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Buy of the week: Camden Town
This two-bedroom flat has a pretty park on its doorstep, while buzzing Camden Town is only 10 minutes’ walk away. Big sash windows and high ceilings give a spacious feel and there’s a private garden with a studio/home office (£525,000).
Swap of the week: Willersey, Glouc
This little Cotswolds beauty is just across the road from the village green and duck pond. For £530,000 you get beams, exposed stone walls and an open fireplace, plus four bedrooms, a useful attic room and lush gardens to enjoy.
Life-changer: Trescowe, Cornwall
For a project brimming with potential, what about this coastal home, yours for £545,000? The family space includes six bedrooms, while its collection of outbuildings overlooking an acre of gardens could become income-generating holiday lets.
Spotlight on Camden Town
The shops and markets clustered around the high street and canal make Camden one of the most colourful of London's neighbourhoods. The area's period homes and loft-style apartments attract a mix of homebuyers.

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Previous articles in Money

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There is such a thing as a VAT-free lunch

Shop savvily and you can still avoid VAT in some areas — when buying clothes, holidays and presents, for example. But start with a VAT-free lunch — by making it yourself.

Published May 2012

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Forget banks, borrow from a building society

Homeowners looking to remortgage or wannabe first-time buyers hunting for their first home loan: look beyond the big banks. Latest figures suggest the best deals - and most willingness to lend - can come from Britain’s building societies.

Published May 2012

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How to double your money in 10 years

If you are prepared to take a bit more risk but like the security of fixed-interest returns, you can put the whole 2012-13 Isa allowance of £11,280 — and existing Isas both cash and share based — into something like a corporate bond fund or individual preference shares, bonds or PIBS (permanent interest-bearing shares).

Published May 2012

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Switch to the best credit card deal

Switching your credit card to one of the best deals can help those who are in the red save thousands of pounds in interest charges.

Published April 2012

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Get online discounts on the high street

Savvy online shoppers have got used to securing savings via cashback - receiving a proportion of the purchase price back when buying via specific links - but now high street shoppers can do the same.

Published April 2012

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Go online for the cheapest holidays

The Easter break has whetted our appetite for the long summer holidays, but how do you get the best value in these cash-strapped times? High street travel agents may have lost the battle to online traders but time-honoured booking rules still hold good — do it well in advance, or at the last minute, for the best deals.

Published April 2012

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Death of interest-only mortgages

With more lenders tightening the lending criteria on interest-only mortgages, there are fears that hundreds of thousands of borrowers will be unable to remortgage their homes.

Published April 2012

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Pay your rent or be blacklisted

Reckless renters watch out - soon if you’re in arrears with your rent, or dare to do a moonlight flit, it could go down as a black mark on your credit file making it difficult to get credit cards or a mortgage.

Published March 2012

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How to cut your water bills

Water bills are dropping through letterboxes — and many will be a shock. Average bills in London top £300 and are set to rise even more next year. Unlike gas and electricity providers, you can’t switch water companies — they’re dictated by where you live. But there are ways to save.

Published March 2012

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Fasten your seat belt as car insurance prices bump up

Motorists might find the cost of petrol eye-watering but filling up at the pumps could soon look like a bargain compared with buying car insurance.

Published March 2012

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Go online for discount deals

New online ideas are aiming to capitalise on collective buying power to secure discounts. As well as lifestyle offers from Groupon and wowcher, it’s worth checking out money-saving deals on gas, electricity, insurance and telecoms.

Published March 2012

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Stop paying phantom subscriptions

Britons are wasting millions on long-forgotten standing orders that are being needlessly stripped from bank accounts every month. So it’s time we all had a banking spring clean.

Published February 2012

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Get it wrapped up with a tax-free ISA

It is hard to cross the road without one billboard or another reminding you about the Isa deadline. But a lot of Britons are failing to make the most of another side of the tax-free allowance: the stocks and shares Isa.

Published February 2012

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Energy giants give something away!

