Will this year bring any good news for savers? Or will it be another horrible year? This is Money asks five experts whether rates will head higher next year, if big banks will continue to avoid the best buy tables, if easy-access rates will continue to crumble and what changes they would like to see to the savings world.

January is a time when many people take stock and think about what they want to achieve in the year ahead. Being your own boss has a lot of advantages - if you've you always wanted to set up on your own, here are five tips to help you succeed.

The This is Money team has set out what they would most like to see change in the financial and consumer world in 2017. They range from higher interest rates on savings and a stamp duty holiday to the smooth continuation of Ocado and the rejection of loyalty among customers. Do you agree with them of are there other things you'd prioritise?

I have my own small business and want to be able to retire at 55 with a good income, and possibly a second home. I am in my late thirties and at this stage of my life I am prepared to take higher risk to see higher returns. In the second of our new series Money Pit Stop, we ask an investing expert to give one of our readers a portfolio makeover

The markets ended 2016 on a high note. But there are considerable uncertainties about the year ahead, including Brexit negotiations and the early impact of Donald Trump’s presidency in the US.  Against this backdrop, Midas has chosen three very different tips for the year.

Fares across Britain will rise by as much as 7 per cent while long-suffering rail users of Southern face at least six days of strikes over the next fortnight. Here are some ways to mitigate - or avoid - the latest round of rail fare increases.

Last night was the time for New Year's resolutions. Here, The Mail on Sunday's Personal Finance team reveal their money-related wishes for the year ahead. Jeff Prestridge: Raise money for charity  Journalists are not always the most loved of people because of our ability to stir up hornets' nests and challenge the Establishment. I have a dislike of most politicians and the fat cat executives of big faceless financial companies.

The rise of the 'internet of things' - items other than computers that are connected to the internet - means our homes now bristle with gadgets designed to make them more efficient, comfortable and cheaper to run. 

This year will be remembered by many as one of the strangest and most interesting in recent times with Brexit, Donald Trump and celebrity deaths dominating the news. It will also go down at This is Money HQ as the year in which we discovered Britain is a nation addicted to... coins and notes.

 The owner of some of Britain’s most established jewellery brands looks set to be sold. Jeweller to the Queen Mappin & Webb, Rolex retailer Goldsmiths and Watches of Switzerland are said to be changing hands. According to reports, Apollo Global Management, the controlling shareholder of Aurum – which owns the three jewellery brands – has appointed investment firm Jefferies to oversee the sale of the business in a bid to cash in on the post-referendum sales boom.

The Government is facing calls to return more than £1 billion to companies which experts claim have been overcharged for business rates collected in the past six years. Claims of a massive overcharge fuel calls for the complex business rates system to be overhauled.

As 2016 draws to an end, the This is Money team have been taking a look back at the moments that have stuck in their minds and the lessons they've learnt from the past 12 months. When you've read what we've learnt, why not let us know what sticks out in your mind from 2016 in the comments section below.

I have found a three bedroom house in a newly redeveloped site but my solicitor has said I should be worried because it's a leasehold - is he right?From short leases and unexpected maintenance bills to spiralling ground rents, our expert considers the pitfalls of buying a leasehold and how to manage them.

Buyers and sellers will have to work harder to get the best deals in an uncertain market in 2017 as Brexit and low wage rises kick in. Here's our guide to finding the best bargains on the market in 2017.

Finance precipitated literacy and numeracy millennia ago in Mesopotamia. It has also acted as a 'time machine' through human history, says professor Will Goetzmann. The first ATM system invented by the Knights Templar during the crusades even helped people to have access to money when they needed it without having to carry it through precarious environments on their journeys.

Property will once again be a hot topic in 2017 - whether it be a lack of homes being built, prices chugging along despite Brexit fears or landlords being increasingly targeted. As 2016 draws to a close, annual house price inflation has slowed, but is still growing while certain areas in the commuter belt of London are now seeing the biggest surge.

If you're in the market for a two-door sportscar with plenty of poke - and your pockets are deep enough - you're spoiled for choice right now.The Jaguar F-Type (left), Porsche Cayman (middle) and Audi TT RS (right) all come with monumental motors, chicane-trimming cornering ability and spades of sex appeal. But which of these three star coupes is top dog?

The UK's negotiations to leave the EU will keep both financial players and politicians thoroughly absorbed in 2017, yet it is much too early to predict the impact of any deal. Donald Trump could cause global market ructions during his presidential term, which is likely to involve greater US belligerence on the world stage. Investing experts round up the likely big market drivers and offer some tips on what they expect to do best.

Concerns among the over-55s about falling returns is at its highest level for nearly three years, the Real Retirement Report from Aviva reveals. Their monthly interest could drop to new lows as fixed-rate accounts, taken out when rates were higher, come to an end.

Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Panic Saturday have been and gone but what happens if the present you bought turns out not to work or you simply change your mind? Here we explain you rights for returning unwanted or faulty Christmas presents after the 25th.

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.

Despite endless media coverage of the political wrangling and financial speculation, the average Briton can be forgiven for remaining confused about what 'soft' and 'hard' Brexit really mean. About the difference between the 'Norway model' for the UK's post-Brexit relationship with the UK and the 'Swiss solution'. But a clever table put together by HSBC in a report called 'Is Brexit Getting Harder?' cleaves some clarity from the murk.

An interest rate cut before the end of the year looks less likely following the plunge in the pound. However, the Bank of England has indicated that higher inflation driven by rising import costs won't make it lift rates.

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.