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Planning - Budgeting


  • Survival guide for small businesses
    Rob Griffin
    16.03.09
    Things are looking tough for small business owners. Rob Griffin offers advice on how to ensure your business survives the recession.
  • Tracking down great sale bargains
    Nathalie Bonney
    05.03.09
    Times are tough for shops as well as consumers, and as a result there seem to be endless sales across the high street. Nathalie Bonney offers her top tips on tracking down the best bargains.
  • Make money from online selling
    Liam Tarry
    02.03.09
    More people are going online to make some money by selling their clutter. Liam Tarry offers his top tips on how to sell successfully online.
  • Don't shop, swap
    Rebecca Atkinson
    24.02.09
    If you're looking to cut-back or be a little more eco-friendly, then swapping unwanted items with other people is a great way to indulge without having to spend any money.
  • The secret sale on the high street
    Rebecca Atkinson
    23.02.09
    The credit crunch might have forced you to tighten your purse-strings; but rather than go without, why not take advantage of special offers and go in hunt of discounts instead?
  • What type of spender are you?
    Nathalie Bonney
    20.02.09
    Saving money can often be as easy as spotting the psychological reasons you spend. Nathalie Bonney looks at different types of shopping personalities and offers some tips on how you can cut back today.
  • Fight for your money
    Liam Tarry
    10.02.09
    Everyone's heard stories of banks and insurance companies taking our money and then failing to deliver. Liam Tarry shows how you can boost your finances by fighting back.
  • Have you committed financial infidelity?
    Nathalie Bonney
    09.02.09
    We may like to think we never lie to our partners, but what about that new bag or quick flutter we never got round to mentioning? Nathalie Bonney reveals just how common financial infidelity is.
  • Children's gifts with a future
    Liam Tarry
    27.01.09
    Rather than buy more toys for the children in your family, you could consider setting up a savings or investment plan for them instead. Liam Tarry offers some tips on presents that will continue to give in the years to come.
  • Survive the sandwich years
    Sarah Coles
    27.01.09
    More couples have found themselves being squeezed by the need to support grown-up children and elderly parents. Sarah Coles shows how to survive those sandwich years
  • The ultimate New Year money makeover
    Sam Barrett
    07.01.09
    Is your credit card balance bursting at the seams or your bank account looking seriously out of shape? The New Year couldn't be a better time to give your finances a new look. Sam Barrett explains how.
  • Five New Year money resolutions
    Rebecca Atkinson
    02.01.09
    Make the most of your good intentions this January and get your finances ready for the year ahead.
  • Help your child avoid student debt
    Nathalie Bonney
    22.09.08
    When your child sets off for university, a big worry is the debt trap that awaits them. But a little financial education before they go could help allay your fears, writes Nathalie Bonney.
  • Students unable to manage finances
    Rebecca Atkinson
    14.08.08
    Today's students are set to graduate with £20,000-worth of debt, as too many head to university unable to manage their own finances.
  • Burst your inflation bubble
    Hannah Ricci
    09.08.08
    For many people, the rate of inflation feels much higher than official figures suggest. Hannah Ricci investigates how to protect your finances from inflation.
  • A strong lifeline for a secure future
    Harriet Meyer
    22.04.08
    Life insurance should be the bedrock of your family's financial security. Harriet Meyer explains what you need to think about before making your choice.
  • Tracker benefits without the hassles
    Sonia Speedy
    16.04.08
    Exchange Traded Funds are more popular than ever as investors take the cheap and easy route to stockmarket exposure. Sonia Speedy investigates.
  • Debt's a drag for airline pilot
    Hannah Ricci
    27.03.08
    Carrie and James want to get married and buy a house but need to break free of some financial turbulence first. Hannah Ricci reports.
  • The path to debt-free uni education
    Hannah Ricci
    31.01.08
    Maddie and Nick are keen on early retirement, but first they want to make sure their boys can go to university. Hannah Ricci finds out what they must do.
  • Paying for the single life
    Emma Lunn
    21.12.07
    Living on your own tends to be much more expensive than living as a couple, but there are ways of keeping the costs down. Emma Lunn reports.
