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…

In 2008, having entered its second year, there seems to be little chance of the credit crisis easing forcing most financial analysts to re-evaluate their position and work out how severe it will get and how much longer it will prevail. Indeed, a recent UK survey has highlighted that customer confidence is at its lowest level since the strike-ridden days of 1974 as the media…

With 69% of Britons preferring to use plastic rather than cash, a whopping 3 million of them juggling 5 or more credit cards, and someone every two seconds switching credit cards in order to take advantage of introductory 0% interest balance transfer offers, the credit card business is bigger than ever. However, despite a somewhat fashionable status among individual consumers, who watch and wait for…

When the coach makes that big signing, it’s easy for fans to get excited. Remember the buzz around Chelsea when Roman Abromavich took over, brought in Jose Mourinho, and splurged on top players like Andrei Shevchenko, who cost the Russian businessman a British transfer record ?30m? Football fans across the country, not just Chelsea fans, were excited about this record-breaking deal, and whether in favour…

If you have noticed that your money isn’t going as far as it used to, even compared to a few months ago, you aren’t alone. The current state of the economy means that prices are rising and income is largely staying the same, which isn’t good news when it comes to making ends meet. But is there anything you can do about it? Luckily there…

The great housing boom of the nineties and onwards was a time of endless building and big dreams, but these things cannot last and the inevitable downturn has occurred with house prices and value falling at record rates. We all knew this day would come, as change is inevitable; but many of us have been surprised that it took this long for things to turn…

In recent times the press has been full of reports of monetary doom and gloom. The credit crunch has undoubtedly been the talk around many breakfast tables across the UK and with predictions of a looming recession is there any silver lining to this cloud? Much has been made of the rise in grocery prices but with the competition between the supermarkets being so fierce…

Availing of a mortgage means many things to those who wish to be homeowners. For most, it means entering into a lengthy and detailed process that requires a significant amount of paperwork — much of which is used to prove the identity of the borrower, source of income and the mortgage applicant’s prospects for repaying the loan. There is no shortage of people who have…

Financial savings are vitally important. Not only do they provide a way to purchase the more expensive items in life, such as a car or house, but they also provide security against the unexpected. Savings are also crucial for those who are retired, since they offer the means to go on living in the way they have become accustomed to while working. Recent research suggests…

We’re all desperate to save money on gas these days. We shop for the lowest prices, follow the news, combine trips, walk more. But for many of us, especially Realtors, dealing with the gas crunch is unavoidable. Not every house you sell is going to be in your neighborhood, not every house a client wants to see is down the street. They want the city,…