Money Saving News for October 2009
- OVO Energy takes cheapest utility bill lead - 27th October, 2009
Newcomer OVO Energy has sprinted ahead in the race to bring down the cost of utility bills by announcing a new tariff which will cost customers under £1,000 a year.
As smaller gas and electricity suppliers attempt to beat the big six out of the market, OVO has introduced a deal which costs consumers £921 annually, making it the cheapest provider in 13 out of the 14 regions for energy... - Leeds Building society launches fixed-rate mortgage - 26th October, 2009
A new market-leading fixed-rate mortgage which allows those without the funds for a large deposit to take advantage of low rates has been introduced by Leeds Building Society.
The group has unveiled the home mortgage, which has a rate of 5.75 per cent and a loan-to-value of 85 per cent, meaning that first-time buyers only need a 15 per cent deposit... - Scottish Power launches utility bill offensive - 26th October, 2009
Major energy supplier Scottish Power has secured its place as having the second cheapest utility bills on the market after slashing its rates.
The firm's online energy plan has had its price reduced by two per cent, equating to a £23 saving on utility bill costs, in retaliation to recent moves by newcomers OVO Energy and First:Utility... - Credit cards may be only way to afford half term break, research suggests - 26th October, 2009
More families could be using a credit card to book their half term holiday next week because of massive price hikes.
Research from Santander Cards has revealed that half term breaks will be 104 per cent more expensive on average than holidays taken a week later, while some families will be facing premiums for some destinations of 249 per cent... - First-time buyers relying on parental financial help - 23rd October, 2009
Increasing numbers of first-time buyers looking at taking out a home mortgage are relying on financial help from their parents.
This is according to new research from Lloyds TSB, which revealed that almost one in four mums and dads (23 per cent) are intending to use their savings to help their children buy their first home... - Cheap rail travel 'may not be what it seems' - 22nd October, 2009
Consumers preparing to visit loved ones by train over the festive period may find that deals advertised for cheap rail travel are not as good value as they seem.
An investigation into the true costs of travelling by train over Christmas, conducted by the Mirror, found that fares for First Great Western trips between London, Cornwall and Wales were limited to a small number of journeys... - AA reports rise in auto insurance premiums - 22nd October, 2009
The cost of auto insurance has increased over the past three months and is rising faster than it has done in the last 15 years, according to new research.
Car insurance provider the AA published the results of its British Insurance Premium Index today (October 22nd) and it has been revealed that average premiums were hiked up 5.6 per cent in the last quarter... - Brits put Christmas on the credit card - 21st October, 2009
British people are to pay for the costs of Christmas with their credit cards, a new survey from financial advice website moneysupermarket.com has discovered.
Some 17 per cent of respondents to the poll said that they plan to use balance transfer credit cards to fund presents, food and drink for the festive period... - Home contents insurance claims rise on Halloween, says Axa - 21st October, 2009
The week of Halloween and Bonfire Night is the worst of the year for the number of home contents insurance claims which are made against malicious damage to property, according to research.
Carried out by home contents insurance company Axa, the report revealed that October 31st sees 270 per cent more claims being sent in compared to an average day, while there is a 350 per cent rise on November 5th... - Cheap personal loan advice offered - 20th October, 2009
Consumers in the UK who need a cheap personal loan need to check the details of the product carefully before they sign a contract, according to one expert.
Stewart Farr, from financial advice website Moneyextra.com, said that details such as typical APR can be misleading when shopping around for cheap personal loans, as lenders change the rate a customer gets depending on their credit histories...