First-time buyers face having to find an extra £16,000 to get onto the property ladder compared to a year ago. Prices have been pushed up as potential homeowners go head-to-head with buy-to-let landlords for a limited number of suitable properties available, property listing website Rightmove warned.

The revolution in retirement savings has made it easier than ever before to access your nest egg. But it's also been a boon for scams and fraudsters who want to dupe you out of the cash that you have spent a lifetime squirrelling away.

Men are more likely than women to say they proritise high returns over ethical concerns. However they may not need to choose as the average ethical fund has rewarded investors with almost double the FTSE 100 return in the past five years

Equity release allows homeowners to tap the value of their homes without having to sell up or move out. The cost can quickly add up though. Why is this and this there a better way?

Bulbs that once cost £20 can now be purchased for £5, says the Energy Saving Trust, while the cost of old-fashioned bulbs is rising. But will switching to low energy use bulbs save you money and keep your home bright enough? We take a look.

Investing for a pension is an essential part of modern-day financial life. If you want to enjoy a comfortable retirement then starting to save early and ensuring you keep putting money aside is vital. Follow our steps to making more of your money.

Listen to those at the cutting edge where investing meets technology and they will tell you that robo-advice is the future. This new breed of DIY investing services can remove the need to pick shares, or funds and spread your risk across assets and around the world - all for a relatively small fee. So should you be ditching DIY investing for a robot?

Bozena Michalowska ,a partner at law firm Leigh Day, is hoping to act for thousands of drivers whose vehicles are set to be recalled. More than 4,500 VW owners have already contacted her firm and she says they should be due £2,000 each on average - and that Jeremy Clarkson is wrong to downplay car emissions.

Redcentric works for clients large and small, from Oxford University to Evans Cycles. It also works for Government departments and agencies, such as the Ministry of Defence, NHS, National Savings & Investments and the Legal Aid Agency. The shares are 191¾p and should deliver long-term growth.

A landmark ruling by the Supreme Court has paved the way for financially deceitful spouses to be sent back to the court, where they will be forced to pay their former partners their fair share of matrimonial assets. The guilty party will also likely have to cough up for the legal costs.

American ballet dancer Eric Underwood has had an extraordinary past 15 years. He has gone from earning $4 (£2.60) an hour as a waiter in New York to dancing on stage with Beyoncé, dressing in Alexander McQueen designer clothes and spending thousands of pounds on impulse holidays at the drop of a hat. Yet 31-year-old Underwood, a soloist at The Royal Ballet, believes his best financial years are yet to come. He tries to be careful with his money, putting as much aside for the future as he can.

The number of properties with a separate annexe for family members has increased by more than a third in the past two years. Many are inhabited by younger family members unable to get on the property ladder. But a lot are being occupied by elder relatives.

I will reach state pension age before next April so I am allowed to top up my state pension under the Government scheme launched this week. However, I am in two minds about whether to do this. I am in good health now and obviously hoping for a long retirement, but it sounds like a lot of money upfront so is it really a good deal?

Paul Lindley, founder of Ella's Kitchen baby food company, which has a 20 per cent share of the UK baby food sector and a global turnover of $100million, gave the budding food entrepreneurs his own advice, and said: 'I would strongly recommend that you establish what your business is and that you know that your food works with the UK market.

Billionaire media magnate Oprah Winfrey is buying a 10 per cent stake in slimming business Weight Watchers and will become a member of its board. Winfrey has also joined the Weight Watchers scheme as a member and will 'candidly share her experiences and perspective', the company said. In total, Winfrey will pay around $43.2million for 6.4million shares at Friday's closing price of $6.79. Shares in Weight Watchers are down $0.01 or 0.15 per cent to $6.78 this afternoon and have plunged by 72.6 per cent this year.

The Dorset-based boat maker, which was bought two years ago by Chinese property developer Dalian Wanda Group, recorded sales of just £196 million in the year to December 2014, compared with £341 million for the previous 17 months. However pre-tax losses widened from £26million for the 17-month accounting period to £39.1 million for 2014, meaning the company has not made a profit since the year ending July 31, 2012.

I want to turn off radiators in rooms that I don't use to save energy and money. But I'm worried that the cooler rooms will drain warmth from the parts of the house I do heat. Is this true?

The cuts come ahead of the introduction of the European Union's Mortgage Credit Directive which introduces stricter affordability tests, usually associated with residential mortgages, for new landlords. We reveal some of the top deals on the market

The average price of a used 4x4 has increased by £1,200 in two months, according to new research from Manheim auctions, with prices 40 per cent higher than this time last year. After Met Office predictions of a harsh winter, UK motorists have snapped up second-hand 4x4s quicker - but which SUVs are the best?

This interactive map by credit rating firm ClearScore allows you to search average credit scores by postcode and how it compared to the national average. It shows that the top two districts by credit score are in Scotland, while the majority of the lowest ranking areas are in London. Those living in Kirkwall in Scotland's Orkney Islands have the best credit rating at an average score of 454, closely followed by Lerwick residents at 453.

The spotlight is on the privatisation, but it could be worth thinking about other ways to gain exposure to Lloyds - or even rival big banks. We get the thought of fund managers - including four who like Lloyds and potentially other banks and a rather famous one, Neil Woodford, doesn't like the big banks at all.

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.

Unemployment has increased for the second month in a row, adding weight to the arguments of ratesetters in the lower for longer camp. This follows the outlook for when interest rates will rise shifting forwards slightly to about February 2016 in the recent inflation report.

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.