With the amount of retail packaging waste exceeding the 10million tonne mark each year, landfill sites are now overflowing as a result of unnecessary excess and non-biodegradable packaging. The most infamous culprit of late is the excessive packaging u...

An early form of life insurance can be traced back to Roman times when, because of the high costs of funerals, clubs were formed, known as ‘burial clubs’. The guarantee of such an organisation for its members was that for a regular contribution they k...

Buying a house is probably the biggest investment you are ever likely to make, it is a huge moment in your life and you are unlikely to invest quite as much thought and effort into something again. As a general rule, mortgage companies allow you to bor...

In one of the ironies of the Internet age, instead of reducing companies’ dependence on people, modern technology has validated the irreplaceable need for human talent. More than ever before, experts say, an organisation’s real value resides in the wi...

It is never too early - or late - in life to set up a savings account. Everybody likes the security of knowing they have a little something put aside should they need it. It can be that rainy day money, the emergency fund or just that little bit of cash...

Deciding it’s time to buy a new home is a huge undertaking. Not only do you have to consider where you want to live and the type of property you want to purchase, but you also have to contend with the thousands of mortgages on offer, as well as unfamili...

It’s probably fair to say that nobody really knows what tomorrow may bring, and many people probably prefer not to think too much about the future, choosing to live as much for today as possible. Whilst this attitude may be commendable in many respec...

Ten years ago equity release was an afterthought and for those already retired, with 70 being the average age of a typical customer. The main reasons for this was that the majority retiring at this time would be 65, have reasonable final salary pensions ...

Recent research from the British Bankers Association revealed that mortgage approvals hit their lowest level since their records began in 1997, with less than 28,000 mortgages for homebuyers approved in May 2008 - a figure nearly 60 per cent lower than th...

Up until 2007, 100% mortgages were commonplace; in fact, 110% and 120% mortgages were also available, but since the credit crisis struck lenders have become a lot more strict with their lending conditions, with 75% LTVs (loans to value) becoming more and ...

The number of people being forced to take out high interest, short-term loans has risen by more than 130 per cent since August 2007; a figure which analysts say is evidence that the effects of the global credit crunch are showing no signs of easing. Sh...

Amidst today's economic uncertainty, many people have had to start looking at ways of making the most of their money. But before doing anything, finding a way to make sure that these finances are well managed and looked after is a must; perhaps through a ...

When making a substantial investment - perhaps a house or a car - the majority of people need to take out a mortgage or a loan to help cover costs. This may be a cause of worry; after all what happens if your income changes? Will you be able to keep up th...

Spending can be too attractive for many of today’s earners. After waiting for those agonising few days prior to pay-day, desperate for a new pair of shoes, a big night out or a new TV, it can be hugely tempting to splash out – however counter-producti...

The potential fall-out from the credit crisis has prompted many UK savers to increase their personal savings balances and also to reduce the amount that they withdraw in order to protect themselves from any unexpected adverse changes in their financial ci...