Politicians of all persuasions clearly believe that saving for our old age is a good idea and are particularly keen on encouraging us to save via pensions. While the cynical might suggest that the main reason politicians are so keen on saving for retirement via a pension is because pension funds are locked away until […]
News and Articles
How to be the (practically) perfect mortgage candidate
When it comes to getting a loan of any description, the key to success is to convince the lender that the risk of lending you their cash is justified by the reward they can reasonably expect to receive in the form of interest payments. Although mortgages are secured loans, meaning that they are backed by […]
Illness can strike anyone, so it helps to be prepared for it
Illness can strike anyone at any time and, depending on how you earn your living and what kind of lifestyle you lead, it doesn’t even have to be particularly serious to be a drag on your finances. As always, being prepared can help to cushion the impact. Short illnesses (e.g. colds) Colds and mild bugs […]
Are you your Family’s Superhero?
At time of writing, the U.S. federal government was still locked in the longest (partial) shutdown in the country’s history, and most federal employees would not get paid until it is resolved (members of the House of Congress are an exception), nor are they necessarily guaranteed backpay for the time during which they are furloughed. A lesson […]
Understanding Interest Rates
Interest rates can genuinely be very interesting and it can certainly pay to understand what they are and how they work. With that in mind, here is a brief guide to what interest rates mean in practice. Interest rates are a tool to control inflation The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England has […]
Saving For Junior
Sending a child to school for the first time is a significant milestone in many ways and, if truth be told, one of those ways is financial. Even though childcare costs may still be an issue, especially in the school holidays, the fact still remains that school provides a place to keep children safe while […]