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MONEY MORAL DILEMMA: Should Grant and Tiffany charge for their wedding?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Should Grant and Tiffany charge for their wedding? Grant and Tiffany have lived together for three years and their house is fully kitted out. They plan to get married locally next summer and aren't really in need of much; though the cost of the wedding…
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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: Fixed rate savings and living off the interest
I live off my monthly savings interest; so my income's been slashed due to the rate cuts. Is there a way I can take advantage of the high interest from fixed rate savings? With fixed savings you lock your money away and usually don't get paid monthly interest. Yet there's a work-around. Here's an example (ignoring tax for…
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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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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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'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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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. 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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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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MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Would you pay Brian the Builder in cash?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Would you pay Brian the Builder in cash? Brian the Builder's been rebuilding your front path. His original written quotation was £1,500 including VAT. Yet the day before he's due to settle, he suggests "why don't you just give me £1,200 in cash tomorrow...…
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Do you spend more than you earn? poll results & discussion
Poll ran between 07-14 Jan 08: The core assessment of anyone's finances is finding out do you spend more than you earn? The free Budget Planner tells you exactly that and was last week downloaded by over 30,000 people. What was your initial result (before you started planning any cut-backs)? A. Spend MORE than earn by over…
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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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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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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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'Fantasy Chancellor II… now it's political' poll discussion
Poll started 30 Dec 2008: Fantasy Chancellor II… now it's political Last week it was the turn of a range of celebrities, and it was hard-fought between the Dragons (see result). This week, which current sitting member of parliament, irrelevant of political party, do you think would make the best Chancellor? A. Gordon Brown…
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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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MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Do you break the no Christmas present pact?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Do you break the no Christmas present pact? All your friends agreed a no adults Christmas presents pact for this year. Then two days before Christmas you receive a bottle of champagne from your best mate, who had been in on the pact, with a note "Wishing you…
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'Fantasy Chancellor…' poll results/discussion
Poll between 22-30 Dec 2008: Fantasy Chancellor… It’s Christmas time, and if the fairy on the tree allowed you to pick any of the following to be Chancellor, who would you pick? A. Duncan Bannatyne 15% (1101 votes) B. James Caan 4% (331 votes) C. Seb Coe 1% (59 votes) D. Cheryl Cole 4% (325 votes) E. Simon Cowell 5% (408…
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Money Moral Dilemma: Would you pay a parking back hander?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Would you give a car park attendant a back hander? You’re parking in a big private car park in the centre of town. When you return the cost will be about £14. Yet a member of staff who works there tells you if you give him a fiver in cash he’ll let you…
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MONEY MORAL DILEMMA: Should the twins get the same value presents?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Should the twins get the same value presents? Ten year old twins Monica and Gabriella have just decided what they want for Christmas. Monica’s cheekily asking for a £100 Nintendo DS and game, while Gabriella just wants a £40 pair of roller skates she picked…
