In the current economic climate getting the best out of your money is something of a challenge. With inflation running relatively high and interest rates at record lows, people who want to save are hunting around for good deals. At the same time, insurance rates are rising to record levels, and pennies are tight, so how to make the most out of your money?
The place to start is with your mortgage. Mortgages are probably the most important financial product for most people, so they’re the first thing to worry about. Banks like Santander are offering great deals on Santander mortgages at the moment, and you can always change your mortgage provider, so if their terms are significantly better than what you’re on at the moment, it’s worth switching.
A particularly good thing about Santander’s mortgages are the other benefits that customers of the bank get in the form of great bank accounts and other services. These deals can mean that you can actually save a little bit of money, and get an interest rate which is higher than the current inflationary rate, so that’s a good way of putting pennies away and getting a good return.
However, if you’ve got a good deal on a mortgage, by far the best way to get the most out of every penny is to make sure that you put whatever spare cash you have into your mortgage. Interest rates will be low for at least 18 months, so bringing the value of your mortgage down has never been cheaper (although, having spare cash has never been harder). In general terms, save when interest rates are high, and pay off your mortgage when they’re low.
Next up, insurance doesn’t have to be expensive, and could save you a packet. From home insurance to travel insurance and everything in between, there’s a lot of competition at the moment. Check out comparison websites, banks, and independent brokers to get a good deal – insurance is expensive, but it’s not always really costly, so if you do a little research and a little ringing round you can get some great deals.
Finally, you can always considering drawing together a financial plan with a bank or an independent financial adviser, and even if you don’t want to do something formal, keeping track of how much you’re spending and where will help you identify potential savings.
At the end of the day, the best way of getting the most out of your money is to be up to date on what’s happening in the marketplace and be prepared to move your cash around. Also, always consider consolidating, banks reward customers who use lots of services through them, so it can be a good way of saving money. Remember, though, the mortgage is the most important, and everything else will follow.
