Georgie Frost

Commuters in England are preparing for more disruption as a result of the latest round of strike action from the train drivers’ union Aslef. Here we explain what strikes are still taking place and when, and what your rights are. Commuters have sadly had to deal with regular disruptions since mid-2022. Disputes over issues such as wages, the planned removal of guards from trains and the closure of ticket offices have been resolved in Scotland and Wales, but remain active across all of England.…

Vinted is one of the most popular online marketplaces in the world, becoming the go-to site to buy and sell your old clothes and accessories. Here we explain how it works, how to get the most out of it and what you need to watch out for. Vinted is most commonly known as a place to flog your second-hand clothes, but there many other things that you can sell on the site too. And it’s a win-win. The stuff you don’t want anymore finds a new, loving home and you can earn a bit of extra money t…

You may be entitled to government grants to help with the cost of living crisis, with millions of low-income households receiving a final £299 payment between now and 22 February. Here we explain what is available and how to claim. Financial support worth a total of £1,350 by spring 2024 has been offered to the most vulnerable households. Eight million families will receive a cost of living payment of £900 split into three instalments. The final instalment began to be paid on 6 February 20…

We’ve all heard of the gender pay gap – the chasm between men and women’s earning – but are you aware of the pension gap? According to the Pensions Policy Institute, a girl would need to start saving from three years old to match the pension of a man who began at 22. So how can we close the gap? The average woman in her late 50s has around a third of the retirement savings of an average man. As a result, women are far more likely to struggle financially in retirement or will need to keep work…

If you’re looking to escape the UK winter, or if you’re saving your holiday for the height of summer, you may wish to consider travel insurance. We explain what travel insurance is and some of the best policies on the market for your holiday. In 2022, UK residents made 71 million visits abroad. This was over three times the amount made in 2021, when COVID restrictions kept many people at home. So if you’re part of a growing number of people spending time abroad, have you considered travel…

Rail passengers face another big hike in train ticket prices this year, despite the government stepping into cap the rise below inflation. Here we explain how you can help keep the cost of rail travel down. Regulated train fares and season tickets across England and Wales rise each year based on the previous July’s RPI figure plus 1%. This July, the RPI measure of inflation came in at 9%, meaning that travelers face paying 10% more for their fares. The Department for Transport (DfT) capped…

Inflation is how much the cost of goods and services are going up over a certain time and there are two different measures: RPI and CPI. Here we explain how each of them work and why it matters for your money. The CPI measure of inflation was at 3.4% in February, down from 4% the month before. The older RPI measure is currently at 4.5%, down from 4.9% in January. But how do the different measures of inflation impact your finances? In this article we explain: How is inflation measured?…

The Bank of England has held the UK’s base interest rate at a fifteen-year high of 5.25% for the fifth time running. We explore the major implications this has for your money, affecting everything from savings to mortgages, plus what you can do now to prepare for the next change. Between December 2021 and August 2023, the bank’s rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) hiked rates 14 times - from an all-time low of 0.1% to today’s level of 5.25%. However, in its five meetings since, the M…

Were you told by your employer to work from home during the pandemic? If so you can apply for tax relief up to £140 per tax year. Some workers will be able to claim for this 2022/23 tax year too, giving them up to £420 in tax relief. The money is to cover extra costs such as higher heating and broadband bills. Don’t worry if you have yet to claim as the HMRC deadline is a couple of years away. In the article, we explain: How does WFH tax relief work? How to claim WFH tax relief W…

Almost one in four UK households have a Netflix subscription in 2024. We look at how much it costs compared to other streaming services, and ask ‘is it worth it?’ A monthly Netflix subscription can set you back up to £17.99 a month. With so many other services on the market, is it worth the price tag? In this article we cover: Netflix UK price plans in 2024 How much does a basic Netflix subscription cost in 2024? How much is a shared Netflix plan? Does Netflix offer a student…