It is important for motorists to be fully aware of the terms and conditions of their motor insurance policies, it has been suggested. Research carried out by swiftcover reveals that a significant number of British drivers could be unwittingly putting themselves under financial pressure due to a lack of comprehension about what is and what is not covered by their insurance. In the company’s study more than a third of motorists were shown to be unaware of the effects of underrating their... Read Full Story

The base rate of interest has been left unchanged, it has been announced. In its monthly meeting, the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee (MPC) has chosen to keep interest rates at five per cent. The announcement means it is the third time the committee has decided to maintain the rate this year and follows cuts of 0.25 percentage points which were actioned in both April and February. Following on from the MPC’s decision, it is possible that consumers find the pressures which their... Read Full Story

In the face of volatility in the financial markets and the continued impact of the credit crunch, it is important for motorists to take steps in reducing pressures on their spending. Such is the claim of Which? where in its Money Saving Handbook guide it suggested that driving at slower speeds can result in significant savings for Britons. By going at 50 miles per hour instead of 70 miles per hour, it was pointed out that petrol expenses could be cut by 30 per cent. In addition, the consumer... Read Full Story

Despite many thoughts to the contrary, home contents insurance should be a crucial consideration for homeowners, a new study shows. In research carried out by Sainsbury’s Home Insurance it was revealed that a significant number of consumers lack this type of cover, with many not thinking that it is of importance. Out of those consumers who lack home contents insurance, just over a third (35 per cent) claimed that they did not view such a purchase as being necessary. Meanwhile some five per... Read Full Story

Although many Brits are still set to enjoy some fun in this sun this year, spending on their holiday might not be as fervent, a new study shows. In research carried out by FairFX it was revealed that more than half (57 per cent) of holidaymakers claim they will be forced to either cut down the amount of money they splash out booking a holiday over the next 12 months or reduce their expenditure while abroad. Findings from the pre-paid currency card provider also showed that of those... Read Full Story

A well-maintained and feature-filled garden can add more than just a splash of nature to a home, it has been suggested. Joe Swift, a gardening expert and presenter of BBC programme Gardener’s World, pointed out that by installing features such as decking and paving consumers can help to increase the value of their home. He stated that plants, containers and summer houses are among the popular items which homeowners are currently purchasing for their green spaces. However, for those looking to... Read Full Story

Britain’s financial optimism has plummeted, according to a recent set of figures. GfK NOP’s latest consumer confidence index revealed a drop of five points with regard to the country’s outlook on the current monetary climate to stand at -24. Such a figure is the lowest recorded since November 1992. Furthermore the current overall level of economic optimism was shown to be down by 18 points from the same period this time last year, with decreases noted across all five of the firm’s measures... Read Full Story

Parents should make sure that the cost of keeping their children happy does not leave them crying when it comes to managing their money. So claims the Co-operative Bank after research carried out by the firm reveals that parents splash out thousands of pounds each year on keeping their children entertained. According to the financial services firm, taking their sons and daughters swimming about once every two weeks leads to a total annual expense of 307 pounds. Meanwhile, the largest area of... Read Full Story

Consumers are finding that numerous avenues of borrowing are becoming increasingly expensive, new research shows. During the current period of strain on the financial markets, Moneyfacts reveals that it is not just mortgage products which are getting to be evermore costly as financial services firm tighten their application criteria, withdraw their most favourable deals and increase interest and fee charges. The same is also happening to personal loans. Research carried out by the personal... Read Full Story

As the days become longer and warmer temperatures arrive it may be perhaps unsurprising that some motorists want to feel the wind blowing in their faces while out on the road. However, those looking to purchase a convertible car should first take the time to purchase a comprehensive motor insurance policy. Such is the claim of Confused where a recent piece of research revealed that the average insurance policy for a soft-top model is slightly more expensive than that for a non-convertible car... Read Full Story