It’s still freezing out there, meaning energy price rises are continuing to have a big impact. So it’s worth capitalising on a rare piece of generosity from gas and electricity providers.

Published February 2012

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Mortgage costs fall to an eight-year low

Mortgage payments for first-time buyers are at their lowest for eight years thanks to record low interest rates, with competition among lenders driving down the cost of borrowing.

Published February 2012

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Twelve easy ways to make extra cash

If you're sick of our gloom and doom economy, take action and find ways to make yourself some much-needed extra dosh. We've found a dozen ways to make money.

Published February 2012

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For a nicer ISA seek that transfer now

Job for the day: check the interest rate you are getting from your ISA. If it is rubbish then move it, and if you have not used up your ISA allowance for this year, then do it now.

Published January 2012

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Ditch the big six and buy cheaper fuel

Energy prices are up and down like yo-yos. Following double-digit hikes in both gas and electricity prices by the big six providers at the start of winter, now most are set to cut electricity bills by about five per cent. But there are other ways to reduce your fuel bills and looking further afield for your energy is one of them.

Published January 2012

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New year credit card hangovers

New year, new credit card bills landing heavily on the doorstep? With all the signs suggesting that the economy is only going to get worse this year, it’s crucial to get your money in order now to give you some shelter from future storms.

Published January 2012

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Just say no to an extended warranty

The extended warranty business is worth £750 million a year. But are these guarantees worth it? Probably not. In fact, the industry is under investigation by the Office of Fair Trading which is looking into its value-for-money claims.

Published December 2011

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Your Christmas gift is a tax saver

If the current economic outlook is making you feel gloomier than a Christmas turkey why not give a gift that makes someone happy — eventually. A pension for your child.

Published December 2011

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Christmas: 'tis the season to be miserly

Christmas on a shoestring: that’s the plan for 60 per cent of Britons this time round. Soaring household bills, squeezed pay packets and uncertain job prospects mean the majority of gift-givers will spend less on presents, food, booze and cards this year.

Published November 2011

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Don't miss out on savings: remortgage now

A surprising two thirds of homeowners admit that they are languishing on the same mortgage deal they initially struck when moving into their home - missing out on the biggest budgeting idea of them all - remortgaging.

Published November 2011

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Personal finance: buying in London

Rocketing rail costs and job worries are prompting many 'exiled' Londoners to return to the capital. One couple share their experience.

Published November 2011

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Get smart with your smartphone cover

Thousands of gadget-lovers have flocked to buy the latest iPhone 4OS, but costing at least £499 to buy outright, and even more over the duration of a contract, it’s crucial to consider your cover if an expensive smartphone breaks. Or, just as likely, falls down the loo.

Published November 2011

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The charity bonds that keep on giving

Donating money to charity usually gives donors a dose of goodwill - but little else. A new charity bond, however, pays a market-leading rate as well as donating a percentage to the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

Published November 2011

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Mates' rates when you buy in bulk

Shopping with friends used to mean a Saturday afternoon in the high street with the girls buying a top for your evening out. Nowadays, Saturday afternoon is more likely to be spent buying a multipack of household goods and dividing it up among friends keen to save money.

Published November 2011

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Mortgage hunters do it in threes

Thanks to the toxic cocktail of record low interest rates, high inflation and banks demanding ever-greater deposits, two is no longer company and three is certainly no crowd when it comes to applying for a first mortgage.

Published October 2011

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They’re cooking the books on gas

It’s the news thousands of customers have suspected for years - Britain’s biggest energy firms give wrong information and “dodgy advice” to customers who try to switch their gas and electricity deals.

Published October 2011

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Another way the banks rip you off...

For most customers, the benefits of paid-for current accounts aren’t worth it. And a marvellous, one-off exclusive deal is rarely as good as it sounds.

Published October 2011

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Put your savings somewhere safe

Is economic Armageddon mark-II upon us? It's best to be prepared and think about where to put your savings.

Published October 2011

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Switch mortgage rates - and make it snappy

Homeowners sitting on a standard variable-rate mortgage should switch now, say brokers.

