Tolu Frimpong discusses the negative impact that debt can have on credit score When it comes to money management, understanding the intricacies of credit scores is essential. What’s more, grasping how debt and credit scores work together is crucial in navigating your personal finances effectively.   Many lenders use your credit score to assess your creditworthiness when you apply for loans, credit cards, or mortgages. For this reason, it is important to manage your debt responsibly to maintain a healthy credit score.   Debt can have various negative impacts on your credit ..read more

Nick Daws discusses how Gretel, a free service for tracking down lost financial products, can simplify the process of rediscovering assets In today’s fast-paced world, it’s not uncommon to lose track of some of your financial assets over time.  But whether it’s an old bank or savings account, or an investment you made years ago, these forgotten funds could be sitting idle, waiting to be rediscovered and put to good use.  Fortunately, with advances in technology and the availability of online tools, tracking down these ‘buried treasures’ has become easier than ever.  One such t ..read more

We’ve got three copies of Emilie Bellet’s fantastic financial self-help book, You’re not broke, you’re pre-rich to give away Mouthy Money readers can win one of three copies of Emilie Bellet’s fantastic financial self-help book, You’re not broke, you’re pre-rich. Here’s how. You’re not broke, you’re pre-rich is an unpretentious, informative ride across the personal finance landscape. It provides useful and easy to understand explanations of key themes, process and ideas for understanding money better. Despite the title, the book isn’t a ‘get rich quick’ scheme – instead it is aimed at peopl ..read more

Shoestring Jane looks at things you need to tell yourself to be more mindful about money. Trying to save money can feel like a punishment. You may feel you are missing out on the things you usually like to purchase. But it doesn’t have to be like that. Saving money can be done without feeling deprived or doing without. Here are some ideas to help you save money painlessly. Your bank balance will thank you for it. 1# Be honest Before I delve into specifics, it’s worth considering why you buy stuff and whether you can save money by getting to know yourself a little better and being honest abou ..read more

Tolu Frimpong explores five easy ways to save money and decrease debt, while reducing your environmental impact. With the cost of living still high, finding ways to reduce expenses and save money has never been more critical. Today’s blog post will explore five practical tips for saving money, paying off debt, and minimising environmental impact.  Save money with energy-efficient appliances  Upgrading to energy-efficient appliances is a great eco-friendly way to save money around the home. Doing so will reduce your carbon footprint and significantly save money on your utility bills ..read more

Mouthy Money Your Questions Answered panelist, Ian Jones, answers a reader’s question on how to negotiate flexible working if your employer is asking you to come back to the office.   Q. I moved to remote working during the pandemic, but my boss now wants me to return to the office on a more regular basis. Can she do this? I’ve moved further away from our place of work making commuting very expensive. Can I ask for help paying? What are my rights?  A. It depends on the terms of the contract and if the contract was changed permanently to allow home working.   Many emp ..read more

Nick Daws offers tips to prevent phone scams, and how to safeguard yourself and loved ones from potential harm. As with online scams, which I discussed in this recent article on Mouthy Money, telephone scams have become an unfortunate reality of daily life in the UK.  Fraudsters often use clever tactics to deceive unsuspecting individuals, leading to financial losses and personal distress.  In this article I will set out some tips and advice to avoid falling victim to phone scams and protect you – and your loved ones – from potential harm. Top tips to beat the scammers Keep informe ..read more

Helena MacPherson highlights Brits’ pension saving struggles, urging small actions, connecting with the future self, and financial education. Brits need to save more for retirement. We all know this. Why, then, are so many of us still not saving? When MRM’s 2024 Money Matters Index landed last week, I was shocked to read that less than half of people have a pension (45%). This seems, in large part, because short-term financial pressures are dominating people’s thinking. When it came to immediate priorities, at the top, half (50%) said paying bills comfortably, two in five (38%) said paying fo ..read more

Mouthy Money editor Edmund Greaves considers the findings of the latest Money Matters Index report – and whether closing the financial advice ‘gap’ might help people feel better off. The findings of the latest Money Matters Index make for yet another set of fascinating insights into the financial health of the UK. Our latest Money Matters Index has looked to do a deep dive into the popular understanding of wealth and how it measures in 2024. One of the most enlightening stats to come out of the report was how much people think it takes to be considered ‘rich’ in 2024. Those figures are just ..read more

Join Shoestring Jane as she shares her secrets for a financial spring cleaning After a long, dreary Winter, the arrival of spring always gets me in the mood to tidy and reorganise my life. It’s the perfect time to reevaluate and spring-clean your finances, too. Here are some tips for a money reset for the spring. Make a budget If you don’t already have a budget, this is the perfect time to create one. A budget will allow you to plan and stay in control of your spending. It also helps you to direct resources towards debt management, savings or investments. If you don’t know where to begin, Mo ..read more