Dazed & Confused?

Become an ethical lender

Confused.com’s Owe Carter thinks a loan to an entrepreneur in the developing world could be the ideal Christmas gift.

I am rubbish at buying Christmas presents. Despite being in the business of saving money, when it comes to choosing gifts, I may as well place a bulk order with Landfill Inc and be done with it. However, this year I’m going to see that the money goes to someone who knows what to do with it.

Lendwithcare.org, a branch of Care International UK, arranges microloans for budding entrepreneurs in the developing world – and you can be the lender.

If you like to know what your money's doing, this good cause carries the benefit of being totally tangible - as you can choose who you're lending to, and it's not just going into a faceless bucket.

 

For example, I have lent £15 to Baligueda Mensah, who runs a market stall in Togo. She sells her own fruit juice and lollies, and is looking to buy herself a new freezer for her business. When she gets it, and makes enough money from her business, the loan is repaid, and I can put it back in my account – or I could reinvest. It’s the best way to ‘give’ during times of recession, as you get your money back. The only downside is that I don’t get to sample her pineapple and lemon lollies.

If you're thinking of giving someone money for Christmas, then why not get them a lendwithcare voucher? That way they get their money – but not before it's been to the other side of the world and changed someone's life!

Find out more about how lendwithcare works.

Carbon monoxide awareness should last longer than a week

It’s coming to the end of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week; but Confused.com’s Owe Carter thinks that CO safety is always worth bearing in mind.

CO-Awareness Week began on Monday, and – though this is clearly a very noble cause – it’s important not to forget about the dangers of carbon monoxide once the week is out.

Carbon monoxide is notoriously difficult to detect. It has no smell or flavour, it’s invisible to the naked eye, and its effects can be devastating.

Our article The Silent Killer: Confused.com Warns of the Dangers of Carbon Monoxide is a really worthwhile read. It's got some tips on how to spot if you have a CO leak, symptoms to look for, and landlord's responsibilities to be aware of - for landlords and tenants alike.

Safety checklist

• It's important that your boiler is kept in good working order, and regularly serviced.
• Think about upgrading your old gas appliances. If you're a landlord, then you're legally required to have gas appliances checked every 12 months by a registered gas installer. All records of the safety checks should be kept for a minimum two years.  If you need to get hold of a registered gas engineer, go to the Gas Safe Register website.
• If you’re planning to use old-fashioned portable heaters this winter, get them checked by an expert before use.
• Always keep your home well ventilated.
• If you have a chimney that's in use, be sure it’s swept annually by a qualified engineer or chimney sweep.
• If you’re worried about carbon monoxide in your home, or you have any friends or relatives who you feel are unaware of the risk, it’s worth visiting the CO Awareness website. The site is full of information and prevention tips that could prove vital.

Somebody to love

If you've not already seen it on TV, or even if you have and just want to see it again, you can use the link above to check out Confused.com's new advert. It features our mascot Cara singing Queen's infectious classic Somebody To Love.

Plus, Cara has her own Twitter page now @CaraConfused, and you can also find out what she's up to on her Facebook page.

So what do you think of the ad? Has it got your toes tapping? Feel free to let me know by commenting below.

And if anybody does find me somebody to love, feel free to email me at the usual address :o)