Published September 2011

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How to keep freshers within budget

New research reveals students now pay an average £320 a month in rent and £58 on utilities - add that to food, fun and transport costs, factor and it's clear that cost-cutting must begin at the start of uni.

Published September 2011

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Don't call anyone at Christmas

BT has announced a five per cent increase to its landline charges and call costs from December 2011.

Published September 2011

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Group buying is not always the real deal

GROUPON, Wahanda, Crowdity, Keynoir, Living Social and other group-buying sites have had a speedy path to popularity. But the hype doesn't always match the reality. Our money expert checks out the deals.

Published September 2011

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Avoid expensive builders

More than two million households ended up in dispute with a builder or decorator in the past three years. Our money expert outlines the golden rules when hiring builders.

Published August 2011

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Take an energy test

We knew it was coming: the hikes in energy bills look set to add up to £200 to the average household’s annual bills, tipping more into fuel poverty this winter. But there are ways to limit the pain. Londoners can opt for a free, 90-minute money-saving energy efficiency test.

Published August 2011

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Check out the ISA deals

If you've got spare savings now, don't wait for the end of the tax year to take advantage of the opportunity to squirrel away some cash, tax-free.

Published August 2011

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The taxman taketh, now he giveth back

The words “tax” and “good news” don’t tend to mingle in the same sentence. But for millions of taxpayers this year, they will. That’s because HM Revenue and Customs has admitted that it made mistakes with its calculations, leaving up to 3.5 million Britons set to enjoy tax rebates. The average payment will be £340, but some could see thousands of pounds returned.

Published July 2011

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Avoid a mobile holiday hangover

Despite moves to cut the cost of calls and texts abroad, access to voicemail and to the internet via smartphones from outside the UK still amount to big bills. Our money expert finds out how to keep the costs down.

Published July 2011

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One way to make banks behave

One of the biggest shocks to emerge from the banking crisis were some of the strange and risky investments the banks were chucking savers’ money into. Now the industry is starting to listen to calls for banks to become more transparent about their lending. But ethical banks point out they’ve been doing so for years.

Published July 2011

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Dramatic drop in mortgage rates

Rates across the board are falling. The question that borrowers are grappling with is: To fix, or not to fix?

Published July 2011

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Be a landlord for the Olympics

Homeowners could earn thousands by renting out their properties during the Games next summer. Our money expert discovers the pluses and pitfalls of Olympic lets.

Published June 2011

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Lenders cut their mortgage rates

House-hunters haven’t had much good news in recent months, with fewer homes on the market and hurdles to getting a mortgage. But now there’s finally some good news. After banks raised fixed-rate mortgage deals expecting a base-rate hike, they are now dropping them.

Published June 2011

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Making a comeback: 95 per cent loans

New schemes have been launched by lenders to help first-time buyers raise a deposit. Our money expert points to the best mortgages for people wanting their first home.

Published June 2011

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Reduce living costs and save

With no sign of inflation falling, our finance expert has put together a step-by-step guide to cutting bills and saving more.

Published June 2011

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Fixed-price energy deals

Today’s high energy bills are set to soar even higher this year. The top tip is to switch now to a fixed-price deal.

Published May 2011

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Snap up a new inflation-beating government savings certificate

News of jammed phone lines amid soaring demand for the new inflation-beating government savings certificate might put you off applying. But, if you have savings that you can afford to lock away for five years, nothing should deter you.

Published May 2011

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Rates crisis for credit card users

Since the City watchdog stopped banks profiting from customers’ debts at the start of the year, card providers have put up interest rates by about two per cent, to an average 19.1 per cent.

Published May 2011

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Are you eligible for PPI payback?

Three million Britons who may have been missold payment protection insurance could be due average of £1,500 refunds.

Published May 2011

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How to get a council tax rebate

Londoners paying high council tax could be in for a refund after it was revealed that millions of homeowners have slashed their bills by challenging their “banding”.

