This time last year, you might have been planning a major change in your life.

Maybe you wanted to start a family, move home or find a new job…

…but today, you’ve almost certainly decided not to go ahead.  

In a clear sign that the economic downturn is tightening its grip on everyday life, new research from CreditExpert.co.uk, discovered that 75% of us (the equivalent of 36 million people) have either postponed or cancelled our most important plans and 55% of us feel anxious about ever reaching our goals in life, mainly due to concerns over affordability.

In fact, every person in the representative sample of more than 2,000 UK adults intends to defer at least one major item of expenditure over the next 12 months.

Those in the prime of our lives are most likely to postpone key events; 83% of us in the 18-34 age group are putting important plans on the back burner. The older generation are more resilient, with 58% deferring their cherished ambitions.

• What we won’t do

The economic downturn means that 50% of us have given up thoughts of a new car in the next 12 months, 30% of us won’t be buying a property and 27% have decided against moving jobs.

For younger people especially, the economic climate is having an impact on their plans to start a family, with almost a quarter (23%) of 25-34 year olds putting off trying for a baby.  In addition, 21% of 18-24 year olds and 12% of 25-34 year olds are postponing setting a wedding date. 

The top 10 life plans UK adults have put or are planning to put on hold over the next 12 months are as follows:

1	Buying a car	50%
2	Buying a property	30%
3	Selling a property	28%
4	Changing jobs	27%
5	Moving to a different part of the UK	17%
6	Moving abroad	10%
=7	Trying for a baby	9%
=7	Studying	9%
8	Retiring from job	7%
9	Setting a wedding date	6%
10	Divorcing/separating from current partner	3%

The key factors behind this mass abandonment of plans include:

- Affordability: 47% of us say we simply can’t afford the extra costs

- Caution triggered by the economic situation, cited by 62% of us

- A perceived lack of available credit; 9% of us are concerned that they will not get a loan, credit card or other form of credit.

These circumstances mean that 76% of us feel that life is being dictated by factors beyond our control and 77% of us are more uncertain about our future.

The study also reveals the strain that postponing plans is having on our feelings and relationships with others. In fact, 4 out of 10 of us say that postponing plans has strained our relationships with friends, family, partners or colleagues.

• Generation game

As far as different generations go, those of us aged 35 to 44 are the most likely to postpone key life events over the next 12 months, with those over 65 the least likely of us to put our plans on hold. It’s set to be a bumpy start to adult life if you are an 18-24 year old, with 81% of you claiming you’re putting off key life events, such as studying due to the economic downturn.

• North/South divide

When it comes to UK regions, a North/South divide emerges, with those of us in the North more affected by the climate than our Southern counterparts.  81% of people living in the North West and North East say they are postponing key life events in light of economic conditions, compared to just 66% of those in South West and 74% of those in the South East.

Jim Hodgkins, Managing Director of CreditExpert.co.uk, said:

“There’s no doubt that uncertainty about future financial security for many people right now means putting plans on hold. One certainty is that those who are actively managing their money and understand their credit commitments can better plan for their future. Those that are holding off on pursuing their plans because they’re worried about being refused a loan or credit should check their credit report to ensure nothing is keeping them from pursuing their life goals.”

So, will you be putting off something important in 2009 because of the economic crisis?

If so, what is it?

Predictions for 2009 make it a pretty daunting prospect, so it’s time to settle on some serious New Year’s resolutions of the financial variety.

Start now and hopefully, 2009 will be much easier to deal with.

1. Find out what you owe

Before you can make any plans, you need to know how much money you owe, and for what! 

The simple place to start is your credit report, which lists your credit accounts, from loans, credit cards and mortgages to utilities, mobile phone contracts and catalogue accounts. As well as your repayment history and the amounts you owe, it details applications for new credit accounts, court judgments, IVAs or bankruptcies and other information that lenders use when calculating your credit rating. There’s also a useful list of your lenders, which can act as a quick reminder of accounts you might forget.

2. Make yourself a list

It’s always easier to get organised when you can see at a glance where you stand. Try making a list of regular outgoings, using your credit report as a guide and cross-checking with bills and statements.

Key items could include your mortgage or rent, loans, HP deals, the balance outstanding on credit cards and store cards, your overdraft and utility bills, including land and mobile telephone.

You should plan to honour all these payments; it’s just a matter of working out how you’ll do it.

