Child Trust Funds

Christmas gifts with a future

Rebecca Atkinson — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:04:08 +0000

Buying Christmas presents for children can be a thankless task. You can spend hours traipsing up and down the high street in search of the perfect gift, only to find they’re bored of it by Boxing Day.

Child Tax Credit to rise by £75

Rebecca Atkinson — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:34:48 +0000

The child element of Child Tax Credit will increase by £75 above indexation from April next year after the government decided to bring forward the proposed increase for 2010.

Originally, the Child Tax Credit was to be increased by £50 above indexation next April, with a further increase in that credit of £25 above indexation in 2010.

Inflation hits kids' cash savings

Rebecca Atkinson — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:44:45 +0100

Children’s savings are being eroded because Child Trust Fund (CTF) vouchers fail to keep up with inflation, parents have been warned.

A guide to investing for your children

Rebecca Atkinson — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:02:36 +0100

While your baby is small, a child trust fund brings nothing but joy. You have free money, a readymade receptacle for grandparental Christmas presents, and you can make regular contributions too.

How you can cut the cost of childcare

Chris Thomas — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:00:16 +0100

Everyone expects having children to involve financial compromises, but no one told me I would have to decide between childcare and grocery shopping. Yet when I discovered the cost of my first choice of nursery in west London, that’s precisely the choice I faced.

Making the most of Child Trust Funds

Chris Thomas — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:41:02 +0100

Bleary-eyed and sleep deprived, the chances are Child Trust Funds (CTFs) aren’t top of most new parents’ to-do list. But with 18 years of growth ahead, taking the time to think through your investment now, could make a big difference to your child’s future finances.

Cash savings in CTFs suffer interest rate blow

Rebecca Atkinson — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:48:11 +0100

Parents investing their Child Trust Fund (CTF) vouchers in cash accounts have seen interest rates cut by 0.21% over the past year, according to analysis by MoneyExpert.

Although generally savings rates have benefited from the credit crunch, average rates on cash CTFs are currently 6.29% down from 6.5% in June last year.

Today's best saving rates

Rebecca Atkinson — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:22:50 +0100

The 150 basis point cut in November came as a surprise to many, with commentators largely expected a 1% chop at the most. While a lot of media attention has focused on what the cut may or may not mean for mortgage borrowers, savers may feel somewhat in the dark about how it will impact them.

Child Trust Funds turn three

Rebecca Atkinson — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:13:19 +0100

Child Trust Funds are now three years old. The current economic climate - a faltering housing market, global stockmarket jitters and potential recession not only in the US but also on these shores - means saving for the future has never been so important.

Investing wisely for your child

Rebecca Atkinson — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:34:45 +0000

While the child trust fund (CTF) dominates the children's investment market, it's far from the only way to build up a nest egg for a child. As well as a number of products aimed specifically at children, you can put money into anything from a fixed rate deposit account to a highly volatile emerging markets fund for their future.

And, although CTFs offer excellent tax breaks, there are reasons why you might look for other forms of investment for their money. For starters, not every child qualifies for a CTF. Only those born after 1 September 2002 will be able to save into one.