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Almost half of all Britons do not trust their bank and 83 per cent feel lenders should be more responsible with the amount of money they offer, according to a new survey.

A poll by Moneyfacts.co.uk, an independent provider of personal financial information, found 46 per cent of people do not trust their bank.

“It is not often banks get positive PR. However, the reasons behind this lack of trust may be concerning,” said Emma Butler, editor of the website.

“With people increasingly voicing their dissatisfaction, banks are being forced to make changes to the way in which they work such as the recent decision by Lloyds TSB to pay instant interest on cheque payments.”

Over half of consumers (58 per cent) think branch-based banking will disappear in the future as a number of smaller branches have already closed in recent years and people increasingly preferring the easy access to online and phone banking.

David Field

The main problem for the private investor is that the market is always against you. Huge multinational corporations that turn over billions of pounds every day are competing with you to make a quick buck on the stock market while all you can do is spend a couple of hours a week after work researching the best deals for you and your family.

As a result, historically, Brits opted merely to depend on financial advisors, "experts" who would spend their time doing what’s best for your finances although it doesn’t take a genius to work out that they were also getting something out of the bargain.

And surprisingly, so I found, they always seemed to be richer than me.

So I’ve decided that I’m going to go it alone for a while, researching the best performing shares over the long-term and seeing if I can beat, or at least match, the financial heavyweights of this world.

And it appears that this is a developing trend in the UK. People are becoming less trustful of professional investors and are more cocksure about their own chances in a murky trade that can make or break reputations, marriages and bank accounts.

In a new survey released this week, the internet came top with 75 per cent in a poll asking Britons what they thought was the best source for reliable information about financial products.

By contrast, only 11 per cent of respondents to the survey said they believed financial advisors to have the best knowledge of the right deals for them and a meagre two per cent trust their high street bank.

Dale Lovell, editor of Finance Daily, which conducted the research, said the results were not surprising: "In a time pressed age the internet is the fastest and easiest way to research financial products.

"I am not surprised that most people would not turn to their local bank for advice on any new products as the advice they offer is always skewed towards their own financial products."

The findings were backed up by another poll by the British Bankers’ Association, which found that most people ask their friends and family or go to the web for money advice.

Again, it was the same old news for financial advisors, who rolled in behind banks and post offices – on a par with television adverts.

Angela Knight, chief executive of the BBA argued that individuals are now much more confident about determining their own financial future and should be equipped with the tools to do so.

"People are clearly comfortable asking their friends and family about their finances," she said.

"There is also a demand for good online advice. But we must ensure people have the tools to make sensible and informed financial decisions throughout their lives.

"We believe the best way to help people make sound decisions about what to do with their money depends on education. This should start young and we support efforts to see financial literary taught in schools."

This is clearly a huge change from the mid-nineties, when consumers were nervous about the state of the economy with fresh memories from Black Monday – and the majority did not have the net.

But with all the financial tools on the internet and a brimming confidence about the stable economy, it looks as though now as good as any time to venture onto the stock market alone.

Dogs may be man’s best friend but many dog owners believe that their busy lifestyles are making their pets stressed, according to a new survey.

Direct Line Pet Insurance found that over half of dog owners say their lives are stressful and this has a negative effect on their pets.

Lack of quality time between dogs and their owners is a big factor in the problem with some pets being left alone during the day when the family is out at work or school.

Almost a third show their stress through vomiting, another third through diarrhoea, 12 per cent through loss of weight or appetite, nine per cent through lethargy and ten per cent through loss of fur.

But owners are also suffering with 15 per cent of the 1,000 surveyed saying they were upset at not being able to spend more time with their canine friend. Almost a quarter said their dog was more important to them than their job.

Busy lifestyles can also affect canine health with only around half of dog owners able to walk their pet two or more times a day. Almost a quarter only manage to walk their dog less than once a day.

Chris Price, Business Manager at Direct Line Pet Insurance, said: “Dogs are very sensitive to their owners’ moods and pick up on when they are unhappy, unwell or under pressure. Sadly, it seems that this empathy can lead to them suffering from stress themselves and requiring treatment for conditions like diarrhoea, vomiting and loss of fur.

