British consumers may be feeling their wallets shrinking but a new study has found an increase in people describing themselves as “getting by”. Figures from Mintel show a decline in people considering themselves as “comfortably off” or “managing easily”, from…

British consumers may wish to financially prepare for parenthood, as a newspaper has suggested UK maternity pay may push mothers into financial problems. With the credit crunch already hitting families the hardest, a new baby may create concerns about money…

Homeowners are opting to stay put and carry out renovations rather than moving and getting into debt, new research has found. A survey by Lloyds TSB has revealed 55 per cent of estate agents have witnessed sellers taking their properties…

“Extreme circumstances” surrounding debt can lead to imprisonment but this situation would have to involve “quite a serious case”, it was suggested this week. Chris Tapp, director of money education charity Credit Action, was discussing recent changes the government has…

Rising debt levels are increasing instances of loan application fraud as people become “desperate” to get credit, according to an expert. Commenting on the latest figures from Cifas, Equifax external affairs director Neil Munroe said that people were withholding crucial…

Prepaid credit cards are becoming increasingly popular, possibly as more people try to keep spending and debt under control. Around 2.3 million British consumers currently have a prepaid credit card, a figure expected to rise to seven million by 2010,…

British consumers are paying more attention to their finances, according to Scottish Widows, which found three per cent of people never review their income and outgoings. With a nod to the upcoming Olympics, the firm identified six kinds of “financial…

A total of 14 money lenders have increased their loan rates in the past month, it has been revealed, while two lenders have pushed their rates up on two occasions. The statistics, from Moneyfacts, show AA and Tesco Personal Finance…