  • Slim down your finances
    Hannah Ricci
    19.12.07
    The Moneywise Detox can help to transform your financial health, as well as boost your bank balance. The first of the three steps, says Hannah Ricci, is to trim your expenses.
  • Work off your debt
    Hannah Ricci
    19.12.07
    An increasing buy-now-pay-later mentality is getting more and more of us into debt. Hannah Ricci shows you how to get back in control of your finances.
  • Securing a financial future
    Hannah Ricci
    03.12.07
    The Halls would like to secure their financial future and save for a comfortable retirement. An expert tells then where and how to fine tune their finances.
  • Deliver us from temptation
    Sarah Coles
    28.11.07
    Does your festive spending always spiral out of control? Sarah Coles finds out how to beat the retailers' tricks this Christmas and fight the urge to splurge.
  • Planning for early retirement
    Hannah Ricci
    27.11.07
    The Bonds have paid off over £50,000 of their mortgage in two years and want to quickly clear the rest in the hope they can retire early. IFA Phillip Pearson outlines their options.
  • Cut the cost of Christmas
    Hannah Ricci
    21.11.07
    Christmas will always be expensive but there are still plenty of ways to save money without turning into Mr Scrooge. Hannah Ricci reveals her top tips.
  • Slash your motoring costs
    Joanna Sutherland
    11.11.07
    Running a car is becoming more expensive, but, as Joanna Sutherland explains, there are many ways to drive down the costs.
  • Inflation holds steady
    16.10.07
    The inflation rate held steady below the BoE's 2% target in September, which was against expectations of a slight rise.
  • Pre-budget report summary
    Jeff Salway and Hannah Ricci
    09.10.07
    This year's pre-budget report - the first from Alistair Darling - shows encouraging signs for first-time buyers and pledges an increase in the IHT threshold.
  • Starting a new, debt-free life
    Hannah Ricci
    09.10.07
    An expert offers advice to a recently wed couple who are looking to clear their debts. Hannah Ricci reports.
  • Are banks letting you down?
    Jeff Salway
    11.09.07
    Given the confusing range of current account fees and charges, do banks treat their low-income customers unfairly? A consumer expert says "yes they do", while a banker disagrees.
  • Financial child's play
    Sam Barrett
    29.08.07
    With so many youngsters in debt, how to handle money should be on every school curriculum, writes Sam Barrett.
  • Watch out for capital gains tax
    23.08.07
    If your investments are a success CGT can creep up on you. Harriet Meyer explains how to avoid a nasty surprise from the taxman.
  • Get your finances fighting fit
    Hannah Ricci
    22.08.07
    Just a couple of days' hard graft could transform your finances. Hannah Ricci takes you through our boot camp.
  • New rules for financial advisers
    Rob Griffin
    17.08.07
    The way financial advice is given to consumers is to be overhauled, amid fears that the current regime encourages mis-selling. Rob Griffin explains how financial products will be offered.
  • Floods wreak financial havoc
    Hannah Ricci
    08.08.07
    Following the summer floods across Britain, victims are relying on their insurers to pull out all the stops to help get their lives back on track, explains Hannah Ricci.
  • Planning for a career change
    Hannah Ricci
    02.08.07
    A systems engineer with savings and investments is retraining as a doctor, so he needs to make sure he doesn't build up debt. IFA Stuart Doughty helps him focus and plan.
  • Are over-50s accounts a rip-off?
    Jeff Salway
    25.07.07
    Financial services companies are cashing in on the power of the over-50's 'silver pound'. Jeff Salway reports.
  • Time off to have a baby
    Sam Barrett
    18.07.07
    The new maternity rules are good news for mums-to-be, but you still need to know your rights. Sam Barrett explains what you can expect from your employer.
  • Single mum gets makeover
    Hannah Ricci
    11.07.07
    Careful budgeting and caution have given this mum of two a good basis for a new beginning. Here's how she can move towards her goal of home ownership and greater security.
  • Diary of a first job
    Hannah Ricci
    10.07.07
    Debt is unavoidable for most ex-students but it's possible to keep it under control and still enjoy life, says Hannah Ricci.
