Rachel Lane's Articles http://www.articlealley.com en-us editorial@articlealley.com Christmas Credit Where It Is Due There aren't many people who enjoy thinking about finance at Christmas, but when you consider that it's the time of year when we're likely to spend the most money – perhaps the management of our personal finances deserves more time. If you're looking f... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/christmas-credit-where-it-is-due-16263.html 18th November 2005 Why a little bit of marketing does you good, especially at Christmas My grandpa, who's a Quaker, used to disapprove of the fact that I ventured into marketing, but he's coming round to my way of thinking, even at the grand age of 92. He is suspicious of marketing (in his mind - a term synonymous with extracting money from ... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/why-a-little-bit-of-marketing-does-you-good-especially-at-christmas-15745.html 16th November 2005 Don't worry about Scrooge this Christmas, by shopping online you'll save plenty of time and money According to a study by BizRate Research, 60% of women were already planning their online buying in September, compared to only 42% of men. Women are also reported to carry the burden of Christmas shopping with 55% taking on the responsibility, compared ... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/dont-worry-about-scrooge-this-christmas-by-shopping-online-youll-save-plenty-of-time-and-money-14970.html 11th November 2005 A Cornish walk: a simple tourist activity, but an absolute must for an English holiday Cornwall has always been a favourite holiday destination and its dramatic coastline, picturesque villages, vibrant culture and sumptuous cuisine. For those visitors who have travelled to the region, the benefits of a Cornish holiday need no explaining, b... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/a-cornish-walk-a-simple-tourist-activity-but-an-absolute-must-for-an-english-holiday-14668.html 09th November 2005 Save money and time this Christmas by using the internet You don't have to be a Scrooge this Christmas to save money. Financial planning isn't the same as financial skimping and with just a little time spent on the internet, you can ensure you're getting the best deal on all of your personal finances, as well ... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/save-money-and-time-this-christmas-by-using-the-internet-13941.html 01st November 2005 Online comparison shopping at Christmas Credit can often be the first thing we think of at Christmas, whether it's taking out a personal loan, credit card or simply the extension of an overdraft. However, saving money at Christmas isn't just a matter of searching for the best personal finance ... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/online-comparison-shopping-at-christmas-12969.html 21st October 2005 Store cards, credit cards and loans – how to borrow money effectively. You don't have to have the lifestyle demands of Paris Hilton to need extra money these days. According to Credit Action, the total UK personal debt was 1,122 billion, a growth of about 10.5% over the previous year and in the UK and each adult in the UK h... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/store-cards-credit-cards-and-loans--how-to-borrow-money-effectively-12926.html 21st October 2005 The myth of the Christmas loan If you think Harry Potter was going to be the most imaginative marketing plot this Christmas, think again. Each Christmas as consumers look at their finances and investigate the different sources of funding to cover their Christmas shopping, loan compani... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/the-myth-of-the-christmas-loan-12218.html 13th October 2005 Home A Loan The number of homeowners taking out secured loans is set to slow down over the next five years according to analysts at Datamonitor. Over the past five years the market for secured loans has increased by over 50%, however predictions indicate that loans ... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/home-a-loan-10448.html 29th September 2005 Don't let your personal loan become a personal moan Most of us have been in a position at some point when we simply have had insufficient funds to pay for something. This could be car insurance/repairs, course fees, holiday, Christmas presents, electrical items or even the weekly shopping. According to C... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/dont-let-your-personal-loan-become-a-personal-moan-10322.html 28th September 2005 How To Stretch Your Student Loan If you're considering going to university, there is a strong chance that you're also contemplating taking out a student loan to fund your university expenses. Student loans don't have to equate to student debt and if you plan your finances, it is possibl... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/how-to-stretch-your-student-loan-10128.html 27th September 2005 Has anyone seen my twenties? Premature aging is spreading across the UK and is particularly prevalent amongst recent graduates in the UK who, upon leaving university, are plunged straight into fears about the property ladder, pensions and paying off their student debts. These young ... