Pensioner bonds fiasco at NS&I; leaves savers in limbo as transactions become 'stuck' half way through

Readers have contacted This is Money to complain about difficulties when it comes to opening pensioner bonds offered by National Savings and Investments yesterday. One reader said after trying for hours yesterday, she got through to the end and submitted debit card details from her HSBC account for a £10,000 investment.

Britons set for continental spending power boost as pound gains versus euro - but Swiss-bound skiers get stung as the franc soars

BT15WF Vista aerea de Benalmadena Malaga Costa del Sol Andalucia Espana Aerial view of Benalmadena Costa del Sol Malaga Andalusia Spain

A family planning a city break in Barcelona or a few days in the south of France will find the pound buys nine per cent more this year than last.

City forex broker and West Ham sponsor goes bust as clients suffer huge losses from Swiss currency bombshell

Alpari UK - which sponsors Premiership football club West Ham United - has applied for insolvency after the Swiss National Bank sent currency markets into turmoil.

Where in the UK - and the world - do the January 2015 Premium Bonds winners live?

Every month This is Money publishes details of Premium Bonds prize winners from £1,000 up to the two £1million jackpots. This table is ordered by location to make it easier to see how well your neighbours did in the monthly draw. There are 28 people in Wales who are one thousand pounds better off for the New Year, for example. 

Hundreds of small food and drink suppliers at risk of going out of business from 'brutal' supermarket price war

CNP239 Fruit and vegetable in farm shop, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England

Small food and drink suppliers are struggling at the sharp-end of the supermarket price war in the UK with more than 100 likely to go bust by the end of the year, according to a new report.

Beware the Help to Buy trap: Borrowers face £3k difference between the cost of best and worst mortgage rates

Buyers have been given a leg-up the property ladder by the government-backed Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme, but they need to be careful where they sign up.

Lamborghini? Fat chance! One in three retirees expect to have to use pension freedoms to help older or younger relatives

Families could face challenging conversations about money after pension reforms allow over-55s unlimited access to retirement savings from April.

'A new fire in the market' sees rents rise by six times the rate of inflation in 2014

To Let signs adorn houses in the Selly Oak area of Birmingham on November 21, 2007 in Birmingham, England. Buy-To-Let mortgage provider Paragon suffered further share price set backs today as its funding difficuties sent the stock tumbling a further 21%. The mortgage group's shares have lost more than half their value since news it may have to turn to shareholders for emergency funding and could close to new business if it cannot secure new credit.  (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

The rental market is growing faster than expected for this time of year and there appears to be 'a new fire in the market' as it enters 2015, a lettings index has found.

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FTSE CLOSE: Footsie pushes higher as global markets recover after Swiss franc shocker; BP biggest gainer

BP was the biggest riser in the FTSE 100 Index today after a US judge ruled that the Gulf of Mexico oil spill was smaller than government estimates. The performance of the heavily-weighted stock helped the FTSE 100 rise 51.5 at 6550.3, as mining stocks rallied at the end of a volatile week for the sector after copper prices lifted.

Relief for BP as US judge rules less oil spilled in Gulf of Mexico oil disaster than US government had claimed

US government estimated the 2010 fatal disaster had spilled up to 4.2m barrels of oil but US District Judge last night ruled a quarter less was actually leaked, or around 3.2million barrels.

Sky to rent cinemas across country to show new series of Game of Thrones later this year

The move is a significant ramp up in the pay-TV giant's ambitions as it promotes its exclusive content.

Switzerland's currency soars but leading shares tank after country's central bank throws grenade into foreign exchange markets

The Swiss National Bank stunned investors when it scrapped the cap it imposed more than three years ago to stop the franc rising too far against the euro.

SMALL CAP MOVERS: Fastjet cruises to first monthly profit two years after forming 

EasyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who is poised to go into battle with the airline he set up 16 years ago by launching a potential rival called Fastjet. 


File photo dated 18/10/1995.


PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday September 26, 2011. In a shock move, Sir Stelios has written to easyJet to announce plans to form the new carrier and has already established www.fastjet.com, which currently reads "Fastjet.com by Stelios. Coming soon!". See PA story CITY Easyjet. Photo credit should read: Justin Williams/PA Wire

Fastjet's near 100 per cent rally shows crude oil's collapse is not all bad news for small cap investors as it cruised to its first ever monthly profit.

