If you are not planning to spend Christmas Home Alone this year, chances are you will be paying out for a trip by train or car to visit family or friends. The Mail on Sunday shows how you can cut the cost of your pilgrimage.

Tax on household insurance policies is soaring by 58 per cent. It is expected to push insurers' premiums higher while raking in billions of pounds for the Treasury. Insurance Premium Tax is paid by householders when they buy a policy such as car insurance. There is a standard rate and a higher rate. The standard rate is rising by 3.5 percentage points, from 6 per cent to 9.5.

We round-up the Sunday newspaper share tips. This week, Midas looks at high street shop Card Factory and oil technology specialist Plexus Holdings. The Sunday Times runs the rule over miner BHP Billiton while Questor looks at the UK shares that should provide a happy Christmas.

Nine out of ten drivers said they're confused by road signs and 31 per cent don't know what the national speed limit sign is, according to a new study. the hardest to work out was the sign pictured. We reveal what it means - and one people would like introduced.

Palliative care in the UK was recently ranked as the best in the world. This accolade is in no small part down to the professionalism of the country's hospice sector, comprising more than 200 charities that provide a mix of palliative care, day-care, at-home support and bereavement counselling. Invaluable though their services are, hospices are heavily dependent on the generosity of the public to carry out their work - a staggering £1.9 million per day is needed to keep them going. To support her local hospice Lauren Robertson will do just about anything.

A series of spine-chilling charts from stockbroker Hargreaves Lansdown are enough to put the financial frighteners on anyone seeking a home for their money. From stock market slumps to plunging profits and an ever-inflating housing bubble, their figures tell a cautionary tale to warn even the most gung-ho investor or saver not to rush in.

New research suggests some buyers are willing to pay as much as £84,610 for a home in the countryside. Average rural house prices are typically a fifth higher than in urban areas, making affordability in the countryside an increasing concern among buyers.

I want to take some money out of my investment portfolio but don't want to reduce the amount I have already invested. How much can I take out without hurting the capital? Adrian Lowcock of Axa Wealth explains how to take income and protect your capital

The Bank of England data showed £176.3billion was outstanding on credit cards and loans last month - £62.7billion of this on credit cards, £113.5billion on loans and other advances. Consumer credit soared by more than expected last month, chalking up annual growth of 8.2 per cent, the strongest leap sonce before the global recession struck.

From pint-sized pick-up trucks and two-seat mobility transporters to cars that become driveable tablets - the Tokyo Motor Show has some of the strangest concept cars you are likely to see all year. We detail ten of the best unveiled this year.

There was a time when electronic cards were expected to send the traditional market into terminal decline. Doom mongers were convinced that printed cards would become yesterday's story, as consumers embraced the easier, cheaper electronic option. That has not happened. The UK card market is worth about £1.4 billion annually and the average adult buys 30 cards a year. The stability of the market has helped Card Factory to increase same-store sales every year since it was founded in 1997.

Online payments processor Optimal lost about 10 per cent after saying it would investigate claims there had been a possible data breach between 2011 and 2012. It also acknowledged its security had been compromised in 2009 and 2010. But IP Plus , a secure payment specialist, reckons it will be a beneficiary of a tightening of security in the wake of high profile hack attacks.

The warning from Standard & Poor's is a setback for eurosceptics who argue that Britain could forge a prosperous future outside the EU. Prime Minister David Cameron (inset right, today in Iceland) knows that a downgrade could push up borrowing costs for the Government, businesses and households as investors worry that lending to Britain is more risky than it once was. S&P;'s announcement came as the United States dealt a major blow to anti-EU campaigners after revealing it would not want a new free trade deal with Britain if it leaves Europe. US Trade Representative Michael Froman (left) said Britain could face the same expensive tariffs paid by China and Brazil if it quits the EU. America buys more than £35billion in goods from the UK each year but products including Range Rover cars (right) could be subject to levies.

Angry customers have been trying to escape their contracts with TalkTalk since the firm revealed last week that it had been the victim of a cyber attack which led to personal data and banking details being accessed. It was the third attack in 12 months. But those who have attempted to quit have been told they must pay hundreds of pounds to break their contract early.

Over the past eight years, the pensioner from Oldham has paid around £1k in fees to Lloyds for a current account that gives her a car breakdown policy, worldwide travel insurance and mobile phone cover - perks that she could never have used. To most ordinary people, this would seem to be a clear case of mis-selling - but not to Lloyds.

Average UK house prices rose by 3.9 per cent in October compared to last year, hitting a new record high of £196,807, according to Nationwide Building Society. Meanwhile homebuyers are increasingly choosing to fix their mortgages amid uncertainty over the timing of an interest rate rise, further research from Nationwide suggests.

I am 30-years old, single, have no children and no assets. I currently work full-time in marketing earning £27,500 a year. Do I still need to make a will, even though I don't have kids, a partner or assets like a house? What would be the benefit of me making a will and won't this be expensive?

Cashback is a popular tool used by lenders to tempt mortgage borrowers. But often it can disguise a high rate so it is important to compare deals across the market. Rates start from 1.53 per cent for a two-year fix or 2.79 per cent for a five-year deal. Find out how they compare.

Which is cheaper to run - the gas central heating or an electric heater? What if you turn all the radiators off except those in a couple of rooms? Is this the cheapest option? And are there any other alternatives?

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.