For savers and spenders alike, the New Year is a great time to give personal finances a workout.

Lloyds TSB has established a range of services offering advice on money management, with a wide range of financial advice, guidance and products - all designed to help make your money work harder:

Create a Budget
The best way to get finances in shape and keep them that way is to take a long hard look at incomings and outgoings and create a budget.

Lloyds TSB has a range of experts in its branches across the country that can help customers with day to day budgeting, to make sure they start the year on the right footing.

A wide range of hints and tips on money management are also available at Lloyds TSB online.

Get a Current Account that gives more.
Customers who pay in at least £1,000 a month can make their money work harder by adding Vantage to their Lloyds TSB Classic Account or Added Value current account.

Vantage offers competitive interest rates of up to 4% AER so the bigger the balance the better the interest.

Lloyds TSB also offers a full range of Added Value accounts, which come with benefits such as travel insurance, car breakdown cover and interest free overdrafts.

Savings
Make sure your investments and savings are working hard.
The bank has a useful Savings Tool to help compare savings to reach any savings goals.

Mortgages
Compare mortgage rates to see the best deals. Those with a tracker mortgage or standard variable rate mortgage, may be enjoying a low interest rate due to the fall in Bank of England Base Rate.

Make the most of this saving, by considering whether it is cost-effective to reduce the size of your loan, by switching from interest only to capital repayment or by making regular overpayments.

Cheltenham & Gloucester and Lloyds TSB mortgage customers can overpay their loan by up to 10 per cent a year without incurring charges.

Peter Jackson, managing director, consumer banking, Lloyds Banking Group said: “Making a resolution to tackle your finances is one of the simplest but potentially most rewarding things you can do in the New Year.”

Visit the Lloyds TSB Savvy website for more financial hints and tips.

Aaran Brown, (30 years old) who works at a gym in a prison, and Stephanie Hampstead, a 22-year-old nursery nurse, are a prime example:

“We were renting an apartment in Blyth Bridge and didn’t see buying as financially friendly enough to be an option for us,” Aaron said.

“It was only after Steph discovered she was expecting in December last year that– we could no longer ignore that we needed a larger home to accommodate our growing brood.

Like an increasing number of homebuyers across the UK, Steph and Aaran were able to purchase a property fit for their growing family, through the latest government shared equity scheme,
HomeBuy Direct – a three-bedroom townhouse at Miller Homes The Willows in Stone.

We came to view The Willows and fell in love with both the development and the townhouse.

With HomeBuy Direct being available we were able to move in sooner than we originally thought,” Steph added.

HomeBuy Direct is continuing to help many first time buyers, by offering the opportunity to purchase100 percent of a brand new home by paying from just 70 percent of its value.

The remaining 30 percent equity loan is co-funded by the Government and Miller Homes, meaning that a smaller deposit is required.

The loan then only becomes repayable after 25 years, with no interest for the first 5 years.

Aaran and Steph’s home is in the Tolkien style layout, an attractive three bedroom townhouse that offers the extra space, including the garden, that they were looking for. Picture by Steve Duttine Photography.

Linda Androlia, regional sales director for Miller Homes West Midlands, said: “HomeBuy Direct is continuing to assist those like Aaran and Stephanie onto the property ladder showing that new homes can be affordable and a much better option to renting.”

To find out more about the Stone based development or the properties available nearest to you, visit www.millerhomes.co.uk.

Sales Office Tel: (0800) 840 8695.

When you apply for credit with a company, it will (with your consent) check your credit score through a credit reference agency, of which the three main ones are Experian, Equifax and Call Credit.

These companies hold your credit report, which shows how you have repaid credit in the past and lenders take it as an indication, of how you will repay credit in the future.

A poor credit history will limit your choice and usually means you’ll have to borrow at higher rates, but your credit history can be improved over time.

Here are five steps you can take to improve your credit rating:

1: Register on the electoral roll.
To register on the electoral roll you will generally need to complete a voter registration form and return it to your local authority. It is vital you do this every time you move house.

2: Stop applying for credit you won’t get.
Every time you apply for credit the ensuing credit search is noted on your credit report; if you have applied and been rejected several times, your credit history may be getting worse and worse.

3: Check your credit report.
This will show you the areas that you can improve on and also means you can check for any errors that might be on your report and get them changed. You may be able to obtain a copy of your credit report for free from Credit Expert.