3. Get yourself organised!

Organise all your bank statements, credit cards and utility bills into monthly files. Check your direct debits carefully and cancel any that should have expired or set up new ones to ensure you don’t miss any payments; some companies offer a discount if you do this.

Set up another file for your day-to-day spending, such as receipts for food, newspapers, petrol and fares. Make sure you arrange everything so you can see where your money is going in regular payments each month.

4. Set yourself a budget!

Most of us will need to cut back, so use your list to identify any potential savings.

For example, you might resolve to pay off your high interest store cards or reduce your utility bills.

Make sure your budget is realistic, (or you’re setting yourself up for a depressing failure!) and always leave some money aside for treats and emergencies, or you risk falling off the financial wagon through sheer frustration or because of bad luck.

5. Think thrifty

There’s plenty of advice around, from buying food at markets and discount supermarkets to walking to work and swapping clothes.

This is where the web comes in handy; there are sites that specialise in everything from economical food to free exercise routines and thrift shopping for clothes.

Try voucher sites for money-off offers on essentials. You could also join an online service such as www.freecycle.org, where people offer to give away unwanted items. Or hook up with one of the many local networks that enable people to swap their skills you can exchange anything from babysitting and cooking to carpentry and accountancy skills without paying a penny.

6. Get a good report

Lenders look at your credit report when you apply to them, so it’s crucial that it’s up to date and accurately reflects your circumstances. One administrative error or a misunderstanding several years ago could spoil your chances of getting the credit you want in future. If you disagree with any entries, contact the lender and be prepared to prove your point. You can also get in touch with the credit reference agency that keeps your credit report; Experian is the UK’s largest.

Other tips include closing unused accounts and registering to vote at your current address.

7. Do your research

The are still good credit options on offer and it’s up to you to find them. It’s worth spending some time on personal finance websites and reading the personal finance sections of newspapers to get an idea of what’s available.

Price comparison sites can help to identify the best deals for your circumstances but don’t send out a mass of applications in the hope of securing one. Ask each lender or supplier for a quote first, as every application leaves a record on your credit report – if there are a lot in just a few months, lenders may think you’re desperate or even suspect a fraud.

8. Tackle your expensive debts first

Assess your debts carefully and prioritise the ones you want to repay first. This means finding out which are costing you the most.

It may be possible to take out a personal loan to pay off several smaller debts that charge high interest. If you have a good history with your bank, you may also be eligible for an overdraft at reasonable rates. If you’re one of the many people whose old fixed rate mortgages finish this year, it’s worth paying off as much as you can before searching for a replacement, so you qualify for more new deals or a lower interest rate.

9. Get yourself some help!

Whether you’re unsure how to set your budget, don’t understand how interest is calculated or are frightened that you’re getting into financial trouble, there’s help out there.

The website of the Financial Services Authority, www.fsa.gov.uk, is a good starting point, offering simple advice and a range of calculators. Mortgage advisers and your own bank can help you to decide on suitable deals and may come up with ideas you hadn’t considered.

Always talk to your mortgage lender as soon as you think you’re in danger of letting them down; they may be able to suggest a temporary solution, such as extending the life of a loan to lower your monthly repayments.

Other sources of free debt advice include:

Citizens Advice: The Citizens Advice service is a network of independent charities that helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers.

Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS): the impartial finance charity

Payplan: Debt management and free confidential debt advice on resolving debt problems.

Shelter:  If you are struggling with the cost of your mortgage or with any other housing problem, call Shelter's free housing advice line on 0808 800 4444. 

Money Hospital also provides a free debt enquiry service. We have partnered with a number of trustworthy debt specialists, so you should speak free of charge to an independent debt adviser who can provide you with advice and solutions to help you resolve your debt and credit problems.

10. Keep on top of your credit status

Resolutions are meant to last, so check your credit report regularly. It gives you a snapshot of how well you’re managing, allows you to monitor your progress and gives you a chance to clean up your act before you approach lenders. Since prospective employers and landlords can also ask for permission to see your credit report, it’s a priority to ensure it’s as good as it can be. You can see your Experian credit report for free with a trial of CreditExpert, the UK’s leading online credit monitoring service.

So, there you go, some resolutions that are worth sticking to this year! 

Let us know how you get on!

