ISAs

ISAs (or Individual Savings Accounts) are a simple way of maximising your savings by placing them into a tax-free account, where you get to keep all of your interest payments or investment returns without losing a chunk to the tax man.

Although ISAs have a reputation for complexity, they are really much more straightforward than many people think. In essence, you can deposit up to £7,000 a year into your account, with up to £3,000 of that being in cash savings and the rest in equities, and you won't have to pay tax on your returns.

Of course, there's a little more to it than that, but the sites below offer more information to help you make the most of these tax-efficient investment vehicles, and many allow you to apply for an account online.