4: Open a higher interest credit card.
You are more likely to be accepted for one of these if you have a poor credit rating. Make sure you manage it properly, through repaying every month in full, spending a little each month for six to twelve months.

Here are some examples of higher interest cards that can be used to repair bad credit:

• - aqua Card: Typical 35.9% APR variable

• - Vanquis: Typical 39.9% APR variable

• - Monument Visa Card: Typical 34.9% APR variable

 
• 5: Curb your card spending.
• This is the most obvious step of all, try to minimise any debt on your cards. As a rule of thumb, you should try to keep the debt on a card under 30% of your credit limit.

For more information please visit these websites:

Electoral registration.
Credit Expert.
Repair bad credit.

The main difference between a self-build mortgage and a house purchase mortgage is that with a self-build mortgage, money is released in stages as the build progresses, rather than as a single amount.
Some lenders will lend you money to purchase land, typically 75% of the purchase price or value, which ever is lowest.

During the build you can borrow typically 75% of the cost of the value of the house as the project progresses, depending on the chosen lender.

There are two methods by which the money can be released during the build, known as arrears stage payments and advance stage payments respectively.

In the arrears stage payment method, the money is released after the stage has been completed and a valuer has visited the site; this can cause cash flow difficulties.

BuildStore developed the advance stage payment method, so that the money required is released, at the start of the stage before work begins.

This advance payment mortgage has become very popular, as it gives positive cash flow during the build.

Also the high percentage lending of 95% of the cost of the build with BuildStore’s Accelerator Self Build Mortgage, makes it is easier to stay in your current house, while the build progresses.

You can borrow up to 95% of land costs, up to 95% of build costs and up to 95% of the end value of your new home

To give self-builders the sort of choice available to house purchasers, a range of different mortgages are available through the Accelerator Self Build Mortgage.

For more detailed information visit:

Web: http://www.buildstore.co.uk/finance

BuildStore is the UK’s leading specialist at the heart of the self build and renovation market, with a bespoke end-to-end offering of products and services, specifically designed to help self builders and renovators throughout their projects.

The Company is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its exclusive Accelerator mortgage, the first mortgage to offer advance stage payments for self-builders.

Before the pioneering Accelerator was developed, mainstream mortgage lenders would only release funds in arrears for self-builders, despite the substantial upfront cost involved in building a house.

The award-winning Accelerator mortgage, releases funds (up to 95%) in advance for land purchase and at the beginning of each stage of the build process, thus allowing positive cash flow.

This exclusive concept allowed many self-builders to get their projects off the ground, without the need to sell their existing homes to release equity, and ten years on, BuildStore is still the only provider of this type of mortgage for self-builders, and renovators.

Mortgages are sold direct to the public and via intermediaries and BuildStore currently arranges over £500 million in mortgages each year.

http://www.buildstore.co.uk/finance

The National Self Build & Renovation Centre is to host its second Self Build & Renovation Show at the Renovation Centre, just off Junction 16 of the M4 next month, (Thursday 6th – Sunday 9th March 2008).

The show is offering a unique practical learning experience for anyone interested in building their dream home.

With a shortage of the right kind of affordable homes and uncertainty in the existing property market, ‘doing it yourself’, whether self building or renovating, to create a home that is compatible with individual lifestyles’ is becoming more appealing and is a very realistic option for many people looking to get on, or move up, the property ladder.

• This year’s show offers visitors:
  Lots of instructive seminars; product demonstrations, and presentations.
• Visitors can get to grips with a selection of the newest technical gadgets, professional tools and accessories from leading suppliers, including Festool, ITW and Skil.
• Sample the latest in kitchen cooking ranges and appliances from AGA and Britannia.
• Learn about finding land, arranging finance and buying materials from self build and renovation experts.
• Book one-to-one sessions with CAD designers and take part in practical skills workshops in plastering, bricklaying and tiling, with Trade Skills 4U.
• There will also be an exclusive launch of ‘Tommy’s House by Potton Homes; a new eco-friendly timber frame package range, inspired by Tommy Walsh’s eco house, which he built for £60,000 in 60 days.

The Self Build & Renovation Show will run between Thursday 6th and Sunday 9th March, at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon. Entry cost £10 per adult, or £15 per couple.

Buildstore Ltd has kindly arranged a generous ½ price ticket discount for UK Home Ideas readers, who are invited to log on to the website to book their tickets and enter this code - SBMUKH005, for the discount, on any of the four days of the Show.