  • Beware: top 10 holiday cons
    Emma Lunn
    26.06.07
    Planning your holiday? Read our handy tips on how to avoid the financial cons this summer.
  • Company car or cash allowance?
    19.06.07
    Having a company car is most people's only chance of running a high-spec model, but new fuel taxes on business drivers can make taking the car allowance the best option, says Nick Gibbs.
  • Claim your childcare vouchers
    Jeff Salway
    15.06.07
    Working parents should take claim their childcare vouchers now - they could save over £1,000. Jeff Salway explains exactly how to claim this valuable benefit.
  • Beat your bank
    Hannah Ricci
    29.05.07
    You can be sure your bank is making money even when it appears to be offering a good deal. Hannah Ricci shows how you can get your own back.
  • Weekend getaways
    Hannah Ricci
    22.05.07
    Planning a weekend getaway but floored by the maze of websites offering cheap flights or hotels? Here's how to find the best deal for you.
  • What a credit check involves
    Rachel Lacey
    18.04.07
    An area of financial services that's shrouded in mystery is the world of credit checking. Rachel Williams explains what happens.
  • PURE takes the lead
    Phil Wolski
    12.04.07
    Phil Wolski of PURE explains why it supports the Government's proposed standard for carbon offsetting.
  • Budget 2007
    22.03.07
    Gordon Brown presented almost certainly his final budget to "expand prosperity and fairness for British families". Hannah Ricci, Rachel Williams, and Jeff Salway present the details.
  • How IVAs might make debt crisis worse
    Nikki Watkins
    22.02.07
    As consumers seeking advice on how to pay off their creditors frequently receive conflicting advice on IVAs, they need to ensure that they completely understand the agreement before they get bound into one.
  • Breaking up over money worries
    16.02.07
    CreditExpert Personal Credit Index highlights the worrying extent of financial concerns within UK relationships.
  • How to buy an engagement ring
    Jeff Salway
    08.02.07
    Buying an engagement ring can be a traumatic experience for any man. But follow Jeff Salway's guide and you can be sure she'll say yes.
  • Junk those rampers
    Tony Hetherington
    25.01.07
    We're all getting mysterious emails which bypass spam filters to sell us dodgy investments. They need to go in the bin, says Tony Hetherington.
  • How to kiss your debts goodbye
    Hannah Ricci
    04.01.07
    Is your borrowing out of control? Hannah Ricci reveals the warning signs and explains how you can clear your debts and get a savings habit instead.
  • Pre-Budget report
    07.12.06
    Rachel Williams, Jeff Salway and Hannah Ricci round up the Pre-Budget report and explain what it means for you.
  • Having fun is becoming cheaper
    Jennifer Hill
    06.12.06
    Those who need an excuse to enjoy themselves this festive season now have a very good one: having fun has become cheaper, while day-to-day living expenses have rocketed.
  • Health problems force a rethink
    Hannah Ricci
    23.11.06
    Tim and Ann Morton live with their two children, Samuel and Caitlin. Tim has been forced to retire on medical grounds at 37 years old. An expert gives some financial advice. By Hannah Ricci.
  • Mums in business
    Hannah Ricci
    16.11.06
    You don't have to choose between juggling kids with a career or giving up work altogether - many women have turned bringing up baby into a business opportunity, explains Hannah Ricci.
  • How to plan, save and support
    Hannah Ricci
    19.10.06
    Yee Chung has a good job but the money she sends home to her family in Malaysia makes a big impact on her ability to save. Here, she seeks expert advice on financial planning.
  • Get yourself a pay rise
    Hannah Ricci
    12.10.06
    It can be difficult to ask for a pay rise - but if you don't ask, you don't get. Here's how to approach the thorny subject, explains Hannah Ricci.
  • Why say no to free money?
    Nina Montagu-Smith
    14.09.06
    Make sure you don't ignore those benefits or grants that you could be eligible for. Follow our guide to what you could be entitled to and how to claim it.
