A report by the Post Office says the average amount available to save will fall from £3,780 to £3,630 in 2014 – this, once adjusted for inflation, is a similar level to that seen in the 1960s. By 2015, this figure will have dropped to £3,518, and will continue to fall to £2,944 by 2018. In 2010, the figure was a far higher £4,414.

Being a buy-to-let investor has meant decent returns over the past two decades but the life of a landlord is not without its stresses - and costs. But the biggest barrier to entry is finding the substantial sum to put down as a deposit to buy in. Now a combination of Britain's obsession with the property market and the rapid growth of alternative finance has delivered new routes in for investors.

The suggestion that interest rates may need to rise sooner than planned, to prevent larger hikes further down the line, has emerged as part of some policymakers' thinking. 'If you want to have baby steps you do have to start sooner,' MPC member Martin Weale has said. But others are arguing that sterling's rise may prove enough of a brake.

Cars made by German manufacturers are the most satisfying to own and drive, according to a survey of more than 15,000 motorists. German vehicles took a whopping seven of the top 10 places in a customer satisfaction table compiled by magazine WhatCar? and marketing information services company JD Power.

I’ve complained over the decision to raise the Amazon Prime annual subscription by £30 to include video-streaming. I don’t know what streaming is, do not want it, and wouldn’t use it. I have used the Prime service for years. As a professional historian and author I buy a lot from Amazon, and will be out of pocket if I cancel my Prime membership - and also if I don’t.

From next April pension savers can make withdrawals as and when they like once they turn 55 and only pay 'marginal rates of tax' on it. But what does that mean? Talk of 'pensions freedom' has left some with the impression they can take their entire pot and pay little or no tax. That's not true. We explain what will happen.

Charities say they have heard of cancer sufferers and other sick people missing vital treatment or using payday loans because they have not been able to claim a new benefit called a Personal Independence Payment. Carole Farler (pictured) has been waiting since last summer to hear if she was eligible for the payment.

What would you do with £100,000? The answer is revealing of women and men's different attitudes to investing. Financial experts talk about their observations of how the two sexes handle their finances, and offer investing tips to both.

The two commuter towns experienced the biggest increase in rental yield anywhere in the country last year, according to HSBC. It seems that not only have young professionals given up on buying in the capital, many are choosing to move and rent in more affordable commuter towns.

The bank is making the claim while embarking on a quiet cull of branches up and down the country. Barclays has already shut about 20 branches this year without fanfare after the quiet closure of 33 last year. Villagers in the 8,000-strong community of Sawston, Cambridgeshire, are not placated by denials. Minister Bruce Waldron (pictured) believes that the vulnerable will be hardest hit.

I invested through Property Horizons in a 25 per cent share in a hotel room to be rented out to oil workers in the US. I became concerned when I received a letter from the company, revealing that the Financial Conduct Authority had ruled that the scheme was unauthorised and that investors should be refunded. I decided to take the refund, only to find that Property Horizons intended to keep back £some of my money.

The chain was taken over by administrators at Deloitte on April 2, and figures from the accountancy group show 7,000 customers were left £2.3 million out of pocket, being owed on average £325 each. The losses have prompted renewed calls for more protection for consumers who have paid money to a company which goes bust before delivering the goods.

To clear the average national household debt of £13,000 at 6% interest with a monthly repayment of £100 will take around 17 years. There are, however, plenty of simple ways to make significant savings on your regular spending that could clear your debt - or boost your savings - in less than a year. This is Money's top 50 – updated – money-saving tips may appear light-hearted but are deadly serious.

Choosing the right DIY platform is crucial but a wealth of choice and changes to charges have left many investors scratching their heads. We pick some of the best. We also highlight why investing in an Isa makes sense, as it should protect your hopefully growing investments from tax forever.

Midwives in the UK get paid on average £29,248: so where does your salary fit into the national league table, and how does it compare to the average in your profession? Our table lists hundreds of Britain's jobs from company executives and doctors to van drivers, waiters and textile machine operators.