Three out of four women claim to play an active role in managing the household budget, compared with just 58% of men, according to the company's research.

But women's involvement seems to be limited to management of the day-today finances such as shopping and trips to the supermarket. When it comes to the really big issues, such as planning for retirement, women defer to the men in their lives, according to Irish Life.

The study found that most women have never raised the issue of pensions with their other halves, with only one in seven claiming to play an active role in discussing how they will pay for life after work.

Irish Life says the finding is worrying because study after study has shown serious gaps in women's pension coverage, especially when they do not work outside the home.

NIB OFFERS SAVERS LINK TO UK PROPERTY INDEX NATIONAL IRISH BANK is offering savers the chance to hitch their fortunes to the housing market, just as signs are beginning to emerge that property prices could be running out of steam. The bank's new house price index deposit account is linked to the performance of the UK property, tracking the benchmark Halifax property index over the next three years.

Creeping interest rates have already released some of the heat from UK prices, although cautious savers will be relieved to learn that NIB will at least give back their original investment at maturity in 2009 if there is a crash before then. The minimum investment is 1,000 and the account must be opened by 22 September.

Meanwhile, property prices in Ireland could be levelling off as estate agents gear up for the autumn selling season. Price growth slipped in July compared with the two previous months, according to Permanent TSB, which it sees as evidence that higher interest rates are beginning to bite. Nevertheless, house prices remain at record levels, with the average home worth 25,000 more than at this time last year.

HIBERNIAN HANDS OUT ADVICE ON WINTRY WOES HIBERNIANmust qualify as spoilsport of the week for reminding us about burst pipes and other winter insurance woes before the children have even gone back to school.

As the summer holidays enter their final week, Hibernian has issued a checklist to help us batten down the hatches and avoid weather-related disasters over the coming months.

The advice is predictable, if all too often ignored. Trim trees and hedges next to your home. Check pipes and hoses for cracks and leaks. Clean the chimneys and tune up the boiler.

Clean the gutters, repair crumbling brickwork and replace loose roof tiles.

"With winter approaching and energy costs rising, there are a number of simple steps that home owners can take to protect their homes and save money, " says Pat Kenny, Hibernian's product manager for home insurance. "We encourage our customers and all home-owners to make these simple checks and repairs in the coming weeks."

Shouldn't that be in the coming months?

STUDENTS WARNED ON STIFF BANK CHARGES WITH free banking now available to just about everybody, it seems curious that the latest piece of research from the Financial Regulator covers the costs of running a student current account. In their quest for new customers, the banks have waived transaction fees for college goers for many years, so it seems safe to assume that the cost of a student account should be zero.

Not so, says the regulator, which highlights the pitfalls awaiting students who fail to operate their accounts within the limits prescribed by the banks. According to Sharon Donnery, head of consumer information at the regulator, students face big penalties for bouncing cheques or standing orders as a result of having insufficient funds in their accounts.

"Keep an eye on your account and try to budget as much as possible to manage your money and avoid any additional charges, " Donnery says.

"If you do need to borrow, make sure you choose the option that suits you best.

And remember, although you may have heard it before, borrowing on your credit card can be very expensive."