Do your thoughts ever ponder what you might want to do when you retire? How much money will you really need to be able to tick dreams off your bucket list and live a comfortable life?

Continued growth, strong performance, the announcements of a multi-million pound investment in digital technology and a further seven new branch openings before the end of the year plus the launch of a reward scheme for members has marked the last six months of trading by the Nottingham Building Society (known as The Nottingham).

If you’re planning ahead to purchase your first-ever home, then our Help to Buy: ISA will boost your house-buying savings pot. It’s an Individual Savings Account and eligible individuals over 16 who are a first-time buyer can apply.

The Nottingham Building Society (‘The Nottingham’) has announced that in November and December this year, it will open seven new branches in market towns across the Midlands, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.

A mutual building society, such as The Nottingham, is a financial institution run for the benefit of its members, primarily offering saving and mortgage services. We don’t have shareholders which means our profits and extra benefits can be reinvested in the business and passed on to customers.

It can seem difficult to make saving a priority when prices seem to keep on rising and there are regular bills. But you’d be surprised where you can rein in your spending – and how little you need to set aside to watch your savings start to grow.

Planning ahead now can give you a more affordable Christmas. If you can get ahead of the game while the days are long and the nights are short, the chances are you won’t have to rely as much on credit cards and the overdraft to meet your yuletide spend.

Basic rate taxpayers in the UK can earn up to £1,000 of interest on their savings accounts completely tax-free. This is your Personal Savings Allowance, or PSA. The limit depends on earnings though, and higher-rate tax payers can earn up to £500 interest before having to pay tax.

If you are ready to start saving and want to earn tax-free interest and enjoy easy access to your money, then a cash ISA – or Individual Savings Account – could be for you.

Saving is even more rewarding when you don't pay tax on the interest you earn. Most people can already earn some interest from their savings without paying tax.