First time buyer
180,000 first-time buyers benefit from stamp duty cut
141,100 first-time buyers have bought properties without having to pay stamp duty and a further 39,400 have paid a discounted rate in the year since First Time Buyers Relief was introduced, according to the latest figures from HM Revenue & Customs
22 November 2018
Martin's 6 Lifetime ISA must-knows
LISAs launch this Thursday, and by opening one you can get up to £32,000 free
5 April 2017
Savers to be warned of risks before opening a Lifetime ISA
Anyone wanting to open a Lifetime ISA will first be made fully aware of how the product works, under FCA proposals
16 November 2016
First-time buyer bonuses under Lifetime ISAs to come at exchange, after Help to Buy controversy
First-time buyers will be able to get a state bonus towards a first home when they exchange under the LISA scheme
15 September 2016
Act now for rock-bottom mortgage rates
13 tips to slash costs for remortgagers and first-time buyers – check now if you can save, with rates down to 2%
14 April 2016
First-time buyer mortgage need-to-knows - from low rates to Help to Buy ISAs
Now's a stonking time to get a mortgage. Rates are close to rock-bottom but you should look at your finances first
7 October 2015
Check your mortgage rate today as fixed rates have fallen to lowest-ever level
The Bank of England governor last week said the 0.5% base rate could rise which could mean low mortgage rates jump
22 July 2015
Guest Comment: Sarah Beeny decodes estate agent speak
Estate agent windows are a hotbed of flowery language. If you're baffled by descriptions, Sarah Beeny decodes them here
7 November 2014
Halifax paying first-time buyer stamp duty: is its mortgage deal any good?
Halifax will cover the cost of stamp duty for some first time buyers as one of many top mortgage deals
20 May 2013
Ed Balls: 4G mobile sale should fund housing boost
Balls will also use his party conference speech to state Labour could not reverse spending cuts immediately, if in power
1 October 2012
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18 May 2022
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10% off discount 'best-before' store
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Lloyds' free £125 bank bribe
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Debt cost-cutting masterclass
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Two MoneySavers reclaim £1,000+: How to check and challenge incorrect water bills if you use a soakaway or septic tank
19 May 2022![]()
Two MoneySavingExpert.com users have secured refunds and compensation worth thousands - and reduced their waste water bills - after arguing their bills should have been lower as their homes aren't connected to public sewers. Here's how others in England and Wales can maybe do the same. -
Over 100,000 Vodafone customers unable to redeem Airtime Rewards to put towards their phone bill – here’s what you can do
18 May 2022![]()
More than 100,000 Vodafone customers have been unable to redeem Airtime Rewards against their mobile phone bill since the start of May due to a technical glitch. The cashback scheme has implemented a temporary fix, which sees cashback paid into your bank account, for now. Here is all you need to know. -
Lloyds Banking Group to shut another 20 Lloyds branches and eight Halifax outlets - here's what's happening
18 May 2022![]()
Lloyds Banking Group has announced a further round of branch closures, with 28 more outlets being shut across the UK between August and November this year. The closures are made up of 20 Lloyds Bank branches and eight Halifax outlets. -
Hit by passport application delays? Your travel and compensation rights explained
17 May 2022![]()
With record numbers lodging passport applications after putting off renewals during the pandemic, delays at the Passport Office are threatening to derail holidays for many. We round up your travel and compensation rights. -
Households should ignore scam emails WRONGLY telling them to claim council tax rebates from energy regulator Ofgem
17 May 2022![]()
Beware scam emails wrongly telling you to click a link to sign up for both a council tax rebate and an energy bill discount. It comes as MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) has received several reports from individuals who've received these emails. Here's what you need to watch out for.
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Martin Lewis: 'UO is just as important as UX: A tip for anyone developing their website or app'
6 May 2022![]()
I set up MoneySavingExpert.com nearly 20 years ago – when arguably the modern web was still in its infancy. With an abundance of self-belief (something I had too much of then, as I realise now) I decided not to read any books, or follow prevailing wisdom on how a site should operate – and just do it my way. -
Martin Lewis: Got a cash ISA? You should probably ditch it
3 May 2022![]()
Press the rewind button and go way back to April 2015... Possibly on the telly in the corner of your living room, I was on-air at the time urging savers as usual to use their new tax-free cash ISA allowance – because 'money was nicer in an ISA'. But things changed in 2016. -
Martin Lewis: Money and Mental Health charity 2021/22 – Covid & cost of living hell...
26 April 2022![]()
It's hard to believe the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) charity is now six years old. As the chair of trustees, each year I write the foreword to its annual report – and today the 2021/22 report is out, so I thought I'd blog my formal chair's foreword here. -
Martin Lewis: What happened to my pledge to give £10m to charity – 2022 update (spoiler: it's now £20m)
11 April 2022![]()
Nearly a decade ago, in June 2012, MSE joined the MSM Group and I pledged £10m to go to charity. As that was a public pledge and I feel I've a duty of transparency, every year or two I bash out a blog report to explain where I'm up to, and who's got what money.
Clever ways to calculate your finances
