Don't bank on the state for your pension. That is the warning that should be taken from a new OECD report ranking the UK's state pension against the world. Our private pensions help carry us over the line, but their quality is decreasing. The risk to retirement is to decide that means it isn't worth bothering though.

Buyers looking for a home increasingly face living in tiny 'rabbit hutch' new builds built below comfortable standards, new research reveals. On average, new build three bedroom homes outside London are four square metres - or the size of a family bathroom - smaller than they should be, the Royal Institute of British Architects said. New-builds in Yorkshire and the Humber are the smallest at an average of 84 square metres, while new three-bedroom homes built in London are around 108.5 square metres.

Until now, property has been viewed as a cash cow by investors. And it's not hard to see why. Over the past 25 years, the average house price has risen from £68,823 to £202,689 - an increase of 295 per cent. But are tougher new tax rules about to change that? We look at how £50,000 invested stacks up.

A number of readers have been angered by the inspection process cars are put through when sold to WeBuyAnyCar, which boasts of being Britain's favourite car-buying service. A 2011 probe into WeBuyAnyCar by the then Office Of Fair Trading found 96 per cent of those who sold to the firm got less than the original online valuation.

From March, banks may have to hold an extra 1 per cent of the value of their assets, meaning they have to quickly raise £10 billion. One of the easiest ways for them to do that is by hiking mortgage interest rates. On top of this, the U.S. is widely forecast to raise its base rate of interest later this month.

I don't know how to ensure I get the maximum state pension when I retire at 66 in 2023. It seems I can pay for two missing years before April 6, 2016. But I've been told by the Department For Work And Pensions that if I pay the two extra years now, it will not increase the amount of pension I take across as my starting amount on April 6, 2016.

A report by the watchdog Financial Conduct Authority last year found that there were up to 38 different layers of hidden charges when investing in a fund. What we should have is a pounds and pence figure so that, at the end of every year, investors can see exactly how much they have been charged for the service they have received. We outline five ways to end rip-off fees in the fund management industry.

Halifax was among the first to launch rates, with a table topping variable rate of 4 per cent, but Aldermore, NatWest, Nationwide, Santander and Barclays have all entered the market.Here, we reveal what's on offer to first-time buyers and how long it will take to get the full government bonus.

The Bank of England governor's comments came as storm clouds gathered over the international economy after factory output tumbled in the United States and China, and Brazil lurched towards its worst downturn since the 1930s.

The cartoon is loved by children and parents alike for its charming tales of Peppa and her brother George frolicking in muddy puddles with Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig. But the smiley pink pig is also a hit among big businesses, which are cashing in on Peppa's enduring success as a global franchise now worth £660m.

Homebuyers are often warned to budget for solicitors' and chartered surveyors' fees, as well as stamp duty and extra mortgage charges. But the biggest expense is often not factored in: redecoration, repairs and renovation. It equates to a total first-year home makeover cost of £6.8billion, based on the near-670,000 moves that happen each year, according to the study by insurer Aviva.

My son is always leaving his phone charger plugged in when not in use. He leaves the switch on at the mains, but with his phone unattached. How much is that costing me? Is it pushing up my energy bills?

Online shoppers are expected to spend almost £1bn today as retailers release a deluge of 'bargains' as part of the Cyber Monday shopping event - but how do you know if a deal is legitimate? Follow This is Money's guide to sniffing out a bargain.

Half a million cars will breakdown in December alone with the 29th predicted to be this year's 'breakdown day' when most cars fail to start after the festive break. But you can take precautions to reduce the risk of it happening to you by reading our best tips round up from the wider motoring industry.

Former construction manager Steve (pictured) has used his retirement constructively. So productively, in fact, that he spotted a discrepancy on his energy bill that proves that energy companies can routinely overcharge their customers. We explain how his back-of-an-envelope calculations uncovered the problem.

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.

Interest rates will not move until mid-2016 and may not even rise for the whole of next year, economists have suggested following the latest Bank of England inflation report. A big shift back in the markets outlook for rates had preceded the second Super Thursday combination of an MPC verdict, minutes and 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

Musicians have seen pay rises averaging nearly 20 per cent in 2015, while cleaners are getting 17.8 per cent more, and window cleaners 12.3 per cent. Artists in general are earning 14.6 per cent more in 2015 than 2014, according to the huge annual data dump of pay scales by the Office For National Statistics highlights.