Birmingham Midshires has launched a free guide to consumers designed to help them overcome their money blues from 2002. Following news that almost three in four people (72%) had their fingers burnt in some way by a financial problem last year, the guide aims to help people get their finances back on track early this year.

The guide entitled – ‘Financial Medi-Kit 2003’, addresses the nation’s top concerns as highlighted by UK consumers at the end of 2002.

It offers solutions to questions including:

• How to boost my pension?
• How to top up my savings?
• How to reduce my credit card debt?
• How to manage money better?
• How to avoid stock market misery?

Anyone wishing to obtain a copy of the free guide can call 0800 028 7431 or ask in a Birmingham Midshires branch

Of the many issues to detrimentally affect British people, recent research uncovered the five financial bombshells that hit the UK the hardest:

• Not enough in my pension (17%)
• A shortage of savings (12%)
• Over-spending on credit cards (10%)
• The stock market down-turn (10%)
• Wasting money e.g. Smoking, Gambling (7%)

Tim Hague, head of savings and investment marketing at Birmingham Midshires said:

“We hope that Britons will make the most of this advice and begin to get themselves back on track if they have regrets or concerns about 2002.”

“A key problem in the industry is that people must learn to strike a balance between spending today and saving and investing enough for their future. We hope these ideas will enable more people to do this and avoid coming unstuck this year.”