Ofcom tells BT to give its rivals a fairer deal and stop giving away free services 

BT VISION btvision.bt.com 
Price £90 to install (dropping to £30 for self-install later this year) Subscription £6£14 per month 
Channels Freeview, plus 250 films and 1,600 hours of TV-on-demand Requirements 2Mb+ BT broadband; Freeview reception

BT may have to cut the services it gives away free after its regulator clamped down on the prices it charges competitors.

Would you buy a brand new Lada 4x4 for £13k? British sales of rugged Russian tipped to leap as an alternative to soon defunct Land Rover Defender

Tough safety regulations mean farmer's favourite, the Land Rover Defender, will finish production in the UK this year. Could the Lada Niva prove its cheap replacement?One dealer believes so, with the 4x4 starting from jus £12,995 for a car Top Gear presenter James May once described as a 'randy goat'.

Nationwide removed my cash Isa savings rate guarantee when I was transferred over from Cheshire - what can I do?

I opened a cash Isa account in 1999 with Cheshire BS. The savings rate was always linked to Cheshire's standard variable mortgage rate. Now Nationwide have removed it.

'The two-speed digital economy': Call for government to improve broadband quality to allow rural small businesses to flourish

Two Holstein-Friesian cows in field, England. 
Owner Padraig Gilligan reckons ditties such as The Mountains Of Mourne and McBreen s Heifer make cattle calm at death   and result in beef so tender you could cut it with a spoon. And his beef is music to the ears of chefs at Michelin-starred restaurants such as Ross Lewis at Dublin s Chapter One, where the Percy French beef is going down a treat with diners.

The current lack of broadband infrastructure serving small firms threatens the expansion of the £400bn rural economy. The business opportunity includes 28% of all UK firms.

The silver saver stampede: Over-65s hunting special market-beating pensioner bonds swamp NS&I; website and jam phone lines

The accounts, named officially as 65+ Guaranteed Growth Bonds, are being offered by National Savings & Investments and are available as either a one-year or three-year fixed rate accounts. Demand is expected to be fierce as the account pay interest that easily beats the best being offered by private providers. Experts have predicted the pot will be exhausted within weeks.

High Street stores see fall in visitors in December as shoppers head to out-of-town centres instead

Shoppers on Oxford Street in London, as the hysteria of Black Friday and Cyber Monday might be behind us, but experts predict the biggest shopping day of the year is yet to come. 
Consumers are set to spend £676.5 million tomorrow, dubbed "Manic Monday", as retailers prepare for 151 million visits to their websites, according to data firm Experian and online retailing trade association IMRG. 

PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday December 7, 2014. 
See PA story CONSUMER Manic. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

The British Retail Consortium said total footfall across the UK in December was 0.7 per lower than the same time last year, an improvement from November's 2.4 per cent fall.

Millions of households could save £400 by switching energy suppliers as price war drives down cheapest tariffs

D0C09J radiator ten pound note

The flurry of new deals means there is now a difference of £407 between the cheapest energy tariff and the average annual energy bill of £1,326, energyhelpline.com said.

The sofa I want to buy in the sales is not discounted from its price before the sale but 'price after sale': how do I know if I am getting a bargain?

When they tell you how much you'll save, most stores compare the sale price to the higher price before the sale. But I've noticed a few quote a higher 'price after sale' instead. Why do they do this? And how can I be sure I'm getting a good deal and that the sofa will definitely be more expensive once the sale is over?

Birmingham the new target for overseas property investors as eye-watering prices in London drive rising numbers elsewhere

ANEE01 UK Birmingham Bullring shopping complex Selfridges building at dusk with statue in foreground C Bowman. Image shot 2005. Exact date unknown.

The city has climbed 14 places up the rankings of the top European cities for property investment, according to a report from the Urban Land Institute and PwC.

House price growth stalls to lowest level for 19 months with property values in London falling for the first time

London house prices:
1 Mabley Street, Hackney
2000 - £150,000
2007 - £230,000
Now - £215,000
2 bed lower ground floor garden flat
Winkworth estate agents

Chartered surveyors reported huge variations across the country, with Northern Ireland, Scotland and the North West of England seeing the strongest growth in property values.

'Soft skills were key to my success': James Caan's top tips for boosting your CV and getting ahead without more qualifications

This is Money met up with the business guru to learn his key tips for boosting employability without necessarily having to get more qualifications. The secret, he believes, is soft skills. Soft skills are often as important to a potential employer as qualifications and experience, according to Caan, yet more than half have never included them on their CV.

