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Home > Advice and Guides

Advice and Guides

Navigating the financial decisions of life can be a daunting task. You are often left to sift through large amounts of complex information in order to arrive at decisions that affect your financial livelihood. Below is a collection of guides that address many of the complicated financial issues you are likely to face.

Credit Cards

credit-cardsFrom 2008 to 2012, credit card spending on entertainment services (a large component of luxury expenditures) increased by a whopping 65%. In that same time period, credit card debt marginally decreased from £55.6 billion to £54.9 billion. Learn more about credit card debt management and smart spending strategies.

Mortgages

mortgageIn August 2018, every 16 minutes and 26 seconds, a property is repossessed. This equates to 88 properties being repossessed every day. While being in mortgage arrears can leave you vulnerable, there are many forms of assistance available to UK consumers. Learn more about mortgage debt and how to find relief.

Insurance

insuranceFrom 2000 to 2010, the average yearly general insurance expenditure of a household increased by approximately 34%. Insurance expenditures are an important component of household spending, and with the wealth of options available to consumers, it is important to make the correct choice. Learn more about the available insurance plans and compare their benefits.

Gambling

gamblingApproximately 73% of British adults gamble at least once a year, up from 68% in 2007. In 2010, there were 450,000 problem gamblers aged 16 and over in Britain. Learn the warning signs as well as ways to manage problem gambling.

Student Loans

student-loansIn 2011, 53% of undergraduate students received either a loan, grant, or allowance as financial assistance. Before hastily taking out a loan, you must carefully weigh all of your options. After all, a UK individual is declared insolvent or bankrupt every 4 mins and 42 seconds. Learn how to weigh your financial aid options and choose the program that is best for you.

Payday Loans

payday-loansThe payday loan industry has seen a recent explosion in popularity in the UK. The industry has increased its lending from £900 million in 2008 to approximately £1.8 billion in 2018. Some lenders have representative APRs of over 5000% on their loans. Learn more about the risks of payday loans and available alternatives.

Investing

investingInvesting in the stock market is not without risk. During the Crash of 2008-2009, the London stock market dropped over 50%, which wiped out over £900 billion off the value of Britain’s largest companies. Learn how to diversify your investments and build your nest egg.

Taxes

taxesIn 2010, the Mirrlees Review, which was chaired by Nobel laureate Sir James Mirrlees, concluded that the UK tax system is inequitable and is “ripe for reform in many ways that could significantly increase people’s welfare and improve the performance of the economy.” Learn how to understand the role of taxes in your personal finances.

Retirement Planning

retirement-planningThe cost of retirement income is rapidly rising. The cost for a 65 year old man to buy a £5000-a-year retirement income has increased by approximately 30% over the past 3 years. Learn how to properly plan for your retirement so that you are able to fully enjoy your later years.

Fraud

fraudIn 2012, per the Annual Fraud Indicator, fraud cost the UK economy £73 billion, with £6.1 billion being borne by individuals. Learn how to identify fraud, and stop it from being perpetrated on yourself.

Financial Glossary

glossaryFully understanding the terminology that is used by financial companies and their products is integral to making the best financial decision and avoiding unfair treatment. Unfortunately, many companies cleverly hide their unscrupulous practices in contracts and agreements that are written in obscure language. Learn the various terms you need to know in our financial glossary.

Debt Management

glossaryThe UK outstanding personal debt was approximately £1.4 billion in July 2018. Not surprisingly, every 5 minutes and 7 seconds a Brit is declared insolvent or bankrupt. Learn how to manage your debt and become debt-free.

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