Savings

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%.

Borrowers can now get 18 months interest-free spending for a year and a half, plus up to 3% cashback with Santander's new 123 credit card deal.

Pensioners will be able to buy top-ups of as much as £25 in extra state pension per week from autumn next year under Government plans.

Savers can get up to 2.75% tax-free interest on cash put into an ISA. But with the deadline looming you need to use your ISA allowance now or you'll lose it.

Special Pensioner Bonds paying "market-leading" fixed savings rates will be available from January 2015 to all over-65s, Chancellor George Osborne announced in today's Budget.

Savers will soon be able to stash away more cash in premium bonds after the Chancellor announced the current limit will rise - but it is likely the chances of winning will fall, to pay for more £1 million victors.

The Chancellor pulled a rabbit out of his Budget back pocket today, which is probably why he's been sitting uncomfortably for so long. The shock news is that from 1 July, cash and shares Isas are to be merged into one new, much bigger £15,000 tax-free savings and investing pot.

Chancellor George Osborne announced big changes for the UK's savers in today's Budget, including a revamp of the Isa system and new bonds for over-65s.