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Inflation and retirement – why rises in the cost of living really matter when you retire

26th April 2021Did you know the price of cheese increased by 150% between 1987 and 2014? During our working life, inflation may not affect us (other than the odd “how much?!” moment when we’re out shopping). Our wages and earnings typically rise in line with inflation, so we generally keep up with the cost of […]

5 ways to make the most of your additional pandemic savings

26th April 2021In recent months, Brits have become a nation of savers. The Guardian reports we collectively put £17.1 billion into savings and deposit accounts in February, on top of the £18.5 billion we saved in January. With shops, restaurants and theatres closed, and restrictions placed on movement, you may have seen your bank account […]

Guide: 10 ways to make the most of your garden in 2021

25th March 2021 After a year of lockdown measures, our gardens and outdoor spaces have become far more important. In fact, more than half of people say they get a good deal of pleasure from their garden. With spring arriving, now is the perfect time to invest in yours. Our latest guide aims to help […]

Relief for savers as “tax day” sees government announce no significant tax reforms

23rd March 2021 Late last year, the government announced that a range of documents and consultations on future tax policies would be released after the Budget. Dubbed “tax day”, these announcements came later than usual this year to allow for greater scrutiny after the significant number of changes Rishi Sunak announced in his Budget. Many […]

From online retail to car sales: 5 pandemic trends and their impact on business

16th March 2021Our lives have changed significantly over the last year. Our habits, working practices, and relationships have all adapted to the situation we found ourselves in – from working from home to replacing restaurant meals with home cooking. Of course, these changes have had a massive knock-on effect on the economy. So, a year […]

3 serious financial scams to avoid

16th March 2021 Multiple lockdowns and restrictions on movement have been tough on our physical and mental health. Even people previously “doing okay” have found themselves struggling over the past 12 months, and these feelings can leave you vulnerable to scams. Scammers have defrauded Brits out of millions of pounds in the last year, using […]

The staggering economic effect of the pandemic [in numbers]

16th March 2021 While the coronavirus may have had a devastating impact on the health of the nation, it’s also resulted in one of the biggest economic shocks the country has ever experienced. From falling tax revenues to increased public spending, the government’s economic response saw public sector net borrowing rise from £55 billion in […]

Budget 2021 – The winners and losers

3rd March 2021 A year ago, Rishi Sunak delivered his first Budget just as the pandemic began to take hold. While his £30 billion package sounded significant, it’s a sum that has paled into insignificance over the last 12 months as the chancellor has spent £280 billion shoring up the UK economy. As the chancellor […]

Your 2021 Budget summary

3rd March 2021 On Wednesday 3 March, Rishi Sunak delivered his second Budget as chancellor. The Budget outlines the state of the economy and the government’s spending plans. The World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic on 11 March 2020, the same date as the 2020 Budget. Since then, the pandemic has led to lockdowns, […]

Own your business? Why you might pay more self-employed tax in 2021

8th February 2021 If you’re self-employed, or you own your own business, the chances are that you are taxed less heavily than employed people, despite increases to Dividend Tax in recent years. The argument for paying less self-employed tax is that there is a difference between wealth creators and employees. Business owners bear the risk […]