The Scottish Mail on Sunday

Pure nectar! My beehives earn me £500 reward at £5 a jar of honey

It’s been a profitable year for Toby Walne, as our reporters reveal their 2020 financial victories – and the odd defeat

- JEFF PRESTRIDGE

Pedal power to the rescue

BEING reunited with my ancient Crossroads Specialise­d bike has saved me a small fortune in travel costs this year – although not as much if coronaviru­s hadn’t reared its destructiv­e head.

I started the year thinking the 30-year hybrid bike had been stolen from the garage under the flats I lived in – it had disappeare­d one night from where I had locked it up. But I discovered it had been ‘moved’ by the block’s janitor and sold to another resident without my permission. Maybe the janitor thought the bike’s owner had moved away and left the dusty relic behind. Wrong.

I then located the bike hiding away in a cage, and, after a little bit of explaining with the new owner, reclaimed ownership. Its near loss spurred me into giving it a polish and an overhaul. I also made a vow to clock up the miles.

The result is that with the exception of my daily work commute – too hazardous and too long to contemplat­e on a bike – and the occasional lung-busting run, I now go nearly everywhere by bike. No Tubes, no buses, no local trains, minimal use of car – and all done without electric aid.

Pound-saving which ever way you look – weight-wise and light on the pocket.

RACHEL RICKARD STRAUS Save for the short and long term

IN July, I had a taste of how difficult it is to follow some of the advice we financial journalist­s freely dole out. Moneywise, the magazine for which I had been editor, was closed and I was made redundant.

It was a confusing time, we were still in lockdown, and the future was unclear. So when I received a redundancy payment, the last thing I wanted to do was lock it away for more than 20 years in a pension fund where I couldn’t get my hands on it – even in an emergency.

A financial buffer against future uncertaint­y seemed more appropriat­e. But deep down I knew what I had to do.

I couldn’t ignore my own words which I have written in articles over the years: ‘If you receive a lump sum, consider putting some in your pension before you get used to having it.’

So I compromise­d. I placed a portion in an easy-access Isa and the rest into a pension. Some for me, some for future me.

Thankfully things have turned out well.

In September, I happily joined The Mail on Sunday. I’m glad I was reminded it’s not always easy to do the ‘right’ thing. I will remember that when I share money advice and tips in future.

TOBY WALNE

Making a profit from nectar

THIS year, I finally made some money from making honey – pocketing £500 from selling 50 jars at £5 a pop. Jars full of the finest nectar that money can buy.

The trick was to have two hives rather than one.

As an amateur beekeeper, I had stubbornly refused to own more than a single colony for my William Broughton Carr (WBC) bee dwelling. But all too often they would die over winter – until last year when I got another hive.

Having doubled up, I discovered two is certainly stronger than one at fighting off wasps, robber bees, bad weather and disease. By early summer I had two healthy hives brimming with honey.

It meant more than enough for personal consumptio­n plus plenty to sell. Home-made labels helped, as did a stream of staycation tourists with nothing better to do than take a jar from a table strategica­lly placed outside my Hertfordsh­ire home – and put a fiver in an honesty box. Excellent value all round. Raw honey is not the same as the honey-flavoured sugary syrup you buy in shops that often comes from China – and is also heated to 75 degrees Centigrade, killing off all the yummy nutrients.

My two hives are still intact, so the prospects for Patmore Heath Honey are looking good.

Farm markets beckon next year, provided we have conquered coronaviru­s.

LAURA SHANNON Avoiding a scam

THE scourge of scam calls is rising, infecting millions of landlines and mobile phones. Despite being aware of the threat,

I’m not immune.

I recently answered a call from a woman warning me of a problem with my BT broadband connection. I indulged her, knowing full well it was a scam (I’m not a BT customer).

Apparently, there was an issue with my broadband speed. When I told her I’m not a customer, she claimed my provider rented the connection from BT’s network. Rubbish.

Upon learning I only used an iPad and iPhone (a white lie), she lost interest and said she would call back. It was obvious what she had wanted to do: gain remote access to my home computer – and then to my online bank account.

She did phone again a couple of weeks later – to warn that my broadband would be disconnect­ed in 24 hours. I cheerily replied: ‘OK, thanks for letting me know, take care!’

Such scam calls are insidious, relentless and, sadly, some people are tricked into giving away personal details. Rather than indulge them, hang up – and think about getting a call blocker.

SARAH BRIDGE My financial audit comes up trumps

JUST making it through to the end of 2020 with my health and sanity relatively unscathed feels like a victory. As a freelancer, finding sufficient work to keep me busy and pay my bills is essential. So in recent weeks, I’ve made myself as fabulous as I can on jobs website LinkedIn. I’ve also applied for dozens of roles and updated my travel website ALadyofLei­sure.com with an eye to earning an income from it next year (assuming we’re allowed to travel again).

I’ve also made sure I am as financiall­y secure as I can be. I’ve cut out unnecessar­y spending and buy food for the fortnight ahead rather than drifting into Waitrose every other day.

I’ve also got into a home DVD workout routine rather than continuing with an expensive gym membership.

Just the act of planning my future income and getting on top of my spending has stopped me worrying – crucial when there is so much else to worry about. Yes, a victory.

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PROFITS: Toby Walne
SWEET PROFITS: Toby Walne

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