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When we get bored or stressed, some of us tend to head for the stores to look for something to do. Maybe we want a new book, a new CD, or a new movie. Maybe we want new clothes so we can jazz up our wardrobe. Maybe a new board or video game will do the trick. This quest for new stuff might alleviate the boredom or the stress for a while, but it can get expensive and lead to a lot of clutter in your house. The next time you feel the urge for something new, try going shopping in your own home, first.

What do I mean by shopping in your own home? Many of us (except the most disciplined of people) buy things that we never get around to using. We buy books and forget about them or don’t have time to read them. W

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Virgin plans to launch a range of bank accounts. The anticipated launch of new bank accounts under the Virgin Money brand should help to improve choice for consumers, watchdog Which? has said.

Virgin Money announced today (January 8th) that it has acquired Yeovil-based bank Church House Trust for £12.3m and aims to use it as a platform from which to develop “a retail banking business in the UK, offering a full range of products to consumers”.

Jayne Anne Gadhia, chief executive of Virgin Money, claimed that the reputation of many UK banks had been “tarnished” by the financial crisis.

She said that the new bank would provide “a better, different form of banking to its customers, increasing competition in the sector” and offering “good value to customers”.

Sir Richard Branson, who founded the Virgin group, added that he hoped to bring “simplicity” to the UK’s banking market.

Commenting on the move, Which? Full Article…

Are you overwhelmed by debt? Do you not answer the phone because of harassing calls night and day? Do your kids need school supplies and new shoes, and you’re simply worried about feeding them? Will your electric be shut off soon? Are you scared? Do you feel you haven’t any where to turn?

When you’re drowning in debt, the enticement may be solely to throw up your hands, run away from it all, and file bankruptcy.

When you consider should I file bankruptcy, it most certainly can be worth your while to dig a little deeper.

Bankruptcy should only be your final option, for a variety of reasons.

1. It isn’t that easy to start over with a clean slate any more. An impa

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Australian retail sales recorded their largest increase in eight months rising by 1.4 per cent in November adding increased probability of a further interest rate hike in February.

According to new data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), retail sales increased to $20.08 billion in November, and the 1.4 per cent growth in sales, far exceeded the 0..3 per cent growth many economists had predicted.

The result followed a revised 0.4 per cent increase in sales in October.

The F&B industry gained the most with restaurants, cafes and takeaway outlets registering the strongest improvement in sales, increasing 1.1 per cent.

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Many can only afford their dogs thanks to pet insurance. Owners who failed to compare pet insurance prices and find a policy they could afford may well have contributed to the recent spate of abandoned dogs and cats encountered by the RSPCA.

According to a report by Sky News, a record number of pets were dumped over the festive period and animal charities believe the recession is largely to blame.

The RSPCA told the news provider that its workers rescued 33 dogs and cats across the south-west alone on Christmas Day, and this trend was mirrored across the UK.

Many owners may have made the decision to abandon animals because they were struggling to feed their dogs or cats, or because their lack of pet insurance meant they were unable to afford vital medical treatment.

Deryck Wilson, a spokesman for veterinary charity PDSA, told Sky News: “Families have had to make tough decisions and pets have lost out.

“But there is help out there and they don’t have to abandon these animals.”

The RSPCA expressed particular dismay about two puppies, one of which was dumped in a wheelie bin on Christmas Eve, while the other was left in a public toilet a week earlier. Full Article…