  • Avoid any pitfalls in shared finances
    Hannah Ricci
    24.08.06
    Couples are more likely to fall out over money problems than any other issue, so it pays to be frank with your partner, explains Hannah Ricci.
  • How to make Royal Mail pay up
    Isabelle Kassam
    27.07.06
    We've all experienced post going astray, and for some this has been more than just an inconvenience.
  • Beware the 0870 phone line rip-off
    Martin Lewis
    20.07.06
    We all know how premium-rate phone lines can cost a fortune, but 0870 numbers have their own ways of making you part with your money without realising it.
  • How to beat victimoholism
    Steve McDowell
    09.05.06
    Follow Stephen McDowell's eight-point programme to keep technology at bay. It's that or succumb to a truly modern disorder - an addiction that will leave you in a desolate and friendless place.
  • 10 questions to ask your financial adviser
    Faith Glasgow
    20.04.06
    There are many reasons why you might use a financial adviser, from saving and investing to tax-planning. But it's your money that's at stake, so check they are professionally qualified and right for you
  • Fear of risk may cut your reward
    Lawrence Gold
    20.04.06
    The vicissitudes of the stockmarket may tempt you to play safe and opt for low-risk cash investments. But playing safe is not always wise, as the returns can be very poor
  • How to buy a family heirloom
    Toby Walne
    13.04.06
    Many of us want to be able to leave something of sentimental, aesthetic and material value to future generations. Here's our guide to tracking down 21st-century heirlooms that are also wise investments
  • Martin Lewis, the moneysaving champ
    Martin Lewis
    22.03.06
    Profiteering retailers and financial service firms have met their match with Martin Lewis. We talk to the money saving expert and find out how his strategies can save you thousands
  • How to get cheap flights
    Hannah Ricci
    17.03.06
    Ever made the annoying discovery that someone else has bought same flight as you but for a fraction of the price?  Read our guide to low prices for high fliers and find out how to bag those bargain flights
  • Who's keeping an eye on you?
    Helen Monks
    02.02.06
    The government's plan to introduce identity cards has raised concern over what many see as an erosion of our civil liberties.
  • Are you in financial denial?
    Helen Monks
    01.02.06
    When it comes to financial planning, adopting the ostrich position could get you into some very hot water
  • The cost of dieting
    Rachel Lacey
    25.01.06
    Most of us overindulge during the festive period and start the new year pledging to lose weight. Here's how to make sure you shed the right kind of pounds.
  • Smart ways to escape the rat race
    Rachel Lacey
    02.11.05
    Thinking of taking a year out of the rat race to travel the world? Be sure to think about finances before that trip of a lifetime
  • Electric shocks that land on your doormat
    26.10.05
    Imagine the shock of picking your electricity bill off the doormat and finding it is double or treble what you had been expecting? We unravel the billing nightmare the utility companies all too often hit us with
  • High prices cut energy bills
    Sarah Das
    15.09.05
    Consumers have been hit by rising energy prices, but curiously, rising prices could actually save us money in the long run.
  • Detox your debt
    Sarah Das
    08.09.05
    Paralysed by fear when you see credit card bills? Don't be. The quicker you act, the easier it is to get on top of your debts
  • Who wants to be a millionaire?
    Rachel Lacey
    21.08.05
    Like we need to ask. Here's a step-by-step guide to saving a million pounds. No tricks, just hard work, patience and a bit of savvy. More.
  • Who wants to be a millionaire?
    29.07.05
    With careful investment choices, patience and a little dedication your first million could be well within reach.
  • Healthcare on a budget
    24.01.05
    Spiralling premiums are threatening to put private health cover out of the reach of many people. Luckily there are ways to cut the costs.
  • Footballer's prize
    01.12.04
    David Beckham tops the list of the country's richest, but the list contains some surprises.
  • Have you the energy to switch?
    Rebecca Brennan
    25.11.04
    Changing your energy provider doesn't have to be complicated, and can save you substantial sums
  • How to defeat debt
    Sarah Modlock
    26.08.04
    One in five debtors use credit to cover everyday expenses. Find out if you are one of them and what you can do about it.