More people saving

More people savingThe number of people saving regularly or occasionally increased in June, compared with May`s figures, according to the latest Nationwide Savings Index release.

77% people were saving either regularly or occasionally, according to the latest figures, while 23% reported saving nothing at all – down from 26% in May.

The figures may reflect an easing of the economic pressure faced by many people – or they may indicate a determination to save as a `safety net` against debt problems in the future.

A debt expert for Think Money said: “Saving is an important of financial planning, helping people prepare for unexpected costs that could otherwise lead them into debt.

“However, if a saver already has existing debts, they may find that the money would be better put towards overpaying those debts, since the interest on debt can grow faster than savings interest. Anyone who is unsure should speak with a professional debt adviser.”

The Best Kind of Credit Cards

The Best Kind of Credit CardsA lot of people have multiple credit cards – including most of you that are reading this article. Truthfully, it has been rather easy to get credit cards in the past, so you will have some credit cards that are better than others. You know which of you cards have the higher interest rates and which ones are great. This means that some are costing you more than others. Here are some tips about how to get some really beneficial credit cards.

When you really think about it, a credit card is either helping you to save money, or it is costing you to have it. This makes the best credit card one that you owe no balance on – simply because this is the only way to avoid paying any interest. Apart from that, however, there is an even better way to save money on a credit card. Continue reading

Last Minute Tax Tips for Last Minute Tax Filers

April 15 is just a few days away – have you filed your tax return yet? If not, you need to get yourself in gear and take care of it as the deadline is April 15th. Even with a rapidly approaching deadline, there is no reason to panic. Here are a few last minute tax tips for all the last minute tax filers:

Get Organized First: you will need a fair amount of concentration to file your taxes, so it may be better to work in a quiet area than it is to work on the coffee table in the living room with the television on. Get all of your information together including your w-4 from all jobs held in 2008, 1099 forms that show miscellaneous income sources, and any records for deductions (medical bills, charitable donation receipts, mortgage interest statements, self employed records, etc). It’s easier to try and gather everything you’ll need before you start to help you move through the process quickly rather than spending time every other line on the return searching for the necessary paperwork to complete it. Continue reading