Use our UK Finance guide and learn by experience. We outline pitfalls so that you don't have to learn the hard way, as many of us often do.
Latest Blog Entries
100% Mortgages
100% mortgages can help you buy a home without a deposit
Many first or second-time buyers who can easily afford mortgage repayments are unable to scrape together the money for a deposit. However, if you're in this tricky position, you could still buy with a 100% mortgage. This type of mortgage is now widely available. Some lenders cover the price of the property in its entirety plus a bit more to cover fees, stamp duty, moving costs and so on, all of which can be added onto the loan repayments.
Credit card charges abroad
Using a credit card abroad can be quite costly once you take into account the hidden charges being incorporated into your transactions.
That great deal on a trip to South Africa or New York could actually be costing you much more than you budgeted for.
Premium Bonds
National savings and investments (NS&I) has recently added a second £1 million prize to its monthly draw.
Buy to let property checklist
Buying an investment property is very different to buying a home for yourself. There are several things to consider before becoming a successful landlord. In this entry I will aim to cover the most important things to look at and consider when buying a buy to let property and getting a buy to let mortgage.
A rough guide to Remortgaging
With interest rates still at a 50 year low, more an more borrowers are considering switching their mortgage deals. If you are one of them and are wondering what you should do next, I have complied a quick guide to get you started.
Oil Closing In On the $65 per Barrel Mark
The US closes its embassy and two consulates in Saudi Arabia, one day before Britain and Australia rumours increased terrorist threat in the country.
Self Invested Personal Pension Plan (SIPP)
From April 6, 2006, investors will be able to acquire buy-to-lets with their pension funds. After that date property bought via a Self Invested Personal Pension Plan (SIPP) will not attract capital gains tax when it is sold, and income from rent will be tax-free.
A Self Invested Personal Pension allows you to make your own investment decisions about your pension fund. You can pay regular contributions to a SIPP or you can pay single contributions.
Common Financial Mistakes
In this material world of buy first worry about it later we find ourselves in a sea of debt and mismanaged funds. Our depletion of disposable income and household savings are becoming a cause of concern. While economists tout the virtues of consumer spending for keeping economies afloat, on a more personal level, rising levels of debt are cause for concern.
There are a few common mistakes we make in achieving this financial hardship and I aim to pint a few out in this article, outlying a few key facts we tent to overlook while we go about our daily spend.
Remortgage five-point plan
Looking at a remortgage but still unsure about how to make sure remortgaging is right for you? Our five-point plan can help you to make up your mind. Taking a remortgage on your existing property is fast becoming the norm.
Studying isn't cheap. Looking at a Student Loan
From day one you will be hit with varsity fees, the insane cost of textbooks and a campus full of hotties with potential to suck your bank account. Dry before the first date has even begun. If your parents are tired of you leaching off them, you also have to factor in rent (food, laundry and electricity). As a student, you go out more than ever. You spend money on beer and cigarettes and gum and takeaways and condoms and airtime and redbull and noodles and other random shite than at any other time in your life. A student loan can help you pay for all these expenses. But it's really important to make sure that you know the ins and outs, before you sign on the dotted line.
10 simple money tips
Taking care of your finances / money is a daunting task and it can easily get out of hand if not taken care of properly. I have composed a simple list that will help to put you on the right track to managing your money better. Weather its banking, insurance, retirement, or investing the list will help to give you a clearer picture on how to manage your money better.
Worldwide 2005 Cost of Living Survey
Mercer's survey covers 144 cities across six continents and measures the comparative cost of over 200 items in each location, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment. It is the world's most comprehensive cost of living survey and is used to help multinational companies and governments determine compensation allowances for their expatriate employees.
