Deal of the week

Savers spent much of last year gritting their teeth and enduring falling interest rates as their more adventurous counterparts investing in the stock market reaped the benefits of the boom. If you want to get in on the action without risking their investment, you could do worse than Bank of Scotland Ireland's Phoenix Issue V account, which promises 100% capital protection with a minimum 10% return over the investment lifetime or 50% of any growth in the Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 index, whichever is higher. There is no cap on potential returns. The minimum investment is €25,000, the term is five years and six months with no withdrawals allowed, and the closing date for investors is 24 February.

Tip of the week

Check out recently launched website Mylunch.ie if you are thinking about having lunch in Dublin city centre this week. Updated daily, Mylunch.ie aims to provide users with a run-down of the best lunch deals available from participating restaurants and cafes in town and elsewhere in the city every day. The site gives consumers a chance to compare deals before leaving the comfort of their desks and should, hopefully, encourage cafes and restaurants to deliver more competitive deals. The site also carries exclusive vouchers for some outlets. The aim is to take it nationwide in the next few months.

Bad value of the week

Who said education was free? The cost of going to college has jumped massively, according to an upcoming ESRI report, with students living away from home now needing around €7,200 to fund their studies. It can't help that colleges charge extraordinarily high capitation fees which started out at a few hundred euro but are now four-figure sums. Small wonder, then, that the ESRI found that people from lower white-collar backgrounds, whose parents' income marginally exceeds the thresholds to qualify for a full grant, are less likely to attend college than those from more disadvantaged backgrounds.

Recession rates

Moving abroad

Travel insurance: Travelinsurance.ie €35.10* or GetCover.ie €37.50*

Health insurance: Essential Plus Starter €545 per adult.

Inoculations: Tropical Medical Bureau www.tmb.ie you can check its website to find out what you need.

Skype (web-landline): $60 – invaluable for calling home. Headsets cost c€20 and you can use them in any internet cafe. Basic Skype allows you to instant message and call other Skype users free (regular phone numbers are available in 25 countries including Ireland).

Double taxation agreements: If you come back early, check on this as you may have a liability or you may be entitled to a refund.

*Worldwide, no winter sports/extended stay

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