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. :(
monthly home cleaning Buffalo Grove ..If you were to ask 100 women "What would you... Read More
The lists of bank and savings accounts that are available... Read More
I've been sharing the following idea with people for a... Read More
Many people graduate from college owing thousands of dollars in... Read More
If you've been to a shopping mall lately, you've probably... Read More
What is it about being frugal, why do it at... Read More
If you recently became a single parent and see your... Read More
Are you a check fanatic? Don't worry, you aren't alone.... Read More
I have to admit, I do it too. I complain.... Read More
An avid cyclist and bike racing fan, I sit transfixed... Read More
ID theft is a major consumer concern, though there is... Read More
We live in a crazy world. Someone ought to sell... Read More
Frugal living is more than a lifestyle. It's a passion.... Read More
Good money management needn't be difficult. In fact, there a... Read More
My personal opinion is that in today's new economy, it... Read More
Future financial success is not a guarantee that any one... Read More
Each of us knows how to spend money, but do... Read More
One universal of humanity, no matter who you are or... Read More
Many don't realize that our basic utility bills provide the... Read More
What is finance and what do you need to know?... Read More
Just about everyone has a checking account. Checks present easy... Read More
Have you ever thought about what you are going to... Read More
Women are charged more for dry cleaning services. Don't fume,... Read More
Despite how easy it is to balance a checkbook, very... Read More
You no longer look at the pictures of homes cause... Read More
scheduled maid service Mundelein ..Things are so expensive these days. We seem to be... Read More
Can you really afford a house? If so, how much... Read More
Many people graduate from college owing thousands of dollars in... Read More
Those who keep a watchful eye on where their money... Read More
You've analyzed your past expenses, put them into spreadsheets, loaded... Read More
Many don't realize that our basic utility bills provide the... Read More
If you are the normal consumer, then you've probably experienced... Read More
Are you interested in saving money off your grocery bills?... Read More
You no longer look at the pictures of homes cause... Read More
Sorting out your personal finances can be a tricky and... Read More
It is estimated that we, as consumers, waste an average... Read More
Investing is a subject a lot of people don't want... Read More
You've decided you want a bigger, better and more desirable... Read More
When you received an energy (heating) bill last winter, were... Read More
The gas that we fill our tanks with every week... Read More
With the A-level results coming out, the long wait for... Read More
With interest rates being at an all-time low, I can... Read More
It is crucial as an individual who is striving for... Read More
Now there are ways to save money in the grocery... Read More
Six Scholarship judges were sitting around an oval table. Forms... Read More
If you have a 401(k) account, it can be very... Read More
1. Don't focus on your finances.The reason most people get... Read More
Well, dang! From what I've heard and read, it looks... Read More
Identity theft is a serious crime that continues to grow.... Read More
As the saying goes: "Buyer Beware". If you see ads... Read More
Personal Finance |