Q I’m getting worried about my retirement as I didn’t start saving for retirement until my very late-30s and even then, I didn’t put much away. I’m 45 next year and I don’t know if I’ll be able to afford retirement. This was a longer question than normal so I have added more of the
Q My husband and I are First Time Buyers and are hoping to buy a home of our own to get out of the rent trap as soon as possible but don’t know where to start. Do I find a house first? Do I get a mortgage first? Can I afford this? How do I apply
Q My fixed rate is up next month and I’ve been told that I don’t need to do anything as interest rates are to start falling and I’ll get the benefit anyway. Is this correct? If not, what should I do to ensure I get the best rate available? A There are tens of thousands of fixed-rate
Q I am going to be 60 soon and have decided to try get my affairs in order. I have just completed my will and now want to concentrate on making sure I don’t leave any debts behind. With this in mind, I’d like to put a policy in place to cover the expense of
Q. I was thinking of switching my mortgage as the interest rate has increased a lot in the last few months. Is it worth my while as I hear interest rates have risen across the board? A. Homeowners are often reluctant to revisit their mortgages and shop around for a better deal. Thousands of Irish homeowners
Inheritance tax bills and saving the family home – part two This is a follow up to last week’s article where a reader was being forced to sell their family home to pay an Inheritance tax bill. In that article I mentioned dwelling house relief and how this could save you from inheritance tax on
Q We live in Dublin and our home is currently valued at €800,000. We have one child and I worry that with the way property values and wage rates are going that even with a good salary, she will be unable to manage the tax bill on this inheritance. Is there any way to manage
Q My children don’t seem to understand money. I’ve tried various methods, including pocket money, to no avail. How can I encourage them to develop a savings habit? Teaching your children about money will help them pick up good habits for the future. My children are in their twenties now but my process way
Q Should I fix my mortgage now, switch to a new lender or stay on my current rate? I’m afraid of making a mistake and being stuck with an unwise decision. A The short answer is simple. Get advice from a financial broker. If you want to go it alone, however, it’s a longer answer but
Q. My father keeps telling me to start my pension, but I think it’s too soon as I am still young, not on a high salary and have many other priorities. Is it important to start a pension now? A. For most people, talking about pensions is like watching paint dry. Boring they may be, but