UK Thrift

My brother-in-law is a Scot, and he lives up to the reputation Scots have for being frugal. My sister comments occasionally, "I've never seen a McTavish who was lavish", even though their last name isn't McTavish.

Those of you in the UK now have online access to some really good financial advice, even if you're not Scottish. This site gives you the low-down on credit cards so that you don't wind up like so many here in the Colonies who have abused them and their debt is out of control.

It also gives you pointers for loans and remortgages so that you can find the best deal without paying too much interest. For instance, they advise you to not only look for the lowest interest rate, but to learn just how the interest is calculated. The lowest rate may be calculated on your loan in such a way that you actually wind up paying more instead of less.

Whether you're trying to build a nest egg or save for our children's future, you need to seek out the best saving account possible. This means researching the bank accounts offered by a variety of banking institutions, and changing if necessary so that you get the best offerings.

To secure your financial future should some disaster strike, such as fire or storms, you should acquire some good home insurance. While you certainly don't want to be underinsured, you shouldn't be overinsured either. And that's where people really make their mistakes. They spend too much for insurance coverage, some of which they don't even need.

Assess your finances today, be responsible with your spending, tighten the reins where necessary, and follow the advice of a financial advisor so your future looks bright.