Where should you invest for low inflation and slow growth? Justin Urquhart-Stewart's ideas for 2015

Working oil pump in deserted district at sunset.
BNM60K

Even in a slower world, there are opportunities out there. In this video interview, Justin Urquhart-Stewart points to Tesco and the eurozone as opportunities for the brave.

SIMON LAMBERT: Six simple steps for wiser investing - and a better chance of higher returns

These are ideas that I have gleamed magpie-fashion from investors whose wisdom seems to shine the brightest, says Simon Lambert.

Savers can earn three times more interest with a top regular savings deal than in tax-free cash Isas 

The very best deal is 4 per cent after tax (6 per cent before) from Marks & Spencer, launched last week - but you have to run your current account with the bank to qualify. First Direct and HSBC offer similar deals. If this doesn't fit the bill, you can still earn 2.4 per cent (3 per cent) on accounts open to all. These are much better deals, even after you have paid tax, than the best tax-free easy-access cash Isa deal, which is 1.5 per cent at the Post Office.

UK retailers 'throttled' by Black Friday: American import blamed for slump in profits

Far from boosting net sales it has proved a festive nightmare, denting Christmas trading, causing websites to crash, and sparking delivery chaos. Shoppers spent an estimated £810m on Black Friday on November 28 - making it the biggest ever day for UK online sales. But consumers more than made up for their spree by tightening their belts later on, in the run-up to Christmas.

ALEX BRUMMER: 'Gnomes of Zurich' strike again with an epoch-making move in the currency markets

As if there is not enough uncertainty on financial markets at present, as a result of the crashing oil price, the Swiss National Bank has added a new dimension. Its decision to abolish the three-year old cap on the Swiss franc at 1.20 produced an epoch-making move in the currency, which soared 30 per cent. No one quite knows why the SNB chose to move at this juncture.

MARKET REPORT: Long-suffering shareholders in pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline fear a dividend cut in 2016

Its dividend growth of 6 per cent-plus in recent years has provided solace to miffed investors who have seen the share price collapse.

Spread betting firm IG Group takes £30m hit from Swiss National Bank move to remove currency peg versus euro

The company said the 'sudden and extreme movement in the value of the Swiss franc' has left it facing a hit from losses stemming from its decision to close positions held by its clients.

Nightmare on Wall Street continues as gloomy results at two top US banks spook shareholders

Profits at Citigroup were almost wiped out by £2.3bn in legal charges and restructuring costs. The figures were less dire at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, but fourth quarter profit still sank 11 per cent.

Embattled over-50s giant Saga branches out into investment advice to exploit radical shake-up of pensions market

The move, part of the group's long-awaited turnaround plan, was unveiled by new chief executive Lance Batchelor. Saga is teaming up with London-based financial planning firm Tilney Bestinvest and will offer pensions and investments to the 10.6m over-50s on its database.

Africa-focused Tullow Oil latest blue-chip explorer to reveal impact of tumbling oil price as it writes off £1.45bn

Ahead of its full-year results next month Tullow revealed it will change strategy to focus on assets that actually produce oil, and cut back on exploring for new wells.

Royal Bank of Scotland comes under fire again - for mis-selling government-backed loans to small businesses

Following an internal investigation, the state-backed giant has admitted failings in the way it sold Enterprise Finance Guarantee loans.

Hunt for Ferrari driving millionaire as string of investors lose more than £20,000 each after £70million Brazilian social housing scheme collapses

Ferrari-driving millionaire Anthony Armstrong Emery, pictured, told investors that he would give them returns of 20 per cent if they bought into his £70million scheme to provide social housing for poor people in Brazil, inset right. It is feared that the investors, who paid in at least £20,000 may lose their entire lump sum after Brazilian police opened an investigation into the project.

ASK TONY: Metro Bank lost our cash Isas, took eight months to get our statements right and now it's ignoring us...

My wife and I are having problems with Metro Bank regarding one-year cash Isa bonds. We reinvested our money in February 2014. We each received statements, but the amounts invested were not recorded - call centre staff could not tell us why.We each invested more money in April 2014 and, once again, the statements excluded the amounts invested.

More savings accounts offer real returns as inflation drops - but savers are still left nursing years of falling returns

With inflation falling from one per cent to 0.5 per cent in December, 179 out of 200 tax-free cash Isas available now offer rates that beat the cost of living according to information website Moneyfacts. To beat inflation, a basic rate taxpayer at 20 per cent needs to find a savings account paying 0.63 per cent a year, while a higher rate taxpayer at 40 per cent needs to find one with a rate of at least 0.83 per cent.

