Get The Best ISA Rates By Monitoring Interest Rates

The only way to know if you’re getting the best cash ISA rates is to keep a check on the current interest rates on a regular basis. Most experts recommend that you check the current rates that are available at least once every six months. But, if the rates are frequently going up and down, you may want to check them more often.

After your ISA has matured, it’s especially important to check the current interest rates. When you first opened your ISA you were probably given a very good interest rate, but after the initial period of between six months and a year, you’re probably earning a very low rate on your savings.

ISA providers generally advertise a high rate to draw in new clients. While they stress the rates they offer, they may not emphasize just how low your rates will drop once your account has reached maturity. After the bonus period, your rates could drop by several points which can add up to a substantial decrease in your interest earnings.

It’s in your best interest to find out if there’s a higher rate available. It’s in the ISA providers best interest when you receive the lowest rates possible. So, don’t depend on them to keep you updated when the rates raise.  The only way to make sure you get the best cash ISA rate is to take an active role in monitoring the rates.

How To Increase The Value Of Your Savings Account

Everyone knows how important it is to have a savings account. Whether you’re saving money for retirement, an emergency or to purchase something that you want or need, a savings can be invaluable. But, there is one time when your savings account can actually be worth much more money that what your balance reads.

It can literally take you years, or decades to pay off high credit card balances, especially if you’re only able to make the minimum payment each month. And, because of the high interest associated with most credit cards, when you do make a payment, very little of it is deducted from your actual balance.

There is just no sense in paying all of that interest every month when you have enough in a savings account to pay off the balance in full. When you use your savings account to pay off a high interest debt, you could be literally doubling your money in the savings you’ll see on that interest.

With a credit card balance of just $2,000 at about 18 percent interest and a  minimum payment of $155, it will take you 5 years to pay off the balance. When you multiply your payment by 60 months, you’ll realize that you’ll be paying over $9,000 for the $2,000 you charges. It just doesn’t make good financial sense to have enough in savings to pay off a credit card and not do it!