Credit scores In its essence, a credit score is a number that lenders (banks, car finance dealers etc.) use to determine the risk associated with loaning money to someone. These lenders decide how much they’re willing to loan you (and at what interest rate) based on your credit score – it can also be checked by landlords…
Pensions Pensions are one of the most important things to build up when you’re of working age, but many of us don’t even think about them until the time comes to claim them. Think of a pension as a type of long-term savings plan (actually, that’s exactly what it is). It’s one of the most…
Saving & Budgeting Knowing the difference between your income and outgoings may seem simple enough, but it’s really the best place to start – even overestimating by a few pounds could blow your budget out of whack. Let’s take a look at the different things you can do to help organise your finances… 1. Set…
Benefits It’s no secret that the benefits system in the UK can be quite confusing to those not in-the-know, especially considering that incoming governments bring with them new changes that can complicate things further. But the bottom line has always remained the same: you could be entitled to financial support depending on your personal circumstances.…
DRO update: Are you eligible? The rules around eligibility for a Debt Relief Order (DRO) have changed as of 29th June 2021, which means that you may now be eligible when you might not have been before. What is a DRO? A DRO is a type of insolvency that allows you to write off your…
Erroneous transfers: Switched by mistake Switching energy suppliers is usually a very straightforward process, and involves very little input from the customer past the point of the initial switch; energy companies speak to each other directly to ensure that switches go ahead smoothly and with no disruption to supply. However, occasionally an energy supplier takes…
Breathing Space: What you should know It has been a while in the making (as far back as October 2018), but the government has recently announced its plan to introduce a new measure to protect people in temporary financial difficulties from getting into further debt. The measure is called Breathing Space, and it comes into…
Staying safe online Back in December 2020, we broke the news on our brand-new blog series, It’s Personal, which will lift the lid on how you can better protect your personal information online, and the little things to look out for that could stop you falling victim to cyber-crime. We’re kicking of this new series…
What ‘Setting off’ means for your finances Sometimes our finances can get the better of us. Whether we’ve taken on more than we can reasonably afford, or have been faced with a change in personal circumstances, such as a loss of income, it’s easy to see how debts can accrue in a short amount of…
Is Shopping Online or Instore Cheaper? From bagging a bargain to avoiding the crowds, there’s loads to love about shopping online. But, do you get the same rush from not actually seeing, touching or even smelling the stuff you’re about to buy? It’s a closely fought contest, which probably comes down to one thing: price.…
Packed Lunches vs School Meals – Which Adds Up? Every youngster needs a decent meal in the middle of a day to help them keep their energy levels up. School meals have come a long way since the days of lumpy mash, grey mince and semolina. Food standards say they must now include protein rich,…
How to Save Money Clothes Shopping Question: Is there a better buzz than clothes shopping? Answer: Yes, when you’re saving money clothes shopping! Fashion may be feel-good, but it can take a serious chunk out of your finances. Bag a few of these tips and tricks and look the part on a budget. With all…