Conservatives used to win elections at least partly on their handling of the economy, and today Labour likes to point to its own financial performance.

So after eight years of Labour government, do electors feel better off, and what do they expect if Tony Blair wins again?

Or do they think the other parties would be better looking after the pound in their pocket?

Here are the views of nine of our panel.

Hannah James: Cardiff "Recession sticks in my mind after growing up under Conservatives" Watch message John Thorne: Neath "Don't hold your breath - obscurity suits government very well" Watch message Jo Jones: Kinmel Bay "Gordon Brown has been a good chancellor but not to small businesses" John Thorn: Cardiff "I'm unhappy to see the parties in a crazy bidding war to spend more of my money"

Ben Hill: Cardiff "Quite a lot of money goes into 'waste,' formerly called bureaucracy" Watch message Tim Noakes: Near Mold "As far as Labour and taxes are concerned - you ain't seen nuthin' yet" Watch message Chris Parker-Jones: Pontypool "I am being financially killed by 1,000 tax increases" John Turner: Barry "Would the last person to vote Tory please switch off the lights?" David Jones: Llansamlet "Labour spent �7bn on Iraq - enough to sustain Wales for six months"

The readers' panel has been selected from as wide a cross-section of people as possible and may not be representative of wider public opinion.