Until recently, retirement for millions of people in the UK meant having to rely on a complicated state pension where they would get little over £100 a week to live on. However, if proposals from the government are signed into law, by 2017 the basic state pension could be worth as much as £144 per week for those who retire from that point onward.

Less money worries?

Right now, the current state pension system is hard to understand for many people who are at or near the retirement age of 65. They have to work out how much they have paid in National Insurance contributions before they know how much money they’re entitled to, plus there’s possible income from annuities or other pension products to take into account.

The simplification of state pensions is seen by many as long overdue. Retirees will soon find it easier to know what they stand to receive (if they have made NI payments for at least 10 years), but what else could the great pension shake-up mean aside from more money?

At the moment, it’s easy to be confused about the details of pensions. Highstreet Wealth Management can assist with transferring pensions and can also provide you with clear information and advice you’ll need to go through the pension process. With auto-enrolment being enforced in every employing company in the next five years, it’s a better time than ever to look up exactly on what a pension can offer you.

Varying benefits

The new-look state pension will benefit some people more than others. Those currently receiving state pension payments will be unaffected, but for those due to reach retirement age by 2017, they can expect:

• To qualify for the full amount, claimants must have made 35 years’ worth of NI contributions
• Broadly known as a ‘flat-rate’ pension, the maximum payment is £144 per week, although some will receive less due to paying less NI
• Some higher earners who have paid into a workplace pension scheme won’t receive additional benefits from top-up schemes
• Most additional pension payments from workplace or other schemes will still be received in full
• The state pension age for women will rise to 65 
• Those who reach retirement before the changes come into place can’t wait until that time and take out the new state pension
• Anyone on a final salary scheme may have to pay more in NI per year due to their level of income
• The flat-rate pension seems to be a good idea, not least because it could spell the end for confusion over pensions. Whether or not it will work is a question that’s yet to be answered, but any move made to benefit retirees will surely be welcomed.

I’ve always been the curious type, so when somebody asked me “where do checks originally come from?”,So I began to look into it, and discovered quite a bit about the history of paper checks and the role they continue to play in the modern world.

Cheque

A long time ago, if you can believe it, people didn’t used to pay for things with cash. Most economies were run via a system of trade goods, and eventually currency in the form of coins became popular. As much as I would love to own a swimming pool full of gold coins just like Scrooge McDuck, going out for a day of nails, hair, and spa treatment in a world operating solely on rare-metal currency would be anything but relaxing—in fact, it would probably closer to an all-day chore—because of the sheer amount of coin that I would have to carry around.

I know plenty of people that don’t even like carrying paper cash around in their purses/wallets, and paper cash is no burden to carry. It’s a matter of security for them, because they don’t want to lose the money that they have on hand.

The first instances of checks seen in history were created exactly for these reasons. From the Persian Achaemienid Empire that spanned 550—330 BCE came the first recorded usage of checks, called “chek” in the native language. In India from around 320—185 BCE an instrument called the adesha was used very similarly to the way that we use checks today, and Romans began using what is called praescriptiones in the first century BCE.

Checks became even more popular in both the Muslim and Christian worlds, especially when trade between the two became widespread. Because large sacks of coin weighed down transport livestock and essentially presented big targets for bandits that were accustomed to attacking trade caravans, these long trips required that some kind of checking system be put in place. Muslims introduced the saqq, while Christians and the secretive Knights Templar introduced their own checking system.

The Knights Templar set up “houses”, which were essentially banks, that travelers could deposit currency into and then withdraw at a different location by showing the house a draft. Drafts are particularly interesting because of the way that they were drawn up—unlike regular checks that display the name of the recipient and amount in plain text, the Templar’s drafts were written in a complex code that only the Templars and Nicholas Cage in National Treasure would have been able to decipher.

Some form of check eventually shows up in almost every civilization’s economy, and checks are still being used today. Technology has obviously made the system of distributing, clearing, and even personalizing checks not only more available but, some cases, possible. So the next time you’re out for a day with your girls getting your hair and nails done, be thankful that you don’t have to carry around a giant sack of coins and can just pull out your checkbook instead.

Annie Harrington is a small business owner and freelance writer. Outside of work-life, Annie revels in design and the design process. She currently works with Vista Print, a company that specializes in creating business cards and ordering checks.

When moving out and getting your first new home, it’s a easy choice to make between renting and buying. Renting is most certainly the cheaper and more sought after option, but it can be unnecessarily expensive if you don’t get the right place. Here are our four major points to consider to make sure you get the best house for you, at the right price.

Avoid agencies and find a private landlord

Agencies take the hassle out of finding suitable properties, but it does come at a cost. On top of the initial deposit you make on the house, you’ll have to pay an agency commission fee. This is non-refundable, unlike your deposit, so increases the actual cost of you moving out.

Ideally, try and find a private landlord. Although this means you have to do the house hunting yourself, it eliminates the extra fees through using a middle man. This isn’t as hard as you might think – online directories are filled with landlords advertising their properties. Try looking here first before heading to the agencies.

Furnished vs. unfurnished properties

At first glance, unfurnished properties are cheaper to rent than those already furnished, but that can’t be the deciding factor. There are more factors to consider when looking at furnished properties. Consider the following:

1. • How long are you planning to stay in this property? If it is a temporary place (renting for 1-2 years), save buying your own furniture until you are in a location that will be more permanent.
2. • How much money can you spend right now? The initial cost of getting an entire house or flat kitted out when you first move out can be quite high – more than necessary for the first move!

There is no ‘do or don’t’ when it comes to furnished or unfurnished properties – it comes down to what you can afford and your plans for the future.
Find a place with good public transport links

The initial cost of moving out can get quite high, so when there’s also car finance to consider, opting for public transport may give you the freedom you want at a smaller price.

Choosing an area that has good train, bus, and tram links means you can get around easier without the need for your own personal transportation. If you’re planning on moving to the larger cities, such as London, Manchester, or Birmingham, it’s not uncommon to not have a car. This is because it’s cheaper to get weekly or monthly passes on public transport, than owning your own vehicle.

House share

If you attended university, then you know that house sharing can be an exciting and interesting experience for all involved. It’s also a lot more common with those moving out for the first time, as it means the bills and rent are paid between more people. Finding housemates online through house share websites lets you see what they are like before you move in. Remember to arrange to meet up with them beforehand as well, so you can make a set of agreed ‘house rules’, so everyone can live happily.

Renting is a simpler passage into house ownership without stressing yourself out over getting a mortgage at a young age. Find a property that suits both your needs and finances, and most importantly, one that you can call home.