British savers more likely to have stashed extra cash away last year than European counterparts, study reveals

British savers are leading the way when it comes to squirrelling money on a regular basis despite being starved of attractive rates, a comprehensive study of Europeans has revealed.

AA Savings cuts rate on its easy-access internet account to 1.25%

image001.png

The new AA Internet Extra Issue 17 pays 1 per cent after tax (1.25 per cent before). Previously, the rate was a leading rate of 1.12 per cent (1.4 per cent).

Share Isa rate boost as Barclays Stockbrokers is to pay 0.2% on cash not currently invested by account holders

A7CNJ7 A woman with lap-top computer looking at financial pages of newspaper

Barclays claims it is a market leading rate of interest, with many of its rivals paying a measly 0.1 per cent or less to customers.

Meet the power giant boss with UK's worst customer service: Scottish Power wins Wooden Spoon Award and here its chief exec apologises - again

The energy giant, which has 5.5million customers across the UK, grabbed more than one in four votes in our Wooden Spoon contest - twice as many as runner-up EE. Our seventh annual poll revealed what a truly terrible one it had been for customers of power companies, as fellow supplier Npower took third place. Here, we reveal the full results and how the firms reacted.

JAMES CONEY: Scottish Power's spiral of failure - and how you forced it to confront its customer service problem

Our Wooden Spoon award winners have largely had the same thing in common. Service levels have plummeted either after trying to recruit customers too quickly, or a computer meltdown.

More than half of workers retiring in 2016-20 will fail to qualify for new full state pension of £148 a week

People will get less because they 'contracted out' during working years, or interrupted NI contributions to bring up children or become self-employed. The currently weekly basic pension is £113.10 plus top-ups but this will be phased out from April 2016 and entirely replaced for those retiring after April 2021 by a 'flat rate' pension of £144-£155 a week.

Pain of paltry wage rises recedes as inflation falls to record low of 0.5%

The annual rate in December was a sharp fall from the 1.1% in November and will force the Bank of England to explain to the Chancellor why inflation has fallen so far below the 2% target.

House prices stall again with the average home remaining £3k below its summer peak, official data shows

Property prices edged up just 0.2 per cent on a seasonally adjusted basis between October and November 2014, keeping the average home to £271,000, the ONS confirmed.

Millions to see energy bills fall £24 as E.On becomes first big supplier to pass on plunging wholesale prices

A gas ring at a home in Birmingham. Millions of households were reeling from another rise in energy bills today after British Gas said it would hike prices by as much as 12.4%. PRESS ASSOCIATION photo. Picture issued: Thursday July 27, 2006. British Gas owner Centrica said its 10.7 million gas customers will be hit by a 12.4% increase on September 4 while its 5.8 million electricity customers face a rise of 9.4%. See PA story CITY Centrica. Photo Credit should read: David Jones/PA

E.On also launched a new tariff which it said was the cheapest in the UK - a one-year fixed dual fuel product with an average annual cost of £923.

Atom Bank founder promises competitive savings rates and current accounts when it opens virtual doors later this year

Vital experience: Anthony Thomson was one of the key figures in start-up bank Metro back in 2010

Bank branches are being quelled and more of us are choosing to manage our finances online. Now, Atom Bank, an entirely digital offering is hoping to tap into customers who prefer banking with their fingertips. Anthony Thompson, the brainchild of Atom, told This is Money the bank will launch in the second-half of this year, with many product details 'a long way down the line.'

Global markets are reeling from oil price shock but consumers are cheering: Where should you invest to cash in?

The oil price collapse to $50 has caused major ructions in financial markets but it's putting plenty of extra cash in people's pockets. What's behind the oil price shock, what might be the eventual fallout for the economy, and how can investors position themselves to make the most of any opportunities? Financial experts offer their tips on the sectors and regions to watch as oil continues to slide.

Worried about rates going up? Then fix your mortgage for 10 YEARS for as low as 2.99%

Mortgage brokers say that while ten-year deals used to be restrictive and poor value, rates are now tumbling, with even big lenders entering the market with competitive deals. The average ten-year mortgage rate has dropped to 4.17 per cent from 4.98 per cent in October. Chris and Helen Brady have just moved to a bigger home and have taken out a ten-year mortgage for certainty.

Emergency rescue for North Sea firms planned as Chancellor mulls a tax cut to save industry from oil price crisis

While the dive in the cost of oil has left motorists celebrating at the pump, it threatens the North Sea oil industry, a major employer and tax contributor.

