insideKENT Magazine issue 94 - January2020 | Page 155

FINANCE Finance Health Check 2020 IN THE SPIRIT OF MAKING 2020 THE YEAR OF REVOLUTION, NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO GIVE YOUR FINANCES A HEALTH CHECK – AND IMPROVE YOUR WELLBEING AT THE SAME TIME TOO! Whether you are starting the new year feeling the financial blues after the most expensive month of the year, are one of the many whose finances are or track but are counting down the seemingly endless days to January’s payday, are planning a long term savings strategy, or like most of us are looking at the future economy with a degree of uncertainty; start this year with a finance health check. There are a great range of financial products out there that will make your money work harder in 2020, allowing you to boost your savings and banish those financial blues for good. All of us want to have some savings stashed away for a rainy day, and many of us will already invest in ISA’s and savings accounts. Yet are these working as hard as they could be for you? It is important to regularly review your accounts. Make sure that the introductory rate that attracted you initially hasn’t expired, and your money is now earning a lower percentage. Always keep your eye on the market to see which the best products are and switch accounts if needed. After all, you have worked hard for your money, so it should do the same in return. Now, we know it can be daunting when looking at the different financial products out there. This fear is often what causes us to stick to what we know, but it could be costing you hundreds of pounds in the long run. In fact, money expert Martin Lewis, recently claimed that some people could almost double their money by using regular savers accounts wisely. So to help you out, we have found some of the best savings accounts for 2020 that could see your rainy day pot become very healthy indeed. Top of the list is First Direct, HSBC and M&S Bank. They offer some of the highest paying regular saver accounts at 2.75% AER. However, these are linked to current accounts, so are only available if you are already a customer with these banks. As with any financial product – always check the terms and conditions. There are limits to how much you can pay in and when you can access your cash. If you don’t bank with First Direct, HSBC or M&S Bank – don’t despair. There are other saving accounts out there, which aren’t linked to current accounts. 155