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Budgeting & bank accounts

Discuss bank accounts, banking apps, budgeting hacks and how to organise your money.

best place to buy a bank draft?
Hiyas, I need to buy a bank draft in Canadian dollars and wondered where might be best to get one? Do I need an exisiting account to be able to buy from the bank? I'm hoping to be able to shop around for the bext exchange rate. and is there a fee to pay when buying a bank draft? Thanks
Best Business account?
Hubby is looking out for a business account, tried LLoyds Tsb but was a bit miffed with their attitude to business banking.
First Direct postcards - Free Money!
FD recently sent me three 'postcards' -- I give them to friends or family, and if they open a FD account and have a balance of £100+ by September we both get £25. An easy £75 for me -- or so I thought! But I'm amazed at how lethargic my friends are! They have the potential to get a £25 return for a total of about 10…
I.D for sending money abroad
I presented my driving licence card today as I needed to send money to Portugal but the cashier wouldn't accept it and said I needed a"paper" driving licence and told me that the photo card I had was illegal. I tried to phone to my local police station to confirm this but I couldn't get through!
Tourist Exchange rates - website?
I regularly have dollars that I want to exchange for sterling (obviously not the best way around for me!). I wanted to find a good website that does a comparison of the high street bank/post office/Marks and Spencer rates for currency. I wondered if there was a reason for this - but banks publish their rates so how would…
Halifax Interest Free overdraft
Hi. Does anyone have an interest free overdraft with the Halifax, even for a small amount? I wrote a cheque the other day and there is not quite enough in the account to cover it. I have just transferred money into the account from a Savings but cannot guarantee it will get there before the cheque is cleared. Yes it was my…
Foreign currency exchange
I need to exchange sterling to euro's(Approx £50,000) and transfer to Spain. I have used Currencies Direct in London but they do not transfer to Spanish Bank BBVA free of charge. Anyone suggest best exchange rate and cheapest(Free) transfer to BBVA account in Spain.
AuctionPix
Has anyone used the above service for changing US$ into £s. What are they like? Many thanks
Euro Bank Accounts in this Country
Does anyone have any practical suggestions relating to Euro bank accounts in this country? I have a very small holiday place in France which from time to time involves paying money there – rates, maintenance, electricity, etc. I have an account at Credit Agricole in France which can be used to pay for these, but to get…
Opening a new account- help
Hello I want to open a new account to put some my child tax credit in - as I know that I will have to repay some of it - as I know that I am being paid too much each 4 weeks. But don't want it reduced by 25% next financial year. So I want to pocket the interest and then pay them back the overpayment. So is there an account…
**Access all online accounts from one log in!!**
here is a website from First Direct, a sistering company to HSBC, that enables you to access all of your online accounts, from current, savings, credit card to loans accounts. once you've registered you have a screen that shows you all of your allowances and total amounts, where its much easier to transfer money to and…
Need to change current a/c after 9 yrs w B'rclys
Hello I've been with Barclays for 9 years now but due to a new year's resolution to get myself the best deal on all financial products as well as a number of problems/unsatisfactory products and service I've received over this time I think it's time to let go and move on. I have had a search on the money supermarket site…
POUNDS to DOLLARS
I want to change a fairly large amount of Sterling into Dollars (not holiday spending money) soon, when the rate picks back up a little. Any recommendations on which is the best company/medium to use. Banks are usually quite a lot lower than the TV quoted exchange rates. Any advice much appreciated.
Debit card question
Just before Christmas I deposited some money with an online betting company using my debit card. After I placed a bet and won I withdrew my money (again back onto debit card). I have now looked at my account online and they have sent me back my money as requested but they haven't taken the origonal money that I deposited…
student account with bad credit history
after a few months of countlesss problems with my student loan application i have finally been told to expect it within two weeks. unfortunately due to a break in my degree (and failure to repay my student overdraft which was unfairly demanded immediately)my account was downgraded with barclays to a basic account...with no…
which banks upgrade on behaviour?
my halifax account was downgraded as I didnt use it for quite a while. it is now a "cardcash" with visa electron, although i still have the authorised overdraft of £1000 on there... i asked for it to be put back to a full current account and they did a credit check, which i failed :'( (this is due to serious financial…
Anyone else had this problem..
In December HSBC sent me a new Maestro card, the chip n pin one, well I had several d/d come back to me, My paypal, my one tel and another one, and its only been weeks, because the details have changed on my card I wouldn't of thought I'd have to inform one-tel etc.... surely this cant be right! Anyone tell me what to…
euros to sterling large amount
any one got any pointers for a large amount of Euros(€200,000 +) ,either check or bank transfer .wanting to find the best deal i.e rate and charges. thanks
Bank Card
Hi, Bit of a thick question but i haven't changed my account before. I've just applied for the Nationwide account and am on benefits, it said they would give me a debit card and cheque book. Will i also get a bank card though? as i can't get out and about very easily the local ATM is a godssend. Also on the application…
very angry Barclays customer! Pls help
I have had a terrible xmas with no food, no money to pay rent, no money to see family, I basically have no money because of a upgrade on computers in Barclays have messed up my account so 3months of wages can not be transfered to my account! Anyone else had a similar problem or can anyone advise on what I can do? I did go…