Petrol racing towards £1 a litre as Asda and Morrisons shave another 2p from diesel and unleaded prices

Asda has triggered another round of petrol price cuts among the supermarkets, shaving 2p a litre off its forecourt prices as oil fell further today to trade below $49 a barrel.

How does a divorce work and does one of us really have to be named as at fault? The essential questions about break-ups answered

The New Year is typically billed as a busy time for divorce lawyers, with law firms keen to promote the fact that January gives unhappy couples the impetus for a fresh start. Christopher Butler and Harriet Errington at leading family law firm Boodle Hatfield answers some of the most common questions facing separating couples.

Sport and music fans to be given protection from rip-off ticket prices as MPs move to stamp out online touts - but are ticket resellers doing anything wrong? 

Popular events can sell out in minutes, leaving fans disappointed. Minutes tickets appear at often eye-watering prices on reselling websites. Today MPs are launching a crackdown on 'ticketing abuse' to ensure genuine fans are not forced to pay inflated prices to see sports of music events. Sports and entertainment bodies have come out in favour of the proposed legislation - but reselling websites say it will do nothing to help genuine fans and drive parts of the industry underground.

Festive slump hits City jobs as number of professionals seeking employment in financial sector falls

City workers cross London Bridge during the evening rush-hour in the City of London October 8, 2008. The government pumped 50 billion pounds of taxpayers' money into its banks on Wednesday, seeking to revive Europe's top financial centre and help allay an economic storm threatening industry and jobs around the world.REUTERS/Toby Melville (BRITAIN)

The Morgan McKinley employment monitor, which tracks vacancies in the financial sector, revealed a 37 per cent decrease in professional opportunities.

Tempted by those 12% returns? From lend-to-save to crowdfunding, how peer-to-peer investors can profit - and the risks you need to know about

A squeeze on lending to businesses by banks and poor interest rates paid on savings have fuelled the peer-to-peer and crowdfunding investment craze. With plans afoot to allow savers to shelter investments in tax-friendly Isas before the end of this year, Sally Hamilton investigates whether more people will choose to follow the crowd. Student Naomi Pyburn has invested across a mixture of loans with varying levels of risk

Sales letters slipped in schoolbags cost parents THOUSANDS: Concern over DVD tutorial firm using headteachers to target customers

A DVD-based tuition firm is targeting parents through their children's schoolbags - which could leave them locked into a three-year agreement costing nearly £3,000 per child. Virginija and Masood Ahmed say they lost out financially after their child's school sent out the Student Support Centre's slips.

The perils of slimming pills: How you could end up £100 a month lighter - and how to avoid being taken in by claims in the ads

Mail on Sunday Financial...
Heather Green (50) from Menston, West Yorkshire, who has had money taking from her bank account after signing up to a free trial of slimming pills.
Photograph by Richard Walker / www.imagenorth.net

The ads say they're free - but once the trial is over, diet firms have hold on your account. Heather Green sent her samples back, but still had almost £200 taken from her account

TONY HETHERINGTON: £5,000 wine deal Down Under has left a bad taste - as a profit turned into a 75% loss

AF3K7N Lenswood Vineyard, Adelaide Hills, S. Australia

In 2007 I purchased investment wines from Australian Portfolio Wines UK Limited, for £4,703. I requested several times the entire holding be sold, but my calls were not returned.

Pensioners 'risk running out of cash at 75': Retirees warned against splurging savings under new freedoms

Broken jar of coins

If someone withdrew £3k annually from a £29k pot from the age of 65, with returns at 3 per cent, their savings would run out by the time they were aged 75, Age UK said.

Will your pension even match the £11,574 a year minimum wage? And what you need to save for a retirement income equal to the average salary

Workers could end up with pensions which fall woefully short of the minimum wage unless they save early and regularly, new research shows. A 20-year-old on a £20,000 salary could make 6% a year contributions until the age of 65 and still have a pension of just £10,500. That includes the full state pension, currently £5,901 year, and adjusts for the effect of inflation.

THE MINOR INVESTOR: If you want to make money long-term put your trust in dividends - the Rolling Stones of investing

Mick Jagger, front centre,  Ronnie Wood, left, with Keith Richards and Charlie Watts, right, of The Rolling Stones perform at the O2 arena in east London, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. The band are playing five gigs to celebrate their 50th anniversary, including two shows at Londonís O2 and three more in New York. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)

The fifteen years since the FTSE 100 hit its all-time high are a lesson in why dividends matter. Trends and fads come and go, markets rise and fall, but income delivers over time.