Published April 2011

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Slash your mobile phone bills

Our money expert guides you through an easy way of comparing recent bills and working out which new contract would give you the best deal.

Published April 2011

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Plastic is back: credit card deals

A credit card battle is breaking out on the high street. Shoppers can take advantage of current deals to secure interest-free loans, but the really savvy can rake in attractive cashback and shopping vouchers.

Published April 2011

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Inflation-linked bonds are back

Savers sick of seeing the value of their nest eggs wiped out by inflation were given a boost by the return of a government-backed savings product in the Budget - but with a rush to buy them expected, savers must register for certificates now.

Published April 2011

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End of tax breaks for work on holiday lets

Holiday-let landlords in the UK and Europe should organise repairs now to take advantage of tax breaks that will disappear from April 5, 2011.

Published March 2011

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Peer-to-peer banking

Peer-to-peer lending has never been more popular. Like speed-dating for finances, this form of banking brings savers and lenders together online, cutting out the big banks.

Published March 2011

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Mortgage fraud: why it never pays to lie

Our finance expert shows us why it never pays to lie on mortgage applications — and how to deal with over-enthusiastic brokers tempted to falsify details on your behalf.

Published March 2011

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Deal or no deal on savings?

A quick scan of the “best-buy” tables for savings accounts could make you feel it’s not worth bothering to find the best deal for your money. But banks are currently offering a range of cash-Isa deals to lure last-minute savers.

Published March 2011

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Payment protection insurance

Payment Protection Insurance is offered to help you repay loans if you fall ill or lose your job, but many consumers have complained about the way it is sold. Our money expert shows you how to get this type of cover without wasting your money.

Published March 2011

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Get your bank account into shape

How often do you check your direct debits and standing orders? Many bank customers end up paying for gym membership, email accounts or web subscriptions for years after they have finished using them but failed to cancel.

Published February 2011

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How to lower your tax bill on buy-to-let property

Buy-to-let is still a popular investment route and, for many, good tax-planning can make it even more lucrative.

Published February 2011

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Dear bank: you’re fired!

Almost half of all banking customers would switch providers for better client service. The only problem is… they don’t know where to find it.

Published February 2011

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Banks do us a favour? Loans get cheaper

When banks start being nice to borrowers, it is usually time to get suspicious. But if you want to borrow cash to buy that must-have item of homeware from the sales, it seems that interest rates for personal loans are now at their lowest since 2008.

Published February 2011

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Reduce your energy use at home

The average London household spends about £1,200 a year on fuel and could save about £250 of that by making home and habits more energy-efficient.

Published January 2011

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Save energy and cash

Prince Charles, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert Redford have all done it, but turning a home’s energy supply green isn’t just for the rich. As fuel prices rocket, everyone can benefit from living a more eco-friendly life and our money expert, knows exactly where you should start…

Published January 2011

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Compare prices for the best-value deals

The rapid spread of price-comparison websites means most people now shop around for the best-value deals. Insurance and energy-providers are the most common searches, but you should not restrict your deal-hunting to just personal finance products. They exist for a huge range of goods and services, including books, music, theatre tickets, hotels and flights.

Published January 2011

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Trouble is on the cards

The Christmas hangover could be a painful and expensive one for the millions who paid for the festive period with card debt. But some banks are offering attractive deals for interest-free lending, so now is the time to take action.

Published January 2011

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Shop wisely at the sales

If you buy wisely, sales can be an excellent opportunity to save money. But retailers have become increasingly savvy at setting up honey-traps for your cash. Our money expert offers tips on how to shop wisely this festive season.

Published December 2010

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Tax-saving gifts

Charities miss out on hundreds of millions of pounds each year because donors fail to use Gift Aid, a scheme that allows them to claim an extra 28p from every £1. So if you're Christmas giving includes a charity donation, it's worth signing up.

Published December 2010

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Beat the VAT rise

It won’t be possible to completely avoid the 2.5 per cent VAT rise to 20 per cent from January but by planning ahead, shopping from particular retailers and being selective about what you buy, you can lessen the rise’s impact.

