Features Archive: Currency

2006:

The rise and rise of the ballistic Baltics

31/08/2006 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

Over the last 12 months there have been many press reports of meteoric rates of growth in the three Baltic states Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. So what's all the fuss about?!...

When 'won't pay' will pay

12/07/2006 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

The small claims court was set up to avoid the costs of going to court to collect unpaid debts and similar disputes. An internet based service makes it even easier to get a successful resolution......

Pick of the PCISs

02/02/2006 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

After last week's feature on the Government's U turn over property in SIPPs, this week we look at some alternative Property Collective Investment Schemes (PCISs)....

A sinking SIPP is not necessarily bad news...

26/01/2006 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

Gordon Brown's dramatic u turn on SIPPS hit many savers and vendors who had already spent considerable time and capital ahead of SIPPs setting sail. But what does this development mean for people who only got as far as thinking of getting on board?...

2005:

Don't put all your pension eggs in one basket

08/11/2005 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

With A Day less than six months away a veritable buzz of excitement can be heard from product providers and property investment companies alike. We all know you can't bake a cake without breaking a few eggs but for some investors, putting property into a SIPP is too much like putting all your eggs in one basket......

Consumer rights across Europe's borders

09/08/2005 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

Whether you are abroad on holiday or fitting out your new overseas holiday home you may need to know your rights as a consumer......

Pots of gold in buy-to-let pensions?

15/06/2005 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

There is still nearly a year to go before residential property can be packaged within a SIPP and with the prospect of a raft of small print covering this radical new departure in pension regulation, what do the experts think?...

Self-invested personal pensions

22/02/2005 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

Last time we looked at some of the aspects of putting property into pensions. Continuing the theme, we look at whether SIPPs are for you......

Buying to let your pension grow

15/02/2005 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

Many people are already deeply committed to using property to fund their retirement but new tax rules coming into force next year mean investors are rushing to stash money away in their pension funds over the coming months, ready to buy second homes and buy to lets after April 2006......

2004:

What's involved in trading down?

07/12/2004 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

Making use of your biggest asset makes a lot of sense, particularly if your children have flown the nest......

The changing banking landscape

26/10/2004 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

Customers are driving change in the banking industry but can the big banks deliver?...

The big step - mortgage affordability

10/08/2004 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

Buying a mortgage is probably your biggest financial commitment; so how do you ensure you make the right choice?...

Credit scoring

16/06/2004 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

Confused or intrigued about credit scoring? The British Bankers' Association has issued a guide to the way banks take your personal circumstances into account when considering a loan......

2003:

The willpower to make a will

14/10/2003 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

More than half the UK population are set to die with their financial affairs in confusion, a survey has pointed out and it's all because of a lack of public knowledge, both about how to make a will and the effect of not making one......

What to look for in 2003

13/01/2003 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

With the average punter likely to spend several hundred pounds on presents alone this Christmas, money saving ideas are often warmly received, so here are 5 early Christmas cards to cut your shopping bill.....

2002:

The stress of choosing your PHI policy

23/11/2002 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

With the average punter likely to spend several hundred pounds on presents alone this Christmas, money saving ideas are often warmly received, so here are 5 early Christmas cards to cut your shopping bill.....

The stress of choosing your PHI policy

08/11/2002 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

To coincide with stress awareness day on 6th November, Charcol has highlighted some interesting anomalies people may encounter when seeking permanent health insurance policies......

A quick guide to credit scoring

01/11/2002 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

Credit blacklists are one of the more believable urban myths, but a myth nonetheless. What is true, however, is that lenders use different scoring systems to assess a borrower’s capacity and likelihood of repaying a mortgage loan......

Ten simple steps to a better mortgage

25/10/2002 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

Virgin One have this week claimed that millions of homebuyers now regret the fact that they made their mortgage decision based on price alone. So just how do you decide which loan is best for you...

Repayment vs Interest only mortgages

23/08/2002 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

Choosing the way that your going to pay back all that money is a decision that every borrower must face, but one which few give its due consideration.....

50 ways to save money

26/07/2002 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

There are many ways to skin a cat, though we don't know any of them. But we do know some ways to save money, of which there are 50 here.....

Different types of mortgage rate

12/07/2002 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

To mark the launch of our new sister site entirely dedicated to mortgages, we have put together a simple summary of the five main types of mortgage rate available to the UK borrower, as well as some of the pros and cons that apply to each type......

Don't deal with unauthorised firms

24/05/2002 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

The Financial Services Authority has warned private investors not to play Russian Roulette with their savings by dealing with unauthorised firms. Why...

An easy way to beat the bad credit blues

12/04/2002 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

Every year, many thousands of people fail a credit check. While this is often due to a poor track record in making payments, one of the most frequent causes of failure is one that is completely avoidable......

Take control of your finances this tax year

05/04/2002 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

It may be too late to take advantage of your ISA allowances for last year, but it's never too late to take stock and turn over a new leaf as far as your cash management is concerned.....

Raiders Of The Lost Bin

15/03/2002 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

Consumers are placing themselves at serious risk of becoming fraud victims in the wake of a new crime that has arrived from the US and is spreading across Britain, accorting to reports out this week from data giant Experian......

2001:

Put your SECURITYfirst with MPPI cover

07/12/2001 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

To coincide with the launch of our mortgage payment protection insurance website, we look at MPPI and ask whether the millions of unprotected borrowers should reassess their need to get cover...

Get yourself out of the credit trap !

02/11/2001 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

This week, instead of our normal style feature, we've highlighted four credit cards that we feel could be useful for borrowers looking to claw their way out of debt, or preferably avoid the credit trap altogether.....

What the rate cut means for you & me

06/04/2001 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

For the second time in three months, the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee has cut interest by a quarter of a percent. We take a look at what this means for the consumer......

Foreign currency mortgages

30/03/2001 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

Some people get their mortgage in a foreign currency. It's risky, but in some cases the rewards can be worth it. We take a look at how it works, the potential benefits, the possibilities for disaster and what you can do to minimise the risk...

The changing face of the UK mortgage market.

16/03/2001 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

For years, lenders have offered products with high SVRs that ultimately drive customers into switching to another provider. But things are suddenly changing very quickly in the UK mortgage market......

FSA mortgage regulation - how will it help consumers?

02/02/2001 | Currency | Jaimie Kanwar

The Government announced in January of last year that it intends to introduce statutory regulation of mortgage lending from January of next year, with the Financial Services Authority (FSA) taking responsibility for the regulation. Why are they doing this? Is it a big deal? Will things be any different? Hopefully, this article should answer these questions......