Motley Fool: Start Saving With Just A Quid!

First the good news: according to a new survey from Sainsbury’s Bank, there are 39 instant-access, easy access and notice savings accounts which pay annual interest of 5% or more before tax. Now the bad news: the majority of these accounts are aimed at serious savers, because only twelve pay 5% gross AER on balances of £1 or more (including Sainsbury’s own Internet Saver Account). One problem with these high-paying accounts is that many rely on introductory bonuses to boost their interest rates, which then disappear after, say, six to twelve months. In addition, a number impose restrictions or penalties on withdrawals. For instance, several table-topping accounts pay no interest in any month during which a withdrawal is made. So, take out just £20 and you lose one month’s interest on your entire balance, even if you have thousands of pounds sitting there. Ouch!

Motley Fool: Give Your Budget A Xmas Boost!

The countdown to Christmas has begun: Christmas Day is less than seven weeks away. Being a godless heathen who also dislikes rampant consumerism, I’m no fan of Christmas. Indeed, at this time of year, I transmute into Ebenezer Scrooge from “A Christmas Carol”: “Christmas… a humbug, a waste of time and money. A false and commercial festival, devoutly to be ignored.”