Analysis Topic: Personal Finance
The analysis published under this topic are as follows.
Monday, October 12, 2015
UK State Pension Top Up, Is It Worth It? / Personal_Finance / Pensions & Retirement
By: Nadeem_Walayat
As of today Britain's pensioners are being offered a chance to top up their state pensions under what is known as Class 3A Voluntary Contributions .
The top up is open to all current pensioners and those about to retire by April 2016
The maximum increase in weekly pensions is £25 per week or £1300 a year on top of the current state pension of £115 per week / £5980 per year.
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Monday, October 12, 2015
Rise in Low Interest Rate Credit Card Deals, But Beware of Cash Charges / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
The latest research from Moneyfacts.co.uk shows that the number of low rate credit cards (cards charging less than 12%) has grown by a third in the past two years, rising from just 12 cards in 2013 to 16 today. The lowest purchase card now on offer charges just 6.4% APR for standard purchases and is the lowest rate card on the market since 2006, when a 5.9% APR card was available*.
These cards can be a cost-effective choice for those borrowers who are unsure about being able to clear their balance within the timeframe set by a card with an interest-free introductory purchase or balance transfer offer.
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Thursday, October 08, 2015
Tesco Bank’s new 3.89% two-year Fixed Interest Rate Mortgage / Personal_Finance / Mortgages
By: MoneyFacts
Below is a new product, which has been rated ‘outstanding’ by Moneyfacts.co.uk, the highest rating we award.
Tesco Bank has just launched a new two-year fixed rate mortgage priced at 3.89% until 31.1.18. This deal is for all applicants who borrow from £40,000 at 95% loan-to-value (LTV). A fee of £495 is payable, of which £300 can added to the advance of the mortgage. An incentive package for remortgage customers of free valuation and free legal fees is also offered.
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Tuesday, October 06, 2015
M&S Bank Outstanding Personal Loan Interest Rate Cut - Best Buy / Personal_Finance / Debt & Loans
By: MoneyFacts
&S Bank has emerged as the current winner in the personal loan rate war thanks to a rate reduction on its Unsecured Personal Loan, which is now priced at 3.5% APR for a loan of £7,500 to £15,000 over a term of one to five years.
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Tuesday, October 06, 2015
UK Current Account Bank Fees on the Rise / Personal_Finance / Current Accounts
By: MoneyFacts
Recent research by Moneyfacts.co.uk shows that there has been a rise in the cost of some high street current accounts over the past two years, with account fees and overdraft usage fees creeping up.
This upward trajectory is likely to continue into next year, as another high street bank is already making plans to more than double its account fee in early 2016, without offering any extra benefits.
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Monday, October 05, 2015
Nightshades Curb Your Enthusiasm / Personal_Finance / Health and Fitness
By: Submissions
John Roth writes: [Disclaimer: The following is not a medical article]
I am a male over 60 and have [or had] a serious health problem that I tried to ignore for the last three years. I tried every holistic treatment, supplement, vitamin and herb under the sun. During that period my gastrointestinal tract quit working three times. I had a lot of trouble breathing and although I had the urge nothing would come out of my body. You get the picture.
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Monday, October 05, 2015
No Interest in Easy Access Cash ISAs / Personal_Finance / ISA's
By: MoneyFacts
As the Government attempts to regenerate ISAs, the expectation for them to pay decent returns has grown. However, Moneyfacts.co.uk can reveal that not only does the ISA market remain under a gloomy cloud, but the average rate of an easy access ISA has now hit its lowest rate on record.
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Monday, September 28, 2015
UK Loan Rate War Consolidate Borrowings and Save £££'s / Personal_Finance / Debt & Loans
By: MoneyFacts
With an estimated 6.5 million* people relying on credit to keep up with essential outgoings, it’s clear to see why taking time to consolidate debts into a single, more affordable monthly payment could make a huge difference to people’s finances.
According to the latest research by Moneyfacts.co.uk, the ongoing cuts to unsecured personal loan pricing also means that customers who switch or take out a new loan today can save hundreds of pounds over the fixed term of their agreement. On average, well-known banks now offer loans that are £396 a year cheaper in interest payments for a £7,500 loan over a five-year period compared with 2013, while loans from challenger brands are £222 cheaper for the same loan agreement.
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Friday, September 25, 2015
How to Force Your Boss to Give You a Pay Rise / Personal_Finance / Wages
By: DailyWealth
Mark Ford writes:
Over the years, I've had the awkward duty of declining raises to dozens of employees.
Most of them simply sulked and disappeared. But a few of them took the experience as a wake-up call and fought back.
They didn't see themselves as losers, and they weren't going to let me view them that way, either.
If you get turned down for a raise, arguing with your boss won't do you any good.
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Monday, September 21, 2015
Income Options for Seniors Running Out of Money / Personal_Finance / Pensions & Retirement
By: Investment_U
Marc Lichtenfeld writes:Many people remember fondly when their parents gave them allowances for doing chores around the house or maybe a few bucks for their birthdays.
