2021

Mortgage rates could dramatically rise after new forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) show the Bank of England's base rate could rise to 3.5%. This could mean an end to record low mortgage rates, so it's worth checking now if you can lock in to save £1,000s.  

You can now trade-in used smartphones and consoles on Amazon in return for vouchers to spend at the online retailer. It's an expansion of the scheme, which has until now only been available on Amazon's own brands, such as Echo, Kindle, and Ring. 

The Government said it is to consult on possible changes to the 0.75% cap on pension fund charges, potentially raising the ceiling so that the funds can be used to invest in more expensive projects, such as renewable energy.

Sweeping cuts to alcohol and air passenger duties were announced by Rishi Sunak in today's Autumn Budget 2021, while the Chancellor froze the levy on fuel for the 12th year in a row.

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has delivered his eagerly-anticipated Autumn Budget to the House of Commons, setting out the Government’s financial strategy. Key measures that have been announced include a cash boost for in-work Universal Credit recipients, a shake-up of the levy on alcohol, and a cut to air duties on flights within the UK. 

Millions of workers on Universal Credit will get a cash boost by 1 December, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced in his Autumn Budget. The taper rate, which is the amount Universal Credit payments are reduced by when you're in work, will fall from 63% to 55%. In addition, the amount households with children or a limited capacity for work can earn before they're hit by the taper rate will rise by £500/yr.

The first-ever curriculum mapped financial education textbook – funded jointly by MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis and the Money and Pensions Service – has now landed in secondary schools in Scotland, following the successful roll-out of versions in England and Northern Ireland.

The Treasury has launched a new Green Savings Bond that will be welcome news for those wanting to support green projects but the bond only pays interest of 0.65% a year, which is far below the top-paying three-year fixed savings deals. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has branded the rate "pants". 

MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has reaffirmed his message to consumers to sit tight and avoid switching to a new fixed-price energy deal as more gas and electricity providers go bust. On his weekly The Martin Lewis Money Show on ITV he warned people to "do nothing".

Phone companies have agreed to block the majority of internet phone calls made from abroad where it looks as though the call is coming from a UK number.