This week we featured the advice that a bunch of experts said they would give an 18-year-old, but it was our readers' money tips in response that stood out. I've picked my favourites. They range from simple life rules, to some short practical advice on money-saving, credit cards and investing in your future.

If you do want to build your own share portfolio - or just understand how people do it - how do you go about it? We asked our friends at Stockopedia to build a buy-and-hold DIY investing Isa share portfolio - and explain how it was done.

Dealing with your finances can be a daunting experience. From just kicking bad spending habits, to starting to save, then choosing how to invest the money you have saved, the process can be overwhelming. A half dozen economists and financial experts have delivered the piece of advice they would tell someone setting out on their financial life. Do you agree with them?

I am 24 and have started a new job paying £23,000 and my company wants to enrol me in the pension scheme. It offers to match what I put in up to 5 per cent of my salary but I'm worried that even though that's a small amount I can't afford this. How much will it cost me and is it worth doing for such a small amount?

The start of the new tax year brings a raft of changes that have consequences for your personal finances. And with so much change afoot, it can be difficult keeping up with what's going on. To make things a little easier for you, here's a list of the major changes you simply can't afford to ignore.

There are only two things certain in life - death and taxes. Yet despite these unavoidable truths more than two-thirds of us fail to do the sensible thing and write a will. We reveal what you need to know about wills, inheritance and the importance of lasting power of attorney

How do you get people to start saving into their pension early? This is a question that vexes the state, policymakers and the pension industry. It also landed with me this week when my sister asked about her new job's pension. On the basis that the advice I'd give my own sister is the best I can come up with, I will share it here.

From 6 April 2016, the way we pay tax on our savings is changing. And the good news is the Government says 95 per cent of savers will no longer have to pay any tax at all on the interest they earn from the money they squirrel away.

With interest rates at historic lows for almost seven years, savers have to look harder to find income that in the past was provided by deposit accounts at banks or building societies. People who rely on income from nest eggs have taken a huge hit and are becoming increasingly desperate to explore alternative sources of income to help plug the gap.

Losing track of an old pension is surprisingly easy. Unlike a tenner that slipped down the back of the sofa, it won't just reappear, so you'll need to put in some effort. One of the first questions to ask is whether you have actually lost the pension at all. You may have a certificate or payslips showing you've paid money into an occupational pension scheme.

From April 6, basic-rate taxpayers will be able to receive £1,000 of interest a year tax-free. On an account paying 1 per cent you would be paid £10 a year on every £1,000 instead of £8 - that's a quarter more interest. Higher-rate taxpayers will be able to earn £500 interest tax-free.

We handed over a staggering £163 billion in income tax from our earnings in the year to April 2015 - so it pays to take advantage of all the tax breaks you can. There are plenty of tax breaks to pick from to keep greater hold of your cash. And don't worry, they're all above board.

More than 15 million British adults say they never received formal financial education but wished they had. Some 7m haven't saved so much as a penny and 4m worry about their finances. The need for financial education has never been greater.

Saving is important but so is making sure you are up to scratch with the rules on compensation in case your bank or building society fell on hard times. Provided your money is in a UK regulated bank or building society account, it should be protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, meaning up to £75,000 per person, per financial institution, is guaranteed. We explain what you need to know.

How far could you stretch £10? These pupils were challenged to set up a business with just a tenner and really let their imaginations fly. Everything from bee keeping to dress making was on the agenda - and the young entrepreneurs donated almost £30,000 in profits to charity. Entry is now open for 2016, so good luck.

Don't bank on the state for your pension. That is the warning that should be taken from a new OECD report ranking the UK's state pension against the world. Our private pensions help carry us over the line, but their quality is decreasing. The risk to retirement is to decide that means it isn't worth bothering though.

The amount you can save into a pension ultimately depends on what you can afford - but the longer you leave it the more you will need to save. We tend to put ambitious targets on our hoped-for income in retirement and then underestimate how much we will need to set aside to achieve that. So how much should you save?

Equity release allows homeowners to tap the value of their homes without having to sell up or move out. The cost can quickly add up though. Why is this and this there a better way?

If you're curious about finding out what your property's worth, there are plenty of websites and online tools to do it yourself. But can you get an accurate valuation of your home without getting an estate agent round?

