With average car insurance prices at an all-time high of £635 a year, it makes sense not to fall foul of some of the seemingly innocent insurance questions that can trip up unwary drivers. Not answering some questions fully can have serious consequences - and even invalidate your car insurance completely.

My husband and I are at a stand-off about our son's birthday present. Charlie is turning eight and has been begging us to buy him a game console that 'all' his friends have. I know it's not all his friends, but many do have it. Arthur, my husband, thinks it's ridiculous to spend close to £400 - which is more than we'd ever spend on any gift, ever - on this console and says that Charlie will be fine without it.

I am now 56 in a few weeks. I am eligible to and want to access my NHS pension so I can leave my current position in a stressful role. I have been planning this for the past 18 months but cannot move forward whilst this is outstanding. It would seem without a 23-year-old payslip I don't have a leg to stand on despite having what I feel is a wealth of other evidence.

For those without the luxury of bank of mum and dad behind them, getting on a property ladder is a tall order these days.   The increase in house prices relative to incomes over the last 20 years has led to the aveage deposit size rising by around 160 per cent since 2005, according to Building Societies Association (BSA). It says the typical successful first-time buyer now needs a deposit of around £60,000 across the UK. 

Open your eyes, prick up your ears and take a deep breath. What do you sense? It's something unusual, something that has been missing for too long - a whiff of excitement, growth, even exuberance. After a slow and difficult hibernation, the UK market is coming back to life. Eye-catching companies are floating on the stock market and, equally importantly, businesses are raising money through rights issues to fund future growth.

Have you won one of this month's major prizes? Our tables show all the £1,000 to £1m winners. You can also look up the winners for the past 12 months and tap in your bond numbers to see how close you were to winning.

The rally came after Roaring Kitty - a social media account run by financial influencer Keith Gill - revealed a £91m stake in the group. The screenshot, posted on the site Reddit, suggested that Gill may own as many as 5m shares in the company, fuelling investor confidence in the stock.

Shein, which was set up in Nanjing but is now based in Singapore, could file papers as soon as this week in a major boost for the City. London has been vying with New York for the blockbuster float which would see Shein soar straight into the blue-chip FTSE 100 index.

Millions of bank account details could be at risk of sale to cyber criminals after Santander became the target of a cyber attack by hacking group ShinyHunters. Last month's hack, which preceded a similar attack on Ticketmaster, has led to data relating to all of the European lender's 210,000 staff, as well as millions of its customers, being compromised.

Investing even just a few pounds a month can help grow your wealth, but a £10,000 lump sum should be enough to make some meaningful returns. And while birthday cards might tell you that 'age is just a number', it really does matter when it comes to making the most of your money. The way we invest needs to alter as we approach major life changes, taking bigger or smaller risks with our cash. We asked experts what they would do with £10,000 at every age to ensure that it grows as much as possible - without taking on unnecessary risk. These are strategies that can be used by new investors as well as those with years of experience.

More than one in four learners will take their driving test in an automatic car by 2026, as an increasing number of budding motorists won't care to learn how to change gear in preparation for the electric vehicle revolution. The latest data released by the DVSA shows that 22% of all tests carried out so far this year were in automatic cars - up from just 6.1% a decade ago. And by 2026, this is predicted to rise to 28%, according to a new study. But is it a wise decision to ditch learning to change gear? While it might appear easier to pass in an automatic, the figures tell a very different story indeed.

I'm a first-time buyer and have been told by an estate agent that I need to have a mortgage agreed in principle before I can make an offer on a home. They said my offer won't be taken seriously without one. However, I have already spoken to a mortgage broker and that they advised me that an agreement in principle isn't necessary and will leave a footprint on my credit file. Who is right?

The prospect of buying a home for the first time can be as daunting as it is exciting. For the majority of people it will be the biggest financial decision of their life, and this brings up plenty of questions. But if you understand the process from the beginning, it should make things a little easier. We explain everything from how to work out your budget and find your ideal home, through to applying for your first mortgage and navigating the legal process.

With the rise in savings interest rates recently I now believe I owe the tax man a four figure sum for the last tax year. I've read conflicting reports on whether I should tell them or that they will tell me. I have an uneasy feeling that if I tell them I may be opening up a worrying can of worms. What do I need to do?

My father-in-law is 85 years old. He has just had heart surgery, suffers from mobility issues and is in the early stages of dementia. He also recently lost his wife of more than 40 years. In July 2023 he noticed that transactions had been made from his bank account with HSBC, totalling £5,523. This is his sole bank account and only held around £6,000. Originally HSBC did put the money back into his account pending an investigation. However, it later said that as it was his card that had been used and his Pin, the money would not be reimbursed. He has dementia and his recollection of events is unclear - but the spending happened two hours away and was nothing like his usual activity.

Since going public on the eve of the Millennium, computer chip designer Nvidia has come from nowhere to the cusp of becoming the world's biggest company. It is the stock market success story of the century - and one that will shape the rest of our lives. In February, Nvidia became the fastest company ever to go from a $1 trillion to a $2 trillion stock market valuation. Astonishingly, it took just eight months. So just how did a start-up without a business plan that was founded in a California diner conquer all before it? And can British private investors get a slice of the action?

Since its peak in late 2021 Scottish Mortgage shares have fallen more than 40 per cent to 895p as higher interest rates triggered a sell-off in technology stocks. Over the past year, Scottish Mortgage has managed to recoup some of its losses but it is still trading at a discount. Could the recent bounceback be the start of a new chapter for Scottish Mortgage, and is it a good time to buy?

All tax practitioners have at some point had a client who happily asserts that someone they know claims 'everything', and then had the unenviable task of putting the increasingly crestfallen client straight, says Heather Rogers. So, here is a general guide to expenses and the common areas where many people get caught out by the taxman - including clothing, food and drink.

The old neighbours trimmed it back every year, usually in May. However, the new owner doesn't seem to be bothered. We don't have the biggest garden and not having this trimmed back will really affect our ability to enjoy being outdoors. It feels quite unfair. What can we do?

Choosing the right DIY platform is crucial but a wealth of choice and a variety of charges can leave investors scratching their heads. We pick some of the best. We pick some of the best. We also highlight why investing in an Isa makes sense, as it should protect your hopefully growing investments from tax forever.