Money Talks: how Sheffield to Essex is cheaper via Berlin, and find out what money means to you

‘You can never have too much money?’ Agree or disagree? Have your say in our quiz. Photograph: Colin Anderson/Getty Images/Blend Images

Hello and welcome to this week’s Money Talks – a roundup of the week’s biggest stories and some things you may have missed.

Money news

Blogger shows how Sheffield-to-Essex journey is £7.72 cheaper via Berlin

FCA warns against self-cert mortgages from overseas lenders

Equity release levels hit record high among over-55s

Flood-hit households and businesses given self-assessment extension

UK childcare policies failing poor families, report finds

Investors ‘rushing to snap up homes before buy-to-let tax comes in’

£10 to have a friend to stay? The hidden costs facing generation rent

Feature

Why a speed awareness course could hike up your insurance premiums

According to the AA, a first speeding conviction might typically add about 12.2% to premiums. Photograph: David J Green/Alamy

Quiz

How much does money matter to you? Take the test

‘People get rich by taking advantage of others.’ Agree or disagree? Photograph: KeystoneUSA-Zuma/Rex Features

In pictures

Homes in landmark buildings

The fourth of the famed brutalist towers on the Barbican estate is being converted into 74 apartments with Conran-designed interiors. Photograph: Redrow

In the spotlight

Householders are being told they must hand over tens of thousands if they want broadband to be installed, finds Anna Tims, while a reader tells of their wait to have their landline fixed

Some householders in areas with ready-laid infrastructure are mistakenly being told they must hand over their savings to be connected. Photograph: Alamy

Consumer champions

How do we get Virgin Media to junk all this mail?

Vodafone upgrade leads to a downturn in customer service levels

MOT complaint has got mileage as the DVSA fails to sort its IT system

Money deals

It’s your last chance to save 10% on Guardian travel insurance, buy your policy before 31 January 2016 and use the voucher code JAN10 to claim your discount.

Looking for a new deal on your mortgage? Get fee-free advice from the Guardian Mortgage Service, provided by L&C, to help you find the right deal.

For an easy way to cut your energy bills, join our group switch before 14 February and we’ll do all the hard work – you could save more than £300 a year.