Just a couple of years ago many of us were happy to give generously to a range of worth causes, and we were prepared to whip out our debit or credit cards whenever there was a charity appeal, sign up to monthly donations for charities, and make one off payments to worth causes. However, household [...]
According to recent reports government ministers are now looking into broadband for all home amidst concerns over the disadvantages suffered by unconnected homes. Many officials have been expressing concern over the educational and other disadvantages that are being suffered by households where there is no broadband connection, and as a result of these concerns ministers [...]
The big six energy firms in the UK have faced controversy for quite some time, with problems relating to customers service and billing, inaccurate prices, and of course in relation to the huge price hikes enforced, with two rounds of price increases having taken effect over the space of this year. Many households are facing [...]
Over the past year the UK’s energy giants have increased gas and electricity bills twice, leaving many consumers paying a fortune for their energy usage and resulting in an increased level of fuel poverty amongst UK households. Many are concerned that energy companies are very quick to increase energy prices when oil prices and wholesale [...]
Earlier this month the already chaotic financial markets were thrown into even more turmoil with the Icelandic banking collapse. Consumers, businesses, and charities were horrified to learn about the collapse, and many feared that they would lose their money. In some cases it seems that they may have been right to think that. Over the [...]
With all that has happened in the banking industry over the past year it is little wonder that consumers are so nervous about where to put their hard earned money when it comes to savings accounts. This time last year saw Northern Rock go through its crisis, and many people flocked to withdraw billions of [...]
The world of finance has been thrown into complete turmoil over the past year, not just for borrowers and lenders but also for those looking for a safe place to stash their hard earned cash. It seems that until around this time last year we all had a pretty good idea of where we wanted [...]
For many people the subject of child benefit can be quite complicated, and as parents we don’t want to miss out on valuable benefit for our children, especially in the current financial climate. Whilst there is plenty of advice and information available relating to child benefit some consumers may have decided to use a helpline [...]
Over the past year consumers have had a lot of rising costs to cope with, ranging from bills and energy prices through to petrol and food. In fact, inflation on food as been one of the most marked rises that consumers have had to put up with, and many households - especially those that have [...]
Selling your home can be a very long winded, stressful, and expensive affair, and never more so than these days when the bottom has fallen out of the property market and finances are tighter than ever. Those looking to sell their homes at present face a number of hurdles. First is the fact that estate [...]
Over the past couple of years the bank charges applied to accounts by banks have been at the centre of controversy, with some banks charging close to £40 per fee when the customer went over their overdraft limits and for returned direct debits and bounced cheques. Officials from the Office of Fair Trading were concerned [...]
As a nation we Brits love to feel secure and safe with total peace of mind that we have done all we can to protect ourselves and our loved ones from a range of eventualities. This is why the insurance industry has become so huge, with Brits taking out all sorts of insurance policies to [...]
When we think of retirement many of us imagine spending our days soaking up the sunshine in a retirement home in Spain, travelling the world and seeing the sights we never had time to enjoy before, or even spending time with loved ones and enjoying the chance to spend both time and money with family [...]
If you have been one of the millions of people who have received an email from your bank asking you to update your information, then it is quite likely that you have been targeted in one of the many bank phishing scams that have been plaguing the Internet and banks. Con artists who try to [...]
Over the past year or two consumer confidence when it comes to the safety of personal data has seriously waned, and this comes as no surprise given the number of serious personal data breaches that have come to light in the last year alone. Everything ranging from banks throwing customer account details into skips and [...]
There is no doubt that both the housing and the mortgage market have been going through a very turbulent time over the past year. House prices have been falling month on month, and mortgage availability has become increasingly tight. However, amidst all of the chaos that has been going on in these sectors many people [...]
The many different price hikes that have been encountered by consumers in the UK over recent months have had a very damaging effect on household finances, and most families have found it difficult to make ends meet each month due to increasing petrol prices, energy usage costs, borrowing costs, and bills. However, one of the [...]
According to many industry officials savers in the UK need to take action as soon as possible in order to secure a good rate of interest on their savings, as - whilst interest rates on many savings accounts is high at present - many lenders may start cutting savings interest rates as a result of [...]
For most households in the UK money is tight due to the effects of the global credit crunch, higher living costs, soaring inflation, and rocketing bills. However, even when finances are looking a bit sorry for themselves many of us still want to try and find a way to get away from it all by [...]
Many people in the UK have Post Office savings accounts, with many preferring these accounts because they are part of a trusted name. According to recent reports those with Post Office savings accounts will now be able to enjoy greater peace of mind than ever, and this is as a result of changes to the [...]
Over the past year consumers have had a lot of rising costs to cope with, ranging from bills and energy prices through to petrol and food. In fact, inflation on food as been one of the most marked rises that consumers have had to put up with, and many households - especially those that have [...]
As a nation we Brits love to feel secure and safe with total peace of mind that we have done all we can to protect ourselves and our loved ones from a range of eventualities. This is why the insurance industry has become so huge, with Brits taking out all sorts of insurance policies to [...]
Over recent weeks two airlines have spectacularly gone bust, leaving many passengers stranded and many others wondering whether they will ever see the money that they forked out for their holiday again. The global credit crunch and the soaring cost of fuel has left many budget airlines really struggling, and over recent weeks both airline [...]
Most families look forward to their annual break when they can get away from the stresses of everyday life and enjoy some quality time together in a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere. However, many families have found it far more difficult to get away on this much awaited break over the last couple of years, partly [...]
Over recent years consumers that were looking to rent a home in the private sector often found that the properties were being snapped up before they even had a chance to arrange a viewing, leaving them to start from scratch and select another property from the limited choice available. However, with the problems that have [...]
