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Other Money

I write about a  lot of Personal Finance that isn't directly about problem debts. Those articles are gathered here.

Spending - reducing or controlling it is usually essential if you want to reduce your debts. So Budgeting is another big topic.

Your grandparents used a pen and paper, but now we have Apps to make all this easier.

Mortgages - sometimes thought of as the only good sort of debt!

Credit ratings - important if you have too much debt or very little!

After a fixed rate mortgage ends, fix again? For how long?

If your fixed mortgage has ended, or will soon, you could face a large increase in your mortgage payments. Most mortgage revert to their lender's Standard Variable Rate (SVR) when a fix ends. In summer 2019, the average SVR is 4.9%. You can get much cheaper fixes than that! This affects a lot of people. In October 2019, fixed rate mortgages worth £26billion are coming to an end. More than … [Read more...]

August 23, 2019 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: Mortgages

Off to uni ? Time to plan your finances!

You have the A level grades - well done! There are now just a few weeks to get organised for uni in September 2020. What should your top priorities be for managing your money? And what should you avoid?   Living on a student loan is hard You will probably get more money in your bank account than you have ever had before. But most students find it harder to manage than they … [Read more...]

August 19, 2019 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: credit cards

7 ways to save – which will be the easiest for you?

Do you find it hard or impossible to save? many people feel they ought to be able save but always fail when they try. others are saving for a big goal but not as fast as they want. if you are struggling with money, you may desperately want a small emergency savings pot to make life a bit less stressful. There isn't a simple answer - no way is easy for everyone. What works for one … [Read more...]

August 1, 2019 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: Budgeting & Saving

Top tips for simple & realistic budgeting that works

You need something that puts you in control of your spending. Your grandparents used to budget using a pencil and paper. But they didn't have contactless cards and mobile bills and overdrafts and credit cards and takeaways... Now many people find it harder to budget and feel they have lost control. For a budget to make your life easier, it has to be simple, not time-consuming and … [Read more...]

May 13, 2019 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: Budgeting & Saving

Can I get a mortgage with recent defaults?

Will defaults stop me getting a mortgage?

A reader asked: My partner and I have a combined income of £54,000, We have a deposit of £20,000 (inheritance) and are looking to become first time buyers in a new build property at a price of £210,000. We have defaulted debts that are being paid off, and previous history of payday loans from over 2 years ago from a time when our financial situation was much more difficult. The defaults are … [Read more...]

March 5, 2019 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: A reader asks, Credit ratings, Defaults, Mortgages

Amigo loans – not a good way to try to improve your credit score

Have you heard that a guarantor loan is a good way to improve a bad credit score? That's bad advice. There are big problems with guarantor loans and there are much better ways to improve a bad credit rating! If you already have a guarantor loan, or you are the guarantor for someone else's loan, see the bottom of this article where I look at what your options are. Many people want to improve … [Read more...]

March 3, 2019 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: Credit ratings, Guarantor loans

“Why hasn’t my credit score improved?”

A reader asked: My credit score isn’t following the rules you described on How much will my credit score change if...? I cleared a default two months ago and my score hardly changed. And four days ago another default should have gone but I can see it's still there on ClearScore. What do I have to do? Should I complain to ClearScore? Trying to sort out a poor credit score can sometimes feel … [Read more...]

January 29, 2019 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: A reader asks, Credit ratings

Sales bargains – 7 top tips avoiding the bad buys!

How do you spot the real bargains and avoid buying things you will later regret? The human brain is very good at processing lots of information fast by grabbing hold of important facts early on and letting them dominate decisions. That was perfect when we were out hunting for food and living in caves, but in a shopping mall or online it can go badly wrong! Lots of shouty Sale signs and money … [Read more...]

November 20, 2018 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: Budgeting & Saving, Debt psychology

Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) is now a loan – should you agree to this?

Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) helps people with the cost of their mortgage if they aren't working. It has been paid as a benefit since 1948, but in April 2018 this changed and now it is only given as a loan that is secured on your house. Here is the DWP leaflet describing the new loan: DWP SMI Factsheet (6 April). There are about 100,000 people eligible for SMI in 2018: about half … [Read more...]

October 13, 2018 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: benefits, Mortgages, SMI

Expensive school uniforms and other school costs

Affording school uniforms can be very difficult for any parents on low incomes - if you are in debt it can be a nightmare.  A Citizens Advice survey found that a quarter of all parents have to borrow money to afford uniforms. This isn't just a financial problem. Children who aren't wearing "the right uniform" are at risk of being stigmatised or bullied. Government is making the right … [Read more...]

August 15, 2018 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: Budgeting & Saving

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Latest news round-up:  February 28th

  • Amigo & Provident complaints soar – new Ombudsman data
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  • Proposed DRO changes – a good start!

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