Lloyds Banking Group is closing another 55 branches, bringing the total number of closures to nearly 300 by 2026. This includes branches of Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland in towns from Surbiton to Port Talbot. So why all the closures? Well, Lloyds is making some big changes to cut costs and encourage customers…
The financial services operation of Marks and Spenser (M&S) is to enter the UK’s retail banking market as a provider of current accounts among other mainstream products, it has been announced. Around 50 new bank branches branded with the well known M&S logos are now set to open over the course of the next few…
Let’s face it—your money deserves to earn more. But with interest rates changing constantly and banks hiding the real terms in fine print, it’s hard to know where to stash your savings. In 2025, there’s no excuse for earning less than 4% interest unless you absolutely need instant access. So let’s compare the best savings…
The 52-Week Savings Challenge: Can You Really Save Over £1,000 This Year? Spoiler alert: yes, you absolutely can. And the 52-week savings challenge is one of the simplest, most effective ways to do it – especially if you’ve struggled with saving in the past. Here’s how it works. Week one, you save £1. Week two,…
Best Budgeting Apps for 2025: Real Tools That Actually Help Let me be clear: not all budgeting apps are worth your time. Some are glorified calculators, others are bloated with features you’ll never use. But in 2025, a few standout tools actually deliver. Whether you’re just trying to stop bleeding money each month or you’re…
Setting money aside in a savings account has long been a tough challenge for many thousands of families across the UK, with the parlous state of the UK and European economies of late making matters all the more uncertain for many. One way in which you can give yourself a much better chance to get…
So, here’s the tea: some TikTokers thought they’d hit the jackpot when a glitch at Chase Bank ATMs made it seem like they could pull out loads of cash, even if their accounts were on life support (aka, empty). But what looked like “free money” turned out to be a huge disaster. The drama all…
Mortgage borrowers in the UK are increasingly being stung by hefty application and booking fees as they come to progress their home loan procedures, according to new figures on the subject. As a result, the advice from experts is for existing and aspiring homeowners alike to look beyond headline rates of interest and consider the…
Taking on a personal loan is a significant step for anyone and particularly at the present time in light of the determinedly testing economic environment. Most families have experienced some squeeze on their spending power or have been met with significant financial challenges during the past few years. And while there is no escaping the…
Zero-Based Budgeting Explained: Why It’s Not Just for Spreadsheet Nerds If budgeting feels like guesswork to you – or you constantly find yourself wondering “where did it all go?” at the end of the month – it’s time to look at zero-based budgeting. It’s not just another method. It’s a mindset shift. Here’s the deal:…