Credit Cards

Increased competition among banks and the end of many fixed-rate deals has led to a rise in demand for mortgages over the past 12 months, a new survey shows.

Almost everywhere you look you’ll see the term APR – on credit cards, cars, loans, and even sofas. But what is APR? Knowing what APR means, and how it works for you and against you, is vitally important before you use a credit product.

If you own a credit card you no longer use, you may consider cancelling that card.

If you’ve recently applied for credit card, loan, or mortgage, and been rejected, it can be a frustrating experience. Understanding why it has happened could improve your chances of being approved in the future, and it could also make you think again about whether borrowing money is right for you.

The Bank of England has increased the base interest rate from 0.5% to 0.75%. This is only the second time that the base rate has been raised since the global financial crisis a decade ago. This base rate increase will impact almost every aspect of your personal finances, from the cost of your mortgage, to the interest gained on your savings, to your credit card APR.

The road to a credit card debt pileup is often paved with spending that seemed like a good idea at the time. But too many well-intended moves can lead you into a financial ditch and ruin your credit.

There are many ways of measuring your financial health. Credit scores and savings milestones and investment portfolios all work together to complete a portrait of your financial aptitude. But there’s another factor you should consider, too: net worth.

As your life changes, so should your credit cards. The travel credit card you used during your university gap year might not suit you after you settle into a full-time job, marry and have a family. A cashback credit card might be better.

Online fraud and cyber crime has cost people and businesses in the UK an estimated £28 million in just six months, according to figures from Action Fraud.