As a nation the British do not really engage in haggling in the same way as consumers in many other countries do. In most cases if there is a price tag on something that we want to buy then we pay it without question, or we wait until the sales are on and hope that [...]
There are indications that many homeowners that are looking to sell their homes are becoming more realistic about the value of their homes, which has been reflected in a stark drop in property asking prices in the London area. Property prices have been falling for some months now, but some of the asking prices on [...]
Following a highly controversial and frank interview given to a national newspaper by the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, with regards to the state of the economy earlier this week, the Justice Secretary Jack Straw has now spoken out to BBC reporters about his take on the situation. In relation to the interview that Darling gave, Mr [...]
After several months where the interest rate has been left on hold at 5% by the Monetary Policy Committee and the Bank of England, the British Chambers of Commerce is now calling for action, stating that the base rate has to be cut in order to ensure that the economy does not grind to a [...]
With the global credit crunch still underway and soaring household bills and living costs impacting on consumers’ budgets it is little surprise that many people have decided that they either cannot afford to take a holiday at all or that they can only afford to take a break somewhere local within the UK rather than [...]
The financial headlines has recently been filled with news about the soaring rate of inflation, and this comes as no surprise given that the rate of inflation has soared to its highest level since records began in 1997. For some months now the rate of inflation has been steadily rising, and it has been soaring [...]
For many months now both consumers and industries have been concerned about the slowdown that has hit the UK’s economy. With the nation hitting a period of stagflation, which is a toxic combination of stagnant economic growth and soaring inflation levels, it seems that the nation has been thrown into chaos. Even the Monetary Policy [...]
As most people are aware the sale of properties in the UK has really fallen over recent months, and estate agents have reported amongst their poorest sales figures of properties for decades. A recent report has shown that property sales have now fallen by 40%. In the last three months estate agents have average around [...]
Most of us look forward to a comfortable retirement when we eventually reach out golden years, and we all want to be able to spend time travelling and seeing the world, spend quality time with loved ones, and do the things that you simply cannot do when you have work related commitments. However, many of [...]
We all want to do our best to protect our own health and that of our loved ones, but for many people in the UK the National Health Service leaves a lot to be desired. The NHS has come under fire for many things over recent years, from the length of its waiting lists and [...]
There is little doubt that the housing market is going through some real challenges in the UK at the moment. Homes are losing value hand over fist, with prices going down on a monthly basis, and mortgage lending has become extremely restricted, which means that refinancing on a home or getting a mortgage to purchase [...]
In a very stark and frank interview with a national newspaper Alistair Darling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has stated that the UK is facing its worst economic crisis in six decades. The chancellor insisted that he had to be straight with the public because it was his duty to do so, and he warned [...]
Following the five interest rate rises that took place between August 2006 and July 2007 the whole country seemed to breathe a sigh if relief when in December of last year the base rate was cut for the first time in two years. Another base rate cut quickly followed in February, and a further one [...]
Ask any driver and they will most likely tell you that the cost of keeping their vehicle on the road is extortionate. The cost of petrol is a major contributory factor, with petrol prices having rocketed by an incredible amount over recent months. The cost of insuring a vehicle has also gone up considerably, and [...]
Inflation levels in the UK have been at the centre of concern for the Bank of England and other government sectors for some months now, having rocketed to way over the government’s target earlier this year, and showing signs that the rise is set to continue. The government target for CPI inflation is 2%, but [...]
Most consumers are now feeling the pinch to put it mildly with household budgets stretched to their limits due to rising living costs, soaring petrol prices, increased food costs, and high borrowing costs. Yet, according to a recent report one Labour MP has branded the British public as being miserable and has said that consumers [...]
Over recent months many consumers may have been thinking about trying to put a little money aside wherever and whenever possible in case of emergencies, especially given the ongoing tight credit conditions that are making it difficult for many to get finance when they need it. However, with the high cost of living and hikes [...]
Inflation levels over recent months have been soaring, and in July inflation hit the highest levels since records began in 1997. coming in at 4.4%. In fact, inflation has been soaring for quite some months, and has been way over the government target of 2%. The latest rise in inflation has resulted in the rate [...]
Over recent months many people with mortgages have decided to remortgage for one reason or another. Some have come off special deals that were valid for a limited time and have been forced to remortgage or risk the expensive of being pushed onto the lender’s standard variable rate, and others have decided to remortgage because [...]
As young drivers enter into their twenties they may become eligible for better insurance rates. However, many drivers who were once on the same policy as their parents stick with the same insurance company when it comes time to carry their own policy. This is unfortunate since there is a very good possibility that another [...]
People in the UK have become far more savvy about finances over the years, and when it comes to mortgages many people have realized that there are some great deals out there that could save them a fortune in interest as well as reducing their monthly repayments. However, for many consumers simple apathy or misguided [...]
Consumers in the UK can enjoy a wide range of insurance options to provide them with protection against a range of issues and eventualities, and with some really good deals on offer from a wide range of insurance providers it is possible to enjoy protection and peace of mind without having to break the bank [...]
Even as a student it is important to have certain banking facilities and services that enable you to manage your money and your debts effectively, and many banks in the UK now offer specialist bank accounts designed to meet the need to students. This is good news for students, as it means that not only [...]
There are so many different types of credit cards in circulation in the UK these days it can be difficult to determine which one might best suit your needs and circumstances. However, for some people getting value for money on credit cards means chopping and changing cards regularly to make sure that they are always [...]
If you run or own a small business you will probably know how difficult things can become when cash flow problems arise, and this can make it difficult to make purchases for your business as well as carry out other basic transactions. You will also know how messy and troublesome dealing with petty cash can [...]