Skoda Fabia crowned car of the year in WhatCar? awards beating illustrious rivals including Jaguar, Lamborghini and Porsche

The overall winner of the 2015 WhatCar? awards was praised by experts for its 'punchy and flexible performance.' Jaguar? Lamborghini? Porsche? Nope, the Skoda Fabia. Guess again. It is in fact the Skoda Fabia - which starts at £10,500 - which has been crowned the best new car to buy this year in the 2015 awards, beating the marque badges shortlisted above.

50 ways to save money: Simple steps to cut what you spend that could clear your debts or seriously boost your savings

50 ways to save money: How to cut what you spend and put more in your savings

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.

How to choose the best (and cheapest) DIY investing Isa - and our pick of the platforms

DIY investing: How to pick the best platform for you.

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.

Revealed: The world's cheapest and most expensive stock markets - and where the UK stands

spt_Cape 3.JPG

We highlight the world's cheapest and most expensive stock markets, measured on three popular valuation tools and where the UK sits.

INVESTING TIPS: Fund and trust ideas for beginner and cautious investors

Starting out: Fund tips for beginner or cautious investors

If you are new to investing then the huge number of funds and investment trusts on offer can be confusing. Fortunately, This is Money's experts have some ideas to get you started.

INVESTING TIPS: Top fund and trust ideas for income investors

Income investing: Dividends can deliver both a healthy boost to long-term growth and a way to earn from your investments.

Income investing can let you draw on your portfolio or reinvest dividends to build solid growth over time. Our experts give their fund and investment trust recommendations.

INVESTING TIPS: Top fund and trust ideas for emerging markets

On the up: Emerging markets such as Brazil are where much of the world's growth is expected to be over future years.

If you're looking to add some flair to your investing Isa with emerging markets, This is Money's experts have some ideas to get you started

When will interest rates rise? Inflation hits 1% and real wages finally climb but no move is expected until late 2015

Inflation has dropped to just 1 per cent in November, the ONS revealed this week, adding to the Bank of England's case for low interest rates. That was followed by a surprise jump in average wages, which delivered a just above inflation pay rise to workers in October, latest ONS figures showed, with unemployment remaining steady at 6 per cent.

Our savings picks: This is Money's five favourite best buy cash Isas for 2014

number 5 five timpix istock

From 1 July, savers will be able to save up to a whopping £15,000 tax-free - all of which can go into a cash Isa. We pick our five favourite cash Isas for savers, don't miss this essential Isa reading that is kept up-to-date throughout the year.

What next for house prices? Buyers offered a chance to negotiate and save money, as sellers cut asking prices to tempt them in

spt_split-weather-houses.jpg

The traditional pre-Christmas drop in asking prices has been far more pronounced than usual, according to Rightmove. We look at the outlook for house prices.

Looking for a better bank? This is Money's five of the best current accounts

Best five: which current accounts offer the best perks?

How hard does your bank account work for you? Here's our pick of the best accounts to make your money work harder, cut down on fees, or get free stuff.

Ten tips for buy-to-let: the essential advice for property investors and pick of the top mortgage rates

Buy-to-let: Ten things you need to consider before investing

For many buy-to-let looks an attractive income investment in a time of low rates and stock market volatility. Read our top ten buy-to-let tips

What next for mortgage rates? Cheap fixed rates are back in force - it could be time to lock in

Lock in a five-year fix now: The bank rate could rise as early as next year, which would send mortgage rates up

Expectations of when a first interest rate rise will arrive have shifted back. We highlight the best mortgage deals and look at whether it is time to fix.

Best paid UK jobs 2014: Compare your pay to the national average in the league table of salaries across 350 trades and professions

The influence of financial services on the economy is spelled out again as City brokers steal top spot in this year's official list of highest earners. According to the detailed 2014 annual salaries survey, brokers pocketed around 40 times more this year than those at the bottom of the list - the people responsible for keeping children safe on the way to school. Lollipop crossing patrols earned around £3,400.

Premium Bonds winners

January 2015
Prize value Winning bond No. Area
£1,000,000 141NA438633 Leeds
£1,000,000 140SC232994 Bristol
£100,000 225QS809322 Northern Ireland
£100,000 210YK575580 London
£100,000 200JB751291 Nottinghamshire
£100,000 160HF498455 Dorset
£50,000 89NX911097 East Riding of Yorkshire
£50,000 75XX214863 Greater Manchester
£50,000 5QH821772 Northern Ireland
£50,000 213VW618958 Kent
£50,000 209CJ542994 Berkshire
More Premium Bonds winners
   

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