In times when inflation is on the rise and the economy is on the downturn, it becomes more important than ever to make sure our money is working as hard as possible for us. This applies regardless of the situation you are in. For example, you may have your own business that you rely on for all your income; in this case it is particularly…
All lotteries are games of chance, and as such there is nothing that a player can do to change the actual odds of winning. However, there are things that players can do as an individual to help improve their chances of winning a lottery prize. Different lottery games offer different odds of winning and the odds are generally dependent on the quantity of numbers that…
There seems to be no shortage of advertising for financial solutions and it’s hard to know which messages could be relevant to you and are worth looking into. High interest rates on savings accounts, low interest rates on credit cards and overdrafts are just a few examples – no wonder many consumers are left confused! You might currently be happy with your banking situation, which…
So, you’ve managed to survive the whole year away from home. Although there were tears, tantrums and moments of homesickness, all in all your first year at university was great. And, despite your initial feelings of trepidation over launching a new life in an unknown place, you have tasted independence and loved it! With most having spent their first year in student accommodation – usually…
The principals behind buying a new car are relatively straight forward. Settle on a budget, go to a car dealer and then buy a car; simple. However, very few people are fortunate enough to be in a position to afford a car outright and therefore need to use a car credit facility to secure the funds. And because this is normally a long-term financial commitment,…
They say that the further Guinness travels away from Dublin, the worse it tastes. Now whilst the more sceptical among us may put this down to overly-reminiscent Irish men and women who have simply been away from home too long, it’s probably wise not to dismiss this claim too soon; at least, not until a pint of the black stuff has been tried direct from…
Roman Emperor Hadrian was a complex character. He once agonised at length whether grass felt pain when it was cut, but on the other hand he was quite happy to order the slaughter of men, women and children in their thousands without a second thought. Totally ruthless, yet paradoxically incredibly cultured, Hadrian ruled the Roman Empire from AD117 to AD138, and is most famous in…
The tea ceremony has been an integral facet of Chinese culture since the days of old Beijing and is one that remains popular within contemporary Chinese society. In centuries past, teahouses were at the heart of Chinese social activity where people from all walks of life would gather to enjoy tea and swap stories. Today, teahouses play a similar role in everyday Chinese life and…
With the so-called ‘credit crunch’ wreaking havoc with the global economy, it’s probably safe to say that money is more of an issue than it has been in a long time for most people. Homeowners, in particular, have perhaps felt the squeeze most. With house-values crashing and interest rates rising, many people have found themselves not only in negative equity but also facing financial ruin…
They say that the further Guinness travels away from Dublin, the worse it tastes. Now whilst the more sceptical among us may put this down to overly-reminiscent Irish men and women who have simply been away from home too long, it’s probably wise not to dismiss this claim too soon; at least, not until a pint of the black stuff has been tried direct from…