Here’s one New Year’s resolution worth trying: Becoming a billionaire Investing A new year has rolled around again – a time for many to put their thinking caps on and set some life goals. A gym membership is one of the most popular resolutions, but is also one of the worst-kept (ask a gym manager how busy Februaries are compared to Januaries). For the less active [...]
Brits prep for an expensive Christmas at the grocers Retail Brits are prepping for high grocery spending this Christmas as food inflation continues to dominate daily concerns, according to new data. Consumers’ expectations over the next three months of their personal finances worsened to -11 in October, down from -7 in September, according to the British Retail Consortium. The corresponding metric, personal spending on retail, rose nine [...]
Average Brit would need lifetime of earnings to become wealthy Wealth The average British worker would need to save more than a lifetime’s worth of earnings to become wealthy, fresh analysis has revealed. The ever-widening wealth gap means it would take £1.3m – around 52 years’ worth of average earnings – to jump from the middle to the top of wealth distribution. This is over a [...]
Autumn budget and inflation worries drag down consumer confidence September 18, 2025 Consumer confidence slumped in September as concerns about the state of the UK economy and the possibility of higher taxes weighed on Brits’ minds. Expectations of the state of the overall economy worsened to -36 in September, down from -32 in August, according to the British Retail Consortium. Brits’ personal financial situations also slipped to [...]
Rachel Reeves’ cash ISA plans would ‘choke mortgages’ July 3, 2025 Rachel Reeves’ plans to slash the tax-free cash ISA allowance “would be effectively choking mortgage availability” for those who need them the most, a building society’s CEO has said. Darlington Building Society was reacting to the news that the Chancellor is set to announce a lowering of the current £20,000 cap that savers are allowed [...]
Lump sum vs cost averaging: what is the best ISA strategy? June 19, 2025 Studies show lump sum investing leads to slightly better returns, but it might not be right for every investor. Saving any amount of money per month, or as often as possible, is a great first step towards creating a financial safety net. But if you’re able to, it’s worth looking into your savings strategy to [...]
Apps to help you manage your money June 17, 2025 Apps can help you budget, save and invest. The right one for you will depend on the features you’re after, your needs, and what you’re willing to spend. Are you looking to spend more responsibly, save up for a goal or simply get some insight into your financial habits? Luckily, there’s an app for that. [...]
The best Stocks and Shares ISAs May 28, 2025 Stocks and shares ISAs enable you to invest within a tax-free wrapper, but the best provider will depend on your individual needs. Cash ISAs pay interest on your savings, but Stocks and Shares ISAs offer a tax-free way of earning returns on your investments. So if you’re willing to take a little risk, they could [...]
High-street banks are shortchanging cash savers April 30, 2025 Many savers are choosing cash during a time of uncertainty, but many savings accounts still yield under two per cent. There is a better way, says Nigel Terrington In periods of relentless noise, steep market sell-offs and economic uncertainty, the most sensible decision can be to do nothing. To accomplish this, you need to hold [...]
Cash ISA: What are the alternatives? April 3, 2025 Rumours are growing over expected reforms to Cash ISAs, as the Treasury searches for ways to boost its coffers. Under the current ISA regime, savers can place up to £20,000 per tax year in a Cash ISA without paying any tax on the interest they earn. This threshold could be reduced to £4,000 under Labour’s [...]