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
Student Credit Cards
Are you responsible enough to manage your own finances? And more specifically, are you ready to manage a credit facility? These are questions you need to ask yourself, and answer honestly, before you even start looking at the various student credit card deals available to you.
Refinance Your Car Loan
Are you unhappy with the interest rate or monthly repayment amount in respect of your current auto loan? To refinance your car loan can be a quick and painless procedure and, if you do your homework, you can literally save thousands over the long term.
Phone Insurance
Probably the most underutilised of all insurance products in the U.K. is phone insurance, and considering the cost involved in replacing a handset when no mobile phone insurance UK policy is held, this is a worrying fact. Less than 30% of handsets are covered by phone insurance and whilst most people think that their householders insurance policy will cover them in the event of damage to or loss of their mobile phone, there is only a 20% chance of this being so.
Designing a Budget, make you money work for you
Having a budget is the best way to control you money. All to often so many people find themselves wondering where all their money has disappeared to. Have a look at these steps and put them to good use in forming a budget.
Debt Consolidation Loans
In a sentence, debt consolidation is the ability to borrow money to pay off all your debts. This leaves you with one easy monthly payment which will be lower than you normally pay and at a lower interest rate too.
Debt Consolidation UK
With the high cost of living in the UK, debt in the UK is soaring and growing exponentially. Fortunately thought, many are finding and using the benefits of a debt consolidation loan to overcome their huge credit card debts.
Debt consolidation, Consider the Facts
Debt consolidation is the fastest growing means of overcoming credit card debt. The biggest factor contributing to people falling into credit card debt is having more than one card and thereby, more than one debt and bill to pay. Having to make several payments each month makes it seem as if you're never making headway and progressing in getting rid of that debt. but never fear, there are a number of means of overcoming multiple credit cards debt.
Credit Card Promotions, what to look out for
Credit card companies thrive upon the generally uneducated public. When it comes to clauses and exceptions on credit card contracts, so many people are caught proverbially with their pants down when they receive their credit card bills and are shocked to see the unexpected amount.
0% interest credit card offers
With so many credit card companies existing nowadays, its hard to know which one is truly, 'the best credit card'. How can you choose the best credit card; the one that will suit your needs and preferences best?
Debt Consolidation Loan
Do you feel like your drowning sometimes in your debt? Are you struggling to make ends meet whilst paying an endless list of bills? Are you concerned that you'll lose your home or your car?
Budgeting for Prosperity (Part 2)
Regardless of whether you're trying to manage your own personal expenses, or those of a large corporate business, without a budget, it's impossible to properly manage your finances. A proper financial plan and well put together budget are vital for your financial and emotional well being.
Budgeting for Prosperity (Part 1)
Regardless of whether you're trying to manage your own personal expenses, or those of a large corporate business, without a budget, it's impossible to properly manage your finances. A proper financial plan and well put together budget are vital for your financial and emotional well being.
Budget for a happy holiday
Everything's chosen and picked out and ready: you know where you're going and every step of your holiday trip has been planned. You're looking forward to a sunny holiday, working on your tan and cocktails in the breeze.
Credit Card Transfers - Be Careful Who You Trust
The majority of bank account holders nowadays have a line of credit linked to their account. The convenience of having a credit card has led countless thousands to use their credit cards for purchases rather than cash. However this influx of credit card users has led to a proportionate growth in credit card fraud. Fraudsters have ingenious ways to collect your credit card information and before you know it, your account is maxed out.
Unsecured Bad Credit Debt Consolidation
Is it possible to find an unsecured bad credit debt consolidation loan? The answer is yes. But it's not all roses. Lenders aren't prepared to loan high amounts when it comes to unsecured loans ordinarily, and if you have an adverse credit record, they won't be too keen to deal with you at all.
Bad Credit debt consolidation - Use to Your Advantage
Debt consolidation is an excellent way of reducing your monthly payments and enabling yourself to finally become debt free, but with a poor credit history, not all companies will be prepared to do business with you. There are however a lot that will offer you a bad credit debt consolidation loan.
