Deryn and Derek Hemment were told by Capita they must buy an 'indemnity' against their lost Compass share certificates being used fraudulently - though they are innocent of mislaying the documents or of any wrongdoing. The pair can't trade their shares in the FTSE 100-listed catering giant until they get replacement share certificates, but they are being refused them until the indemnity issue is sorted. The Hemments insist Capita should foot the indemnity bill, because the loss of their certificates was down to the firm posting such valuable documents second class.

The huge overhaul allows older savers unrestricted access to their whole pension pots, and removes the need to buy an annuity to provide guaranteed income for life. But pension experts warn freedom reforms bring big and serious risks, like fraudsters stealing people's life savings, baffled retirees paying far too much tax, and the possibility of some treating their savings like a cash windfall and blowing them too fast.

The stock market has performed twice as well under a Conservative government as it has under Labour, according to performance statistics dating back to 1970. But the facts behind the raw numbers suggest events taking place on the global stage are far more important to the UK stock market than the next resident of Number 10, Downing Street.

Mixing saving with gambling seems like a recipe for financial disaster. But some experts now believe the chance for savers to win a cash prize is a great way to encourage more people to take up the savings habit at a time when interest rates have hit rock bottom. Spurred on by the popularity of Premium Bonds and the tax-free prizes that holders can win every month, a number of financial institutions led by Halifax are offering savers the opportunity to win cash prizes. Raymond and Catherine Sutton (pictured), who have banked with Halifax for more than three decades, struck lucky.

Ten is the perfect number if you are moving on to - or up - the housing ladder this spring. This is because your monthly payments will be far lower if you can find a 10 rather than a 5 per cent deposit. First-time buyer Derek McGair, pictured with son Lewis, saved hard and stayed living with his parents so he could put down a bigger deposit - and get a better mortgage rate - when he bought his home.

Glenn Day, pictured, decided he needed to cut back costs so he shopped around for a cheaper insurance deal - and saved himself £150 a year. Homebuyers do not just have to make monthly repayments on a mortgage when they get the keys to a new home. There is a raft of other household payments to deal with.
Here's the Mail on Sunday's tips on how to trim these costs.

This is Money has teamed up with TipTV to produce a new series aimed at helping investors get ahead, with investing news, ideas and debate. Topics on the agenda this week include how to invest for income, the dividend safety of some big FTSE 100 names, and the arrival of pensions freedom.

It is the second time in recent years that TNT Express has been a takeover target for a US firm after UPS attempted a deal in 2012. However the Atlanta-based company ditched its plans when it became clear European regulators were ready to block the move. TNT has been struggling over the past year, hit hard by fierce competition across Europe and some heavy fines.

The traditional spring Isa rush has been somewhat overshadowed by the small matter of pension freedom this year. The bad news for savers if that there's no gold buried underneath the pensions pile - Isa season has been a dud. The best easy access cash Isa offers a measly 1.5%, while you could just about scrape 3% if you lock your money up for five years, but whether you save or invest an Isa is still worth having.

Two star presenters of popular BBC show Top Gear are selling off a dozen bikes in their classic motor cycle collections - as they tease about becoming 'unemployed'. Motoring pundit James May - dubbed 'Captain Slow' - is putting eight of his two-wheeled treasures under the hammer, while co-presenter Richard Hammond, known as 'The Hamster' is doing the same with four of his.

Nine out of the ten areas in the UK where demand for property was highest last month are in the South East, new research shows. With commuters put off by sky-high London property prices, potential buyers are flocking to the likes of Guildford (pictured above) and Reading, online estate agent eMoov reveals. Eight out of 10 of the highest climbers in terms of housing demand since December 2014 are located in the North.

There's a house we've got our eye on - but the previous tenant was ripped off to the tune of £115,000. It doesn't affect us but it's a fact that's hard to overlook'. Our aspiring first-time buyer shares her experiences.

Pensioners who take large lump sums from their pension face a tax trap that could leave them having 45 per cent docked from their nest egg - even though they are basic rate taxpayers. This is because of a quirk of the tax system which means that if you take £15,000 from your pot one month to last you through the year, you are likely to be taxed as though you were going to do this every month of the year. In essence, this means that the taxman assumes you are going to take £180,000 from your pension in a year. As such, even if you have no other income, you'll face a top rate of tax of 45 per cent.

British firms are unprepared for a 'sea change' in working patterns with the introduction of shared parental leave rules today and could face costly discrimination claims as a result, experts warn. Law firm Irwin Mitchell found that half of UK couples believed they would be better off financially if they shared parental leave, and two thirds of men would be happy to be a 'stay-at-home dad'. Nine out of ten couples where the woman is the main breadwinner said they worried how they would cope financially if the mother were to take her full maternity leave.

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 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

For many buy-to-let looks an attractive income investment in a time of low rates and stock market volatility. Climbing house prices, rising rents and improving mortgage deals are tempting investors - although they will need a big deposit. Read This is Money's top ten buy-to-let tips

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.