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NS&I launches new British Savings Bonds – but how do they stack up?
NS&I has refreshed its range of fixed-term 'British Savings Bonds' by adding a two-year and a five-year option, alongside its existing three-year bond. However, you can still earn more from the top-paying accounts elsewhere.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to close 292 branches in 2024/25 – here's the full list, plus alternatives
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland, which are all part of the Lloyds Banking Group, will shut at least 292 of their bank branches in 2024 and 2025, the Group has confirmed.
Martin Lewis: We need financial education in EVERY school for EVERY child
Universal financial education – providing young people with the knowledge and experience to thrive in our highly competitive consumer economy – is vital for the future of our society, MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has warned. Addressing an all-party group of MPs and peers at Parliament, Martin told them, loudly and plainly: we need financial education in EVERY school, for EVERY child.
State pension set to rise by up to £460 a year – but Martin Lewis warns it won't help pensioners this winter and most won't get the maximum
The state pension is set to rise by up to £460 a year (£8.80 a week) from 6 April 2025 under what's known as the 'triple lock' guarantee. But MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) founder Martin Lewis has warned that any rise will come too late to help pensioners set to lose their Winter Fuel Payments this winter, while most won't get the maximum increase. Here's what you need to know.
The Body Shop administration latest – here's what you need to know
Cosmetics retailer The Body Shop has fallen into administration, resulting in almost half of its 198 stores shutting their doors for good and hundreds of staff facing redundancy. Below we round up all you need to know.
Martin Lewis warns council tax debt collection is 'so aggressive it'd make banks blush' – change is needed
Aggressive council tax debt collection practices – even after missing just ONE payment – are putting up to two million people at risk of serious harm, new research from charity the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) has found. The charity's chair and founder Martin Lewis has called for Government action and urged local authorities to look at their methods in the meantime.
First-class stamp prices to rise by an inflation-busting 22% from 7 October – here's how to beat the hikes
The cost of standard first-class stamps will rise by an inflation-busting 22% from Monday 7 October, Royal Mail has confirmed – but if you buy some now, you'll still be able to use them after prices go up.
Nationwide to hike FlexPlus packaged account fee by £60 a year – should you ditch and switch?
Nationwide will raise the fee on its popular FlexPlus packaged bank account from £13 a month to £18 a month in December, the building society has announced. If you've got the account, it's likely worth sticking with for now – though you should diarise to look at alternatives when the new fee kicks in. Here's what you need to know.
FREE visits to 5,000+ UK historic buildings & heritage sites in September
You can get FREE access to many historical sites and tourist attractions this month including National Trust sites, castles, locations used for TV and film including Pride and Prejudice , The King's Speech , and Bridgerton, and more. It's all part of heritage open days across the UK.

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