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More rowing competitions and sport novices are expected to head for the North East after a community club landed a £90,000 grant.

Tyne Rowing Club plans to dramatically improve access to the river with the cash, awarded by Sport England and the Amateur Rowing Association.

The money will be spent on new steps to the water at the club’s base, close to Newburn Bridge in Newcastle.

Club captain Chris Parsons said the cash and subsequent improvements would make the area “more attractive” for other rowing clubs.

The club already hosts events which draw national and international teams but on some days rowers can face 20 minute waits to get on and off the water.

New access steps built with the grant are expected to reduce this.

The North East area has an excellent rowing heritage and has produced some of the sport’s top performers.

Tyne Rowing Club has been taking to the river since 1852 and has had national success.

Sport England regional director Judith Rasmussen said improving access to the Tyne will make a “real difference” to current rowers and future generations.

She added the organisation was “delighted” to support the Tyne Rowing Club.

Article supported by Physioroom.com, Tennis elbow suppliers.

Banking firm Nat West is offering £150 in computing vouchers for youngsters who sign up to its student account.

The group is handing out £50 vouchers for 3’s mobile broadband service and £100 discounts on Asus laptops.

Students who get on board by the end of October are also being given a free Microsoft Lifecam designed to help them keep in touch with friends and family back home.

Mark Worthington, head of Nat West student and graduate banking, said the initiative had “evolved in response to what students have told us really matters to them” so the bank could supply “the additional support they may need at this new and exciting time in their lives”.

Software company Opera recently discovered mobile broadband has far more appeal among men than women.

A study by the firm found 88.1 per cent of people using the technology are men, with most of them aged 18 to 27.

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Largely due to the negative impact of UK’s economic environment, along with the tight squeeze on household budgets, consumers are choosing not to go in for payment protection insurance, to cover their outgoings.

The Association of British Insurers reported that, with the increase in the cost of living, nearly 70% of British people said that they were not keen on the idea of opting for the PPI or the payment protection insurance, which was meant to cover their insurance premiums, mortgage payments and other such outgoings.

Almost 90% of the Brits feel that their country’s economic condition is in an even worse state in comparison to the last year, the same time. And nearly 80% feel that the condition is only going to deteriorate in the next year. As companies are following stringent cost cutting plans, unemployment has increased and is on the rise.

But in spite of this negative outlook, and the fact that majority of the population said that they would not take it well, should they be made redundant tomorrow, they were not willing to consider taking out the payment protection insurance, which would actually prove beneficial to them in the event that they would become unemployed.

ABI’s assistant director of health and protection insurance, Nick Kirwan said that the fact that people were not even willing to look at the possibility of taking out protection insurance, even though this insurance would cover redundancy in any uncertain economic event, was indeed worrying,

He felt that they needed to work harder to reach to people and spread the message about the benefits and value that the appropriate protection insurance, an example of which is mortgage insurance, would give to both, individuals and families. He stated that he hoped that the consumer factsheet on protection insurance products, which was recently published, would attract consumers and motivate them to consider protecting their income and home, which are their most important financial assets.

While half of the respondents of the survey stated that they did have life insurance, around 39% stated that they do not have payment protection insurance, life insurance or MPPI – mortgage payment protection insurance.

Director of research and chief economist at ABI, Rebecca Driver, stated that given the current economic situation and the increase risk of unemployment, the need of the hour was for people to develop strategies that would serve as a protection in any eventuality.

City analyst Capital Economics feel, that many middle class workers are resorting to another job, in order to cope with the increase in cost of living. Police officers, lawyers, IT workers and business analysts are taking up other jobs so that they can make ends meet.

Popular jobs that middle class people are resorting to; include various types of jobs on the Internet, such as freelance work, designing websites, selling things on eBay et al. Many of them were also moonlighting as chauffeurs. The number of people taking up a second job has shown a five per cent increase, in comparison to recession periods in the past. Thus the total of around 1.15million is the number of disparate groups in the UK that are united by financial need.

Upward of 15 million Britons are struggling to maintain what they consider to be ‘middle class’ lifestyles by using loans and credit cards to bolster flagging finances.

Research from Moneysupermarket.com reveals that up to a quarter of the UK population are clinging to an unrealistic façade of a middle class ideal, whilst building debts amounting to almost £13,000 for each person.

