Personal finance

10 October 2025

The market for Treasury Bills – also called T-bills – has seen a resurgence as savers look for ways to earn a better return on their cash without taking on much extra risk. But there’s a clear gender gap in who’s buying them.

AJ Bell’s latest data shows that 78% of T-bill buyers are men, while only 22% are women. It’s a stark imbalance, and one...

8 October 2025

Gold has hit $4,000 an ounce for the first time, extending a series of record highs achieved in 2025. It first moved above $3,000 six months ago when US President Donald Trump announced his ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs, and the US government shutdown has now helped drive the precious metal to new highs.

Even before the tariff turmoil, central bank...

2 October 2025

The first in a string of deadlines for self-assessment tax returns falls on 5 October and this and the key dates which follow it are important. Knowing which ones apply to you can help you avoid a big fine in the future.

Some filing self-assessments may have completed the process much earlier this year, but it can be an easy thing to put off until...

19 September 2025

The number of ISAs adults paid into has topped 15 million for the first time in 13 years. The latest data from HMRC shows that in 2023/24, the nation paid into 9.9 million Cash ISAs and more than 4 million Stocks and shares ISAs, as well as almost one million Lifetime ISAs.

Cash is king, as the nation funnelled almost £70 billion into their Cash...

18 September 2025

Debts can be a significant burden both financially and emotionally. It may leave individuals unsure if they should tackle outstanding amounts before investing or use some of their current investments to pay off debt.

In short, this will depend on the interest they are being charged on the debt, and how much they expect to make from your...

11 September 2025

As the new intake of undergraduates start their degree course, the clock is ticking on parents of children aged under 18 to decide how to cover the cost of sending them to university.

Research by AJ Bell* finds that nearly half (46%) of parents of under-18s are now saving towards university costs, and a further 21% have done so in the past but are...

5 September 2025

If you want to invest, you don’t have to be swimming in cash to get going. Instead, you can start by saving a little bit of your paycheque each month to put in the market, which can allow you to become more comfortable with investing while building yourself a solid foundation.

If you’re not used to setting aside some of your earnings each month...

4 September 2025

The government has announced its second Budget will take place on 26 November.

After a turbulent first year in power, it will be focused on stabilising an economy troubled by multiple setbacks and U-turns, putting the government under increasing pressure amid plummeting approval ratings.

The announcement fires the starting gun for the OBR (Office...

28 August 2025

In the last year, food and drink prices in the UK have risen by nearly 5%, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Even the beloved meal deal hasn’t escaped the hikes, as Tesco raised the price from £3.60 to £3.85 for Clubcard holders in August.

There’s no easy way around the pain consumers have felt from these increases. But if...

26 August 2025

The idea of creating an income stream in which you get paid without working is nothing new. It’s actually the fundamental basis of any retirement plan. However, the concept has been repackaged as ‘passive income’ in recent years, as people of working age seek to make more of their assets and abilities to boost their income. It covers all sorts of...

26 August 2025

September marks the final phase in extending free funded childcare hours in England, which could save eligible working parents thousands of pounds a year. But the long standing £100,000 tax trap could mean this punishes higher earnings parents even further.

Parents might be able to re-arrange their finances to side-step the penalty by making modest...

22 August 2025

As pensions become subject to inheritance tax (IHT) from April 2027, many people will now find themselves breaching the inheritance tax allowance, while others face a larger bill than anticipated. However, there are a few options that could ease the pain when the new tax rules hit.

Inheritance tax is currently charged at a rate of 40% after any tax...

7 August 2025

The number of people paying tax on their savings income is set to quadruple in just four years, according to new data obtained by AJ Bell. A Freedom of Information request reveals that 2.64 million people are expected to be hit with tax on their savings in the 2025/26 tax year – up from just 647,000 in 2021/22. It means that one in 15 taxpayers are...

6 August 2025

Saving for your child is one of those well-meaning resolutions that often gets pushed to the bottom of the priority list. But setting up an investment account and making regular contributions doesn’t take much effort, and by the time they turn 18, your child could have a sizeable financial head start.

A lot of parents default to cash when saving...

5 August 2025

Rising home prices coupled with high mortgage rates have made buying a home increasingly out of reach for many in recent years. But a loosening of mortgage regulations, falling interest rates, and a drop in house prices could mean that a more achievable path to homeownership is opening.

According to July’s property market data from Rightmove, the...

30 July 2025

There is a growing debate as to whether the traditional 60% shares and 40% bonds strategy is outdated. There is a suggestion that gold, property and private equity also deserve a place in an investors’ portfolio, to provide more balance.

A key reason why investment experts are reappraising portfolio construction is the failure for bonds to behave...

30 July 2025

The summer holidays are fast approaching, and for millions of people that will mean buying some euros, krona or lira and jetting off for a couple of weeks of sunshine. In the flurry of pre-departure activity, it’s easy to lose sight of getting hold of some travel money, and that can often leave you rushing to convert your pounds at the last minute...

24 July 2025

There has been a flurry of information this week about spending, saving and managing your money.

In a double whammy, one government review highlighted that many Brits are not saving enough into their private pensions, and a second review revealed the rising cost of the state pension.

We had the news that certain people might have to wait until...

17 July 2025

The average Brit reckons they’d need just over £3 million to their name to feel wealthy, and young people are incredibly confident they’ll ‘make it’.

Over half of Gen Z (aged 18-27) think they’ll be wealthy one day, while 38% of millennials think the same.

Overall, 25% of the population believe they’ll be wealthy one day, indicating the economic...

17 July 2025

Getting ahead with investing isn’t simply down to picking the best stocks, funds or bonds. It’s also about not falling into various traps that catch out individuals time and time again.

Here are three mistakes that all kinds of investors make. If you’re aware of them, and understand why they should be avoided, it can help to keep you on the right...

17 July 2025

If you feel that your council tax is too high for where you live, you might be right.

Council tax is projected to cost households an average of £1,740 for the 2025-2026, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility, an increase of 6.1% from last year.

But you may be able to reduce your council tax bill by proving that your residence is in the...

16 July 2025

It’s been a big week for important announcements that could have an impact on many people’s personal finances.

The government has laid out plans to get more people investing, the financial regulator has proposed initiatives to reform the UK stock market, and a review of lending rules could lead to more people getting on the housing ladder.

We’ll...

15 July 2025

Dividends are one of the biggest attractions with investing. Receiving cash on a regular basis is a fantastic reward for taking the risk of buying shares or funds. Unfortunately, there are sometimes occasions when companies turn down the dividend taps for a short while.

Companies have no obligation to pay dividends to shareholders. Even when they...

10 July 2025

After a bruising few weeks, the chancellor will be hoping to reset the agenda at next week’s Mansion House speech, likely turning her attention to pensions again and trying to persuade voters this government can plot a path toward a more prosperous retirement for millions of Brits.

Phase two of the government’s Pensions Review will look at adequacy...

10 July 2025

The Trump administration has moved to the next phase of its tariff regime, sending letters to various countries detailing the rates that will apply to products supplied to the US.

US president Donald Trump might be treating it in the same way as a final notice letter if bills are unpaid. In essence, he is telling foreign trade officials to get...