How to clean up your personal finances?

Released on = September 8, 2005, 6:13 am

Press Release Author = Rachel Lane

Industry = Financial

Press Release Summary = Personal finance isn't rocket science, so there's no need to
stick your head in the sand

Press Release Body = Are you one of those people who doesn’t open their bank or
credit card statements? Do you take out store cards on the spur of the moment?
Have you been with the same bank simply because it is less hassle than changing?

If you have answered yes to any of the above questions, fear not confused consumer,
help is at hand, with some assistance from a few internet tools.

* Internet tool number one:

** The consumer champion site for personal finance information

Websites such as Fool.com, Fool.co.uk and Moneysavingexpert.com have proved
extremely popular with consumers. Fool.com is more geared towards the US market,
whilst Fool.co.uk focuses on the UK market. Both have an extremely diverse
selection of information from investment and high risk options to personal finance
and low risk options. There are extensive discussion boards, newsletter
subscriptions, finance calculators and competitions. These sites not only answer
your questions, they make you want to ask more.

Fool.com, Fool.co.uk and Moneysavingexpert.com are community based sites and
function on consumers exchanging information between themselves, whether that’s
about passing on recommendations or expressing concerns. The article “Ten Reasons
To Fear The Future” by Cliff D’Arcy” on Fool.co.uk is a particularly good
introduction to the financial aspects of modern life.

Martin Lewis has almost become a household name in the UK through his website
Moneysavingexpert. The outspoken journalist and presenter offers a comprehensive
resource on a range of personal finance topics. If you can put up with the cheesey
photos of Mr Lewis and his catalogue poses, you will undoubtedly find this site
extremely helpful.

* Internet tool number two:

** The price comparison site for personal finance information

Kelkoo, moneynet.co.uk and Lowermybills.com (US) are now commonly exploited by
consumers to ensure they are getting the best deal on their purchases. However, it
is probably fair to say that more people shop around for clothes and music, than
they do for their personal finance products, which is worrying as these cost
significantly more.

* Internet tool number three:

** Online banking and account aggregation tools

The internet can be a scary thing and there is still much scaremongering about
online security. However your details are often as secure online, as they are
offline and providing you choose and hide your password effectively – there should
not be a problem with people accessing your confidential information. Choose a
password of eight characters or more, preferably replacing some letters with
numbers, such “1nternet” or “passw0rd”.

Set yourself up with online accounts and you can proactively manage your finances
yourself, without waiting for statements through the post or call centre agents to
take your query. You can also save yourself bank charges by transferring funds
yourself over the internet. Some banks charge large amounts for transferring funds
when you can do it for no additional cost at all.

Personal finance doesn’t have to be about debt and the efficient co-ordination of
funds may save you hundreds of pounds in the long-term.

Resources:

http://www.fool.com
http://www.moneynet.co.uk

*********************

About Rachel

Rachel would be really interested to get feedback on whether anyone actually reads
this section. Rachel has written about living in straw huts, having the ‘Best Hits
of 1987’ in her music collection, eating Green and Blacks chocolate and the fact
that on her left foot - her second toe is bigger than her big toe. If someone feels
like rescuing Rachel from obscurity, she would be grateful for an e-mail out of
here.

Rachel also writes for the personal finance blog Cashzilla – http://www.cashzilla.co.uk

Don’t spam it though or she’ll eat you.

Web Site = http://www.cashzilla.co.uk

Contact Details = Rachel Lane
Rachel@positiveinterest.com
http://www.cashzilla.co.uk