Jo Robinson
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Improve your credit score in five easy steps
Filed under: Credit Cards, Loans
If you are having trouble being approved for credit cards and other financial products, it's almost certainly because you have a poor credit score. Happily, however, there are plenty of easy ways to improve your chances of being accepted for credit cards, loans and mortgages. So we've come up with five top tips for upping your credit score.
Social lending - better for borrowers and savers
The concept of social lending is not especially new, yet it's not something many of us know much about. So if you've lost faith in the banks and their underhand ways then you need to sit up and pay attention. Online 'financial exchanges' like Zopa and Yes-Secure offer a real alternative for both borrowers and savers. What's more the rates of interest on these sites are consistently better than those offered by the banks.
Beat the autumn blues with five fantastic end-of-summer bargains
Filed under: Freebies and Bargains
Depressing, isn't it? But don't despair! We've found five amazing bargains and freebies that will help you to forget all about that and put a summery smile back on your face.
Student loan rates jump to 4.4% - should you pay back now or not?
Filed under: Loans
For those who took out a loan after 1998, the interest rate is now 1.5%. And if you still have a loan taken out before 1998, your interest rate is now 4.4%. So should you be pulling out all the stops to pay your student loan back now?
Finally...some good news for savers
Filed under: Saving
The headlines have been full of depressing reports about banks and the miserably low interest rates they are offering savers since the credit crunch sent the Bank of England base rate tumbling to 0.5%. Now, however, it does seem that things are finally starting to look a little brighter for savers. The last week has seen the launch of a few new accounts that really are offering some half decent rates of return.
Cash in on car boot sales like actor John Barrowman
Filed under: Freebies and Bargains, Weird and Wonderful
New research from poverty charity Elizabeth Finn Care has revealed that more of us raise extra cash at car boot sales than by working longer hours. In fact, 13% of people head to car boots to make money from their unwanted items, compared to just 9% who opt to work late to supplement their income. And even celebrities such as John Barrowman is getting in on the act. You can see pictures of his garage sale here.
Beat the Bank Holiday blues with breakdown cover
Filed under: Insurance
The last thing you want at the start of your Bank Holiday break is to find yourself stranded on the hard shoulder of the motorway with a car full of kids, miles from your destination.
But if you do breakdown without insurance, you'll end up with a hefty bill and a lot of inconvenience. So make sure you get some decent cover that will get you back on the road in no time should the worst happen.
But if you do breakdown without insurance, you'll end up with a hefty bill and a lot of inconvenience. So make sure you get some decent cover that will get you back on the road in no time should the worst happen.
Can British Gas solar panels save you £1,000 a year?
Filed under: Saving, House and Home
Most of us would like to use renewable energy to power our homes, but are put off by its reputation for being expensive and inconvenient.
Now, however, British Gas has become the latest in a bunch of companies to take advantage of a new government scheme that allows you to install solar panels on the roof of your home. And the company claims it could save you as much as £1,000 a year.
Now, however, British Gas has become the latest in a bunch of companies to take advantage of a new government scheme that allows you to install solar panels on the roof of your home. And the company claims it could save you as much as £1,000 a year.
How to pay off your holiday debt
Filed under: Credit Cards, Travel, Budgeting & Planning
It's well-known that cash strapped Brits would give up almost anything else but their summer holiday in the recession. As a result, according to insolvency trade body R3, 2 million of us are in debt after borrowing to afford that getaway. R3 also estimate that it will take us on average seven months to pay it back.Now the holiday season is drawing to a close, if you've started to feel the backlash as the credit card bills drop on your doormat, here are five things you can do to pay off that holiday debt quickly.
Food prices soar: save at the supermarket
Filed under: Food and Drink
Figures from the Office of National Statistics revealed a record jump in food prices - a rise of one percent in the August. Fruit prices are up 10 percent on last year, while fish is up 7.8 percent and vegetables are up 4.7 percent. Unfortunately prices are set to continue rising because of the soaring food commodity prices and poor harvests around the world. There are still ways to save at the supermarket though.
