Welcome to Xtra, the site that wants you to make the most of your money! We want to make money easy to understand.

They say that money makes the world go round. So make the most of it! Don't waste it on excessive interest payments and low paying savings accounts.

Credit Cards There's never been a better time to shop around for the best credit card deal. Many offer interest free (subject to terms)	Loans With fears of the effects of recession, you need to get the right loan for you. Check out some great low interest rate offers	Shares Woth extreme volatility in share prices, check out our share buying guide for information about buying, selling and dealing in shares

SHARES
The first half of 2007 promised a good year for the FTSE with steady gains in most sectors. From summer onwards the market was dragged down by the financial sector in the wake of the sub prime mortgage crisis in America and the Northern Rock crisis in the UK caused by Northern Rock being unable to borrow short term. 2008 has proved to be a turbulent year. Buying now is only for the brave!

Share Prices Chart - FTSE end of month 2008

HOUSE PRICES
Growth in house prices has been mixed, with constant scares about the possibility of an end to the housing market bubble. Mortgage Interest rate rises have also taken some pressure out of the market. With record earnings to loan ratios for lenders, there could be some casualties. There are still some excellent fixed rate mortgage deals around.

INFLATION
Inflation has increased beyond Bank of England targets, with consequent interest rate rises from the MPC. Good news for investors, bad news for borrowers!

There are many "price comparison" sites for financial products such as moneysupermarket.com, compare.com and uswitch. Many of these sites earn commision when you click through. Our best buy sections come into this category. In addition, they do not necessarily list all the options available or take into account all the circumstances that are relevant to you. For instance Direct Line have chosen to opt out from these price comparison sites, because they claim you are then paying a middle man.

Our aim is not to promote any specific product but rather to give you the background information in a clear and concise format to enable you to make your own informed decisions. We provide a series of money related articles that are easy to read and understand. We will help you in unscrambling which credit card is best for you, what kind of loan to get and best paying bank current accounts. If you're looking to dabble in the stock market, check out the share buying guide for the information you need, and what kind of mortgage is best for you.