Published December 2010

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Shop around for home insurance

Insurance premium tax goes up to six per cent in January - just as premiums are set to rise following a deluge of flood claims. You’ll need to shop around more than ever for home insurance, so we've got some neat tricks to help keep costs down.

Published November 2010

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Avoid a financial hangover in 2011

Despite warnings about the tough economic times ahead, spending this Christmas is set to be higher than last year. Spend and borrow with care in what’s left of 2010 before VAT and inflation rocket in 2011.

Published November 2010

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Save on a home abroad

If you’re buying a holiday home abroad you could save money by using an online foreign exchange broker, rather than a bank, to send money. We find out how to pick a blue-chip broker and where to get the best deals.

Published November 2010

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Home emergency cover

In London an emergency callout visit from a plumber when your boiler breaks or a pipe bursts can easily cost £500. That’s why it’s time to consider home emergency cover.

Published October 2010

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Save with green light bulbs

As British households use an average of seven hours of artificial light every day during winter, it’s worth swapping to energy-saving bulbs.

Published October 2010

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Get the best broadband deal

Booming competition means a host of new broadband deals have just come on the market, so switching providers is likely to save you money.

Published October 2010

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Get the right gas fitter

British households are wasting £100 million every year fixing botched gas jobs carried out by unqualified fitters. Fixing a cowboy’s poor work tends to cost people dear, but this can be avoided.

Published October 2010

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Controlling bills made easy

A new initiative should help you to understand your gas and electricity bills more easily and make it simpler to switch to a cheaper supplier.

Published October 2010

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Booking cheap rail tickets

Christmas might still seem yonks away, but if you want to travel the country by train this festive season, you need to start booking now.

Published October 2010

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Mint it like the Milibands

Over the years, the new leader of the Labour Party Ed Miliband and his partner Justine Thornton have learned how to successfully climb the property ladder. Follow their savvy steps towards a property fortune.

Published October 2010

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Improve your credit score

Ensuring that you have the best-possible credit rating is an easy way to cut the cost of repaying financial services products like loans or credit cards.

Published September 2010

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Slash those fuel bills now

Now is the best time to prepare to save energy during the winter months. Since energy prices are rising, any way to cut the volume of heat you use will pay off.

Published September 2010

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Rent out your possessions to make money

New websites are set up to rent anything and everything as the presence of an online rental marketplace grows in popularity.

Published September 2010

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The best currency buy-back rates

Shopping around to get the best buy-back rates for unused currency will pay off.

Published September 2010

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Are electric cars money savers?

The Nissan's zero-emission electric car, the Leaf, is due to hit UK forecourts early next year - but lower emissions doesn't necessarily mean lower costs just yet.

Published September 2010

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Make a profit by renting out your home for short lets

The trend for couchsurfing - when you wangle a free night’s stay on a stranger’s sofa - has been cutting holidaymakers’ bills for a while now. But now a new website is promising to help London homeowners who want to make money from their beds to cash in.

Published September 2010

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Banking for graduates

Finding the right graduate bank account and shrewd money management is vital for new graduates faced with student debts and a difficult jobs market.

Published September 2010

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Cut garage costs

All your worries about what really goes on in car garages are true, according to an undercover survey from consumer group Which? Find out how to pick a garage for an MOT or service.

Published August 2010

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Setting up a student bank account

Sorting out a student bank account early will ensure the most generous interest-free overdrafts or the best-available freebies will be offered.

Published August 2010

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Using mobile phones abroad

If you’re reliant on your mobile or addicted to a BlackBerry or iPhone, heading abroad over summer may prove expensive. Save money by asking your network about available bundles.

Published August 2010

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Water meters can save you money

Unlike the energy market, you can’t change water providers but you can find ways to lower the cost. The first thing to do is consider a water meter: if you have more bedrooms than people living in your house, they are likely to cut your bill.

Published August 2010

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Save money with solar panels

Solar panels cut carbon dioxide emissions and will reduce energy bills - and homeowners can now take advantage of incentive schemes and install them for free.

