Programmes such as Changing Rooms, Grand Designs and 60 Minute Makeover are causing rising numbers of budding Handy Andys and Nick Knowleses to renovate their homes.

Many UK consumers would face considerable financial difficulty if they were forced to turn to their savings for economic sustenance, it has been suggested.

In a world where credit is increasingly difficult to come by, consumers have been urged to resist the temptation to include falsehoods in applications for cards or loans.

New research from mental health charity Mind has suggested that concerns about debt are having a significant negative effect on people's personal wellbeing.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has said that while purchasing travel insurance may be viewed as an additional expense for those planning already expensive holidays, taking out adequate protection is an essential course of action for those booking a trip away.

According to a report published by advisory service provider Saga, debt levels are one of the least commonly discussed areas of personal finance among Britons.

Commenting on recent research suggesting that 18,000 people are refused credit daily, a spokesperson for financial advice resource Fool has said that there are limits on the amount that banks can loan in a tightened economic environment.

The number of insolvencies applied for by British consumers is increasing, according to new figures.

Many young Brits are putting their financial futures at risk by trying to fund a fashionable lifestyle that is beyond the reach of their wallets, it has been claimed.

Consumers who have numerous debts on credit cards may find that their financial situation takes a turn for the worse in the coming months as lenders tighten the screws.