The world gets faster but it can make us very vulnerable as scammers and the unscrupulous, trick us into making decisions too quickly. The banks are not always helpful if customers are defrauded.

It is not only the elderly who are at risk. We all have to make sure we do not click on links, open attachments or accept phone calls from unknown senders.

Busy people are probably the most vulnerable as they do not allow time to check things out.

Just as dangerous are the friendly faces of stage and screen who encourage us to put our savings in special accounts or to take advantage of crypto currencies for the first time. These trustworthy faces are anything but. The celebrities know nothing about the investments being advertised their faces are being used by criminals to get us to trust them with our money.

And once you have sent them your money it will disappear - probably out of the country - and in many cases the victims do not realise for years that they have been defrauded.

Every time we check our emails we are in danger if we allow ourselves to be rushed.

When we make holiday bookings we need to be just as careful as there are lots of criminals trying to tempt holidaymakers with super accommodation at bargain prices. Take time to do your research and protect yourself.

Parking your car can also be a battleground with criminals and while supermarkets are not run by criminals they are not as open and honest as they used to be.

Just take time to keep yourself and your money safe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Home insurance bills are racing ahead. It means we all have to do our research early and be ready to move fast when renewing our policies if we want to save money. With average increases of 42% we need to check every aspect of our cover.

Too many people pay too much for their buildings' insurance because they insure for the sale price of their home and not the rebuild cost. Lots of people are also encouraged to pay for cover they do not need and may even pay twice for specific cover such as travel insurance without realising. And even worse they may pay for travel cover that they will not be able to claim on because they are too old.

Most important of all do not allow your policy to auto renew. This allows the insurance company to charge you what they like.

And when you think you have the best value policy do not allow the insurance company to charge you up to 40% more by offering you so-called easy terms. Paying annually is far cheaper than in 12 instalments.

Renewing insurance policies takes time but it is time well spent and should allow you to cut the cost.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cyber attacks and IT glitches are happening more often, affecting millions of customers, and they can put our money in danger.

Not only are hackers after our money, but fraudsters are ready to use news of IT glitches to persuade us to hand over our account details.

They pretend to be from our banks, credit card companies or other organisations. They are very apologetic that our information is in danger and tell customers what to do to make sure our money is safe.

They are nicely spoken and persuasive. Put the phone down. Do not open any links.

Mobile phone thefts have overtaken cash and payment cards as the items most stolen from individuals in the UK. As our phones are also used as our bank accounts, payment cards, travel and event tickets they also put us in danger of losing far more than the value of their phones.

Banks will be compelled to pay compensation to customers from October. Until then you have to be even more careful as some banks try to pay very few people who lose money.

In the meantime keep your phone safe, believe no cold caller even if they appear to be calling from your bank. Fraud is the leading crime in the UK. Do not lose money.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We can all make extra money, and in most cases we will not have to pay any extra tax into the bargain. Whether it is selling on clothes that no longer fit, hiring out power tools, renting a room or space in your driveway you can start earning in days.

With taxes at a 70-year-high and food and energy prices still much higher than they were a couple of years ago most of us need exta money, and it has never been easier to start a side hustle.

There are also tax breaks that many are not benefiting from. Couples should make sure they use their tax allowances effectively. The marriage allowance is unclaimed by millions, many of whom could get £1,258 straightaway.

The personal savings allowance allows basic rate taxpayers to earn £1,000 in interest without paying tax and those who have no other income can receive up to £18,570 in interest without paying any tax.

We can all start by selling our old clothes, which is fee-free and tax-free.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Customers are owed £3.7 billion by energy companies. The money has built up from overpayments of direct debits and should be returned. Companies err on the side of overcharging when they set up the amounts we have to pay for direct debits. A small buffer is sensible, but all too often customers are owed hundreds of pounds and more.

We need to get our money back and after a 12% price reduction in April and another cut due to start in July it is time to contact our energy companies if they have not volunteered a reduction in monthly payments or a refund.

It can take time to get through to the call centres and then to get a refund agreed. If you are owed money and the company is refusing to make a refund the Energy Ombudsman should help you and if the company still refuses to hand over your cash you can move to a rival energy company and then the old one will have to give you your money in 10 working days or pay a penalty of an additional £30.

Once you have got your refund it is worth checking if elderly relatives, neighbours or friends are due a refund.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is the peak holiday booking season as we look forward to summer sunshine. But first of all you need to make sure you get a great deal for your flight, hotel, hire car and holiday money. And as soon as you book you must protect the dream with travel insurance.

We tell you how to avoid being ripped off by hire car companies, which are the best days to travel, and how to avoid extra costs.

Avoid airport currency exchange bureaux and when abroad always pay in the local currency.

Read the terms and conditions before you book, highlighter pen in hand, so that you are not shocked by by the cost for extra mileage on your hire car and know that trying to return the vehicle empty is the most expensive deal.

Budget airlines are not always the cheapest and since Brexit passports expire sooner than you think. Check yours.

Holiday bargains are not always what they seem. But holiday memories are worth the prep.

Please send ideas questions, tips and warnings about rip-offs to Mrs Mean through the contact page on her website: www.mrsmeanmoneyshow.co.uk or to infomrsmean@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Millions of credit card customers face a big increase in the cost of their borrowing, but many will not know.
Barclaycard is reducing the minimum payments that customers will be charged from July. Someone owing £2,500 will have a minimum payment of £71. 21 from July down from £89.96 - an apparent saving of £18 a month.
But this move alone increases the cost of paying off balances because customers paying the minimum will be paying the high interest charges for longer.
Not only is the company reducing the monthly payments but it is also increasing the interest rates at the same time by about 15% from 18.71% to 21.59% for example. So not only are cardholders paying for longer, but they are also paying a higher rate of interest.
The cost of paying off card balances could cost thousands of pounds more if minimum payments are made every month. A customer choosing to pay £100 on a £2,500 debt instead of £71.21 would save a massive £3,522.57 in interest.
Pay as much as you can each month or apply for a zero interest card to pay off debts even quicker.

"From Passion to Purpose" is a podcast that explores the world of nonprofit...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Please send ideas questions, tips and warnings about rip-offs to Mrs Mean through the contact page on her website: mrsmeanmoneyshow.co.uk or to infomrsmean@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Children are very expensive, especially if you work.
The government has increased the financial help it gives towards child care costs so that the parents of two-year-olds can now get a contribution towards the costs. But this is still likely to be a lot less than is needed.
The official line is that two-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours free child care a week if the parents each earn less than £100,001 a year. But when school holidays are taken into account the free care is equivalent to one 10-hour day a week and extra costs for food and nappies are also likely to be added. And that is if you can find a child care place.
Budgets for babies are undoubtedly stretched making it vital that parents get every bit of help they can to cover the costs of children.

"From Passion to Purpose" is a podcast that explores the world of nonprofit...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Please send ideas questions, tips and warnings about rip-offs to Mrs Mean through the contact page on her website: mrsmeanmoneyshow.co.uk or to infomrsmean@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.