Savings

If you haven't written a will you should consider getting one now during free wills month. It's particularly pertinent as a shake-up of the law in England and Wales may also affect what happens to your cash if you die without one.

Savers will be able to pass on money in their pension pot tax free to their children and grandchildren upon their death, after Chancellor George Osborne announced that he will abolish a 55% penalty tax for some groups.

Five million NatWest and RBS customers will be automatically moved to new accounts in January paying well below the best buys, making it a key trigger for them to seek out a better deal.

500,000 TSB customers with its Enhance current account should consider switching now, as the bank is cutting the amount of interest they can earn.

If you've taken advantage of your tax-free ISA allowance every year since the accounts were introduced in 1999, you should check how much you've saved as you may now have breached the UK's £85,000 safe savings limit.

Banks that pay ultra-low interest rates on savings accounts because customers tend not to switch away may face a crackdown from the industry watchdog.

16 and 17-year-olds can save up to £19,000 tax-free this year under today's ISA revamp, meaning they could net £100s in interest if they put the maximum amount away.

ISAs transform into NISAs (New ISAs) today, meaning everyone can now put £15,000 into cash or shares savings without paying tax on it.

Plans for giant "pooled" pension schemes which could boost people's chances of getting a better retirement income have been unveiled in the Queen's Speech, while a 5p charge for plastic bags will also be introduced in England.

If you opened a Santander Direct ISA Saver last year, check your rate now. If you haven't upgraded, it could now be paying as little as 0.5%.