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/has-anyone-seen-my-twenties-10036.html 26th September 2005 Are you suffering from payment protection overload? Critical illness insurance: Critical illness insurance will cover you in the event of a serious illness such as cancer, coronary artery by-pass surgery, heart attack, kidney failure, major organ transplant, multiple sclerosis and stroke. Additional co... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/are-you-suffering-from-payment-protection-overload-9439.html 20th September 2005 Critical illness insurance and life insurance cover for better and for worse. There are three main types of insurance cover you can buy to protect yourself and your family: life insurance, private medical insurance and critical illness insurance. If you want your financial health to be completely bionic then you could choose all t... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/critical-illness-insurance-and-life-insurance-cover-for-better-and-for-worse-8996.html 15th September 2005 Critical illness insurance – critical or ridicule? Critical illness cover (CIC) is a type of insurance which provides a significant one-off payment if you are diagnosed with a specified life-threatening condition – specified being the important term, because if your illness isn't in the terms and conditio... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/critical-illness-insurance--critical-or-ridicule-8808.html 13th September 2005 How to clean up your personal finances... 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... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/how-to-clean-up-your-personal-finances-7839.html 08th September 2005 Life insurance, the universe and everything If you have yet to consider taking out any life insurance, don't worry –there's plenty of information out there including consumer organisations such as which? and moneynet. Start with some simple, easy questions such as: * Would my dependents need a... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/life-insurance-the-universe-and-everything-7082.html 31st August 2005 Life insurance: why there's no need to be a desperate housewife Contemplating what may happen to your wife (or husband) and children if you die is not likely to be a thought you wish to contemplate. However, avoiding the issue may make life more difficult for your family after your death. Life insurance looks set ... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/life-insurance-why-theres-no-need-to-be-a-desperate-housewife-6290.html 24th August 2005 Global warming: why consumers and insurers are getting hot under the collar over life insurance. Global warming may have been lurking on our horizon for a number of years and historical records of terrorists have existed for thousands of years, but we are coming into a new age where we try and financially protect ourselves against such problems and i... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/global-warming-why-consumers-and-insurers-are-getting-hot-under-the-collar-over-life-insurance-5651.html 18th August 2005 Sisters are insuring themselves: how finance is the new feminism According to a study by LifeSearch, the number of women in the UK buying life insurance in the UK has doubled over the last six years. As women are increasingly closing the gender related pay gap and even becoming the main breadwinners in a household, th... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/sisters-are-insuring-themselves-how-finance-is-the-new-feminism-5423.html 17th August 2005 Life insurance without life value: why young people are snubbing financial advice This article is written by a 27 year old female (borderline Generation X / Y) called Rachel. Rachel spent six years at university, has no outstanding debts with the exception of government student loans. Rachel also has no pension plan, no life insuranc... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/life-insurance-without-life-value-why-young-people-are-snubbing-financial-advice-4618.html 11th August 2005 Life insurance – wise investment in personal finance or excessive caution? Life insurance is typically taken out to offer valuable financial protection for your family in the event of your death, upon which a payment is made to your financial beneficiaries, heirs or family members. The extent of this payment will depend on your... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/life-insurance--wise-investment-in-personal-finance-or-excessive-caution-3899.html 05th August 2005 Knowing me, knowing you: why ID protection plans are flawed for fraud. p>ID theft is a major consumer concern, though there is apparently much confusion about proactive protection initiatives and apparently safe and unsafe spending behaviour. For example, many consumers remain reluctant about shopping online, but they may s... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/knowing-me-knowing-you-why-id-protection-plans-are-flawed-for-fraud-3703.html 02nd August 2005 Honey I can't afford the kids Sex has a lot to answer for … babies usually … which then, with time and much financial investment, grow up to be beautiful mutations of their parents. Yet as the family absorbs more money as it grows, the need for financial planning and protection becom... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/honey-i-cant-afford-the-kids-3430.html 28th July 2005 The perils of the property ladder: has anyone noticed the silence? As you ascend the dizzy heights of property investment, don't lose your head and ignore mortgage research and advice. There was a time when every conversation was focussed on property and every other TV programme was about property makeovers. Everybod... