subject: How To Take Banking Baby Steps [print this page] If you're new to banking or have just never tried to get your personal finances in order before then you'll be the type of person that could benefit from a taking a few baby steps into banking.
Baby steps is the operative term here - there's no need to rush and certainly no need to spend reams and reams of your precious time when there's nothing specifically wrong with your finances.
What follows are just three ways that you can put some quick fixes on your finances. Think of it sort of like getting a nice throw for the sofa: it makes the room look better and it protects you (or at least your soft furnishings).
First, have a think about whether you should compare current accounts to find a better deal.
Current accounts tend to be the first financial product we ever buy and recent statistics show that we're unlikely to ever more them.
However, this makes them increasingly valuable not only because current account providers tend to introduce incentives such as cash and better rates to those very few people who do want to move their main accounts or even a second account but also because current account holders tend to get preferential rates on credit card, loans and other products and are more likely to get accepted for them.
Second, if you have no credit rating or a credit score that's been damaged by poor borrowing behaviour in the past then you might want to consider dipping a toe in the lending water and compare credit cards.
Owning a credit card - and using it correctly - can help to repair a damaged credit score.
These bad credit rating credit cards don't need to be necessarily without any rewards. The Barclaycard Initial credit card has a reward scheme for example.
These should be used with caution - though they do have an interest free period it's fairly short - to avoid being charged interest at a high rate since first time credit card holder rarely get a preferential rate.
Third, take a look at savings accounts.
If you have money left over doing nothing a savings account is the ideal option to make sure that it's working a bit harder and actually earning you some cash.
Putting some money away into a different account each month can also help with budgeting since if it's not in there you won't be able to spend it.
by: Julia Cook
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)