Published August 2010

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Keep your computer safe for free

Fraudsters are switching their focus from traditional bank card fraud to breaking into internet bank accounts. The best ways to avoid becoming part of this year’s statistic are by staying vigilant and downloading good-quality security software. Luckily, there are lots of good-quality security options available to help keep your computer safe for free.

Published August 2010

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Shop around for the Apple iPhone 4

Apple’s iPhone 4 was never going to be one for the penny-pincher, but tot up the monthly bills and handset fees, software upgrades and must-have apps and the new cult phone reveals itself as among the more expensive devices on the market. But, as ever, the pain can be eased if you shop around.

Published August 2010

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How to cut moving costs

Moving house, or even just shifting a single piece of furniture around the country, is an expensive business. But using a free online delivery auction service could slash the cost.

Published July 2010

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Find unclaimed assets

A new Government scheme that will help charities run public services is to be funded by some of the “lost” millions lying dormant in bank and building society accounts. Is any of that unclaimed money yours? Now it's easy to find out.

Published July 2010

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Online shopping made cheaper

The profundity of discount vouchers for internet shopping mean it’s usually quite easy to shave pounds off an online shopping trip.

Published July 2010

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Budget your broadband

The Government promised this week to give the UK 'the best super-fast broadband in Europe', but that might take some time.

Published July 2010

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Best savings accounts

To beat inflation, basic-rate taxpayers now need to earn at least 4 per cent on their savings to stop the value of their cash being eroded. For higher-rate taxpayers, it’s even worse: savings accounts need to pay out 5.33 per cent to combat the double whammy of tax and inflation.

Published July 2010

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Swap skills for free

Finding a plumber, builder, or gardener who’s willing to work for free sounds too good to be true. But if you have a swapable skill, be it filing accounts or filing nails, it might not be.

Published July 2010

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How to cut your car running costs

As the costs of running a car are increasing, we've found ways to save on petrol and car insurance.

Published July 2010

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Reap credit card rewards

As the credit card market gets back on its feet, providers are offering a host of new reward cards that are well worth a look.

Published July 2010

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Earn more interest from ISAs

New plans to cut the length of time it takes to move your money from one ISA provider to another are set to give Britons up to £14.5 million more a year in interest.

Published July 2010

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Slash your landline bill

Bartering and comparing costs has become the norm when we buy a new mobile phone contract, but what about your home phoneline? It’s easy to knock hundreds off your annual bill.

Published July 2010

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Lock up the garden shed

Thefts from outside the home start to increase as the evenings get lighter in March and steadily rise until their peak in July and August.

Published June 2010

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Make some cash from 'old junk'

A host of firms are offering consumers a way to earn money from recycling unwanted mobile phones, digital cameras, laptops and MP3 players.

Published June 2010

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Bike insurance

The average Briton’s bike is worth £240 - so it’s definitely worth checking whether your home contents insurance covers your two-wheeler if it is stolen.

Published June 2010

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Get clever over fuel bills

It’s a good time to consider a fixed-rate gas and electricity tariff, which will give you some certainly over future bills - at least for the length of the contract.

Published June 2010

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Cashback sites

One of the easiest ways to save money while buying expensive items is to buy online and shop via a cashback website. These sites pay you when you buy something from thousands of retailers, including B&Q, Heal’s, and Currys.

Published June 2010

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Clearance websites

Households and landlords looking to save money on white goods and home appliances may be able to find bargains on retailers’ clearance websites.

Published June 2010

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Gardening on the cheap

The £250,000 typically spent on a garden for Chelsea Flower Show may be beyond most household budgets. But stay-at-home Britons are expected to shell out £420 on average to improve their own outside space. For the cost-conscious, seed- and plant-swapping websites can offer a helping hand for little more than the price of postage.

Published May 2010

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How to escape budget hikes

Next month’s emergency Budget holds threats for, among others, buy-to-let landlords and second-home owners.