Are You Ready for a Home Mortgage Loan
So you're considering buying a home for the first time. The mortgage brokers are talking about figures of money that you've never had to deal with before and trying to get you to sign huge documents… feeling a bit overwhelmed?
Money Market Account
When you decide to start making investments for the future and saving your money, which is hopefully sooner than later, its best to open a specialized account for this purpose. Although its called a 'savings account', for the purpose of saving your money as an investment, you'd be better off using a money market account.
Bad Credit Debt Consolidation
So you're really struggling to make your monthly repayments required for your various credit cards. We all know that making your rental and car payments take higher priority than your card bills. Unfortunately though, your credit card companies don't view things the same way, and since you've missed a couple payments of late, your APRs have skyrocketed to around 25%! Now all of a sudden you seriously cannot afford to meet your repayments on your cards, what with late payment penalties and your increased interest rates. Luckily for you, a UK debt consolidation loan for bad credit is an option.
Adverse Credit Loans
Have you been refused a loan because of a poor credit rating? This is a situation that more and more people are finding themselves in nowadays, and whilst in the past it may have been near impossible to access financing in such a predicament, there are now a lot of companies who provide adverse credit loans. UK adverse credit loan companies now realise that having a poor credit history does not necessarily mean that you are as high a non-payment risk as would previously have been assumed.
Avoiding Possible Online Scams
In this day and age, there is probably an internet scam for every person using the net. From free gadgets to free gambling…all free if you sign up for a special. Some of these scams are very trivial and don't have much appeal to the average Joe. However there are other scams which are much more thought out and fall into fully fledged financial fraud.
Money Management Advice
Proper money management is the backbone of every successful company. If you're turning over a thousand a day, but spending a thousand and one, you're heading for disaster. Here are some tips to make sure that when you're dealing with your day to day banking or your investments for the future, your money is being handled properly.
4 easy ways to get free marketing exposure
So your company is just starting out, your capital has run out and you're still looking to do some marketing and get some exposure for your company... is it possible?
Cash back Credit Cards
Are you one of those people who controls their finances with the utmost of discipline? Are you always able to settle your credit card account in full each month? If so, how do you choose which credit card is best for you. You can't exactly compare interest rates because, by repaying the full amount each month you're never attracting any interest charges anyway. Enter the cash back credit card.
Car Finance
Car Finance advice to help you get the best auto loan deal possible. Car finance (auto loans) is the easiest and most affordable way of buying a car whether you're in the market for a new or pre-owned vehicle. If you're looking to buy a car, you will more than likely need car finance to do so, and with so many finance options available to you, you need to know which type of auto loan will best suit your specific needs. As with all loan options, you will need a finance company to grant you credit in order to secure a loan and will have to repay them in the form of monthly installments.
Balance Transfer Credit Cards
Nobody likes paying debts, least of all paying interest on their debts. Unfortunately what you buy, you must pay for. However, by employing the services of a balance transfer credit card, you should be able to get around the problem of paying finance charges on your outstanding amount every month, even if only for a limited period of time.
Homeowner Loans
Having ownership in a property can allow you access to one of the most affordable methods of personal financing - homeowner loans. By utilising this type of facility, you can borrow fairly large amounts of money which you might have difficulty doing, should you not have ownership in a fixed property.
Capital Gains Tax - Periods of Absence
A main residence can in some cases continue to be exempt from capital gains tax even when it ceases to be a main residence, so long as no other main residence is held. This can happen during: Periods of absence not longer than three years ; Periods of absence where the owner worked overseas; Periods of absence not exceeding four years where the owner was forced for job-related reasons to find other accommodation.
Capital Gains Tax Exemption - Calculating the Extent
If a property has been a main residence as well as having been, at some time a secondary residence, or rented out from time to time, and a gain is made on the disposal of the property, then the property will be said to have been exempt for a period of the ownership and the capital gains tax applicable to the profit made will have to be allocated accordingly. Also, for the last three years of ownership (36 months), the property is treated by the real estate capital gains tax laws as if it were a main residence, even though it may not have been. So, for a property owned for eight years, lived in for three and let out for five, capital gains tax would only be applicable to two years of ownership. 3yrs occupancy + 3yrs exemption(36mnths) = 6yrs. 8yrs ownership - 6yrs = 2yrs. i.e. The capital gain made on the disposal of the property would be multiplied by 2/8 to arrive at a final figure.
