Sorting out your personal finances can be a tricky and exasperating time. Whether you are looking to obtain money through a loan, protect your finances with life insurance, medical, travel or car insurance, save some money through an individual savings account (ISA), apply for a credit card or a mortgage, change a telephone or fuel utility supplier, or simply decide what the best current account is for your needs, the choices are seemingly endless as well as being extremely complicated. They can also be potentially serious if you get it wrong. With so many options, and so many companies trying to get you to use their product, it is difficult to know where to turn.
The first method of working out your own finances is to review your needs and compare the products on offer to meet those needs. You could, if desired, visit the banks one by one, burning calories and shoe leather by doing so. Alternatively you may have heard of the World Wide Web, it's like a sort of big and commercial version of Narnia and you don't have to go through your wardrobe to get there. And no freaky men with goats legs ?
? not without a login and password anyway.
So, we present the concept of financial product comparison sites, which have been around in the UK since 1997, when small company called moneynet decided to break up the monopoly in the personal finance market. Over the past eight years, there has been an explosion in the number of UK sites seeking to provide information to enable consumers to make informed decisions on their personal finances. These sites provide free consumer financial product comparison services for credit cards, insurance, investments, savings accounts, mortgages, loans, as well as gas and electricity bill suppliers. Additional consumer information services are also often provided such as financial guides, financial newsletters and personal finance calculators. Moneynet, in particular, has a tool which allows registered users to manage all of their accounts online ? securely, including credit cards, savings accounts and current accounts.
You can also obtain financial advice from an independent financial advisor, but this is an expensive way of doing what could be done for free with a little effort. If you do your own homework, then you can use your time with an advisor more effectively by asking informed questions. You'll have a better understanding of what you're being sold if you've done a little bit of homework first.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Resources:
http://paler.com/uk_financial_comparison_sites.html
http://www.moneyn et.co.uk/
About Rachel
Rachel writes for the personalfinanosaurus Cashzilla
Rachel has been writing personal finance related articles for six months and has learnt so much about mortgages and life insurance, that nobody invites her out to dinner anymore. :(
same day cleaning service Bannockburn ..Ever wonder where address labels come from? Avery? is perhaps... Read More
Frugal living is more than a lifestyle. It's a passion.... Read More
Everyone needs to maintain their lives. What I mean by... Read More
You should thoroughly consider your business needs when selecting a... Read More
As the saying goes: "Buyer Beware". If you see ads... Read More
Commonly referred to as the first of the three major... Read More
In this age of information, keeping track of your finances... Read More
When people speak about the increasing age expectancies, they generally... Read More
ID theft is a major consumer concern, though there is... Read More
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to... Read More
It's the little things in life that make it interesting.... Read More
Have you seen the recent article on a new "green"... Read More
1. Lighting & Light Bulbs Install low energy light... Read More
Shopping for groceries is an inevitable fact of our ever... Read More
If you were to ask 100 women "What would you... Read More
Can you really afford a house? If so, how much... Read More
Now that we are in the month of June I... Read More
There have been an estimated 9.9 million victims on America... Read More
If you die without making a Will in the UK,... Read More
Sorting out your personal finances can be a tricky and... Read More
You have probably accomplished a great deal with your life.... Read More
You've analyzed your past expenses, put them into spreadsheets, loaded... Read More
Chapter 7The potential chapter 7 debtor should understand that a... Read More
Has anyone been to the gas pumps lately? Soon $3... Read More
With a traditional Investment Retirement Account (IRA) you pay taxes... Read More
housekeepers near Deerfield ..The judge had to ask the question, and we had... Read More
Get Access to Realistic profitable strategies & discover the mindset... Read More
1. If you have your haircut every 3 weeks, try... Read More
I'm still amazed every time someone comes to me complaining... Read More
Each of us knows how to spend money, but do... Read More
At a time when the entire world's attention is focused... Read More
Sorting out your personal finances can be a tricky and... Read More
Now there are ways to save money in the grocery... Read More
Do you struggle from week to week trying to make... Read More
It's the little things in life that make it interesting.... Read More
Women are charged more for dry cleaning services. Don't fume,... Read More
Many don't realize that our basic utility bills provide the... Read More
Debt levels are at an all time high in the... Read More
We live in a crazy world. Someone ought to sell... Read More
Women have a love/hate relationship with money. Most of us... Read More
If You Have an Existing Account and 5 Minutes, You... Read More
1. Don't focus on your finances.The reason most people get... Read More
What is it about being frugal, why do it at... Read More
It is crucial as an individual who is striving for... Read More
Did you have a piggy bank when you were a... Read More
Everyone needs to maintain their lives. What I mean by... Read More
I have to admit, I do it too. I complain.... Read More
1) HOW TO LOOK FOR A JOBA) The Chronological Curriculum:1.... Read More
Future financial success is not a guarantee that any one... Read More
Most of us, especially those of us who have debtor's... Read More
Personal Finance |