Strong turnout shows Money Matters

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Large crowds gather for advice at Money Matters Roadshow

When it came to promoting its Money Matters Roadshow, the BBC asked a simple question: "In these tricky times, can you afford to miss it?".

And from the turnout at Manchester's Trafford Centre, it seems that plenty of you felt in need of some financial advice and help - with the team of almost 30 experts on hand to help more than 400 visitors throughout the day.

Pensions, mortgages, benefits and and student finance were all hot topics, with others seeking advice on their impending retirement or looming redundancy.

To look back at our coverage on the day, click on the blue words highlighted in the text.

DEPLETED SAVINGS

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But by far the most in demand were savings and investments experts with people queuing for up to an hour.

They were looking for <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/business/7896511.stm">reassurance that their money was safe or hunting out ways to make their savings work best for them </a> in a time of volatile stock markets and plunging interest rates.

Across the age range people are most anxious about what to do with the money they have Jeremy HillmanEditor, BBC Business & Economics Unit <a class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/02/money_matters.html">Read Jeremy's thoughts on the Roadshow</a>

The event was broadcast on the BBC throughout the day including on Breakfast, the News Channel and an hour-long edition of Working Lunch - as well as on BBC Radio Manchester and North West Tonight. Radio Four's You & Yours and Moneybox Live also came from the roadshow.

So if you missed it the first time, or just want to watch or listen again to a bit of financial advice <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/business/7893334.stm">some of the best bits are here.</a>

And involvement was not limited to those who could not make it to the centre, with almost 600,000 people using the BBC website to take our <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/business/7892600.stm">quiz to test your grasp of financial matters.</a>

If you have not had a go yet, feel free to give it a try.

And you can read a little more detail on what keeps our savings safe by looking at <a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/business/7686411.stm">what keeps our savings safe?</a>

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Meanwhile hundreds of people sent us their tips about how to save money in the recession.

MONEY MATTERS - THE BASICS What is was: : Almost 30 money experts plus some of the BBC's top financial journalistsTheme: Helping you with your money issues from savings and mortgages to pensions and student financeVenue: Trafford Centre, Manchester Wednesday 18 February Missed it?: Check out the <a class="" href="/1/hi/business/7893334.stm">highlights</a>

From giving up smoking and more expensive supermarkets to baking our own bread and cutting up credit cards there were plenty of <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/business/7897574.stm">cash-conserving ideas.</a>

Several of the the experts answered questions for website readers including Christine Ross of SG Hambros tackling <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/business/7895718.stm">savings questions in a live webchat.</a>

There were also queries tackled on <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/business/7893496.stm">mortgages</a>, <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/business/7894065.stm">pensions</a> and yet more <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/business/7894797.stm">savings questions</a>.

And whatever your financial concern or queries, the Money Matters team has pulled together <a class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/business/7894575.stm"> a list of useful contacts</a>. In difficult financial times, and with more turbulence ahead, we hope it helps.