“With the average annual cost of conventional treatment coming in at 350, treating a dog for stress and its symptoms can be expensive. For peace of mind and to avoid large veterinary bills, pet owners should consider taking out insurance.”

The average 34-year-old spends a staggering 32,441 on the year’s outgoings, more than at any other time in their life, according to a new survey.

Research by AXA Wealth Management, comparing the spending habits of 25 to 64-year-olds, found that Britons in their early 30s fork out the most money.

Buying property and doing home improvements are the biggest sources of expense at that age, followed by cars, wedding and new babies adding to financial pressures.

Younger respondents, aged 25 to 34, cited cars, holidays and honeymoons as making 26 their most expensive age.

AXA spokesman Colin Nelson said: “While 34 was on average the most expensive year in life for all Britons, this study demonstrates that people of all ages face peaks in outgoings which see them having to cope with major expense at different times in their lives.”

Those people surveyed in the 55 to 64-year-old age group rated 43 as the most expensive year of their life because of property costs, home improvements and paying to put their children through university.

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The average home in the UK now contains 45,000 worth of possessions even though people are currently shopping less, according to a new survey.

The MORE TH>N Home Contents Index shows that homeowners are spending less on buying new things or replacing worn items in their homes.

Over the course of the last year, the overall value of possessions in the home increased by just 1.6 per cent between 2004 and 2005. Last year home contents grew by 6.7 per cent whilst over the course of the decade their value increased by 56 per cent.

A quarter of homeowners also feel unconfident about their finances as petrol prices reached record highs and utility bills increased, according to MORE TH>N’s consumer barometer.

But those living in the north-west, the East Midlands and Wales are still happy to hit the shops with their home contents values consequently showing a 15 per cent growth. They also recorded higher levels of confidence in their personal finances.

David Pitt, head of insurance for MORE TH>N, said: “Consumer confidence has dropped this year due to house price worries and increasing consumer debt.”

“The last decade saw a huge increase in spending on items for the inside of our homes as we filled them with gadgets and time-saving devices, but we have seen this slowdown over the past 12 months.

“It’s easy to lose track of the value of your possessions over time and its really important to ensure you have enough cover for your home contents should the worst happen.”

An increasing number of people have taken out life insurance to protect their families in the event of their untimely death, a new survey claims.

Research by Norwich and Peterborough Building Society (N&P) found that around seven out of ten breadwinners now have life insurance compared to just under a quarter in 2003.

However a fifth of people who do not have life insurance are adamant that they do not need it just under two thirds of these were women. Nearly four in ten said they “just hadn’t got around to it yet” whilst nearly a third said they did not think they could afford it.

Around a fifth of those without life insurance said they would consider taking out cover if they got married, one in ten said they would look into it if they bought a house, and seven per cent said they might be prompted by the death of a close fiend or relative.

Judith Dove, head of financial advice service at N&P, said: Although no one likes to think about what might be round the corner, it is very important to make sure your family could survive without your income and would be taken care of financially.

“When considering protection, bear in mind there are differences in the cost and quality of products. Wed recommend talking to an IFA to find out which type would suit individual circumstances.

“Its important to understand an individually-tailored solution, combined with regular reviews to take changing circumstances into account, is the best route to take,” she added.

Increasing numbers of British homeowners do not have protection in place to safeguard themselves and their family against unforeseen circumstances, according to a new survey.

Research from insurance providers Friends Provident revealed nearly a quarter of homeowners (24 per cent) do not have cover to pay off mortgage debts in the event of their death.

However, 69 per cent have taken out life insurance that would help their families meet repayments if the worst should happen and the majority have protected possessions as nine out of ten have contents insurance.

Many people fear the sacrifices loved ones may have to make if tragedy occurs 64 per cent worry that the family home would have to be sold and 34 per cent are concerned that a partner may have to take a second job.

But a poor level of understanding about the types of cover available may be preventing people from having adequate protection, for example life assurance – where a tax-free cash sum is paid out in the event of death – was unheard of by 41 per cent of people.

“Most people are happy to insure their car, their laptop or their mobile phone but often give too little thought to insuring themselves. Everybody’s circumstances are different and people need life assurance cover for many different reasons,” said Ian Jefferies, head of protection marketing at Friends Provident.

