Helping you keep your finances healthy!

If something unfortunate happened to you or a close relation, then would the National Health Service (NHS) be able to give you the quickest and most effective treatment available? Would your local hospital be able to provide you with 100% care and attention?

After years of high interest charges following the first signs of the British credit crunch, personal loan lenders are at last becoming more competitive and affordable.

Being in debt can affect your health, your well-being and send your stress levels sky-high – not to mention have a massive impact on your relationships with family and friends. The worry of receiving that next debt collection letter, bailiffs knocking at the door or ultimately losing your home or possessions is something none of us want to think about.

Ever wonder if you are getting the best deal with your bank or if you have an overdraft facility, whether you are paying the lowest rates?

With so many high street and internet banks now on offer, the choice really is endless and much of it depends on your own personal financial circumstances.

The Bank of England has again held interest rates at an historic low of 0.5% but fears are growing that mortgage borrowing costs will not stay down for much longer.

The base rate has been the same for about two years and those on tracker deals would have definitely benefited the most. I was one of those lucky people – signing up for a three year tracker in 2007 at a rate of 4.9% and then gradually seeing my payments get lower and lower until my mortgage company capped the rate at 2.75%. My tracker deal has now ended and my payments are worryingly starting to rise.

Houses cost an arm and a leg to keep going these days, with mortgages, council tax, household bills and regular repairs, the cost of running a home is getting higher and higher – leaving us with less cash to put away for the enjoyable things in life.