For many people, especially those who have spent a lifetime working and saving, cash feels like the safest place for their money. You can see it.
For generations, many people banked with the same institution for life. You opened your first account there, arranged your mortgage there and perhaps even knew the branch manager by name.
For many people, choosing a savings account comes down to one question. "Which bank is paying the highest interest rate?" That is understandable.
For years, most of us did our banking in one place. Our wages went into one current account, our savings sat in the same bank, the mortgage was arranged there and, if we were lucky, we even had a friendly branch manager who knew our name.
For generations, buying a first home was seen as one of the great milestones of adult life. A young person found a job, saved a deposit, took out a mortgage and eventually became a homeowner.
For generations, rural Scotland was built around families who stayed close to where they were born. People grew up, found work locally, bought or rented a home nearby and raised their own families in the same communities.
For much of the last century, each generation has generally become wealthier than the one before it. People bought homes when prices were much lower, built up pensions, saved money and in some cases accumulated land, businesses or investments.
When today's young adults talk about the difficulty of buying a home, an often-heard response is: "People managed before. They just saved up and bought a house." There is some truth in that.
For many people approaching retirement, one question matters more than almost any other: "Will I have enough money to live on?" The answer varies enormously. Some retirees have a secure income, a paid-off home and savings built up over many years.
Britain's housing debate today often appears to be about house prices, mortgages and affordability. But behind the headlines is a much bigger story.
When people talk about wealth in Britain today, the conversation often focuses on property. A home bought decades ago may now be worth many times what was originally paid.
For much of the twentieth century, saving money was not just a personal activity. It was often something communities did together.
When people talk about building wealth, the conversation often focuses on big things. Buying a house, Investing in shares, Building a pension, Receiving an inheritance.
Fifteen towns shortlisted for the first UK Town of Culture competition. Shortlisted towns set to receive £60,000 to work on their full bids with the winner announced early next year Shortlist selected from almost 400 applications Fifteen towns have been shortlisted to become the UK’s first Town of Culture, after nearly 400 places from across the country entered the landmark competition.
Ministers have launched a crackdown on vapes marketed at kids with a shift to plain white packaging. Plans to keep vapes out of sight in shops, airports and wholesalers Plain packaging for all tobacco products, including cigars and cigarette papers Plans to stop vapes being marketed to children have been unveiled today (10 July) as part of a UK-wide consultation to introduce plain packaging, restrictions on flavour description rules and keeping vapes out of sight in shops.
For many people, the biggest financial question surrounding Scottish independence is not about wages or pensions but about their savings. Millions of Scots have money in bank accounts, ISAs, Premium Bonds, investment funds and pensions built up over decades.
Flying taxis are no longer science fiction, but they are not about to become commonplace, particularly in rural Britain. The interesting point for the Highlands is that, contrary to the popular image of flying over London traffic, rural areas may actually prove to be one of the best early markets.
The British Retail consortium reports Footfall was down due to the heat wave in many places. Extreme weather meant shoppers stayed away from their local stores last month, leading to a decline in footfall across all three key retail locations.
There is concrete evidence that top academics and scientists are leaving the US for other countries due to shifts in federal grant funding, budget cuts, and broader policy instability. This outflow is often referred to as a reverse brain drain or an "academic exodus." Surge in Applications Abroad An analysis by the journal Nature indicated that applications from US-based researchers for international positions jumped significantly.
Any incoming administration under Andy Burnham will face immense pressure to address a soaring social security bill. Three landmark reviews the Timms, Milburn, and Mayfield Reviews will shape his welfare strategy.