Families
How one family followed their dreams and got out of the city
Filed under: Property, House and Home, Families
Many city-based families dream of quitting the rat race for the wide open spaces, better schools and slower pace of life found in the British countryside.
But while you may be able to get more home for your money further afield, some aspects of life outside the city – such as commuting costs - may prove more expensive. We spoke to one family who followed their rural dreams to find out what impact moving has had on their finances.
How to avoid holiday disaster
Filed under: Travel, Insurance, Families
It's supposed to be an opportunity for you to relax and enjoy a break from the stresses and strains of daily life, but if things go wrong, a holiday can very quickly turn into a nightmare. Anyone travelling with Goldtrail Holiday will be all too aware of this by now, as the tour operator went into administration last week, leaving thousands stranded abroad. And, with rumours of more strikes - 6,000 BAA airport staff are threatening one in August - the peak holiday season is set to be a bumpy ride for Brits.So, is there anything you can do to prevent holiday disaster?
How to deal with neighbours from hell
Filed under: House and Home, Families
So you've found your dream home, unpacked your belongings and are just about to celebrate with a glass of something cold – and then the pounding rock music starts...
Wherever you live, and however perfect your house or flat, nightmare neighbours can spoil it all. The best thing is therefore to check out your neighbours before moving, but that is not always possible and they might arrive after you so we've come up with some top tips on how to cope.
Last minute holiday prices slashed
Filed under: Travel, Freebies and Bargains, Families
If you haven't booked your holiday yet, this news will be music to your ears. With the travel industry having a tough time of things this year, last-minute getaways (including those in the school holidays) are cheaper than ever. A survey by Co-Operative Travel found the huge price cuts, which make last-minute deals up to a third cheaper compared with last year.
Britains biggest divorce settlement - are divorces really fair?
Filed under: Families
What is thought to be Britain's biggest divorce settlement ever was over in a flash in the courts. Boris Berezovsky (pictured) and his wife Galina were granted a quickie divorce after 18 years of marriage, and the rumours have been abounding about just how massive the settlement is. Estimates put it at around £100 million, which would make it Britain's biggest ever.At first glance, it's a drop in the ocean for a Russian oligarch once thought to be worth £1 billion. But on close inspection is it really fair?
Staying single costs you £4,800 a year or £250,000 a lifetime
Filed under: House and Home, Families
Being young, free and single may have its advantages, but saving money is not one of them, according to new research published today by comparison website Uswitch.Its findings indicate that – over the course of a lifetime – someone living on their own ends up paying out more than £250,000 more than their coupled-up counterparts on essential day-to-day living costs.
Britons to miss out on £3.9 billion in tax credits
Filed under: Taxes, Families, Budgeting & Planning
Millions of people will either forget to claim their child tax or pension credits this year, or simply won't bother – which means they're losing out on a massive £3.9 billion.Nearly one out of every 10 of entitled families will probably fail to claim their child tax credits this year, resulting in £1.5 billion unclaimed. And as much as £2.4 billion of pension credits will also go unclaimed. Those entitled need to get their skates on and claim all available tax credits ahead of the 31 July deadline.
Why having more women breadwinners is a worrying trend
Filed under: Work & Careers, Families
A woman's place is in the middle of a huge social shift - apparently. A survey by Gracia magazine has found that it's not just Beyonce pulling her weight in the household finances (in 2009 she out-earned Jay-Z), almost a third of women are now out-earning their other half, while one in five are making the same, and one in ten has a house-husband.So how has this change happened, and what does it mean - for men and women?
BBC licence fee could be slashed
Filed under: Entertainment, Families
The cost of your TV licence could fal,l as the BBC cuts back on spending. It's all part and parcel of that great austerity drive the government and our cash-strapped times are foisting up on us. Damn that sharp reduction in economic output lasting for two or more consecutive quarters.According to our esteemed and instantly recognisable Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, the national broadcaster has been responsible for "extraordinary and outrageous" waste.
The outlandish cost of childcare will breed a nation of selfish only children
Filed under: Families, Budgeting & Planning
Anyone who has had kids knows the sheer horror you experience when you discover just how much childcare costs. You do the maths and work out that after the cost of childcare, travel, lunch and paying tax, you make a ludicrously small sum of money. For many people, there's just no chance to even consider a second child. For others having a second child means one of the couple is going to have to give up work. But this is costly whichever route you decide to take.
