Why homebuyers need to check their credit score
Carly and Steve made serious sacrifices to save a deposit for their first home. To cut costs, they moved from their two-bedroomed flat in the centre of Manchester to a studio flat in one of the less well-regarded suburbs. When the damp and the noisy neighbours got too much, they moved in with Steve’s mum […]
What is a Standard Variable Rate mortgage?
Sarah has never overstretched herself when it comes to money. After paying her monthly bills, she’s always had a bit left over. So, when her mortgage lender wrote to her to remind her that her five-year fixed-rate deal was coming to an end and that she needed to find a new deal or she’d be […]
Could remortgaging help you beat the cost-of-living crisis?
Practically every penny of Mike’s monthly salary is accounted for so, as the cost-of-living crisis starts to bite, he’s worried about making ends meet. He’s started shopping around for cheaper deals on his broadband, mobile-phone contract, and car insurance, and he’s also cancelled his gym membership and a couple of his TV subscriptions. But he’s […]
Spring Clean Your Finances
There’s plenty of advice and ‘life hacks’ on how to make spring-cleaning less of a chore. A quick Google search will throw up hundreds of random tips – like using cola to clean the toilet, lemon to clean the taps and vinegar to clean just about anything! When you’ve finished scrubbing your worktops with baking […]
Three Peaks Challenge
The CTA team will be taking part in the Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge (24 miles over the Yorkshire Dales in 12 hours or less!) in June for the Openwork Foundation. The Openwork Foundation grant programme supports vulnerable people in the UK or overseas ranging from new born babies to people later in life.The Openwork Foundation […]
Talking about Money
While, for many, discussions about money can be extremely uncomfortable, experts have long stressed the best approach to financial issues is invariably to talk about them. Indeed, perceived wisdom suggests the more open and honest people are about money, the better their life and relationships tend to be. Finance: the last tabooThere’s a wide variety […]
Getting Mortgage Ready
Whether you’re a first-time buyer, a second-stepper or further up the housing ladder, buying a home is always a big move and can feel a bit like a roller coaster ride at the best of times. With 60% of buyers reporting being put off moving because they find the idea overwhelming, here are some tips that […]
Protect your peace of mind when moving home
Moving home can be a hectic and exciting time, but don’t forget about protection – taking out the appropriate policies can save you a lot of stress in the long term. If you’ve just moved home or are about to, it probably feels like you’ve been caught up in a bit of a whirlwind over […]
Autumn Budget 2021 Key Points
Chancellor Rishi Sunak used the Autumn Budget 2021 to invest taxpayer money in long-term plans he says will secure the economic future of the country. Everything from the NHS, schools, local transport and the culture and leisure sector appear set to benefit from the better-than-expected economic outlook from the Office for Budget Responsibility. But immediate […]
Autumn Budget Report 2021
Chancellor Rishi Sunak used the Autumn Budget 2021 to outline the government’s plans for post pandemic, post Brexit Britain. Investing taxpayer money in long-term plans will, he believes, secure the economic future of the country. We’ve put together a report for you which covers the Chancellor’s announcements If you have any questions about the summary’s […]