We go on holiday to a remote area of Shetland every year. Last year, the talk was of little but fast-rising house prices and the need to get on the ladder as quickly as possible. …
Where to make a good return on cash
Category: Personal Finance
Fund higher education with buy-to-let
It may sound ‘too good to be true’, but if you have a child who is about to embark on higher education, buying a buy-to-let property for them could enable you to meet the bulk …
Take advantage of charity tax relief
There aren’t many legitimate ways left to avoid paying tax – that’s just one reason why you should definitely take full advantage of reliefs available on charitable donations. Gift aid lets you make either a …
Free eye tests: how to cut the cost of eyecare
One in four adults in Britain haven’t had an eye test in the last two years, says Kate Hughes in The Independent, with 30% of those people putting the reason down to cost. But an …
How to avoid a fleecing
Dealing with UK financial institutions is a frustrating business, largely due to their infuriating tendency to flood the market with pointless information and to withhold, to the best of their abilities, all vital pieces of …
There is some good news…
I’m afraid we have little but misery for you in this week’s magazine. Stockmarkets still aren’t safe. Commodity prices have seen their largest fall in 28 years. The oil price has crashed below $120 a …
Your house isn’t your pension
It seems that much of the nation is finally coming to its senses. Proof? A press release from Metlife saying that there has been a huge reduction in the number of people idiot enough to …
Let your second home and get a tax break
Homeowners may be able to use their property to save money, says Jennifer Hill in The Sunday Times. If you own a second home and are struggling to sell it, why not set it up …
How to save on your heating bills
With the sun finally putting in an appearance for the summer, your heating bill might be the last thing on your mind. But now is precisely the time to prepare for your winter bills. Household …
Why burglar alarms aren’t worth the bother
“Time was when it was worth the expense of buying and installing a burglar alarm, if only for the juicy discount handed out by home contents insurers,” says Julian Knight in The Independent on Sunday. …