The research further highlights the fact that 6 million of the UK population who deem themselves middle class earn only £15,000 or less a year. But it has been estimated that the annual income for a working class household is in the region of £23,000, and for middle class households the annual income averages out at around £33,000.

Clearly many of the population are deceiving themselves, but because of these strong middle class aspirations millions have been tempted into taking up secured credit and loans in order to keep up the perceived image of middle class appearances. And a further 2.7 million have turned to unsecured loans and credit cards, bringing a cumulative total of secured and unsecured debt to around £35 billion for the UK.

Richard Mason, managing director of Insurance and Home Services at the price comparison website suggested that with the credit crunch seriously affecting the housing market, it was worrying that so many people were spending and borrowing beyond their means in order to keep up with the perceived lifestyle of others.

An indication of the concern felt at the new high level of nationwide debt has recently been experienced by the UK’s biggest credit scoring firm, Experian. The organisation report that at the moment twice as many consumers are applying for their own personal Experian credit report in comparison to six months ago, and there is now evidently a strong trend amongst consumers towards learning the importance of keeping a clean credit history.

James Jones, a spokesman for Experian indicated that up to 20% of consumers now check their personal credit report prior to applying for secured loans or credit, many using the internet for immediate access to the information, and increasing numbers have also learned to request alerts to any changes in their credit status.

The rise in demand for these reports has also offered a measure of relief to Experian, with the credit report company suffering a 20% drop in revenue from its usual business of supplying mortgage checks to US and UK lenders, who are currently tightening their loan availability criteria and drastically reducing the amount available for borrowers.

As the fear of further financial risk deepens, a recent Mirror Money article strongly advises on the need for adequate insurance cover to protect against jobs and homes should the country go into real recession.

Suggesting that the insurance premiums could be raised by cancelling existing unnecessary and expensive policies that do not provide adequate cover, the article advises that life cover of 10 times or more of the main providers’ total income would prevent the further tragedy of the loss of a house or even insolvency.

Of course, the insolvency industry itself has received much greater demand for its services in these financially troubled times, experiencing a great deal of change in recent months with the new Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) protocol initiated in February of this year, and further changes expected with the introduction of Debt Relief orders. There are also further proposals to change bankruptcy and Debt Management Plans (DMPs) in the near future.

Nick O’Reilly, the newly appointed President of R3, the Association of Business Recovery Professionals, the leading trade body for Insolvency Practitioners, notes the current level of demand for insolvency services, and claims to understand the plight of the financially troubled who make use of those services, commenting: “At some stage we all face trauma, and in the case of people with financial difficulties it is important to treat them with empathy and respect. Though we have a difficult job to do, those words ‘empathy and respect’ are ones I want our members to be associated with.”

Trying to save money wherever you can is important to us all. Car insurance should be no different. Do not assume that your agent knows everything about you and your vehicle.

Drivers should take advantage of all discounts that many providers offer, that can significantly reduce the cost of car insurance. Understanding discounts and how they can affect auto insurance premiums can help smart shoppers make better decisions about their coverage and possibly save themselves some money in the process.

Read below to identify possible discounts that could help you save on auto insurance this year. Other than discounts, there may be some other ways for you to save on your insurance premiums. We will go over several discounts that can help with your current situation.

First, there are discounts for Auto Safety features. Certain states will give you discounts for anti-lock breaks. Make sure you know if it is two or four wheel anti-lock break vehicle. Automatic seatbelts and airbags are frequently discounted on your insurance premiums. In most states, a defensive driver class discount may apply. If the principal driver usually 55 years old or older has completed an approved defensive driving class a discount could apply. Keep in mind that most states will only approve this class if it is voluntary meaning that it was not the result of a violation or infraction.

Some insurers will give you a discount for having multiple vehicles. In some cases, this will only apply if you have two or more drivers. If you have a clean driving record, meaning you do not have any tickets, accidents or suspensions in the last three years (some companies require five years) then you could be eligible for a safe driver’s discount.

Many companies will reward you with staying with the same insurance company for many years without any accidents reported. They will offer you a renewal discount. It makes sense, you have carried insurance with a company for several years, and have not had an accident, your insurance company likes you and wants to reward and keep your business. Some companies honor you with a discount if you had prior limits on your previous policy. They discount you because they understand you are a better risk.