Millions of us have taken out loans worth hundreds of thousands of pounds each to buy homes - yet a high number do not fully understand them, a study suggests. The University of Nottingham asked 2,000 participants four questions concerning basic principles behind mortgage lending. So can you work out the answers?

Almost half of people aged 18 to 25 have debts other than student loans and mortgages, owing an average of £3,109, research claims. Yet, while these are hefty numbers those with these debts should be able to get out of them rather than slip further into the red, with some hard work and financial discipline.

It seems the fixation on 'location, location, location' no longer holds true, with buyers citing it as only eighth most important thing to stand their ground on. Almost one in four people were willing to compromise on their preferred location, while just one in 10 would compromise over local crime levels, new research reveals.

Everyone remembers 2008 as the year when a financial storm hit the country, bringing some of the biggest banks to their knees and plunging Britain into recession. But Angela Healy, sitting outside her beach hut in Teignmouth, Devon, looks back on 2008 as the year she finally put to bed the crises crowding in on her life.

Millions of Britons risk leaving their assets - however modest - to the wrong people or the State. This year it emerged that comedian Rik Mayall had died without a will, so his £1.2million estate was liable to a big tax bill. This is because laws dictate some of it go to his children and so is subject to inheritance tax. Had a will been in place, he could have left it all to his wife tax-free.

Do-it-yourself home projects are meant to save money, but can end up going wrong, requiring emergency remedies from experienced tradesmen at extra cost. In personal finance the same goes for DIY accounting and tax planning. Employees who have income tax deducted at source and have simple tax affairs are likely to find it easy to file their tax return under the self-assessment regime by following advice online. But add in investment returns, buy-to-let property income, tax relief on pension contributions, and self-employment, and the challenges increase.

Saving is important but so is making sure you are up to scratch with the rules on compensation in case your bank or building society fell on hard times. Provided your money is in a UK regulated bank or building society account, it should be protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, meaning up to £85,000 per person, per financial institution, is guaranteed. We explain what you need to know.

I have recently started a new job and have decided to get into the savings habit. I want to set aside some money every month that I don't intend to tap into but might need for a rainy day fund. Where is the best place to save it?

Fixed rate mortgages are near record lows, but should you opt for a two-five or even ten-year deal. Rates for shorter deals are cheaper but longer term fixes can protect against rising interest rates in the future. We get three mortgage experts advice on how to decide.

A third of adult life is spent at work, so satisfaction there is a pretty important factor in the eternal quest for everyday happiness. So, what's the secret to being happy at work? A new survey from jobs board Reed.co.uk revealed what workers want.

The amount you can save into a pension ultimately depends on what you can afford - but the longer you leave it the more you will need to save. We tend to put ambitious targets on our hoped-for income in retirement and then underestimate how much we will need to set aside to achieve that. So how much should you save?

Have you made a will? If not, you're not alone. More than half of adults in the UK don't have one. Yet it's relatively simple and there are plenty of options. So how do a solicitor, a will-writer and a DIY kit stack up - and what do you need to consider?

English teacher-turned-poet Mark Grist came to fame when he schooled one of his pupils in a rap battle, with the video going viral and racking up over four million YouTube views. His top tips can be heard in this short film:

With your first job comes plenty of new financial responsibilities. Most people will be getting a lump sum in their bank account every month, sometimes for the first time. Here are some of the things you'll need to think about when it comes to your finances as you start your first job.

Until recently, company pensions were the preserve of a privileged minority but a government initiative now means that all employers must set up a scheme and automatically enrol all eligible employees. So should you embrace it or opt out?

It is hard to walk down a high street or open the finance pages of a newspaper without seeing big adverts showing the latest mortgage rates on offer. Behind the glossy adverts are a whole raft of hurdles you will have to jump over before getting a mortgage. We explain what you need to know.

'How much can we afford?' That is the crucial question most homebuyers will ask themselves, whether they are taking their first step onto the housing ladder or trying to climb further up it. Successfully buying a home isn't about getting the biggest mortgage possible, it is also vital to avoid overstretching. We reveal how to work out what you can afford

Credit cards can be a useful money-saving tool if you follow the rules. They can help you spread the cost of purchases over time and improve your credit rating and chance of getting a mortgage.

From banks to credit card firms, fund managers and shops, there are a lot of smart people whose job it is to try and take your cash off you. Learning more about money is a good way to keep hold of it and make more of it. Here are some simple but important things I'd teach people about money. What would you suggest?