Published May 2010

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Recycle with give and take

A number of websites are building community spirit and encouraging recycling in the capital by listing local people who have goods they will lend out at no charge, or give away.

Published May 2010

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Cut the cost of card protection

A free online tool aims to help reduce the hassle of cancelling lost and stolen credit and other cards.

Published May 2010

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Use your energy to cut the bills

Nearly half a million British Gas customers face a leap in charges as their fixed “Price Protection” plans come to an end.

Published April 2010

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Tax relief for spring-cleaning

Half of all charity shops operate tax-efficient “donated stock” schemes - at no cost to donors - while allowing higher-rate taxpayers to reduce their own tax bills by 25p for every £1 an item sells for.

Published April 2010

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The spring home loans deals

Lenders are cutting mortgage rates and increasing product choice as the spring home-buying season gets under way.

Published April 2010

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How to avoid stamp duty

There are a surprising number of loopholes in stamp duty rules that allow more people than just first-time buyers (FTBs) to benefit from the recent abolition of the duty on properties sold for less than £250,000.

Published March 2010

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Cash-reward credit cards

Eight million customers of Barclaycard, the UK’s biggest credit card company, can now earn cash rebates of £10 for every £1,000 they spend at a range of local shops and retail chains.

Published March 2010

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Best deals on tax-free ISAs

Savers have less than three weeks to use their Isa allowances before the end of the tax year on 5 April; those who have already taken out a tax-free account for 2009/10 should also consider switching older Isas to improve returns.

Published March 2010

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Offsetting your mortgage

With the base rate at 0.5 per cent for a year, offset mortgages are a tax-efficient way to squeeze more value from savings.

Published March 2010

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Cut household water bills

Household water bills in the capital will generally rise by a few pounds from 1 April 2010, with Thames Water's 2010/11 charges up an average of 1.3 per cent to £303.

Published March 2010

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Cheaper home insurance

Home insurance premiums have risen 10 per cent in a year, so it’s more important than ever to shop around when renewing policies.

Published February 2010

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Protect against fuel price hikes

Worried about the rising cost of petrol or home heating oil? A new "risk management" service offers protection against price hikes.

Published February 2010

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Comparing the comparison sites

If it is big-ticket bargains in homeware you are after, then there are a number of money -saving and price comparison sites you should know about that will save you time and money.

Published February 2010

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Playing the 0-per-cent game

Still in debt from Christmas? Switching your debt to a nought per cent card could save up to hundreds of pounds in interest charges.

Published February 2010

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Keeping energy costs down

The recent big freeze added an estimated £100-plus to the average home’s winter fuel bill. You may be able to save hundreds of pounds in future by switching to a cheaper energy supplier.

Published January 2010

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Keep tax down

With the 31 January deadline for filing 2008-9 tax returns fast approaching, landlords and the self-employed can cut their tax bills with a range of property expenses.

Published January 2010

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£400 to scrap your old boiler

Hurry if you want the £400 off a new boiler under the boiler scrappage scheme: four million homes could qualify but there is only enough cash for 125,000, so you have to register early.

Published January 2010

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Keep mortgage costs down

Many thousands of existing borrowers will see their standard variable rates (SVRs) rise, brokers predict. Lenders can change their SVRs at any time, and some have already increased them. More attractive remortgage deals are emerging which could offer savings of hundreds of pounds a month.

Published December 2009

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Property recovery funds

With buy-to-let finance harder to obtain these days, investors looking to take advantage of reduced house prices may be tempted by property “recovery” funds.

Published December 2009

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Credit-crunch Christmas

Credit cards generally give a few weeks to clear the bill for new purchases before starting to charge interest - but some offer interest-free for up to a year: a great help at Christmas.

Published November 2009

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Beating the winter budget

High-end homebuyers and second-property owners may be able to sidestep potential tax threats in the pre-Budget report in December by taking action now.

Published November 2009

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Home emergency insurance cover

A domestic boiler breaks down every 20 seconds in the UK, often leaving their owners stressed and facing a big unexpected bill.

