Although it used to be customary for women to rely on their husbands or partners for savings, nowadays more and more women are "very independent when it comes to money", said Susan Hannums, savings managers for the firm.

According to Scottish Widows, there is a recent trend developing of people investing money in property rather than a pension to fund their retirement.People are losing confidence when it comes to investing their money, according to a new study.

According to over 50s insurance provider Saga, for one-third of older travelers adventure was rated an important feature of their trip.

However, ensuring they have began saving in some form will mean they have something to fall back on when they retire, she added.

Jason Robinson, director of savings operations at Birmingham Midshires, commented: "Far from being a burden on their children, grandparents are contributing significant amounts of time, money and assistance to their offspring at the same time as adjusting to huge changes in their own lifestyle and income."

If that's the case for you don't despair. It is still possible to consolidate your debts with a personal loan. Rates there are not as low - there are no zero per cent deals - but you can still get a loan for less than the average 16.9 per cent charged on credit cards.

"Green" tariffs are commonplace now - this means prices are based on energy that was produced from renewable sources, such as wind or hydroelectric power. If you want to do your bit the MoneyExpert.com gas and electricity service includes the option to take a "green" tariff, so take a look to see how much it'll cost you.

MoneyExpert's switching index, which monitors consumers' switching of a range of products every three months, shows more than 3.6 million people have moved current account provider in the past year - around 300,000 a month.

The credit crunch certainly lingers on and the effects will still be felt in 2008. Sub-prime debt has become a real anathema for major lenders, and so credit card companies and mortgage providers are likely to remain cautious, making borrowing a trying business.

In addition to cash accounts parents with child trust fund vouchers to invest can also choose riskier share-based accounts or stakeholder accounts with a spread of investments.