Conversely, if you do decided to change insurers a proof of prior insurance discount may apply. Most insurers request at least 6 months of consecutive insurance from the previous insurer. If you are a full-time student who meets certain grade requirements and are unmarried and usually under 25 years of age (some states the age is 21) you could be eligible for a good student discount. If you own a home, including condominium, town home, or mobile home, which is used as a principal residence, a discount could apply. Military personnel either currently active or retired from any branch of the US military a discount could apply. If your vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft device, a discount could apply.

You could lower the cost of your insurance in other ways.
For people who own older cars, it may not be necessary or cost-effective to protect them with collision and comprehensive coverage. By comparing the book value of your vehicle and the premium that the insurer has offered, you may find that it cost as much for the insurance as it does for the vehicle. If the car is worth less than $2,000, you will probably spend more insuring it than it is worth. The whole idea of driving an older car is to save money, so why not get what is coming to you.

In addition, keep in mind that the type of vehicle you buy could greatly affect your premium. A flashy red sports car is usually going to cost more to insure than a mid sized sedan. This is also true of vehicles that are on the list of most stolen. There are many ways that policyholders can save on their insurance. Knowing more about auto policies and premiums can help consumers take advantage of less obvious discounts while ensuring that they have the appropriate protection for their vehicles. The last way to save is to assume more risk. If you chose higher deductible on your Personal Injury Protection or Comprehensive and collision coverage will lower your premium as well. The deductible is the amount of money you have to pay before your insurance company begins paying the rest.

Understanding how discounts affect your insurance rates is important to save you money.

According to financial management website fool.co.uk, cuts to the base rate will not necessarily be passed down to borrowers.

The monetary policy committee (MPC) chose to cut base rates in December, but decided to hold it steady in January.

Although Chancellor Darling petitioned financial service providers to pass on December’s base rate cut to mortgage payers, many lenders are wary of doing so in the current economic climate.

David Kuo, head of personal finance at fool.co.uk, pointed out that mortgage loan providers are not obliged to alter their rates for consumers. Many may choose not to do so in order to concentrate their energies on rebuilding their businesses. In all likelihood, homeowners will not see any savings at their level.

Kuo doesn’t anticipate the situation to change much in the coming year. “Homeowners are unlikely to reap the benefits even though there are indications that the Bank of England may continue to cut interest rates to stimulate the flagging British economy.”

In addition, personal insolvencies are predicted to rise this year.

Failed do-it-yourself home repairs in the UK have now reached an estimated £350 million repair bill. 

In addition to the risk of damaging personal affects, there is also a high risk of voiding home insurance policies when work is not conducted by a professional craftsman, carpenter, plumber or electrician, Halifax cautioned.

Spokesperson Vicky Emmott said, “Trying to tackle certain areas that you are not qualified for - such as electrics or plumbing - could invalidate your home insurance. It’s far better to employ a reputable tradesman than to risk damaging your home by going it alone.”

At the very least, whenever any serious repairs, upgrades or renovations are being considered, it is strongly suggested that the homeowner consult with a licensed professional before beginning work. 

Homeowners should also consider that when repairs or renovations are conducted by a professional, he or she should carry their own insurance in the event of damage claims, thereby releasing the homeowner of any liability.

Many necessary improvements generally add value to a property and may often be funded through a home equity loan, even if the homeowner already has debt.

Home equity loans release some of the value typically locked up in the form of equity, thereby providing the funds needed to reinvest in one’s own property. 

Checking the property values of similar homes in the surrounding area or neighbourhood can often give a homeowner a fair idea of how much should be invested, in order to realize a decent return on invested money. It is almost never a wise idea to “overbuild” in an area that won’t support the amount invested, but conversely, keeping a property in step with the comparables usually ensures a sound investment.

According to the Office of Fair Trading, about one-fifth of debt consolidation loans are secured against property.

AXA insurance spokesman, Steve Folkard stated, “Money is one of the major causes of stress for adults and as such it is a major cause of employee absenteeism. Encouraging adults to take greater control of their finances could actually go some way to reducing not only the UK’s levels of personal debt, but also the cost of stress.”

Mr. Folkard also claimed that employees already waste more than three hours a month chatting and sending text messages.

But concerns about personal finance and debt have resulted in an annual expense of nearly £10 billion to the UK economy. According to Axa, £9.6 billion is the new estimate in costs associated with employees taking time off to manage their finances.

