Let’s face it:  financial life can be overwhelming sometimes, even though you’re learning more about it all the time.  Is there any place to help you when you have questions or difficulties?

Consumer agencies, like the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission exist to make your life as a consumer easier and safer.  The CCPC offers many free services, including information about different types of insurance (car, home, life, health), and how to get insurance quotes or how to make a claim.

There is also information about buying a home, such as different types of mortgages, how to apply for a mortgage, calculators for how much house you can afford based on your particular information, and even a step-by-step buying guide. If you’re renting instead of buying, there are tips on how to make that experience as safe as possible as well as how to avoid being scammed.

You can also use tools here to make financial comparisons between different credit cards, student loans, current accounts, etc.  This helps you pick the one that is best for you.

CCPC also has a section about contracts. You might not think that contracts apply to you, but if you belong to a gym, have a cell phone, or use the internet, you have a contract. And eventually, you might need to have your car repaired or hire a tradesperson to do some work around your home. Know what to look for and what to expect.

There is even a section on how to effectively lodge a complaint.  First, you have to know what your consumer rights are before you try to complain to a business. For example, if you buy a set of headphones that don’t work right out of the box, you have a right to return them. However, if you buy them and then change your mind because you realize you can’t afford them, or they aren’t as fabulous as you expected, the store has no obligation to take them back.  The complaints section also has information about reporting businesses that violate customer rights, what to do if you’re unsatisfied with your financial services provider (“the interest rates are too low” doesn’t qualify), and even templates for writing a complaint letter.

Citizens Information is another consumer agency.  They have dozens of centres in over 25 regions in Ireland, as well as a great deal of online information. Some of the most popular questions are about Irish citizenship, applying for a passport, and minimum rates of pay. There are also answers to questions about the Irish social welfare system, as well as an overview of the entire system. You can also find information about employment rights and retirement.

You might not consider the environment to be a subject for a consumer agency, but Citizens Information includes information about planning and development, animal welfare and control, and waste management and recycling. Things like travel, education, and Ireland’s government are here as well.

The Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ireland is part of the Central Bank of Ireland. They regulate more than 10,000 firms providing financial services in Ireland and overseas. Their objective is to ensure financial stability, consumer protection and market integrity.

The Consumer’s Association of Ireland is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, registered with charitable status and working on behalf of Irish consumers. Their website has topics covering money, lifestyle, and food & health.

The choices are seemingly endless when it comes to your money, both in terms of where you keep it and what you do with it once it’s there.  Most importantly, you can rest assured that you have have resources available to learn more, do more and achieve more with your money than ever before!