Money Saving News for August 2009
- Fee-free balance transfer credit cards disappear from the market - 28th August, 2009
Customers wanting to take out a credit card which allows them to transfer balances without being charged a fee are slowly being taken off the market by lenders, according to one industry figure.
The Daily Mail's financial expert James Coney wrote in the newspaper that with Barclaycard and Citibank both making their fee-free balance transfer credit card options unavailable in recent weeks, there is now only one provider to go to... - Consumers fail utility bill calculation test - 28th August, 2009
Households cannot add up how much they owe in utility bills, according to new research from uSwitch.com.
The financial advice website has challenged 2,700 people to take up the simple task of calculating the sum total owed on an average utility bill, but 86 per cent of those who tried have failed to reach the correct amount... - Website offers student vehicle insurance tips - 28th August, 2009
Those thinking of taking their car to university with them after receiving their A-level results last week might want to heed the advice of one financial website, which has offered some vehicle insurance tips.
Moneyextra.com said in the Mirror that students could see their auto insurance increase as they move from home to university accommodation, but by being vigilant and making sure their policy is accurate, youngsters could save some money... - Financial loan rates 'unfair' - 28th August, 2009
The rates on secured and unsecured loans being offered by lenders at the moment have been branded unjustified by one financial advice website, which has released research on the subject.
In a study of the average level of interest applied to financial loans over the past four years, moneysupermarket.com found that borrowers can expect to pay a typical 10.32 per cent rate for figures of £5,000... - Home contents insurance for student bikes recommended - 28th August, 2009
M&S Money has warned students who received their A-level results recently that if they plan to take a bike to university with them, they should look to take out home contents insurance to protect it from theft.
Research by the firm shows that 22 per cent of people trying to save money by cycling while at university have had their bikes stolen by thieves and it advises home contents insurance in order to help avoid a hefty bill to replace it... - Variable mortgage rates prove popular - 28th August, 2009
More people are opting for home loans with variable rates, according to new research by mortgage broker John Charcol.
Its customers are increasingly abandoning fixed-rate mortgages due to interest rises over the past few months, allowing deals with variable rates to gain ground... - Ethical investments growth beats FTSE 100 returns - 28th August, 2009
Those putting their money into industries with a social conscience have been receiving a better growth of return from their ethical investments than FTSE 100-based funds over the last 12 months, new research suggests.
Conducted by Moneyfacts, the report showed that while investments in the FTSE 100 saw a 24.47 per cent dip in returns in the last year, ethical funds only saw a 16.74 per cent fall... - Drivers distracted on the road, auto insurance firm claims - 28th August, 2009
New research by auto insurance company the AA has shown that motorists in the UK are not keeping their eyes on the road while they drive, as they are too distracted by the things going on around them.
According to the report, the thing that most often attracts the attention of car owners is a good view of the landscape, with 75 per cent of respondents claiming they have been drawn away from the road and towards a beautiful vista... - Home contents insurance deal offered by Nationwide - 27th August, 2009
Those requiring both home contents insurance and building cover could save money if they choose Nationwide as a provider, as the group is currently offering a discount when the two services are purchased together.
Customers could receive 20 per cent off the cost of their home insurance premiums for up to two years by going with the building society, provided they renew the cover product after the first 12 months... - Advice needed by home mortgage borrowers - 27th August, 2009
Those looking to take out a home mortgage or refinance their property still feel uncomfortable choosing a loan without consulting a professional first, new research has shown.
Conducted by Unbiased.co.uk, the report found that despite signs of recovery in the recession, the second quarter of 2009 saw a one per cent increase in the number of people seeking out help when choosing a home mortgage...