Source: © Credit Expert/Experian 2008

As a pensioner, you are probably trying to make ends meet at the best of times. Therefore, the financial meltdown of this year won’t have helped much.

As a result, nearly 1.7 million of you are relying on property to fund your old age.

Sadly, if you are in this group, you have already seen almost £45 billion disappear from your retirement fund in just 12 months as the average house price has dropped almost £30,000 to £158,872.

This property reliance is also rife amongst the next generation of retirees with more than 1 in 4 of 55-64 year olds following suit and almost half of 25-34 year olds. This suggests that today’s property slump is going to hit the next generation of retirees hard as well.

In addition, almost three million of you already retired could also take a hit as you are relying on shares to fund your old age. You may have to wait several years for that part of your retirement fund to recover from the current stock market cash.

These are just two of a number of factors leading to the reality that, today, almost 1 in 10 of us in the UK admit we simply cannot afford to retire; 18% of these are over 65 years old.

This is clearly a problem as 37% of those of you already over the official retirement age of 65 feel you will need to work up to the age of 77 in order to maintain an acceptable standard of living!

• Unprepared in the face of unemployment

It would appear today’s working population will be even worse off as only 13.8 million working age adults are either paying into or are part of a pension scheme; that’s only 39%.  This leaves 61% of us reliant on the state pension which is just £4,732 a year.

With unemployment expected to rise from 5.8% to 7.1% next year, it is set to affect an additional 406,016 of us. This could result in an extra £438 million worth of lost pension savings in 2009 as these people are unable to put money away and employers no longer contribute to their pensions. 

• Not saving enough?

While life expectancy continues to increase year-on-year, the amount that we are saving is at its lowest level for almost 20 years, indicating a very uncertain future for the next generation of pensioners. In 2006, the average working person saved £1,288 per annum, but in 2007 this plummeted by almost 40% to £776 due to the increasing pressure of the economic crisis.

As it stands, half of us who work are saving less than £100 a month for our retirement and 56% of us currently contribute nothing whatsoever.

This leaves more than half of us completely unprepared for retirement. Almost 20% of us haven’t even started making provisions for our retirement with just under 22% of these aged between 25-34. There remains a reasonably high percentage of us (17%) in the 45-54 age bracket who are still not saving, despite the fact that we are nearing retirement age and should therefore be putting aside even more than the younger generations!

Need to put some money aside? Compare the best savings accounts.

Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com, says:

“The economic slump has certainly scuppered the best laid plans of people nearing retirement. Consumers are faced with falling house prices coupled with a stock market crash and low savings rates; these factors combined seem to cut off every possible life line to fund a happy retirement.

“The outlook for the next generation of pensioners is more serious than it’s ever been, especially for those who aren’t making the right provisions to see them through retirement. It’s unrealistic to think that consumers will be able to make hundreds of pounds worth of savings every month, especially in the current climate, but there are steps they can take to ensure a more comfortable retirement. Even though times are tough, it is important that people review their financial position in order to invest what they can to secure a better future. Every penny really does count.”

• Recommended saving

In the current climate, an average 25 year old should be saving £129 a month in order to survive on the minimum wage through retirement. This age group will now have to work until the age of 68 as the State Pension age for both men and women is to increase from 65 to 68 between 2024 and 2046.  Delaying these savings by ten years would mean the same person would have to contribute £208 per month. Those who rely solely on the state pension who retired in 2008 will still need to find an additional £7,186 a year, just to be living on the minimum wage of £11,918 in retirement.

Even today, the average working person is expected to live for almost 22 years past retirement, and by 2050 the average life expectancy will have shot up to 95; an increase of more than 5% from today. It’s no surprise that nearly 72% of us who work are worried that we won’t be able to support a decent quality of life for themselves in old age.

Monthly saving needed to survive on minimum wage in retirement

Current Age                       Retirement Age
                    60           65            66            67           68
    25            £251.30    £172.32    £157.96    £143.60    £129.24
    30            £323.10    £215.40    £193.86    £179.50    £165.14
    35            £430.80    £272.84    £251.30    £229.76    £208.22
    40            £588.76    £359.00    £330.28    £301.56    £272.84
    45            £847.24    £495.42    £445.16    £402.08    £366.18

 

• Ignorance is bliss

Outside of the financial pressures we are all facing, there is also a distinct lack of knowledge in the UK about how much we need to survive throughout retirement and what we should be investing in as the financial situation continues to worsen. In fact, almost 47% of us that work have no clear idea have a clear idea of what their retirement income should be!

