The Great Debate UK
What happened to taking responsibility for our own actions?
Rachel Mason is public relations manager at Fair Investment. The opinions expressed are her own.
A recent survey by Moneysupermaket.com has found that the zero per cent introductory offers on credit cards are getting longer while the rates that kick in once the period is over are getting higher, and now consumer groups are arguing that banks should be held accountable for luring poor innocent people into debts they cannot repay.
Yes, the banks should be more sensible, because this is exactly how they got themselves into a mess the last time, but what happened to taking responsibility for our own actions? Just because someone offers you ‘credit’ doesn’t mean you should take it – if you don’t have the money, don’t spend it.
Sadly, it is the same everywhere – we live in a blame society. If something goes wrong, it must be someone else’s fault.
Rubbish rates – what is a saver to do?
-Rachel Mason is PR manager at Fair Investment Company. The opinions expressed are her own.-
The base rate is going to be stuck at 0.5 percent for years to come, according to experts, so where does that leave savers?
VAT rise – is it really that bad?
Rachel Mason is public relations manager at Fair Investment Company. The opinions expressed are her own.-
So the new coalition government is putting VAT up from 17.5 percent to 20 percent on January 4 2011 and the country is up in arms, but is it really that bad?
Nothing is certain but death and taxes
-Rachel Mason is public relations manager at Fair Investment Company. The opinions expressed are her own.-
If there is one thing in this life you can be sure about it is that you are going to be taxed a lot. You can’t escape it.
You are taxed on your income, then you are taxed on the money from your income that you have already been taxed on when it becomes savings, then you are taxed on your pension, which is made up of cash that you have already been taxed on, and then there’s road tax, car tax, council tax, VAT, stamp duty….the list goes on.
Seeking solutions for IT firms during economic crisis
-Steve Wagner is Managing Director at Fair Web Solutions. The opinions expressed are his own.-
There can be no doubt that the recent global financial crisis has affected all areas of the economy and even though initially the likes of manufacturing companies and property development companies appeared to be the most affected, every business has had to take notice and consider what initiatives they can put in place to minimise the damage.
Could VCT changes spell trouble for the economy?
-Rachel Mason is public relations manager at independent financial service providers Fair Investment Company. The opinions expressed are her own. -
Investing in start-ups can be risky, but vital for a healthy economy, so in 1995, Venture Capital Trusts were introduced by the government to encourage people to invest in small, growing UK companies.
Tax year end – are you ready?
Rachel Mason is public relations manager at independent financial service providers Fair Investment Company.The opinions expressed are her own. Reuters will host a “follow-the-sun” live blog on Monday, March 8, 2010, International Women’s Day. Please tune in.-
With the end of the tax year fast approaching, now is the time to make sure all your finances are in order and that you are maximising all the annual allowances, reliefs and exemptions available.
Pensioners feel pinch from low rates
- Sharon Bratley is chartered financial planner at Fair Investment. The opinions expressed are her own. -
What does the decision by the Bank of England to keep interest rates at a record low of 0.5 percent mean for the average Briton in retirement?
