Hopeful first-time buyers will not be short of support if they try to get on the housing ladder for the first time this spring. For the Government is now backing not one, not two but THREE quite different Help to Buy schemes to try to bring the first rung of the ladder a little closer. Unfortunately, the confusing nature of the growing Help to Buy world means some of the schemes may be far more effective than others - and it can be hard to work out which, if any, to use. Here is the latest state of play.

The moment the new pension freedoms were unveiled, Graham Hadfield (pictured) knew they were for him. The 57-year-old self-employed builder had never wanted to use an annuity to turn his retirement savings into an income for life. He had never liked the fact that once he committed to signing up to one, there would be no turning back. So, when he found out he could take his pot in cash he was jubilant.

In this year's Budget George Osborne announced an extra £1million to celebrate the bicentenary this summer of the English victory over the French at the Battle of Waterloo. Collectors of memorabilia are poised to cash in too, as experts predict an uplift in value for all items that can be traced to the famous battle. Jim Lees, 65, believes his collection of Waterloo and other military memorabilia has performed better than a tax-friendly Isa.

Motorists are being hit with ever-increasing car parking charges - whether at work, out shopping or even at the airport when jetting off on an Easter break. Here, The Mail on Sunday provides tips on how to find the best priced parking space. Airport parking is big business - with the cost of leaving your car behind often more expensive than the flight itself. Yet despite millions of people spending their money at official airport car parks it is possible to save a small fortune - and enjoy a more convenient drop-off service - by planning before jetting off to the sun. Holidaymakers can save as much as 60 per cent by booking in advance and shopping for the best airport deal, according to comparison website Airport Parking Shop.

In just over a week's time, people over 55 will have far greater freedom to access the pension savings they have built up. Personal Finance Editor Jeff Prestridge begins our must-read report on pension changes by providing a five-point plan to negotiating the pensions maze. Even though the new pension freedoms do not kick in until Easter Monday - the start of the new tax year - some companies are intent on persuading people to release cash from their pensions. This is irrespective of whether it makes sound financial sense. Daytime TV channels are already carrying adverts from financial companies keen to help people aged 55 and over unlock their pensions.

D.R. writes: My wife and I have purchased a property in Granada, Spain, and we wanted to get some bits and pieces taken there from our home in Stockport. The goods, conservatively valued at £12,000, were collected a day later than promised, and we have since been given five delivery dates, all no-shows.

Music lovers rarely rummage through CD racks or vinyl collections when they want to listen to music these days. Instead, many stream their tunes via the internet. The market leader for streaming is Spotify, with more than 60 million users worldwide. But there are competitors that are worth considering, including Deezer, Napster, Google Play and Tidal. Streaming services typically cost £10 a month - although they can be free - and give you access to millions of tracks.

I have always been reluctant to pay for something I could do myself. Sometimes, however, it pays to admit that it would be wise to get someone to do a better job for you. I've come to the conclusion that the vast majority of people should seriously consider paying a good professional to help them.

Home affordability in UK cities is still 15 per cent lower than at the peak of the financial crisis in 2008, when a home would cost on average 7.2 times the annual earnings, Lloyds said. But cities have become more unaffordable compared to last year, with the typical UK home costing 6.1 times the average annual pay in the twelve months to February, up from 5.8 times the previous year.

The next move for interest rates is still expected to be up, says Bank of england Governor Mark Carney, despite suggestions of a cut to beat low inflation. That followed the news earlier this week that inflation had fallen to 0 per cent - noflation or flatflation, as some commentators have tried to label it

THE pensions revolution means fast cars, luxury holidays and childhood dreams are at last in reach. Here TOBY WALNE looks at what you could do with a little - or a lot - of your pension pot...

Around 28 million savers are set to benefit from a radical overhaul of High Street accounts. From next April, every basic-rate taxpayer will be able to earn £1,000 interest a year without having to pay tax. Higher-rate taxpayers will be able to earn £500 interest. So what should you do to prepare and do you still need an Isa?

It's taken 20 years of campaigning by this newspaper - sometimes against governments of the day, other times against big corporate vested interests in the financial world. But after all the battling - and going a little greyer on top - it's time to raise a glass of prosecco and toast a new era. The great pensions revolution has arrived: goodbye unwieldy, straight- jacketing pensions; hello pensions fit for a modern, flexible Britain. From April 6, the pension pendulum swings firmly from provider to you, the consumer, the investor. Rejoice.

Self-invested personal pensions - known as Sipps - have traditionally been the domain of investors who use a financial adviser to look after their financial matters. But no longer. The do-it-yourself Sipp market is growing like crazy as people look to take control of their own pension, in the process keeping costs low.

On the surface, pension freedom seems all-empowering, putting people in control of their hard-earned savings. New retirement rules will put more power in your hands, but the pension waters remain as dangerous post April 6 as they are now. Here are your ten top tips on how to benefit from the new pension regime - and how not to trip up.

UK inflation is dead. That was the verdict of one economist after official figures showed inflation fell from 0.3 per cent in January to zero in February. The reading was weaker than the 0.1 per cent expected by analysts and the lowest since March 1960, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Households will see their budgets go further as the cost of goods and services remains flat while incomes rise. Groceries and petrol in particular are considerably cheaper than last year. Inflation could fall even further in the coming months and could even turn negative before the year is out before starting to rise again. Should it turn negative, it will be the first time in half a century that Britain has experienced deflation.

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.

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.