“The key thing for people to remember, especially those with families or other dependents, is that life assurance can soften the financial difficulties for loved ones should the worst happen.”

Imagine the scenario: A young lady sat all alone at a bar is approached by two top celebrities. First up, Ken Dodd takes a chance and politely offers to buy her a larger shandy and mentions that one of his Diddy Men has managed to get two tickets to the ballet, would she like to join him? While mulling this over, a drunken Russell Crowe, fresh from a brawl outside, staggers across, gives her the once over, blows smoke in her face and asks her to join him back at his place.

Which one is she going to choose? It’s a no-brainer Doddy’s tickling stick has no chance of getting any action while the Australian brute will have his way with her all night long.

See, I know this and you know, so why then do women try and pretend otherwise.

Yet another group of women have responded to a new survey assessing what they look for in a man.

This time the publishers Debrett’s revealed that 63 per cent of UK women cite good manners as the most important thing they look for in a man.

In comparison, just five per cent of them admitted that good looks are the first thing that attracts them to a chap.

“Debretts knows that manners are still relevant, but the survey findings surprised us by showing just how important manners are in Britain today,” said Jo Bryant, editor of Manners for Men.

It’s the whole ’sense of humour’ charade again. It’s not clear who these women think they are kidding perhaps they are trying to make themselves seem ‘deep’ and far removed from the ’shallow’ Neanderthal man but such lies fro that is what they are, really do nobody any favours.

See, the vast majority of men would happily admit that they would put up with all manner of bad habits so long as the girl in question looked good, particularly when we’re talking like-for-like and this is based on the whole ‘initial attraction’ scenario made even more important now in the time of internet dating.

By continuing with this farce, women are simply shooting themselves in their tiny feet.

However, by telling it like it is that is, that looks are pretty much the be all and end-all when it comes to initial attraction then maybe men will start making a bit more effort with the grooming instead of cracking lame jokes or chat-up lines, even investing in a bit of plastic surgery rather than a book on pleases and thank-yous.

Confidence levels are high in the buy-to-let market as the majority of landlords feeling optimistic about the year ahead, a new survey reveals.

Almost four out of five landlords say they feel either the same or more positive about investing in the buy-to-let market, according to Bradford and Bingley.

Some 91 per cent of those surveyed say that rent levels stayed the same in 2005 or increased with around half subsequently earning more than 15,000 a year.

Over half of investors have a terraced house in their property portfolio with a further 48 per cent owning a two bedroom flat.

The south-east remains the favourite spot for buy-to-let properties with 53 per cent of landlords owning houses or flats in the region. This trend is set to continue with a third of those surveyed planning to increase their portfolio in the area.

Andrew Moss, Mortgage Express buy-to-let product manager, commented: This comprehensive study demonstrates the high level of confidence in the buy-to-let market at the start of 2006, with over half the landlords surveyed viewing investment in bricks and mortar as a good way of preparing for their retirement.

Figures from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister predict that the buy-to-let market will see a three per cent rise over the course of the next ten years with more young people taking longer to get onto the property ladder.

Just over half of the landlords surveyed claimed they were investing in the buy-to-let market for their pensions.

Young people could be saving much more if they made minor adjustments to their lifestyle according to a new survey from Investment Management Association (IMA).

IMA says that the average 18 to 29 year old could be generating significant savings were they simply to cut down on smoking or drinking.

By cutting their alcohol consumption by less than a drink every four days they could save 20 per month.

IMA says this is enough to begin work on a monthly investment fund savings plan, ultimately capable of flourishing into a 13,000 sum in 20 year’s time.#

IMA consumer affairs head Mona Patel commented: “We’re not saying that young people have to stop spending we’re simply encouraging them to think about what they spend and to choose to divert some of that money into long-term saving.

“For as little as 20 per month less than the cost of five packets of cigarettes or nine pints of lager it is possible to start building up savings for the future.

“All the evidence shows that the earlier you start to save the less you have to put away each month. Leave it too late and you’ll have to start saving a lot more.”

Young people spend an average of 57 per month on alcohol according to the survey.