In the last 20 years, there has been a shift in where we are investing our money with over a third of us paying into ISA accounts as a source of income through retirement. A more risky option, apparent amongst older generations, is investing in shares with almost a quarter of over 65s relying on today’s turbulent markets.

 

• What people are relying on for retirement

What people are relying on for their retirement	Age 16-24	Age 25-34	Age 35-44	Age 45-54	Age 55-64	Age 65+	Retired	Not retired
Property	35%	45%	30%	36%	26%	15%	14%	35%
Bonds	13%	10%	5%	9%	15%	20%	19%	10%
Shares	15%	19%	13%	19%	20%	24%	24%	17%
ISA	36%	33%	23%	29%	40%	42%	42%	31%

Source: Research Now data 2008

• Considered equity release?

If the thought of investing in ISAs, bonds and shares to fund your retirement is a bit daunting, the maybe you should consider equity release?

Equity release is a popular way of borrowing for those of you 55 looking to cash in on the huge growth in value of your homes.

It's a lifetime mortgage product that can provide a lump sum or regular payments in return for taking out a mortgage on a property, which does not have to be repaid until you die or sell your property.

Thanks to rising house prices, equity release schemes are becoming more popular. They can give you a lump sum, a regular income or both. The lump sum could be tens of thousands of pounds, or the income boost might be a hundred pounds a month or more.

Also, money released from the value of the principle residence is tax-free (although if the cash is then invested, there may be tax to pay on any income or growth).

Read our Equity Release guide

You can get impartial Equity Release advice here.

Dr Tim Leunig, Professor at the London School of Economics, says:

"Relying on the state to look after you in retirement is a recipe for poverty in old age so starting to save as young as possible is good advice for everyone. The current downturn in tax revenues and big increase in Government borrowing makes it even harder for the Government to fund the pension promises made in good times. Future state pensions could be lower than people expect, increasing the benefits of private saving.

“People who lose their jobs lose not only their wages, but also future pension entitlement, which means today's recession will have repercussions for many years to come. The increase in life expectancy and changes in the pension age means that a person needs to save around a third more now than they would have done 30 years ago, just to get the equivalent of the minimum wage.”

Information © uSwitch2008

Relevant links:

Struggling with other debts?

Just like an alcoholic one, the financial hangover left by Christmas is all too familiar.

But for many of us, breaking the budget this year could have more serious implications, especially with 2009 looking set to be a financially chilly year for many of us.

Retailers are feeling the squeeze as we try to tighten our festive belts this Christmas. But there is a silver lining as most retailers have passed on the 2.5% reduction in VAT announced in the Pre-Budget Report, but the discounts do not stop there.

Special promotions, cut-price vouchers and extra loyalty points are only some of the tactics being used to lure us back. Stock sold off by the increasing number of businesses going bust is also proving useful for us bargain hunters. 

So if you want to cut down on your spending over Christmas without cutting down on your fun, here is how:

• Agree a spending limit

When it comes to buying gifts for grown-up family members or friends you should consider a spending cap, say £5 or £10.

Putting a limit on how much you spend could make you a lot more creative with your giving as you won't be able to resort to buying big presents.

• Recycle

Give away your unwanted gifts from last year. According to CreditExpert.co.uk, 4 out of 10 of us are planning to recycle gifts this year rather than fork out for new ones.

And why not? If a present is still box-fresh and you know someone else will enjoy owning it, does it matter where it came from? However, just be careful you keep a close track of your gifts so you don't end up handing it back to the same person.

• Buy presents online

Don't pay more than you need to for presents. Most things can be bought online for less than on the high street and Amazon is cheaper 7 times out of 10.

Websites like eBay often throw up good deals, while classified sites such as Gumtree are the place to hunt out secondhand bargains. On the high street look out for two-for-one promotions in shops like Boots; very handy for stocking fillers.

• Make more of less

Where there are children involved, prolong the excitement of opening presents on Christmas Day by organising a treasure hunt involving lots of little, smaller presents, culminating in the main big present.  Let’s face it, children have as much fun opening gifts as they do with the gift itself!

