14  Bobby says goodbye

So it's nearly the end of the course, and all that's left is the final test. I do hope you enjoyed it and have gathered the key skills you need in life to manage your money and make good financial decisions. Once learned, those skills and insights can help you at all stages of your life.

One thing I hope you grasped is a need to be forward-looking and proactive when it comes to managing your finances. Don't wait for financial problems to surface before addressing their causes. You've covered a lot of ground, but these are my top tips.

The first thing is to keep and manage your budget. Doing this will mean that you maximise the chances of your finances being and staying in order. When it comes to shopping and choosing financial products, like a bank account, make sure you do your research by shopping around.

Be prepared to be a switcher. That way you'll always get the best deals. Take some time to understand how taxes affect what you earn and what government benefits you may be entitled to. Borrow sensibly, and to make sure you get access to the best deals, keep a close eye on your credit files and ratings.

Don't be averse to planning for the long term by formulating a life plan that targets getting you onto the housing ladder and starting a pension plan, and remember, if you want to post questions and discuss financial issues, there's an online forum that you can access via the course website. So best wishes to you for the final test and for the future.