Richard W T Jones

11/08/2023

Lola is trying to break down barriers for girls to be able to play football in school and wants to go on and play for the Lionesses when she is older… we are all routing for you.

Lola, 10, says football should not be "just for the boys".

11/08/2023

How much do you spend when you are on holiday?

Half of those surveyed said they overspend when holidaying abroad, Starling Bank said.

10/08/2023

If you can successfully get your child to eat their 5 portions of fruit and veg a day, do you have any tips that could help other parents?

The top reasons for kids not eating their full five-a-day include they are fussy, and they don't like it, according to a survey of parents

10/08/2023

Do you need to reassess whether your life insurance policy is sufficient?

NFU Mutual warns that a £100,000 policy bought 20 years ago is worth less than half that today

09/08/2023

Being a part of a team has been proven to help mental health.

Research reveals one of the best ways to improve your mental health is to become part of a team and find the 'sense of belonging'.

09/08/2023

There should be more support provided for consumers after 1m bank accounts were immediately closed without the banks having to provide any information or reasoning.

We call for banks to agree immediately to adopt new consumer-friendly policies governing the closure of customers' accounts.

08/08/2023

Which British beauty spots are amongst the most picturesque villages in the world?

Plus, one is just a stone's throw from London.

08/08/2023

What should you do if you cannot make the payment for an essential bill.

Many struggling with energy bills despite warmer weather

07/08/2023

Will you be going to Blackpool Zoo to see the baby Flamingos?

Four flamingos have set a new record for keepers at Blackpool Zoo after becoming the largest group of chicks to ever be successfully reared by their parents at the attraction.

07/08/2023

Some women that have been underpaid their state pensions are still being refused their full back payment despite the error being the DWPs.

Daphne, pictured with her husband Tim, successfully complained about the way they were treated by the Department for Work and Pensions.

06/08/2023

Protecting your family from loss of income should be a priority at any time. It’s especially relevant now. Even single adults should take the prospect of income loss seriously. At this time of life, your expenses may be minimal. They can, however, still mount up quickly, especially if you’re burning through savings. With that in mind, here are some important points for you to consider.

Keep on top of your financial situation

The fast pace of modern life can make it only too easy to lose track of exactly where you are in it. When it comes to anything relating to finance, this can have serious consequences. That’s why it’s vital to make a point of taking your financial pulse regularly.

At a minimum, set aside time once a quarter to go over your financial situation. If you can make time more frequently, you have less to check each time. You’ll also be able to act more quickly if necessary.

Keep some cash savings

If you’re only without an income for a short time, having cash savings can be enough to see you through. If you’re without an income for a longer period, your cash savings will at least see you through the early days. This can give you breathing space to work on a longer-term solution.

Have a contingency plan

The essence of security is to try to stop the worst from happening but to be ready for it if it does. This certainly applies to financial security. Insurance is likely to play a key role in your contingency plan. Cover types such as income protection, payment protection and critical illness can all help to protect you from various types of income loss.

If you’re employed, you may get some (or all) of these types of insurance from your employer. If you do, then check the terms and the cover thoroughly. You may find that you’d feel more reassured with additional cover that you arrange privately.

As a corollary to this, think about how changing jobs could impact your benefits. You will almost certainly need to arrange your own cover for any time between jobs. You may also need private cover during your probation period.

Make sure you have all the insurance you need

As a rule of thumb, if you have any kind of legal or medical exposure, it’s advisable to have the backing of an insurance company. Some types of pets generate both (especially dogs), which is why pet insurance can be so valuable. Outside of this, it may be reasonable to self-insure when times are good.

By contrast, when times are more challenging, you are likely to struggle more to cope with unexpected expenses. That’s when insurance can really prove its value. Given that changes in circumstances can happen both unexpectedly and quickly, it can make a lot of sense to be fully insured at all times.

Prepare yourself to pivot

If you lose your income, ideally, you’ll want to replace it as quickly as possible. This is true even if you have insurance. Remember, the less you need to claim on insurance, the more attractive a client you are.

One option is to have a side-hustle alongside your regular source of income. If your regular source of income is lost, you can scale up your side hustle. Scaling up an existing business is likely to be much quicker than starting one from scratch.

If, however, you don’t want to commit to a side-hustle, you can pursue a hobby and/or studies that you could potentially monetise if necessary. Ideally, these would be in an area that would be likely to be doing well even if your main professional area is stagnant.

For more information, please get in touch

04/08/2023

Chris Lewis has completed his 19,000 mile walk and raised £500k in the process, what an incredible achievement.

Chris Lewis clocked up 19,000 miles, fell in love, got engaged and had a child during his trek.