Whether Father Christmas has been hit by the economic downturn or not, the stocking full of presents he leaves for your children might have to be. But the magic of a stocking is not about the expense of the presents inside, it is about the dawn raid and the chocolate money.

Tell him to keep things fun and cheap (the best bit is always the satsuma anyway!).

• Have an eco-Christmas

When it comes to sending cards, keep the stamps and envelopes for the ones you love; you can send colleagues and overseas friends an e-card. There are literally hundreds of different websites devoted to them, most of which let you add a message so there is no need to lose the personal touch.

The website Everyclick.com is offering charity e-cards. For £5 you can choose a design and send it to up to 100 people. If you do get sent "real" cards make sure you save them so they can be turned into next year's cut-price gift tags.

• Slash your food budget

Budget supermarkets are set to have a bumper Christmas this year as we turn our backs on the likes of Marks & Spencer in favour of Asda and Morrisons. But if the idea of Christmas done by Iceland leaves you cold, then do not fear!

You could be a canny shopper and mix and match: spend money on the larger, quality items (the organic turkey for instance) but save on all the extras and buy mince pies and satsumas, cheese biscuits from you local market and discount stores.

When it comes to drink, go online. Cut-price wine stockist Last Drop Wines claims its prices are between 30% and 50% cheaper than wine shops and supermarkets.  You can also get up to 50% off with Tesco Wines.

• Book restaurants in advance

As Christmas decorations go up, so do the restaurant prices. They rely on the fact that after a few glasses of wine we relax the purse strings. Get the better of them by booking your Christmas lunch through a website like toptable. It gives you substantial discounts on restaurants all over the UK, some of which allow you to book all the way up to and including Christmas Eve.

• Travel smart

Book trains, planes and buses ASAP! Discount tickets get snapped up quickly so the sooner you set your travel dates the better. And if you are driving try to arrange a paying passenger or get a lift through a site like Gumtree or liftshare; according to founder Ali Clabburn you will save 17p a mile in fuel and wear and tear.

• Use discount vouchers

Take advantage of online discount vouchers. These are special codes that in many cases offer 5%-10% off when buying online. Lots of high street retailers use them but don't necessarily advertise them. Vouchercodes.co.uk monitors discounts from hundreds of different retailers including Jessops, Nike, Argos and Vodafone, and are definitely worth checking before you make a big purchase.

• Bankrupt bargains

As more businesses go bust, you are morel likely to bag a bargain from a stock clearance company. Many companies that go into liquidation will sell their stock and equipment at auction. Auction News provides details of auctions and UK company insolvencies and a web subscription from www.auctionnews.co.uk costs £35 a year.

However, if you do buy at auction, remember that you will not be able to return what you have bought if it does not live up to expectations; so you need to make sure you are getting the right present.

You can also buy stock from businesses that have gone into administration at online auction sites such as eBay.  You can also find bargains on the high street especially with MFI and Woolworths going under. 

• Voucher savings

If you are planning on buying direct from a specific store, first check out www.myvouchercodes.co.uk or www.moneysavingexpert.com to see if you can print off a discount voucher. If you are shopping online, you may be able to obtain a code that will give you an automatic discount. Hundreds of retailers (including Amazon, Gap, House of Fraser and Asos) offer discounts of up to 30%. 

Some of the best online deals include 10% off at Hamleys, the toy shop, when using the discount code HAMRH. This is valid until December 22.

The Body Shop is offering 10% off online purchases until December 31. Simply use the code DHAD000451 when you make a purchase.

• Compare prices

Whatever presents you are planning to buy (from a Nintendo Wii to a Dark Knight DVD) you should check out at least one comparison website first to make sure that you are getting the cheapest deal.

Useful sites include www.kelkoo.co.uk and www.pricerunner.co.uk.

Kelkoo also introduced a cashback service recently, giving back up to 25% of what you spend online with more than 600 retailers. The amount of cash that you receive varies according to where you buy. For example, Vodafone offers a lump sum of £54 with a new phone contract, while Expedia offers 2.1% of what you spend.

• Sale days

After Marks & Spencer's recent 20% off sale. many more stores are introducing similar deals in the run-up to Christmas. You receive the discount at the till, so no voucher or online code is required.

However, the discount may apply only to certain items. For example, Harvey Nichols has 25 per cent off, online and in store, until tomorrow, but the discount is only for men's and women's fashion and accessories from the autumn/winter 2008 range.

