Think Money

36 easy steps to cheaper food!

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:26:57 GMT

Here are 36 easy ways to save money on your food bill, from ethical savings to savings that can help your waistline. Your food doesn't have to cost the earth!

Full article: 36 easy steps to cheaper food!
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Could Professional and Career Development Loans help graduates?

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:17:41 GMT

Professional and Career Development Loans (PDCLs) are available to graduates who wish to take on further education or training - but cannot fund it themselves. If you are between the ages of 18 and 69, you could borrow between £300 and £10,000 to fund any approved course - including full-time, part-time and distance learning courses. The course can last up to two years - or three if there is a year of work experience.

Full article: Could Professional and Career Development Loans help graduates?
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Home repossessions stable; mortgage arrears falling

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:51:51 GMT

According to figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), the number of properties repossessed in the first quarter of 2012 was 9,600 - the same number seen in last year's first quarter - breaking with the recent trend in year-on-year increases in home repossessions. Although home repossessions in the first three months of 2012 were higher than the 8,700 homes repossessed in the last three months of 2011, this marks a typical seasonal pattern - with general activity across the repossessions 'landscape' looking stable for the time being.

Full article: Home repossessions stable; mortgage arrears falling
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Women's Institute getting more popular

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:22:3 GMT

Think of the Women's Institute (WI) and you may form an image of jam and scones, country fairs and cross stitch, but the society is reporting thousands of new members in these tough economic times, as women look for new ways to save money, reports thisismoney.co.uk. You don't have to be in debt to want to save money. The WI teaches skills like dressmaking and home cooking, which are proving popular among more young women and city dwellers looking to make savings in their budget.

Full article: Women's Institute getting more popular
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Wireless Festival to offer contactless payment wristbands

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:7:32 GMT

People attending this year's Wireless Festival will be able to pay for food, drinks and merchandise with just a swipe of their wristband - thanks to the same technology that powers contactless debit cards and mobile phones. Barclaycard - which sponsors the event - will be issuing the PayBand, which can be loaded with money from the user's bank account at points around the festival. It's hoped that this will be quicker and more secure than withdrawing cash from an ATM.

Full article: Wireless Festival to offer contactless payment wristbands
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What happens if you don't pay credit card debts?

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:5:23 GMT

As with any other type of unsecured debt, not repaying credit cards can come with some serious consequences.

Full article: What happens if you don't pay credit card debts?
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Availability of personal loans 'gradually improving'

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:3:42 GMT

Lending figures for the first quarter of 2012 suggest that consumer credit markets are showing gradual signs of improvement. The Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) said that total consumer finance provided by its members increased by 9% in March, compared with the same time a year ago. This includes personal loans, credit cards, store cards, store instalment credit, second mortgages and car finance.

Full article: Availability of personal loans 'gradually improving'
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Insurance and empty houses - a warning

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:42:6 GMT

Buildings and contents insurance can give homeowners real peace of mind: if the pipes burst, for example, or someone breaks in, they can turn to their insurance to cover the cost. But what if their property's empty for a period of time? Where do they stand then? An article in The Telegraph takes a look at the question.

Full article: Insurance and empty houses - a warning
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What will be the biggest mobile banking trends of 2012?

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:1:35 GMT

Pieter De Villiers - CEO of Clickatell - told MyBroadband BusinessTech that the biggest mobile banking trends this year will be person-to-person payments, mobile cheque capture and customised apps. As you can see, businesstech.co.za is a South African site, but Clickatell is a global company - 'the largest Online SMS Gateway covering 819 networks in 221 countries and territories'.

Full article: What will be the biggest mobile banking trends of 2012?
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Low-income households 'relied on debt to spend'

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:42:49 GMT

Low- to middle-income households relied on borrowing to cover a lot of their costs for more than 10 years before the onset of the financial crisis, according to a new report for the Resolution Foundation. The findings reveal the full impact of the rise in people taking on debt and the fall in household savings rates in the lead-up to the 2008/09 financial crisis - with the worst-off 10% outspending their income by 40% by 2007.

Full article: Low-income households 'relied on debt to spend'
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Term life assurance explained

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:46:7 GMT

Any life insurance that lasts for a fixed amount of time is referred to as a "term" policy. You can have control over how long your policy will last.

Full article: Term life assurance explained
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How long before a debt is written off?

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:23:42 GMT

Debt can become unenforceable under certain circumstances after a certain period of time.

Full article: How long before a debt is written off?
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What is a life insurance underwriter?

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:25:39 GMT

A life insurance underwriter decides whether to give you life insurance, and how much your monthly premiums will cost.

Full article: What is a life insurance underwriter?
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Who can apply for life insurance?

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:20:43 GMT

Anyone over the age of 18 and below 70 should be able to apply for life insurance, but certain personal details could make it more difficult to be approved for a policy.

Full article: Who can apply for life insurance?
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Bank rate: low for at least one more year

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:46:37 GMT

The Bank of England's base rate is expected to stay low for another year at least, according to analysts IHS Global Insight. While it's good news for plenty of homeowners, savers won't be pleased. A lot of people rely on the interest generated by money in their bank accounts, and they've lost out on a lot since the base rate was taken down to 0.5% in March 2009. Since then, the Save our Savers campaign claims, savers have lost out on a total of £102 billion.

Full article: Bank rate: low for at least one more year
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Soca raids close websites selling credit card details

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:25:15 GMT

36 websites selling credit card details and other personal information have been closed down following two years of observation by Soca, the Serious Organised Crime Agency, reports the BBC. There were raids in Australia, Europe, the UK and the US, in a joint effort by international law enforcers. Two British men and a man from Macedonia were arrested and it's estimated that more people will be arrested soon.

Full article: Soca raids close websites selling credit card details
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A look at personal debt in the UK

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:50:40 GMT

Outstanding personal debt in the UK stood at £1.458 trillion at the end of March 2012, up from £1.451 trillion at the same time last year, according to the latest debt statistics from Credit Action. The average UK household owed debts (excluding mortgages) totalling £7,903 in March, showing an increase from February's revised total of £7,884. Including mortgages, the typical amount of debt per household in the UK stood at £55,436 in March, rising from a revised £55,384 in the previous month.

Full article: A look at personal debt in the UK
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If I have car finance, will my car be repossessed if I get an IVA?

Mon, 14 May 2012 13:0:25 GMT

If you entered into an IVA, you would normally be able to keep a car bought on finance - but if the payments are too expensive, you may be asked to prove you need your car.

Full article: If I have car finance, will my car be repossessed if I get an IVA?
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Is your partner money minded or a bad budgeter?

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:1:23 GMT

What do people think of their partner's financial skills? If you're considering sharing your financial responsibilities with someone else, it's an important question.

Full article: Is your partner money minded or a bad budgeter?
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Critical illness cover: the facts

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:20:30 GMT

Critical life cover could give you a tax free lump sum if you are diagnosed with an eligible critical illness while your policy is active.

Full article: Critical illness cover: the facts
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