If so, despite suggestions that there is very little to choose between the main political parties - Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat, a study of policy statements and manifestos reveals substantial differences in key areas of our personal finances.

In this Special Report we have chosen a dozen key areas where the various parties' proposals will have a major effect on the money in our pocket.

They range from personal taxation to pensions, capital gains tax to stamp duty, Working Families Tax Credit to annuities.

On each of these issues, we have provided a background briefing explaining the context of the issue, with links to other parts of our site, or additional outside links. We have then asked the three parties for their own detailed proposals for the next parliament.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Labour's own political vision for our personal finances is the least detailed of the three parties.

This may partly be because, as the current party of government, Labour is telling electors to cast their vote as much on the basis of what they have achieved to date as on what the plan to do in the coming five years.

Even so, all the parties' own distinctive political flavour, even Labour's, comes through clearly.

Good luck with your reading. And may you cast your vote wisely.