As we approach the Christmas holidays, it's a chance to relax and unwind with friends and family. For many people it will be a temporary but welcome respite from what has been a very difficult year, often having to cut back in order to balance the household finances.

Holidaymakers will no longer be charged for purchasing foreign currency with a debit card in the UK at five major banks, the consumer watchdog announced today.

Credit cards and discount websites can keep costs down if you look carefully

The major high street banks have agreed to make overdraft charges fairer and more manageable, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) reported. But consumer bodies criticised the moves as "disappointing".

A new inflation-proof savings account has been launched into a market vacated recently by National Savings & Investments.

It's been a hive of activity in the savings market over the last couple of weeks, with some cracking new fixed rates being launched as well as an eye-catching new promotion from the Spanish banking giant Santander.

The deal

Rank shares jumped almost 10 per cent yesterday after the gaming company won a UK tax dispute in the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

The deal

Outlook So Europe's banks need to raise €106bn (£93bn), which was the final number to come out of the "phew they've actually done it" crisis meeting on the Continent's sovereign debt crisis.

Santander is launching a new current account switching offer tomorrow, which will pay up to £300 cashback to customers who switch their main account.

Retail spending has become subdued in the current tough economic climate, but that hasn't stopped credit card companies from falling over each other as they try to persuade us to sign up for their new offerings.