However, allowing workers to focus on their own finances for one hour during business hours, could greatly alleviate the loss of employee absenteeism and the costs associated with the loss of productivity, the firm asserts.

Employees facing serious financial concerns tend to be more easily distracted and less capable of focusing attention on their tasks. Conversely, when individuals feel in control of their financial lives; focus, clarity and creativity tend to rise substantially along with better over-all health - which further reduces worker’s absenteeism.

The Office of Fair Trading asserts that two-thirds of Britons who had obtained a debt consolidation loan, did so without consulting more than one lender. And having the extra time during the day to research and manage personal financial issues could reduce the cost of repayments as a whole.

Veterinary fees have begun to top the list in the greatest expenses associated with pet ownership – sending an increasing amount of Britain’s wealth into the pockets of veterinarians. 

Healthcare for humans and pets alike is always of primary concern; but new information compiled by insurer Direct Line, shows 22% of dog owners have struggled significantly to pay for the expenses associated with treating their pets’ healthcare needs.

Nearly 18% of those polled revealed they had lapped-up their savings to meet the financial requirement of their veterinarian’s bill - while 8% sought loans from their family and friends to pay for “Fee Fee’s” care.

Nearly 11 million mollycoddling Brits are adding a combined £1.5 billion to the national debt for the sake of their beloved animals.

Head of pet insurance, Chris Price added, “When a pet gets ill the cost of treatment can add up quickly, so it is important to make sure that you have a plan in place to cover the bills.” For owners with no pet insurance, secured loans could be an alternative in order to meet the cost of veterinary treatment. In most cases, a secured loan with a fixed repayment period would be a more sound financial decision than turning to high-interest credit cards.

Moreover, pet owners should mind their veterinarian’s advice and keep pets at a healthy weight since obese pets are far more likely to require long-term treatment. Additionally, for those considering acquiring a pet, the average expenditure on dog food is now at approximately £209 per year. 

There is no doubt that the majority of pet owners agree that their pets are far more like family, than the antiquated idea of their pets being “just animals.” They’re precious and much adored by the entire family. Their endearing antics often tug at our hearts and most of us wouldn’t give up our fluffy, sleek or rugged companion for anything. So when illness or injury suddenly occurs, more often than not, owners have a knee-jerk reaction and dive straight from their hearts to their piggy banks to mend their friends. Therefore, when considering insurance products, remember to cover that darling little doggy with the waggily tail.

In the pursuit of physical “perfection” many Britons are now finding themselves in debt to pay for plastic surgery, liposuction (the removal of fat), breast augmentation, tummy tucks, rhinoplasty (nose-jobs), and so on. 

According to research findings from Abbey, Britons are willing to take on loans worth a collective £1.4 billion for the multi-purposes of cosmetic or plastic surgery. 

“We are seeing an increase in requests to borrow for plastic surgery. Whether striving for visible perfection or as part of a medical treatment, plastic surgery is getting more and more popular among Britons,” offered Paul Morrish, Head of Abbey Loans. 

Apparently, nearly one million adults in the UK are now considering taking on debt in an attempt to either achieve a quick fix on their bodies, or undergo a corrective surgical procedure. Additionally, Axa has announced that with the growing popularity of plastic surgery, nearly a quarter of a million retirees are also considering some form of plastic surgery.

The most popular procedures for which such loans are being sought are breast augmentations, the bank states - being 27% of all plastic surgery operations performed. Following breast augmentation by popularity, are tummy tucks and nose jobs. 

Rhinoplasty can be performed to meet aesthetic goals or for reconstructive purposes to correct birth defects or breathing problems. It is sometimes combined with a chin augmentation to enhance the over-all aesthetic results. 

Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty (fat modeling) is a cosmetic surgery that removes fat from many different places on the body. The fat is usually removed via a cannula (a hollow tube) and aspirator (a suction device). The amount of fat removed varies by each procedure, but the average amount is typically less 5 kg. 

No surgical procedure is a low-effort alternative to exercise, diet, or self-esteem. Therefore, all individuals should carefully consider the significant personal and financial risks involved in elective procedures, before making the decision to go under the knife and anesthesia, or under the laser. 

But in cases where plastic or cosmetic surgery is assured, very careful examination of physicians’ experiences, past results and levels of education should be closely examined to ensure the best possible outcome.