Many of us have gotten out of the habit of saving. We know we are supposed to, but we’ve adopted lifestyles that have us living pay cheque to pay cheque. The result is that when things get a little difficult financially, we can lose everything.

Even minor financial setbacks can become major events, causing stress, unhappiness and financial loss. Saving for a “rainy day” is about more than doing what you’re supposed to do – it’s about taking good care of yourself today, tomorrow and every day in your future.

Imagine being able to always afford life’s little emergencies. Here are just a few of the common little emergencies we face on a regular basis. Perhaps one or two of these resonate with you. Read the rest of this entry »

So you’re checking your credit score; that’s great. It’s the best way to prevent identity fraud and to make sure the report that potential creditors are seeing represents you correctly. It’s also a great way to get a hold of your finances if you’ve been operating in the dark up until now. But what do you do if you find errors?

The first step is to contact the credit reporting agency. There are two main agencies:

Equifax
Experian

Send them in writing a letter that outlines what is incorrect, any information you have on the error and the account, and a copy of your credit report. You must also ask them to make the corrections. Send your letter by recorded delivery, “return receipt requested.” This enables you to track the letter and document any communications. Keep copies of everything related to this process. Read the rest of this entry »

The housing market may take another dip as potential buyers struggle to get mortgages according to Bank of England policy maker Kate Barker.

The global credit crisis saw house prices in the UK drop by 20% at the lowest point as banks wary of risking new lending withdrew from the market and confidence was dented.

The market has however come back strongly since hitting bottom.

Barker, who has penned reviews of Britain’s housing supply and planning for the government and helps to set the interest rate said she had been surprised by the rebound.

“It seems more likely than not to me that mortgage finance is clearly not going to be available going forward on the terms it used to be,” Barker told MPs. Read the rest of this entry »

House prices in England and Wales are now 6.1% higher than they were a year ago, the largest monthly rise since April 2007 according to a survey by Right Move.

The average property price nationally in February was £229,398 a rise of 3.2% on January.

In London prices were up 5% on the month to a record £427,987, prices are now higher then at the peak of the property boom in 2007 after rising 10.3% over the last year. Read the rest of this entry »

Have you ever entertained the idea of making money online? There are plenty of people who have quit their day jobs and make a full-time income from home thanks to the Internet. But if you are happy with what you’re doing, there are still opportunities to make some extra cash. Here are some ideas for your consideration. Read the rest of this entry »