Web: http://www.mykindofhome.co.uk/show

Tel: (01506) 409 616

Speed Building is a new concept in housing developed by the UK self build experts Potton Ltd, as a fast and easy way of creating the perfect home to suit your lifestyle.

The company brings all the services you need to design and build your home under one roof, starting with research and finishing with your completed dream home.
 
The Speed Building experience starts with Potton’s new Self Build Forum, the fastest way to find out about the self build process; meet both self build experts and other self builders at the same time.

Held free of charge, every fortnight at Potton’s conference and leisure centre, Wyboston Lakes, the Self Build Forum begins with a one hour introduction to self build, which covers each stage of the process from finding land to claiming the VAT back.

Guests then spend 15 minutes at a workshop with each of five different experts, to put their own specific questions.

At the end goodie bags are given out, packed with complimentary copies of self build magazines, a portfolio of Potton’s 76 standard house designs and an introduction to land sourcing specialists Plotsearch.

Guests are then invited to visit the UK’s only Self Build Show Centre nearby, where there are three magnificent examples of homes for self build:

The Caxton and the Gransden - two beautiful Tudor style homes, featuring exposed post and beams and inglenook fireplaces;

Plus the elegant Queen Ann style Milchester from Potton’s Rectory range.

To reserve a place on Potton’s new Self Build Forum and Workshop visit:

Web: http://www.potton.co.uk/forum
Tel:  (01767) 676476
 

The Property Investor Show, The UK’s largest dedicated property investment exhibition - will make its Birmingham debut at the NEC from 23rd to 25th March 2007, following 5 years of consecutive growth at ExCeL London.

The show is co-locating at the NEC at the same time as the comprehensive Homebuilding & Renovation show, making this a most important weekend for Midlands-based property investors during 2007.

The show brings together the very best in the property investment world, as the 100 plus exhibitors attending, will cover every aspect of making money from property and offer expertise from the UK and overseas, for both residential and commercial investments.

Mortgage and financial advice will also be available from specialist organisations for local, national and international investment.

The show is an excellent source of information and inspiration for people who want to make money from property, bringing together buyers, sellers and professional services that aim to make investing in property as profitable and as painless as possible.

The Property Investor Show also features a programme of seminars, at a cost of £5 per place to help in making the route to property investment easier and more profitable for everyone.

The Property Investor Show provides a real opportunity for investors to arm themselves with as much information as they can, in order to develop the insight that builds successful property portfolios that can finance a lifestyle and last a lifetime!

Entry is free and online registration for the show and the 60 seminars is at:

Web: http://www.propertyinvestor.co.uk/birmingham
Tel: (020) 8877 3636

A major new centre opened on 9 February 2007, dedicated to helping people build their dream homes, or undertake renovation projects; the Swindon based Centre is the brainchild of BuildStore the pioneering self build and renovation experts.

The 67,000 sq ft National Self Build and Renovation Centre, brings together under one roof for the first time all the products, services inspiration and advice required for self build or renovation.

The centre will cater for the booming market in self build and renovation, with over 20,000 people building their homes and an estimated 300,000 more undertaking major renovation work every year.

More and more people are building their own homes for two principle reasons:

You can design the home that best suits your lifestyle.

With lower costs plus a VAT exemption, savings can be up to 30% on the cost of buying a similar property.

It is an ideal way to move up the property ladder and people are catching on quickly.

The new centre is within an easy 2 hour drive of over 25 million people and it is packed with features to help visitors through every stage of their project:
            Inspiration for your design
            Learning how it’s done
            Finding a plot or renovation project
            Securing the right finance
            Getting the right advice from the experts
            Finding the right tradesmen
            The best products and services
            The Trade Village features the products of over 220 companies.

The Centre is open to the public five days a week.  Tickets cost from £8 for a full day.

Demand is expected to be high and customers are encouraged to pre-book online at:

Web: http://www.mykindofhome.co.uk/
Tel: (0870) 870 9991

Standard Life Bank’s new mortgage website has just won the “Best Financial Website” award in the recent Interactive Marketing Awards.

The site is designed to be visually attractive with an emphasis on user-centric design. They’ve even used icons familiar to users of iPods and mobile phones to make the site easy to use.

The products are shown with a series of demos rather than the blocks of dry text usually found on financial websites. Standard Life Bank say the site was designed to be “pleasurable to interact with”. It’s asking a lot of a website to make reading about mortgages fun - but if you’re in the market for a new mortgage anyway, it’s probably worth a look.

web: http://www.freestylemortgages.com