The number of people with one or more credit cards has grown at an unbelievable rate in recent years. Like the mobile phone, the credit card has become a way of life for many people, something they'd be lost without.
Expert Author: Michael Challiner | Category: Insurance Amanda was 42 when she was given the difficult news that she had ovarian cancer.
The West Yorkshire woman received chemotherapy treatment after diagnosis, but Amanda became one of the unlucky ones. She had a bad reaction to the chemotherapy and because of this she was unable to work.
When it comes to home contents insurance, it's so easy to get left behind in your valuations. It's simple enough to go through the rooms, in your mind. Lounge - carpet, sofas, display cabinet and contents. Bedrooms, carpets again, beds, furniture ....... And so on. All things moveable in your home should be covered by your contents insurance.
Almost one pensioner in four does not have enough money to fund their retirement, research from Prudential reveals, and one property-owning pensioner in five thinks they will have to downsize to make up the difference.
Along with those forced to sell their homes, one pensioner in six would consider taking in a lodger.
But now, pensioners can obtain cash advances secured against the value of their houses through equity release or home reversion plans.
Expert Author: Michael Challiner | Category: In general, property prices appear to be rising. Between January and May 2006, the uplift in house prices across the United Kingdom averaged 4.4 per cent. In the event that this trend continues, then the yearly rise will be 13 per cent. This will put the average house price at almost 195,000 pounds.
The Financial Services Authority has recently carried out a review of the way in which information and advice is given to retail customers purchasing financial products. One of the products which they considered was the sale of Critical Illness Cover.
You may have noticed an increase in your health insurance premium recently. Here we examine some of the possible reasons for this and look into ways of combating them.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders' figures are showing a growing trend in interest only mortgages. From January to March 2002, 9 per cent of new mortgages were interest only. Now take the period from October to December 2005, and the amount of new interest only mortgages has risen to 23 per cent. In the same timeframe, the number of first time buyers choosing interest only mortgages has increased from 6 per cent to 15 per cent.
Expert Author: Michael Challiner | Category: Loans The companies that loan people money then add on sky high interest rates might claim to be doing people a favour by offering them the chance to have instant cash.
Instead, they are crippling the poor with debt. So says the Competition Commission which will quickly and clearly point out that what these outfits are doing is plain wrong.
Have you filled in a life assurance application recently? There's a little box that strikes fear into the heart of the "slightly overweight". It simply asks you to state your weight. Do you go straight to the scales, undress to the state of nudity and jiggle about on the said scales, trying to pinpoint the lowest mark on the gauge? No, I thought not, you probably take a vague and over optimistic guess, write it in and swiftly move on to the next question. Most of us do it.
Beware; we have modern-day "Dick Turpins'" at work on our roads. Not quite "Stand and deliver" at gun point, but there's a striking similarity.
Innocent drivers are being targeted in this frightening new crime which appears to spreading across the country. Effectively, we have an ambush situation.
Is it coming round to the time to renew your car insurance? Do you, like 23 per cent of car owners, just accept the quote and stay with your insurer? Does it matter that the premium is 5 or 10 per cent more expensive than last years? Maybe it's just not worth the hassle of all those phone calls to goodness knows where, thumbing through the yellow pages or wearing out your shoe-leather down town.
Get ready for an avalanche of 'new style' car insurance policies to hit the market. One of the first insurers to enter the fray is Tesco, with the announcement of its new 'no frills' policy. Where Tesco leads, others will swiftly follow in their search for new customers.
There are some new types of home loans coming onto the market which are being advertised at present. Several of the mortgage companies are offering variation of them and they are being marketed as "lifetime" loans. So might this be the end of the short-term mortgage? Not necessarily so, it appears that there are still bargains out there for those prepared to shop around.
Are credit card loyalty schemes worth the plastic they're printed on? According to a recent study by moneysavingexpert .com the answer is a resounding "NO". The study investigated 80 reward schemes and was especially unimpressed by Tesco's Clubcard, Nectar and Airmiles. With the average value of each Tesco Clubcard point being worth from 1 to 4 pence, a Nectar point being worth 0.54 pence and an Airmile being valued at 7.9 pence, their reaction is hardly surprising.
Expert Author: Michael Challiner | Category: A tightening of regulations regarding the letting of larger properties containing three or more storeys, converted into smaller self contained residential units, came into force at the beginning of April 2006. Further information on the Licence for Multiple Occupation is available on www.propertylicensing.gov.uk, but here are the basic facts.
It might be amusing to watch the squirrels scurrying round the park, they seem so tame they'll almost take food out of your hand, but these cute little bushy tailed creatures are actually one of five of the most common pests and can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage if they get into your house. They will chew furniture and break your precious ornaments.
If you have an accident and it's found that you'd failed to keep your car roadworthy, for example excessively worn tyres, and that was a contributory factor in the accident, your insurer will probably refuse to pay up. And the police may also show an interest too! Quite reasonable many of you will say. But what if it's you that's un-roadworthy?
Cover for your children is the most undervalued aspect of critical illness insurance. But as most policies automatically provide the cover as a free extra, we suspect that some policyholders don't even know they've got it!
Most policies automatically insure your children albeit at a lower level of benefits than the main policyholders cover. But this cover is invaluable, especially if your child becomes critically ill and you need to take time off work to provide care.
Expert Author: Michael Challiner | Category: Insurance Have you ever worked out how much you spend on insurance? Try totting up your premiums - we suspect you'll be surprised! You'll be even more surprised to discover that there's a probability that you've also duplicated some of the cover you're paying for. Cut the duplication out and you're certain to save money.
