According to a survey by the owner of the Egg card, only around half of employees in the UK have savings that would cover them for at least 4 months. This is the average time people find themselves between jobs for having been made redundant.
Egg also looked at the amount of money needed to live in the UK today, which works out to GBP1,077 per month, without any luxury purchases included. So four months at this level should be the minimum level of savings held by people in the UK. As stated then half the UK working population would be unable to sustain themselves if they found themselves out of work.
An Egg card spokesman urged people to seriously consider their own situation as finding themselves in a position where they are unable to meet their monthly bills would be disastrous for many families.
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The Halifax has just announced that the Web Saver Extra savings account it offers will have an increased rate of interest, up now to 6.35 percent gross.
The increased rate offer is applicable to all customers be they new or existing ones and it is valid on balances as little as GBP1, the minimum amount needed to open the account, up to GBP100,000. Halifax Web Saver Extra account holders are able to manage their savings online and are allowed one withdrawal each year without affecting their interest payment. Any subsequent withdrawals will see thirty days loss of interest on the value of the withdrawal.
This particular Halifax savings account has been very popular with customers enjoying an excellent rate of interest, payment of which is made annually and added to the account.
The Alliance and Leicester has just made available two new savings options for those aged 50 and over.
The first one is the Premier 50 fixed Rate Bond and gives a return of 7.5 percent per annum. Suitable for investments between GBP1,000 and GBP10,000 this particular Alliance and Leicester bond matures at the end of September next year so interested parties are advised to act promptly.
The second option is a longer term one, being a 5 year Growth and Income Account which offers an interest rate of 7 percent on half the amount invested with the other half receiving 50 percent of the growth achieved on the FTSE 100 over the term. This Alliance and Leicester account needs a minimum investment of GBP3,600 and as such can also be used as a cash ISA.
