bothered and then complain when the next tax levy is introduced. The maximun tax credit allowable for refuse charges is 80 Euro. The total relief that can be claimed is subject to an overall limit of 400 Euro per year.
If you have been made redundant and you are paying back a loan on a car or van are you still paying for employment protection on your loan each month. If you are continuing to pay insurance on your loan in the event that you are made redundant then you should cancel this immediately. Why pay employment protection on your loan if you are redundant. Write now to your bank manager or Finance company and cancel your employment protection payment. You can renew this protection plan once you find work again. Don't be embarrassed about asking for such a cancellation, or thinking I don't want anybody to know how bad things are at the moment, there are plenty of people in the same boat. Act now and take the pressure off. This could depending on the size of your loan be a saving of anything from 16 Euro per month up wards.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Shopping in Meath
This Blog has been established for two reasons. Firstly I have established this Blog to try and help shoppers in County Meath to identify the best value and service for your shopping experience in County Meath. Secondly I have established this Blog to help curtail the numbers of County Meath shoppers who are travelling north each week to do their shopping. Today (26/10/09) the Irish Times, Consumer Affairs Correspondent, Paul Cullen tells us that, "250,00 households in the Republic are now regularly doing their shopping in the north", and that this figure is up 25% on last year. Mr Cullen further tells us that alcohol sales in off licences in the north is up 30% while off licence sales in the Republic are down 7%. It is estimated that cross border shopping in 2009 will cost the retail sector 810 Million Euro compared to 640 Million Euro in 2008. I must also make it clear that I have myself shopped in the north on a number of occasions, however, having finally got over the initial excitement of going off somewhere different for the day i.e. Newry, I began to do the sums and had to seriously ask myself if the same value could not be found here in County Meath. We as consumers have a right to ask our retailers to offer better value and service for money, we will not get if we don't ask. Now that's what I am about, trying to point you in the right direction, I am doing this off my own back with no help or support from any business interest, I will try to do my best for you the shopper and I would ask that you give me your feed back on my Blog. I hope to run Polls about topical subjects and I hope to have some competitions so that you can win shopping vouchers and other prizes. It is my hope to make this Blog the number one reference point for people in County Meath who are about to do their shopping, you will get 100% Independent and hands on shopping information, this information will not be tainted with favour to any retailer but simply by my own experience. I will also offer helpful hints on other matters that may help you the shopper save money in these testing times. Happy Shopping where ever you shop.
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