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Question of the week: If I’m in debt, can the lender take my partner’s assets?
If I’m in debt, can the lender take my partner’s house or assets? Sadly this question is common, as some nasty debt collectors try it. Nothing is simple, but the basic rule is nobody is liable for anyone else's debts, unless they signed the credit agreement. It makes no difference whether or not you’re married. This gets…
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MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Would you pay for no-show?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Would you pay for no-show? Your friends are celebrating their wedding anniversary and have invited you and 17 others to a posh restaurant for a set £40 a head dinner. Six people fail to show up. You’re leaving early and go to pay your bit of the bill, and…
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Can anybody help
Hi everybody......... Could anybody help me with a problem i'm having with my savings. I have £50,000 in my high street instant saver account, I already have investments with the bank, I wont to put some money somewere but i don't no were. I have thought of trying the stock market, I have a friend who's dabbled in the…
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'How close to the brink are you?' 2009 poll results/discussion
Poll between 26 Jan-3 Feb 2009: How close to the brink are you? Three months ago we first did this poll... then recession was on its way. Now it’s here. Have things changed? On a scale of nought to nine, how near the financial edge are you? Which of these is nearest your situation? [FONT="]0[FONT="] No problem. No…
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Question of the week: Why do savings accounts pay more interest annually than monthly
Why do savings accounts pay more if you get interest annually than monthly? They don’t pay more, they're just listed as a higher rate for example a 5% AER (annual rate) will be a 4.89% monthly. In fact the amount you get will be identical. The difference is all due to how compound interest is calculated. It's important to…
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'Should we nationalise the banks?' poll discussion
Poll between 19-26 Jan 2009: Should we nationalise the banks? This week the government covered another £200 bn of banking assets and increased its share in RBS to 70%. Is it time for us to take the whole banking system into state ownership and control? Which of these is closest to your view of what the Government should…
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MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Would you sell a story on a mate for £20,000?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Would you sell a story on a mate for £20,000? An old pal, who you don’t see much anymore, is in the latest series of Big Brother. You find out the tabloids are looking to buy stories, and have some dirt your mate which could be worth up to £20,000. Yet they…
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Question of the week: Now the taxman accepts credit cards, can you earn rewards?
Now the taxman accepts credit cards, can you earn rewards on it? This 31 Jan tax deadline is the first that the taxman is accepting credit cards. The good news is it counts as a ‘purchase’ not ‘cash withdrawal’ so it's eligible for cashback or rewards. The bad news is there’s a fee of 0.91% if you pay by phone, 1.25%…
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MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Should Roman Rockafella leave all his money to his kids?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Should Roman Rockafella leave all his money to his kids? Roman Rockafella’s had it tough as a kid, but he’s worked hard, been brilliant and a bit lucky, and at 40 is worth £500 million. Now Mrs. Rockafella is pregnant with their first child and his lawyers…
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How european are you?
Are you a European? Are you ready to join a Federal Europe? Try this simple quiz to determine just how European you really are... 1. Your wife has asked you to pop into Marks and Sparks to buy her a new bra, but when you get to the cash desk you notice there is a large queue. What do you do? a. Take your place in line and…
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Can you spot the European oddity? poll discussion
Poll between 12-19 Jan 2009: How well do you know Europe? The UK has been a member of the European Union (well, EEC) since 1973. It means people from the UK have rights to work in other EU countries and much greater freedoms of import and export. Yet how well do you know which countries are EU? In the list below, one…
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MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Would you keep a mistaken 'double refund'?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Would you keep a mistaken 'double refund'? Having bought a £140 dress/suit in the sales at half price, you take it home and find some dodgy stitching. The store gives you a refund without quibbling, but when leaving the shopping centre, you notice the…
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'Is it time to ditch the pound?' poll results/discussion
Poll between 05-12 Jan 2009: Is it time to ditch the pound? The pound's dropped like a stone against the dollar and the Euro. Is it time we moved our currency into part of a bigger one? Should the UK join the Euro? A. Yes - [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]31% (5242 votes)[/FONT] B. No -…