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A man masquerading as a beggar has been fined just £100 despite hauling in up to £23,000 in donations from the public.

Daniel Terry, 31, who has received 22 previous convictions, dressed up as a tramp despite living in a house and earning £80 a week in incapacity benefit.

Top tips for selecting a balance transfer credit card deal

Money Expert
Sep 3rd 2010

Filed under: Credit Cards, Personal Finance

There are many offers on balance transfer deals currently on the market - finding the best rates and terms can be complicated though.

Follow our top tips on what to look for when comparing credit card providers to ensure you are completely clued up and have complete control over your finances.

Four energy firms face mis-selling probe

Press Association
Sep 2nd 2010

Filed under: Personal Finance, News , Energy

Ofgem has launched an investigation into four energy companies amid concerns of mis-selling to consumers.

The energy regulator said it was prepared to take "strong action" if it found that npower, Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern Energy and EDF Energy were failing to comply with new obligations to prevent mis-selling.

Darling admits bonus supertax failed

Adrian Holliday
Sep 2nd 2010

Filed under: Economy, Personal Finance, Financial Crisis, Banking , Retail

Ex-chancellor Alistair Darling has admitted the 50% bankers' bonus tax failed. At a financial conference yesterday Darling told an audience that many bankers were "very good at getting out of these things". Given that Credit Suisse sprang a surprise round of bonuses on 400 of its top London bankers, Darling's timing was right on the money.

Managers jump back into UK equities

Adrian Holliday
Sep 1st 2010

Filed under: Company, Debt, Economy, Personal Finance, Retail

Apparently the double-dip fears are overdone. Or perhaps fund managers have a more reliable crystal ball than the rest of us. Whatever it is, fund managers are starting to pour their cash back into UK equities. So maybe there are reasons to be cheerful about the economy?

Osborne attacked for CPI benefits link

Adrian Holliday
Sep 1st 2010

Filed under: Economy, Personal Finance, Budget 2010, Pensions, Public Services

George Osborne has drawn new fire on his decision to link benefits and pensions with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rather than the Retail Prices Index (RPI). The Royal Statistical Society (RSS) has questioned whether the move is fair to the UK's poorest, as CPI inflation is considerably lower than the RPI rate.

UK dividends bounce back at last

Adrian Holliday
Aug 30th 2010

Filed under: Economy, Investing, Personal Finance, Banking

Inflation-busting dividends are back. Given historically low interest rates and worryingly high living costs, that's good news. Many companies reporting last week hiked dividends. And companies reporting this week - amongst them McBride, Bunzl and Hays - are likely to continue the trend.

Newsagents get poorer as paper sales die

Adrian Holliday
Aug 27th 2010

Filed under: Economy, Investing, Personal Finance, Retail

Your local newsagent is getting poorer. Whether it's Mr Patel or Mr Price, British newsagents are almost 15% worse off than they were 10 years ago. And, according to retail analyst Mintel, the pressure on newagents to make a living is getting worse. But how bad is it really? Let's take a look.

Household budget fears grow for Britons

Adrian Holliday
Aug 23rd 2010

Filed under: Debt, Personal Finance, Banking

Nearly half of all UK households expect their finances to deteriorate in the next 12 months according to the latest Markit/YouGov Household Finance Index. You could argue that jar half-full optimists are still in the majority. But it's pretty tight.

Money sickness syndrome increases among pensioners

Money Expert
Aug 20th 2010

Filed under: Debt, Personal Finance, Pensions

Pensioners are the group most affected by money worries with their mental and physical health suffering, new government data reveals.

Britain is an ageing population - the number of people over 65 is predicted to grow to account for almost a quarter of the population in the next 20 years, and these people are being plagued by Money Sickness Syndrome.

Winter fuel payments 'may be cut'

Press Association
Aug 18th 2010

Filed under: Personal Finance, News , Energy

The qualifying age for winter fuel payments could be raised under government plans to cut the welfare bill, it was reported on Wednesday.

Rather than being eligible for the annual handout at 60, people could have to wait until they are at least 66, the Daily Telegraph said, with talks apparently under way to impose an even bigger rise.

Cuts bring real pain for middle classes

Sarah Coles
Aug 18th 2010

Filed under: Personal Finance, Pensions, Taxes

Leaked plans for spending cuts are not looking good for the middle classes. Benefits that have come to parents or pensioners, no matter what their income bracket, are to be suddenly and dramatically cut.

So what do we know so far, and how much is it going to hurt?

Students underestimate parents financial help

Money Expert
Aug 18th 2010

Filed under: Personal Finance, Loans

Over three quarters of parents are willing to support their children financially through University, expecting to contribute £9,000 in total to save their loved ones falling into debt.

But how do you finance the cost of your child's education?

Blair memoir could cut tax bill by £2.3m

Adrian Holliday
Aug 17th 2010

Filed under: Debt, Personal Finance, News , Taxes

Tony Blair's decision to give away his £4.6m book advance for autobiography A Journey is a generous move. It's an absolute huge sum of money by any standards. Many seriously injured armed services personnel will benefit. But is it also a tax dodge?