A NEW site run by financial journalists where registered consumers can post their money questions which are answered by experts. The site is free to use.
Money Matters
TODAY sees the start of Money Matters, a new weekly series that will answer your financial queries.
If you want to know where to get the best returns on your cash, what your options are when your mortgage ends or even how to save money on your tax bill, get in touch via the address below.
Quids-in with free cash advice
FRIENDLY personal finance expert Laura Howard has got it all figured out – with a new problem solving website for hard-up readers.
The pretty 30-year-old from St Albans, Herts has launched cashquestions.com and lined up an army of top finance and property writers to help those facing a cashflow conundrum.
The site gives members of the public the chance to fire off any finance related question and Laura’s team will use their years of experience to provide the answer for FREE.
Having worked 10 years as a finance journalist - including having a book published called A Girl's Guide to Money - Laura hit upon the idea last summer.
She was joined by fellow journalists and money enthusiasts, Annie Shaw and Simon Read to set up the site.
Silly question
“We noted a real consumer need - especially after the credit crunch - for straightforward financial guidance without being sold to,” she said.
“There is no such thing as a 'silly question' but we have had some optimistic ones such as 'How can I escape paying my credit card debt?’
“We also helped one man who won a Fiat 500 in a competition,” she continued.
“He needed to decide whether to keep it or sell it and put the £8,000 into his mortgage!"
Laura concedes they might not know the answer to every question - but that’s where members of the public can help through the website’s forums.
“Questions like ‘Is there a cashpoint at Faro airport?' might be money related but relies more on local knowledge than expert advice,” she admitted
Money talks
This week, freelance financial journalist Laura Howard says your secret's safe with her, names the industry guru whose presence is a constant source of comfort, reveals her role in a new internet venture and explains why she is rooting for a home-grown victory at Wimbledon this year.
My business card says I am:
A freelance journalist and partner of consumer financial problem-solver, CashQuestions.com
The main areas of the financial services market that I cover are:
Property and personal finance, which, put together, usually comes out as mortgages
I was prompted into writing about finance by:
Chance.
The biggest influence on my career as a finance hack so far is:
Charcol's Ray Boulger. If he ever retires, I will have to as well. This is a worry because I cannot afford early retirement
The best news story/ feature I have ever written about the financial services industry is:
Covering the decade-long saga on Home Information Packs. It's the only soap opera of which I have never missed an episode
The headline I would most like to see in the finance pages is:
"CashQuestions; first defence for consumers against credit crunch"
The first big decision I would make if I took over the regulation of financial services in the UK is:
To call Ray Boulger and ask him what to do.
The column/feature in the wider media which I always read is:
Relative Values in the Sunday Times magazine.
I would invest a £500,000 windfall in:
CashQuestions - a new venture I am involved with alongside two other financial freelancers, Annie Shaw and Simon Read. In investment terms, this is hot property!
The most memorable freebie I have ever been on while covering the subject of finance is...
Either rally car driving in Wales with Virgin Money or taking out skidoos in the Alps with the guys from Cobalt. I am very lucky.
My guiltiest pleasure is:
Double Deckers.
You won't know this, but I'm very good at:
Keeping secrets
The person I would like most to see win Wimbledon this year is:
Andrew Murray, of course.
And the reason why is...
Because he is someone who looks like he could do with some cheering up.
Headlinemoney.co.uk, July 1, 2008
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