Kiss your cash goodbye
“Sorry, we don’t accept cash” has become a familiar refrain in shops and eateries in recent months due to fears that handling cash could accelerate the spread of the virus. So, are we on our way to a cashless society? Predictions of the death of cash are not solely a result of the pandemic. Discourse […]
Renovation nation gets stuck in
It seems the months spent at home have been put to good use as the nation reflected on their living space and chose to spend an average of just over £4,000 each on renovating their homes, since lockdown commenced in March. A study1 has highlighted that the key area for improvement has been upgrades to […]
Financial lifeboat for large balances
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) has extended its protection for savers amid concerns that the pandemic has increased the likelihood of financial firms failing. The fund currently protects deposits with UK banks, building societies and credit unions to the tune of £85,000 per person. However, there is additional protection for consumers who temporarily have […]
A turning point for ESG investing?
Investing according to environmental, social and governance principles (ESG) has been a fast growth area, according to figures1, UK-based ESG funds saw record inflows between March and July 2020, with £362m invested in July alone. What is ESG? The acronym, ESG, refers to three key factors used by investment companies to evaluate corporate behaviour: Environmental […]
Dividend cuts – not all bad?
UK dividends experienced their biggest quarterly fall on record in Q2 2020, dropping by over £22bn (57%) to give a total payout of £16bn. Dividends were cancelled by 176 companies and reduced by at least a further 30. BP cut its dividend for the first time in a decade, with a 50% reduction to 5.25 […]
In the news
Are you on the ball? ScamSmart campaign targets football fans In the last three years, over £30m has been lost to pension scammers, with losses ranging from under £1,000 to £500,000, with some rare cases topping the £1m marker. A new ScamSmart campaign is aimed at football fans, after discovering they are highly likely to […]
Have you saved during lockdown?
If so, you’re part of 37% of the UK population who managed to put away more money during lockdown, as daily expenditure on commuting and leisure activities dramatically decreased. What’s more, it looks like Britain’s growing army of savers are here to stay, with 36% stating they aim to keep cutting costs post-lockdown1. Could savings […]
Are you mortgage-ready?
Your first port of call should be getting your finances in good shape before lenders review them and assess your ability to make repayments on your loan. Some top tips for standing yourself in good stead include: Save – To improve the chances of being offered a mortgage on favourable terms, save as much as […]
ISA – 21 not out
When the Individual Savings Account (ISA) was launched in 1999, the allowance was £3,000 for a cash ISA or £7,000 for a stocks and shares ISA each tax year. Now at the grand old age of 21, the overall allowance has risen to a generous £20,000. In the early days, choice was limited to either […]
Small island living – rediscovering what we already have
In recent weeks, there has been an 800% rise in Brits searching for ‘Staycation UK’, as the uncertainty surrounding international travel during the pandemic continues to prevail1. Appreciating what you already have… Destinations such as Plymouth, the Isle of Wight and Exeter are expected to recover quickly due to the staycation tourism boost, according to […]