However, with over half of today’s seniors unable to pay for their basic needs, more and more adult children are taking care of their parents’ finances.
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Monday, September 14, 2015
How You Can Win the Government's War on Cash / Personal_Finance / Savings Accounts
By: ...
MoneyMorning.com Peter Krauth writes: Most point to the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers as the main trigger of the 2008 financial crisis.
Perhaps equally as important, but certainly not as well-covered, is what happened the following day…
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Monday, September 14, 2015
UK Average Retirement Incomes 7.9% Lower than a Year Ago / Personal_Finance / Pensions & Retirement
By: MoneyFacts
New research by Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts has revealed that today’s retirees, who choose to take an income via an annuity, are set to receive annual retirement incomes that are 7.9% lower than those received by retirees last year. It also warns that current pension contribution levels are insufficient to bring retirement incomes back to the levels enjoyed by retirees 15 years ago.
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Thursday, September 10, 2015
Virgin Money’s Record Beating 37-month 0% balance Transfer Credit Card / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring
By: MoneyFacts
Virgin Money has improved the terms of its Balance Transfer Credit Card MasterCard, increasing the 0% balance transfer term from 36 months to 37, the longest currently available. The card has therefore been awarded the highest Moneyfacts product rating of ‘outstanding’.
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Tuesday, September 08, 2015
UK Best Current Accounts - The End of ‘Free’ Banking? / Personal_Finance / UK Banking
By: MoneyFacts
This month marks the two-year anniversary of the Current Account Switch Guarantee, and while many consumers have already taken advantage and switched providers, greater momentum could be caused by incoming changes to the retail banking market.
Last month the CMA reported that of the 17% of customers who start looking to switch their current account, a staggering 86% don’t go on to switch. It is also estimated that the annual rate of switching stands at just 3%, and worryingly, 25% of switchers move their account without researching the market first.* Meanwhile, frequent overdraft users were found to be the least likely group of consumers to move, due to the hurdles of securing an overdraft facility with their new bank and the complexities of comparing account charges (something that is increasing in importance as average authorised overdraft usage fees have crept up from £4.59 to £6.74 in just two years).
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Wednesday, September 02, 2015
How to Make Sure the Government Can’t Freeze Your Bank Account / Personal_Finance / Current Accounts
By: Casey_Research
By Justin Spittler
If you wake up tomorrow and your bank account is frozen… what will you do?
You probably remember when the financial crisis in Greece was dominating headlines a few weeks ago.
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Wednesday, September 02, 2015
Parents Send Your Finances Back to School / Personal_Finance / Current Accounts
By: MoneyFacts
As parents breathe a sigh of relief as the kids go back to school, now is the perfect time to take stock of your finances and teach yourself a few things about personal finance.
Charlotte Nelson, Finance Expert at Moneyfacts.co.uk, said:
“A well-deserved sit-down to sift through your income and expenditure will highlight any areas you need to tackle. Fixing your finances sooner rather than later will lift a massive weight off your shoulders and make things far more manageable.”
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Saturday, August 29, 2015
Don't Let 'The Glidepath Illusion' Ruin Your Retirement / Personal_Finance / Pensions & Retirement
By: DailyWealth
Dan Ferris writes: The traditional notion of retirement says you should take bigger risks in the stock market when you're young.
You have more time to make up for losses than when you're older. As you age, you should take less and less risk, so you won't lose your retirement money... so the conventional wisdom goes.
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Thursday, August 27, 2015
The Ultimate Cash-Management Guide / Personal_Finance / Savings Accounts
By: DailyWealth
Dr. David Eifrig writes: No one talks about how to manage your cash.
Thursday, August 27, 2015
It’s Hard to Be Broke and Happy at the Same Time / Personal_Finance / Pensions & Retirement
By: Investment_U
Alexander Green writes: Editorial Note: There's no ignoring what's happening in the markets today. Global fears have sent U.S. stocks into a free fall. Of course, we're not going to pretend it's the best of times. But, as Alex has advised in the past, now is not the time to try and time the markets. In his words, "Nobody rings a bell at the top of the market. So the amateur lurches about and suddenly gets out... then finds that stocks keep going up without him." As we write, the Dow is already up 338 points from this morning's low. So keep that in mind as your fellow investors run screaming into the streets.
A new report from Bankrate.com reveals that more Americans than ever are saving nothing for retirement.
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Thursday, August 27, 2015
Why Are "Bank Holidays" Always Announced on Sunday? / Personal_Finance / Credit Crisis 2015
By: MoneyMetals
David Smith writes: On Sunday, June 29, the Associated Press ran the following headline: "Greek Banks will not open Monday."
After a lengthy cabinet session, it was decided that Greek banks would remain closed for 6 working days, along with restrictions on cash withdrawals. In addition, financial sector officials confirmed the Athens Stock Exchange would not open the following week.
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