Published November 2009

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Make cash from recycling

Turn unwanted or broken electrical items into hard cash by recycling.

Published November 2009

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Benefit charity in your will

London solicitors are offering to draw up wills for free in return for a donation to charity as part of the annual Will Aid campaign.

Published October 2009

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Letting your parking space

London homes with off-street parking can earn hundreds of pounds a month letting the space.

Published October 2009

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Stamp duty holiday ends soon

Homebuyers should move quickly if they want to take advantage of the current stamp duty “holiday” on properties costing between £125,000 and £175,000.

Published October 2009

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Variable or fixed-rate loan

Borrowers looking for a new mortgage may be better off going for a variable-rate or tracker-style loan rather than a fixed-rate deal, despite the record 0.5 per cent low in Bank of England interest costs.

Published October 2009

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More tax-free interest on savings

Millions of savers aged 50 or over can earn extra tax-free interest from next week, following an increase to Individual Savings Account (ISA) limits.

Published September 2009

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Turn eco-power into money

Summer may be all but over but saving money can always give you a warm glow. Solar power is becoming more attractive thanks to a new grant of up to £2,500 and "clean energy cashback" scheme.

Published September 2009

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Cash transfers

Owners and buyers of overseas properties should look to specialist currency transfer services, rather than banks, for competitive exchange rates and savings on a range of other charges.

Published September 2009

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Ground rents as an investment

Auction firms report brisk sales of “ground rents” - freeholds which pay an annual income and can provide a future windfall.

Published September 2009

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Students and their money

London remains the most expensive place in the UK to be a university student, underlining the value of seeking out savings wherever possible.

Published September 2009

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Letting a room to a lodger

Households across the UK have taken in an extra 600,000 lodgers in the past year to help pay the bills.

Published August 2009

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Foreign banks seek British borrowers

Foreign banks, which have already shaken up the UK savings market, are offering mortgage rates as low as 2.5 per cent to British homeowners.

Published August 2009

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Switching fixed energy tariffs

Summer may seem a strange time to worry about heating and power bills, but experts warn that many thousands of households currently should waste no time in shopping around for a cheaper plan.

Published August 2009

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You are never too old to get a mortgage

Many homeowners are reaching 65 without paying off their mortgages. So what is the maximum age you can remain a borrower?

Published August 2009

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Cutting the cost of credit

Credit card rates remain high at 18 per cent on average, so it pays to find ways of cutting their cost.

Published July 2009

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Profiting from your mortgage

Low borrowing rates mean it could be better to put spare cash in a savings account rather than pay off your mortgage.

Published July 2009

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Online mortgages

Borrowers can pocket commission rebates worth hundreds of pounds by taking out their mortgages through some online brokers.

Published July 2009

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How to avoid stamp duty

There are legal ways to avoid stamp duty - and you don’t have to be a “flipping” MP.

Published July 2009

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Offset mortgages and how they work

This type of mortgage allows homeowners to use their savings to reduce monthly loan costs while keeping full access to their spare money.

Published June 2009

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How to ‘flip’ like a pro

“Flipping” a home may be at the core of the MPs’ expenses scandal, but remains a good tax wheeze for people who own more than one property.

Published June 2009

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New ways to help your children buy a home

Take advantage of new mortgage deals designed to help your children buy a home, without having to make a substantial cash gift.

Published June 2009

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Home insurance savings

Buying home insurance through a cashback website can give extra savings - you can even get paid up to £100 simply for taking out a policy.

Published June 2009

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Cash in your clutter

Declutterers who give their unwanted goods to certain charity shops can boost the value of these donations, at no cost to themselves, with Gift Aid tax relief.

Published May 2009

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Euro-homes tax rebate

Britons who own holiday homes on the Continent, which they let out, could be eligible for thousands of pounds in tax rebates.

Published May 2009

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Earn five per cent while saving for your home deposit

With mortgage lenders now commonly requiring large deposits, first-time buyers looking to take advantage of lower property prices need all the help they can get to build up their savings.

Published May 2009

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