'Child Trust Funds for Christmas Cash?' Asks Fair Investment Company

Bristol, United Kingdom, January 11, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Many children will have been given money for Christmas this year on top of the countless toys, gadgets and clothes listed in their letters to Santa. Rather than seeing this cash squandered on more items to be tripped over around the house, Fair Investment Company (www.fairinvestment.co.uk) suggests that parents may wish to consider their child's future by investing the money in a deposit-based Child Trust Fund (CTF).

Research from Moneyexpert predicts that generous relatives will have given children in the UK £2.4 billion overall this Christmas, with almost half of adults handing children some form of monetary gift. It found that while most give between £20 and £50, some will have presented youngsters with as much as £250. According to the Children's Mutual, children will have received £85 on average.

"Deposit-based Child Trust Funds could be a good way of investing money that might otherwise be frittered away," says Fair Investment director, James Caldwell. "Your children are likely to thank you when they hit 18 and find they have a substantial nest-egg waiting for them," he adds.

All children born on or after September 30, 2002, and in receipt of child benefit are eligible for a CTF and £1,200 can be paid into the account tax-free each year. Added to the Government's two payments of £250 – one when the child is born and another at age seven – the money can quickly build up.

"However, it is really important that parents compare rates offered by deposit-based CTFs as there can be significant variations," warns Mr Caldwell. The difference in interest rates is as much as three per cent in some cases, and this could make a tremendous difference to the final lump sum. Indeed, if families pay the maximum amount into the account each year, more than £12,000 could potentially be lost if they choose the lowest interest paying CTF over the highest.

Of course there are many other ways of investing money on behalf of your child, including CTFs that invest in stocks and shares; both for stakeholder and non-stockholder accounts. And other types of savings account could offer greater flexibility than the deposit-based CTF. "With such a range of savings account out there, it is well worth considering all the available options and comparing rates before deciding the best way to save your child's money," says Mr Caldwell.

Find out more about child trust funds and compare deals at http://www.fairinvestment.co.uk/child_trust_fund.aspx

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About Fair Investment
• www.fairinvestment.co.uk, is an independent online finance portal, providing comparison tools, news, reviews and information on a wide range of financial products and services, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, loans, savings and investments.
• Fair Investment Company is a leading internet player that sees 400,000 unique users per month, sells over £5 billion worth of mortgage enquiries and is a Hitwise 100 Banks and Financial Institutions site.

For further information, contact:
Rachel Mason
Editorial Manager
Fair Investment Company
Telephone: 0117 9335507
Fax: 0117 9335509
E-mail: rachelm@fairinvestment.co.uk
Web: www.fairinvestment.co.uk
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Fair Investment Company
Rachael Stiles
01179335507
www.fairinvesment.co.uk
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