Money Saving News for April 2009
- Energy firms criticised for 'inaccurate' utility bills - 20th April, 2009
Utility bills - and particularly those for energy and electricity - are the most frequently inaccurate financial documents to land on British doormats, according to consumers.
A survey by uSwitch.com found that energy suppliers are the most likely organisations to send incorrect bills - the third consecutive year that this was found to be the case... - Money saving tips issued by the Co-operative - 20th April, 2009
Those who struggle to make their wages stretch until the end of the month may be glad to hear money saving tips issued by the Co-operative Bank.
Research by the bank shows that most people have spent the bulk of their wages by the 20th of each month. To help avoid this, consumers are advised to make a monthly budget and stick to it... - Halifax pensions advice issued - 20th April, 2009
Halifax has revealed that more than half (52 per cent) of people in the UK do not put money aside in retirement pensions.
Furthermore, the average consumer is willing to save just £59 a month for their retirement, though most are unable to even do this until the age of 32.
Coupled with this lack of saving is an unrealistic expectation of what the state can provide. More than two-thirds believe the state pension is higher than its current level of £4,716 a year... - Habitat offers online gift vouchers - 17th April, 2009
Online gift vouchers are being offered by Habitat, the chain of furniture shops which has branches across the UK.
The company will give any customer who registers their details on its UK website, habitat.co.uk, a free online gift voucher worth £5 which can be used at any of its shops or online for purchases of £25 or more... - UK offers 'shopping vouchers' to electric car buyers - 17th April, 2009
Grants which are effectively UK shopping vouchers will be offered to Brits who buy electric cars, according to a new scheme announced by the government.
The initiative, which is to be introduced in 2011, will offer people in the UK up to £5,000 in money off savings if they buy a vehicle powered entirely by an electric motor... - Cheap loans 'may return to the market' - 17th April, 2009
Cheap loans, which have been hard to come by in the UK since the onset of the credit crunch, may return to the market if current trends continue, according to research released recently.
The study, conducted by moneysupermarket.com, has revealed that the average rate of interest charged on financial loans is falling, as competition returns to the marketplace... - Dealing with debt 'a priority for Brits' - 17th April, 2009
Dealing with debt was a priority for many people in the UK in the second half of last year, new research has shown.
According to the study, conducted by Unbiased.co.uk, Brits began 2008 borrowing 66 pence for every pound that was saved as they took advantage of cheap loans. However, by the last quarter were repaying their debt at a rate of £1.76 for every pound saved.
Overall, the websites figures show that 2008 is the first year during which people in the UK have paid off more debt than they have borrowed... - Promo codes beat online gift vouchers, says expert - 16th April, 2009
Online gift vouchers may not be the best way to save money according to one expert, who recommends that people use internet promotional codes instead.
Writing on Money Saving Blog, Kathryn explained the different options facing customers when choosing internet-based money off gift vouchers... - Fraudulent home contents insurance claims 'on the rise' - 16th April, 2009
Increasing numbers of Brits are making fraudulent home contents insurance claims as the recession bites, according to figures released today.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI), the industry body which compiled the research, found that the number of fraudulent insurance claims overall rose by 17 per cent last year compared to 2007... - Outlook for capital investments poor, say Brits - 16th April, 2009
The prospects for capital investments in the UK are not good according to many Brits, a new survey has shown.
Barclays, which conducted the poll, found that 71 per cent of the general public will choose not to invest their money in the stock market this coming year, as they are not optimistic about the prospects of the returns...