The word ‘retirement’ conjures up a range of confusing or even contradictory feelings for people these days. Once upon a time, retirement was a defined day, usually marked by a birthday, after which any form of paid employment ceased immediately.

Retirement villages are a great option for people who want a degree of independence in retirement but with the added benefits that come from communal living.

According to the experts, arguments about money are one of the main causes of conflict in relationships and are also one of the key reasons why relationships end.

Credit cards are one of the most useful yet also one of the most dangerous modern financial inventions. Use them wisely and you can make money from them. Use them unwisely and you can lose everything you have. The worst mistakes you can make with your credit card are:

How you feel about your wealth can have a huge effect on your financial future. It is a well known fact that when people feel wealthy, they spend more, take on more debt or take more risks.

What kind of relationship do you have with money? Is your money plentiful or scarce? Are you afraid to take risks with money or are you a high roller?

The year 2008 will long be remembered as the start of the Global Financial Crisis which was triggered by defaults in sub-prime lending in the US and a downturn in the housing market.

This was clearly a report for which the headline had already been written, aimed more at using sensationalism to sell magazine subscriptions than providing consumers with an objective review.

One of the dilemmas of being a parent is deciding how much financial assistance to give your children. It is every parent’s desire to be able to provide whatever their children need to live a full and happy life, but how much do you give them?

One of the most interesting philosophical questions about money is whether having more money makes you a happier person. It can be argued that the old adage ‘money doesn’t buy happiness’ is something that was propounded by those with no money as a validation for their monetary status.

It wasn’t that long ago that the news headlines were claiming we were in for the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression. There is no doubt that the events of the last two years have shaken the foundations …

Wherever you look these days you find promoters of ‘get rich quick’ schemes or motivational courses aimed at changing your mindset in a way that will supposedly, as if by magic, attract wealth into your life.

These days there is no excuse for not knowing how much money you have in your bank account. With the advent of internet banking and now mobile banking from your phone, your bank account details are just a couple of clicks away.

In a recent survey of financial knowledge undertaken for the Retirement Commission, it was no surprise that the results showed a high correlation between low financial knowledge and difficulty in managing money.

So you didn’t win $36 million in the big lottery, but then neither did several million other people who during the last week poured enough money into the prize pool for retailers to notice a dip in their sales.

If you are a woman, there are some important facts you need to know about your financial future.

Now, more than ever, is the time to keep your spending under control as we batten down the hatches and wait for the global credit crunch storm to pass.

A few decades ago, financial advisers made a living from selling retirement savings plans to young couples, often along with life insurance policies.

Ask any new business owner what keeps them awake at night and the answer will probably be managing cash flow.

Arguments about money are a frequent cause of breakdown in life partnerships and can be just as destructive in a business relationship.