Audio version

37

LIFE

Aug/Sept 2011 www.esb.ie/em

Terrific telephonic tips for saving money and a St Patrick’s date for your diary

Talking mobile sense

BARRY MCCALL

PERSONAL FINANCE

THE RECENT NEWS that the European Commission is to bring down the cost of roaming for people downloading data on their mobile phones while abroad will have been welcomed by frequent travellers and holidaymakers but for the rest of us it will make little difference to our bills at the end of the month. They will be as high and as indecipherable as ever.

The difficulty lies in the way the mobile phone firms price their products. They ‘bundle’ up quantities of call minutes, text messages and data into packages that cost certain flat rate amounts each month. It is almost impossible to tell what each element of the package actually cost and it is only really possible to review their value in hindsight.

The only way to really get good value from our mobile phones is to be very careful with how we use them; that is to confine our usage to the limits set out in our monthly contract and ensure that we don’t end up paying the quite high costs for calls or texts made in excess of the allowance. Once we have made up our mind to do that it is a question of shopping around – and there are some quite wide variations out there in terms of value to be had.

At the lower end of the price plans, Vodafone has one for €29 per month offers 100 minutes and 100 texts each month and free weekend calls and texts to Vodafone numbers.

This may sound a lot but it restricts the user to an average of just four minutes a day in outgoing calls and just four texts per day - not a lot when you think about it.

O2 on the other hand has an offer of 250 minutes and 250 texts with free calls and texts to other O2 numbers for just €30 per month. Emobile has a very attractive offer of 200 minutes and 200 texts plus unlimited calls to Irish landlines for just €24 per month. You can get 200 minutes and 200 texts from Meteor for just €20 per month and probably the best value of all in this range is the Text 500 package from 3, which offers 500 minutes, 5,000 texts and 1 gigabyte of data all for €20 per month.

The big issue is that once you’ve chosen the package to stick to its terms. All of the providers allow you to track your usage on the web so the easiest thing to do is go online about once a week or so and see if you’re keeping to your targets. That way you’ll be sure you’re getting the best value.

Of course, many people are in the middle of 12 or even 24 month contracts with providers so the option of shopping around is not open to them. But there is still something you can do if you find yourself in this position.

Start keeping a note of your mobile phone usage and gather all your bills together. After a few weeks of this go online to www.callcosts.ie – a service run by the communications regulator ComReg – this offers a free mobile phone calculator which allows you put in all of your personal usage details and then gives you details of what the best plan will be for you. You can then use this to guide you when it comes to shopping around at the end of your contract.

And if you do decide to change provider don’t be slow to let your existing provider know – they can be surprisingly flexible and competitive when they put their minds to it.

Opel Meriva SE 1.4i Turbo

DAVE WALSHE

MOTORING

MY FIR5T ARTICLE for EM was written back in April 2004 and, you’ve guessed, it was about the Opel Meriva. I have always had a soft spot for the Meriva and in my internet meanderings I regularly check out the second-hand price of it, especially the rare and desirous OPC version. Primarily, this is because the Meriva is the size of car that I need now, but also because it has the high seating position that I fell in love with seven years ago. The Meriva was innovative in 2004 with its Flexspace seats and with this latest, all new, SE 1.4i version, it is innovative again in a big way. As ever, it’s bigger, wider and longer than the outgoing model and it is not far behind its big sister the Zafira. It has reverse opening rear doors - see the picture. These are so handy and make getting in and out very easy. Try strapping a kid into a child seat in a Meriva and you’ll see how wonderful these doors are. They are not as easy or as practical as sliding doors, which are the best solution for MPV-type vehicles.

I test-drove the petrol version and it was a flyer. Turbo mated to a petrol engine = fun. I had the top-of-the-range version, which retails at close to €29k and which I feel is pricey. The range starts at just under €20k, which is on the money for a compact MPV. It’s when you start to tick options that the price mounts up. Most people will opt for a diesel, as the petrol versions are in Band C and D depending on the bhp. I am very surprised that Opel didn’t manage to land a Band A Meriva for Ireland, as we are obsessed with bands and VRT. Opel, if BMW/Mercedes can do it for bigger cars so should you!

Out on the road, the version I had gave me a chance to have some petrol fun that I hadn’t had for some time. With all this diesel about, it was a delight to have a free revving petrol engine with a turbo! Road holding was sharp enough, while the wind and road noise not excessive. Overtaking was a cinch and the Meriva is an easy car to park and use in the city. I had a panoramic roof, which is something that should be fitted as standard to more cars. The opportunity to enjoy our unpredictable sun should always be availed of. Inside it’s very modern with styling cues from the Insignia. I have no negative comments about the interior: it’s a nice place to be.

The old Meriva was a big success and this car builds on that. The rear doors will attract you, but the all round package of practicality and flexibility will hook you to buy.

Seven years later, I am glad to report that I still retain a soft spot for the Meriva and I am confident that in seven years time I will likely be reporting the same.

Be part of our trip down memory lane

SIMON DUNNE

ST PATRICK’S CREDIT UNION (ESB STAFF) LTD.

As you may know, St. Patrick’s Credit Union will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2012.

We intend to mark this significant milestone in a number of ways over the course of the year, but the most important element in our programme will be the publication of A History of the Credit Union 1962 - 2012. This will act as a document of record for our organisation and will serve as an invaluable reference source for future generations of officers and members.

The current staff and board of the Credit Union are working with ESB Archives on the development of the history. The work includes a look back through the Credit Union and company archives, but we also hope to include material gathered from our members.

We would like you to share any memories you have as a member of the credit union. Perhaps we helped you buy your first car, home, or pay for your wedding, some of you may have seen your children through school, college and marriage with the help of the Credit Union.

If you have any photographs to accompany the story that would be great and all photographs will be returned. Memorabilia would also be welcomed - perhaps you have original application forms from years ago or booklets that were sent out and again these will be returned safely to you.

Any photographs or short stories may also be included in an exhibition which will tour various ESB locations during 2012.

You can email info@stpatrickscu.ie, post, fax or drop any submissions into the office or hand them to your credit union agent and they will be happy to forward them onto us.

The success of St Patrick’s Credit Union (ESB Staff) Ltd is due to the continuing support and loyalty of our members and we would like you to help us celebrate 50 years together.

St Patrick’s Credit Union Competition

Win an iPod nano!!

To be in with a chance of winning please answer the following question and text your answer to 087 9858238 in the following format:

“CUCOMP followed by your answer (i.e. a, b or c) and your name”

In what year was St. Patrick’s Qedit Union founded?

1. 1982
2. 1972
3. 1962

Important Only one entry per person, no mail entries acceptable, and the closing date is the 30th September 2011.

Last issue’s winner was Daphne Jones, working in Santry. Congratulations Daphne and your iPod nano is on the way out to you.