Sale days are often announced at short notice, so it is worth signing up to newsletters from your favourite stores or keeping a close eye on their websites.

Kelkoo.co.uk: price comparison site that offers a cashback service.

Pricerunner.co.uk: trawls web to hunt down the best online prices.

Shopping.com: compares prices of everything from TVs to jewellery.

Auctionnews.co.uk: provides details of auctions nationwide.

Myvouchercodes.co.uk: lists discount vouchers from retailers.

Moneysavingexpert.com: discount deals updated daily.

• Beware of worthless warranties

If you are buying electrical items, such as laptops, iPods or digital radios, this Christmas, think twice before signing up for an extended warranty. Retailers typically try to sell this type of insurance at the cash register but in most cases it is a waste of money.

Extended warranties are policies that provide additional cover over and above the manufacturer's usual one-year warranty on goods such as televisions and refrigerators. Some retailers also try to sell the policies alongside low-cost electrical items.

You have statutory rights under the Sale of Goods Act, which means that, in some cases, stores should repair faulty goods even after 12 months. What counts as reasonable is open to debate and may be something that retailers will quibble over. However, Which? says that a washing machine should last between five and ten years, a fridge seven to ten years and a TV between eight and ten years.

As well as breakdowns, “accidental damage” is a key selling point of extended warranties, but many of us have this cover on your home insurance already. As well as being covered by your home insurance, you might be covered on your credit card.

Some premium cards, including the Nationwide Credit Card, HSBC Premier Credit Card and RBS/NatWest Black Card, include extended warranties for household appliances.

So,there you go, some clever tips to make sure you can still enjoy Christmas this year without breaking the bank!

Are there any we have missed?

As we head towards Christmas, most of us will be used to handing our money our money over to someone.

So it’s great to hear that for a change, someone is going to give us some money back!

Yep, the Inland Revenue has announced it has taken £250 million too much off our savings and wants to pay it back.

Most of you that are owed the money qualify as you are on low income and should not pay any tax at all. However, banks and building societies automatically deduct 20% tax  from the interest earned on your savings.

Because of this, the Inland Revenue is encouraging you with savings to check your statements and claim back any tax you are owed.

Claire Merrils of HM Revenue & Customs explained the situation, saying: 

"We reckon there is now about £250 million of tax and up to 3 million people entitled to a share of this money. We know that there are a lot of pensioners who need every penny. So if they want their money back please claim it because it's yours."

• Two groups paying too much tax

Two groups of you may be paying too much tax.

The first group are those of you whose income is below the tax allowance. You  should not be paying tax at all and can register to have it paid gross in future.

The personal tax allowance in 2008/09 is £6,035 for everyone under 65. Older people can have £9,030 a year before paying tax and those aged 75 or more can have up to £9,180.

To qualify for the higher amount your birthday can be as late as 5 April 2009.

Claire Merrills explains what you should do:  

"People need to add up all their income together, pensions and so on, including the income from those bank or building society accounts. If the total is less than their allowance they need to fill in form R85 so they don't get tax taken off. They should also contact us and we can send them a form, an R40 and you do need one for each tax year but you can claim back to 2002/03."

• An extra 10%

The second group cannot have their income paid gross but must claim back overpaid tax.

Your income is above your personal allowance but within £2,320 of it. Your interest should then be taxed at just 10%. So you can reclaim the extra 10% which has been over-deducted also using form R40.

If you are thinking this all seems quite complicated, then you are right! 

Therefore the Inland Revenue has two helplines for you to call:

Call 0845 980 0645 about registering to have interest paid gross.

Call 0845 366 7850 about claiming overpaid tax back.

You can also contact them through their website. 

• Claim more than your tax back

If you don’t qualify to claim back your tax, have you considered claiming money back on other things?

Did you know you could claim back your bank penalty charges, your credit card fees, mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance and your mortgage exit fees?

Here at Money Hospital, we have partnered with a reputable and regulated claims company called Claims Financial, and you can be assured of a good service. 

Claims Financial can be contacted here.

- Claim back your bank penalty charges

- Claim back your mortgage exit fees

- Claim back your Payment Protection Insurance

- Claim back your credit card fees

So, with every penny being vital this Christmas, it will certainly help if you can get someone to give you money back for a change!

Go on, get claiming!