Economy 7 energy households - how to pay 40% less for your electricity.

July 2007. Summary: Economy 7 is a great way to cut down on your bills, if you can shift your energy usage into the night. Switching to a cheaper E7 supplier and increasing your night-time energy usage can save you anywhere up to £260 on your electricity bills.

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Stay cool this summer without heating the globe.

June 2007. Hot summers are becoming a regular feature of the UK's weather seasons. Temperatures for 2007 are expected to be above the 1971-2000 average again and the Met office - the UK's official weather forecasting service - currently rates the probability for a return of the heat wave conditions of 2006 and 2003 above 10%.

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Five faux pas of using credit cards.

May 2007. Most of us know how to use our credit cards - in fact, many of us are experts! We see something we want, swipe a card and it's ours.
What are we doing, or not doing with our credit cards that could be affecting our overall credit standing?

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Green grass grazers cause greenhouse chaos.

May 2007. And the award for the most polluting mammal goes to...
It will surprise most people to learn that 7% of all UK greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, and 86% of these gases are directly released from the digestive systems of animals (mainly cow burping).

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Tips to preventing credit card fraud.

May 2007. Have you ever been victim to credit card fraud? If so, you know that it's not only a hassle but being a victim of fraud leaves you feeling invaded and insecure about using your card.

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Bundled Deals - Pros and Cons.

April 2007. Bundling everything from fast food meals to software to vacations seems to be the latest attempt by many companies to win the war of prices.

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ABCs of Prepaid Cards.

April 2007. What is the worst part about using your credit card? Debt, that's what. In the UK these little bits of plastic have increased our personal debt by over £1 billion since 2005!

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Workplace PCs: green house villains.

April 2007. It may not surprise most people to know that over 40% of Britons use a personal computer (PC) regularly at work. However, nearly 18% of those PCs are not shutdown at night and at the weekend!

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Greenhouse monster gadgets compared.

April 2007. Plasma and liquid crystal display (LCD) televisions are becoming a hot item with British consumers. Eight of ten TVs sold today are flat screens. Even with their popularity, flat screen TVs are the latest 'gotta-have' gadget being shunned by environmental groups.

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Get offset about your carbon footprint.

March 2007. Global Warming is frontpage news everywhere. This is no wonder - there is little need for statistics and official reports to prove the existence of warming when the changes to our environment can be felt by everyone. The UK has experienced an unusually mild winter, with December 2006 having registered as the warmest month since records began. Global warming is a scientific fact experienced by humanity at large.

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Does size matter? Gas and Electricity price cuts compared.

March 2007. Recent price cut announcements by leading gas and electricity suppliers have had a dramatic ring to them. British Gas, Powergen and Scottish and Southern Group, who between them service about 60% of British homes with gas and electricity, have announced double-digit price decreases for their customer base, effective as of this month.

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Bundled Deals - Are they right for you?

March 2007. Bundling everything from fast food meals to software to vacations seems to be the latest attempt by many companies to win the war of prices.

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British Gas slashes prices - will we see a price war?

February 2007. On February 8th, British Gas announced that it is to cut prices for its 13 million domestic customers by 17% for gas and 11% for electricity, the first time bills have been reduced since early 2000. With wholesale prices falling we are sure to see similar price cuts from other major energy suppliers sparking what some believe could become a major price war. So how can the individual consumer take advantage of these changes in the market?

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Are capped gas and electricity tariffs cheaper than standard gas and electricity?

August 2006. ScottishPower's first capped gas and electricity tariff, which was available for signup in 2003 and expires in December 2006, was a great deal for the consumer. Current capped offers available for signup today are less likely to generate savings.

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Energy efficiency starts with energy awareness

June 2006. The UK's appetite for energy is growing. The recent government white paper on energy policy has highlighted the fundamental dilemma the country is facing: how to increase energy generation, while reducing the harmful effects of generating affordable electricity on the environment. Our paper offers practical tips on what you can do now to help square the circle.

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Barriers to switching

July 2006. About half of UK households have now switched energy suppliers for cheaper gas and electricity. We surveyed 6,000 consumers to find out more about those that have not switched yet.

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How to save on energy bills

May 2006. Gas and electricity prices have shot up by more than 50% since 2002, and are likely to keep going up even further in the years to come. It is time to talk about controlling the consumption of your energy. Read our ten tips for easy advice.

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Minimum Interest Payments Cause Maximum Balances.

Do you pay just the minimum balance on your loans or credit cards each month? You know, the amount on your statement beside the words “Minimum Payment”?

Well, we all know that the longer it takes you to pay off your loan, the more interest you’ll pay and the more money the bank will make. But did you know that just making the minimum payments can actually give you more debt over time? Well, it’s because your minimum payment is based on your outstanding balance. As your balance goes down, so do your minimum payments and the bank makes even more money.

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