Capital Gains Tax Relief
Because of the need to take the cost of inflation into account, the Indexation system was used in the past. Basically this system, which was introduced in March 1982, allowed the cost of your assets or investments to be increased on a yearly basis in line with the retail price index, thereby reducing the value of capital gains made by investors and consequently, the amount of capital gains tax to be paid. However, the law changed on 6 April 1998 and 'Taper relief' was instituted. The indexation system still applies to property owned between March 1982 and 6 April 1998.
Reducing your house Insurance Cost
There are several ways of reducing your house insurance costs. House insurance companies are obviously prepared to lower their prices somewhat if you can lower the risk to them, and by doing the following, you can achieve just that:-
House Insurance - The Hidden Costs
Simply put, the cost of house insurance is equal to the premiums you pay, and this figure can vary greatly, depending on a combination of several factors. The most important aspects here are calculating your house insurance requirements and deciding on the type of house insurance policy you are going to employ.
House insurance exclusions
Rather than making a claim in terms of your cheap home insurance policy and receiving the bad news that your claim will not be met, either partially or in full, make sure that you are aware of any exclusions which may apply to your house insurance policy.
Household insurance (Home contents insurance)
Household insurance covers the contents of your home such as electrical appliances, CD's, clothing, food and drink, furniture and electronic goods. Most home contents insurance policies will cover the items against loss or damage caused by fire, theft and flooding and some will also cover accidental damage caused to these types of items.
Buildings insurance
Buildings insurance relates to the structure (your actual house) as opposed to household contents, and as such covers you in terms of structural damage to your house as well as insuring you against damage to permanent fixtures like toilets, bathrooms and fitted cabinets in kitchens, etc..
House Insurance
Regardless of whether you're a home owner or a tenant, you will need to hold some form of house insurance policy. Your home and cumulative belongings together, more than likely constitute your most valuable possessions and should, for all intents and purposes be protected by a house insurance policy against loss, theft or damage.
Capital Gains Tax Advice – Residential Property
What is capital gains tax, who does it affect and what does it mean to you? If you possess property which you are selling or can foresee yourself selling at some point in the future, you should be able to answer these capital gains tax UK questions. Thanks to our wonderful law-makers, the calculation of capital gain property tax seems to become more complex with each passing year and so you really do need, at least, a basic comprehension of capital gains tax. However, you would be doing yourself a great favour if you were to acquire a more in-depth understanding of capital gains tax as being aware of all the breaks and exemptions available to you will definitely prove to be advantageous.
Payday Loans - How to get the best deal
There are a lot of payday loan providers in the market today, some quite fair and others not so much. Although you may be desperate to borrow money and might be inclined to go with the first online payday loan you come across, don't.
Payday Loans - The Disadvantages
First and foremost, the cost of cash advance payday loans has to be seen as their biggest detractor. But, if you have no other options, this unfortunately, is unavoidable.
Payday Loans - The Advantages
Not everyone making use of a quick payday loan necessarily suffers from adverse credit. In fact, using an instant payday loan can, in some instances, help prevent your credit record from becoming damaged and save you some money at the same time.
Payday Loans - There are Various Choices
As stated earlier on, most payday loan providers nowadays offer no credit check payday loans meaning that you don't have to worry about your credit history.
Payday Loans - are they Expensive?
Part of the reason why fast payday loans are such costly loan facilities is because most people making use of them do have adverse credit histories and cannot borrow money from anyone else.Adverse Credit and Payday Loans
Most payday cash loan providers offer no credit check payday loans, meaning that even if you have an adverse credit record, county court judgements (CCJ’s) against your name, or are in any other sort of unfavourable financial predicament, you will still be able to raise finance through a no credit check payday loan application.
Payday Loans
If you find yourself in a situation where you desperately need money, and fast, and are unable to raise finance through a normal personal loan or by using a credit card, etc., a payday loan may be the only option available to you. A fast payday loan application is a quick and painless process to deal with and can result in having the requisite amount of cash deposited into your bank account very swiftly.
