Arranging a funeralSuffering a bereavement is a difficult enough time without the stress of arranging a funeral. It can be an expensive business, though, so it pays to do your research and contact a few different funeral directors before making a decision.
Flight compensation: your rightsIt's really no fun when you're stuck in the wrong place or left hanging
around in an airport because of flight delays and cancellations - and
what's more it can leave you out of pocket.
Obtaining probateThis guide is an introduction to obtaining probate after someone's
death in order to administer their estate.
When someone dies, their finances, assets and belongings (i.e. their
estate) have to be sorted out and distributed among those who are
entitled to them.
The financial cost of divorceApart from all the emotional turmoil, there are so many practical
matters that must be sorted out when a married relationship comes to an
end.
Don't get into debt this ChristmasThis the season to be jolly ... and to spend lots of money, it would
seem. Christmas can be an enormous strain on the family budget. It's
not just presents that you have to worry about - which itself can be a
nightmare as you battle with pressure from the kids for the latest
must-have toys and gadgets - but also food, drink and entertainment.
When the bailiff comes knocking - what are your rights?If your debts get to the stage where a bailiff comes knocking at your
door to seize goods, it can be a very distressing experience.
Parents: helping your child onto the property ladderIt's increasingly difficult for young people to get on the first rung
of the property ladder alone, as property prices are rising much more
quickly than earnings. This is where parents can help.
Saving money with your energy supplierThe energy supply market was deregulated in 1999 and since then
millions of people across the UK have benefited from cheaper bills by
switching their gas or electricity supplier.
Consumer scams - don't be a victimFraudsters are continually coming up with new ways to con unsuspecting
people into parting with their money, and with the internet, email and
mobile phones it's becoming easier and easier for them.
Getting a mortgage with friendsProperty prices for even the smallest apartments are beyond the reach of many first time buyers nowadays. As a result, more and more people are clubbing together with friends to share a mortgage and ownership of a property.
Increase the value of your home - build or extendOnce upon a time, investing in property was a sure-fire way to make
money, but as the property market has slowed down over recent years,
homeowners need to be wise about how they maintain and improve their
property in order to make money from it as buyers are becoming more
demanding.
Increase the value of your home - cosmetic changesThe property market is very unpredictable nowadays - sales are slower
and buyers more demanding. It can therefore be difficult to make a
profit on selling your home unless you think carefully about how to
make it more marketable.
Self-build - finance your dream homeHaving your very own, custom-built dream home is a lot easier and
cheaper than you might think. Although building your own property
involves a great deal of planning and hard work, it's within the reach
of most people, especially now that many mortgage lenders will lend on
self-build properties.
Islamic financesIf you're Muslim and are concerned about financial products that comply
with Sharia Law, there are more and more options available to you
today. The first Islamic bank in the UK, the Islamic Bank of Britain,
opened its headquarters in Birmingham in 2004, offering a range of
products and services such as pensions, mortgages and loans.
Reasons for starting up a companyPeople set themselves up in business for many different reasons.
Sometimes they have an idea that will fill a niche in the market or is
a vast improvement on current products or services available.
Is being self-employed the right thing for you?As well as being viable from a business perspective, it's also crucial
that setting up a company is appropriate for your personal needs. It's
a huge commitment that will require a lot of hard work, so you need to
be sure that you're up to it and that your lifestyle can support it.
How to create a good business plan?Once youfve got a good idea of whether your business is viable and
youfve analysed the market, itfs time to draw up a business plan.
How do I obtain capital to invest in my business start up?You'll almost certainly need to raise money to start up your company,
unless you already have sufficient capital yourself. The typical costs
of starting up are in obtaining premises, manufacturing your product if
you have one, buying materials, stock or equipment, marketing and fees
for external consultancy such as legal help, accountancy etc.
Buying goods abroad: UK customsIf you're planning to bring goods into the UK from travels abroad or from purchasing on the Internet, there are some important customs laws that you should be aware of.
Protecting yourself from identity fraudYour identity is extremely valuable. You need it to prove who you are
for various purposes in your day-to-day life, such as opening a bank
account, obtaining a loan, getting a credit card, purchasing goods or
services, applying for a passport or driving licence.
Gas guzzlers: the cost of running a car todayWe're a nation of car users - although not always by choice. Expensive and unreliable public transport systems have forced many of us onto the roads, but having a car certainly isn't a cheap alternative. The cost of owning a car, even if you don't use it much, is very expensive.
The Pros and Cons of Store CardsWhy shouldn't you take advantage of the offers if they're there for the taking? You could save a lot of money by opening a store card (for example, discounts of up to 20% may be offered with your first purchase), as long as you are sure that you will be able to pay the bill before interest is charged.
Inheritance tax, a concise guideWith ever-increasing property prices, more and more people's assets are now worth more than the inheritance tax threshold of £285,000, which has never been increased in proportion to the recent property boom.
The importance of making a willPlease note: this article applies to residents of England, Wales and
Northern Ireland and is provided for general information only. It does
not constitute financial advice.
Getting to grips with ISAsThe Individual Savings Account (ISA) scheme was set up by the government in 1999 to encourage people to save more money. It allows people to save up to a certain amount each year without paying tax on the interest or income from it.
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