It's Official - The UK Public Are Getting Cleverer With Their Cash

It would likely be surprising to few, but positive aspects of the ongoing recession are rarely mentioned in the press, in comment columns or on blogs. Yet, recent research from financial experts Moneynet and The Office for National Statistics has drawn attention to trends amongst the UK public showing that since the credit crunch we have become more sensible with our money.

Data recently published by the Office of National Statistics has shown that the household saving ratio has increased from 3.9 percent at the beginning of the year, to 5.6 during the second quarter. The rise has caused Andrew Haggar of Moneynet to comment: "People are now getting a bit wiser with their cash, putting it away to cover emergencies or unforeseen events such as unemployment."

Although the credit crunch and ongoing recession has seemed to make the UK public more conscious of the need to save, and to be more sensible with their cash, the competitiveness of fixed rate savings accounts have also been a direct influence on the habits of savers and spenders.

For example, interest on fixed rate bonds has increased from 2.87 percent to 3.53 percent according to moneyfacts. In comparison to average easy access accounts, the highest return on the best bond rates are around 2 percent more. Simply put, for anyone to make any interest out of their cash, they have little choice but to part with that money for a significant amount of time.

Similarly, ISAs have also hit the news again after new rules for over 50s were introduced in order to allow them to save more money tax free. Yet, despite the increase in options for older savers, competitive rates are still being seen by a range of providers with some banks offering accounts to savers both over and under 50. Prospective savers are becoming more savvy with the type of accounts they are opting for, but they are also willing to invest more time researching providers on and offline in order to get the best rates.

Paul Roberts writes about savings accounts, fixed rate savings, bonds and ISAs.

Savings 2009 - Can Debt Still Be a Friend?

As the era of tight budgets and scraping just enough to save continues, the notion that debt is a positive thing may seem ridiculous to many - it should be avoided at all costs, and it certainly shouldn't be available to someone who is likely not to earn enough to pay it back.

Yet, if debt wasn't as available as it is - i.e. if it were capped, what would happen when we really needed it? Most of us are paid by the month, and if at some point you need to make an emergency payment, on your car, or on your property etc, acquiring the capital to pay immediately is an absolute life-saver - and if for some reason it wasn't accessible could be potentially disastrous.

Thankfully, huge emergency payments are few and far between, but seeing as I'm writing this as thousands of university students invest a good chunk of their student loan in a Fresher's Week binge (I know I did), student debt is certainly worth a mention. Tom Cockreill (quoted in The Guardian) has the following to say about this: "Society seems to be happy to let debt accumulation start at university. It's all the more dispiriting that higher education, the bedrock of future prosperity and a more secure society, is paid for via debt."

This is certainly a curious aspect of modern day living. But would further education be as open and equal as it is if the system were not run this way? And additionally, what better time is there in one's life to come to terms with such an expensive, and important, investment - when they are enthusiastic and ripe for learning?

That said, it seems that for people of all ages there is still room for learning how to contribute to making their society less indebted - and it is going to be more difficult for borrowers to simply borrow to much in the future.

Perhaps more transparency is owed to students regarding how much they are paying and borrowing for university - and how much their course and grades are really going to be worth in the future if they achieve the best they can do so. But for those who are borrowing for other products, i.e. desirables, capping may be a good idea - at least to ensure that we are as a society are in control of debt - and it is no longer in control of us.

Paul Roberts writes about banking, student finance and savings accounts and best savings rates.

Can I Afford a Gap Year?

Much has been written recently about the cost of university, and the increasing number of young people put off by higher education due to the thought of so much debt after graduation. However, as the new term kicks off this month, it is clear that the recession has made the application process even more competitive as more mature students enrol, at the same time as jobs are cut, pay is frozen and more people find themselves without work. So what are the other options after college or sixth form?

Of course, a gap year has long been an acceptable way to spend time after secondary school in order to build up your 'life experience' and to enjoy some well-deserved freedom. But with so much concern about debt, can you really afford one? The easy answer is probably yes, but you must plan and budget carefully.

Whether you decide to volunteer close to home, or want to fly to the east coast of Australia, it is likely that you will need to save up some money for the experience. Of course, earning is one thing, but saving is quite another and it is important that you are taking enough money from your monthly pay and putting it somewhere safe. The more research you can do on this at the moment the better as the best savings accounts available tend to be fixed term - meaning you are more likely to get good returns if you leave your savings alone for a certain amount of time.

Another positive boon to your funding could come from tax. If you are only working for a few months before leaving and not working for the rest of the year, you may be eligible for tax back. If you earn £6,475 or less over a year you do not need to pay tax.

Once your funds are in place you need to estimate how you want to access it, and the currency (or currencies) you are likely to use. Internet banking is a great way for travellers because it is free and is available 24 hours a day. After you know what currency you will need and where, it may also be worth considering a prepaid credit card - despite the bad reputation there are certain credit card options available that are free of debt risk and allow you to take out foreign currencies abroad for no charge.

The next plan is to budget the trip. If you are travelling abroad it is becoming increasingly important to take out travel insurance - and it is a good idea to research specialist gap year cover. If you are planning any special activities such as extreme sports, ensure that these are included on your policy also.

Paul Roberts writes about finance for travellers, savings accounts and fixed term savings