by Juliet Davenport

The whole credit crunch issue has really brought home to me the value of where you put your money.  It’s interesting that for most of my life, the obvious place to put any money that you want to save has been in the banks.  Banks are the safest option.  As a society we've always encouraged our youngsters to "put something away for a rainy day" with the premise that money will get you out of all types of situations.

But is this still right?  Was it ever right?

Have we as a society become over reliant  on central banking systems but forgotten the other adage "don't put all of your eggs in one basket"?

Should we really be thinking in a new way?

If the banks aren't the safest place, then should we put some money somewhere else?  

 I think microgeneration is one of those alternatives. Investing in your own mini power station may provide the only form of “insurance" you can have against energy price rises in the future, and could provide a rate of return that may be safer than the banks.

Is it better to put your money on your roof rather than in the bank?