Fulfilling the need for a UK-centred introductory personal finance text, this dedicated author team provide academic, professional and general readers with what they really need to know about personal finance.<br><br><em>Personal Finance</em> is an innovative text that builds confidence and competence in making personal financial decisions. Using a socio-economic approach to personal finance, it illuminates the many factors and relationships that help improve financial capability, including:<br><br>* Decisions on spending, borrowing, saving and investing are set within a broader context.<br>* Concepts such as income and expenditure, risk and return, and assets and liabilities are related to issues of home ownership, caring responsibilities and lifestyle changes.<br>* The impact of important economic events, such as the financial crises of recent years, on individuals and households is shown.<br>* Case studies are used to demonstrate practical relevance, while diagrams and activities he