According to information from the Abbey National savings division the people of the UK have been putting their money away to pay for a summer holiday, with Europe being the most popular choice.
With the value of the pound dropping against the Euro this means that summer holidays will cost more this year, meaning consumers need to save more for their break. With the average holiday costing over GBP1,600 it is good that the people of the UK have been saving their money to cover this cost, although a small percentage will be using their credit cards to pay.
The monthly cost for the average holiday is a little under GBP140, which could have earned the full amount needed in one of the excellent Abbey National savings accounts.
The Nationwide Building Society informs us that people are losing around GBP248 million through expired or unpaid Child Trust Fund vouchers.
According to data gathered by them a quarter if the vouchers have expired while over 40 percent of the valid ones have not been used so far this year. In financial terms this, said the Nationwide Building Society, means almost GBP13 million each year is being lost in interest earnings alone.
A further word of caution came from a Nationwide Building Society spokesman who explained that if a suitable provider is not chosen by the parents then the government can allocate one for them, though this may not be in the best interests of the child. Child Trust Fund Vouchers are an excellent tax efficient savings vehicle and it is a shame more people are not using them.
According to a parenting and relationship specialist young people in England, Wales and Scotland should learn how to save money, in a step to help them learn the value of money.Helping children learn and understand how to save money themselves is a great way for them to learn. By letting them contribute to purchases made by the family for items such as toys or treats, it can demonstrate how to handle money and learn the responsibility that goes with it. In today’s society it is becoming more difficult to manage money as most purchases are made with a debt or credit card. But children need to see real money transactions being made and the importance of dealing in cash transactions.Savings accounts can be a great way for young people to learn about how to save their money. There are many types of savings accounts that children can open, so that they can experience how to save and how it all works. See our savings accounts comparison table for more information or our guides and tips pages.