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/the-perils-of-the-property-ladder-has-anyone-noticed-the-silence-3326.html 26th July 2005 Vultures and victims Has anyone noticed how many loan companies now fill up the commercial breaks? Sofa, after of sofa of happy couples are shown, with carefully manipulated stereotypes discussing the consolidation of their finances, recommending a particular provider. Coup... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/vultures-and-victims-3196.html 22nd July 2005 The Debt Test: are you making out a mountain out of your mortgage? According to the Council of Mortgage Lenders, first-time buyers are the most susceptible group of homeowners to debt, as they are more likely to have higher loan-to-value ratios and commit a higher proportion of their income to mortgage repayments. Despi... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/the-debt-test-are-you-making-out-a-mountain-out-of-your-mortgage-2878.html 13th July 2005 Do you know what you're worth? Almost anything can be insured these days: breasts, legs, your goldfish, your mental health, physical health, your own life, your child's life. You can insure against the bad weather, good weather, political events…. This week in Scotland, triathlon c... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/do-you-know-what-youre-worth-2567.html 10th July 2005 Inflexible friends and plastic assets, why money isn't buying love anymore. Consumers reject financial advice in favour of financial frivolity It would appear that even though their "friends" aren't as flexible as they used to be, consumers are still stretching their credit cards beyond the comfort zone. The vicious circle ... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/inflexible-friends-and-plastic-assets-why-money-isnt-buying-love-anymore-2487.html 29th June 2005 Blair bribes parents and children into higher education Government financial assistance for pre-university educationIt would seem that the media mania over the cost of an education is finally paying off, with the UK government taking increasingly strong measures to maintain the current level of school leavers ... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/blair-bribes-parents-and-children-into-higher-education-2377.html 23rd June 2005 The Hitchhiker's Guide To Insanity New bug plagues UK as consumers close eyes and stick fingers in ears A new sickness is plaguing the UK called Denial. Denial has resulted in a national personal debt of almost £1.1 trillion (source Credit Action). Symptoms include: * Refusal to op... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-insanity-2376.html 23rd June 2005 Shorn of the debt responsibility With UK personal debt spiralling out of control beyond the £1 trillion mark at a rate of £1m every four minutes, and the number of declarations of bankruptcy on the increase, the Government has finally implemented measures to ensure lenders know the actua... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/shorn-of-the-debt-responsibility-2358.html 23rd June 2005 Mr and Mrs Smith go online, as internet technology moves from fantasy to normality Whilst not all Smiths lead the glamorous technological lifestyles of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the number of British consumers using online financial services continues to grow rapidly. According to NOP World, 48% of all Internet users researched o... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/mr-and-mrs-smith-go-online-as-internet-technology-moves-from-fantasy-to-normality-2238.html 14th June 2005 Kippers or red herrings? Recent news has made much of parents stretching their finances to cover costs for their twenty and thirty something children. Debts and high property prices have forced many offspring to return home, tail between legs, under the attractive new marketing ... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/kippers-or-red-herrings-2226.html 12th June 2005 Ethical finance: who benefits from our spending? On one hand consumers are being universally criticised for running up significant amounts of debt on credit cards, yet conversely many companies are capitalising on the growing credit card debt, from charities and political organisations to football clubs... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/ethical-finance-who-benefits-from-our-spending-2129.html 06th June 2005 Using the internet to manage your family's finance The effectiveness of managing family finances has never been more significant, as parents struggle to find a balance between work and family life. A recent study by Mother and Baby magazine has found that new parents are getting less sleep than previous ... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/using-the-internet-to-manage-your-familys-finance-2099.html 02nd June 2005 The changing shape of family finances Families are becoming an increasingly complex unit when it comes to money management. Parents work longer hours, couples spend less time with each other & children are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their material wants & information needs. Whil... http://rachellane.articlealley.com/the-changing-shape-of-family-finances-2098.html 02nd June 2005