Amy Roberts

Senior Money Writer

As one of MSE's Money writers, Amy's main topics include student loans, credit scoring, budgeting and buy now, pay later. Having worked at MSE for over a decade, Amy has covered everything money related over the years, from mortgages and pensions, to investments and reclaiming.

Before joining MSE in 2013, Amy worked as a Senior Features Writer at Financial Adviser (a Financial Times business publication), and was also a Senior Reporter at Post, a magazine from the insurance industry, after qualifying as a journalist in 2009.

As a busy mum of three, Amy spends any spare time she has running the streets of her home town Norwich, or attending a dance class – a hobby she has continued since she was three years old.

Amy has been recognised twice at the British Insurance Brokers' Association Awards – she was named runner-up for the Online Award in 2011 and was highly commended in the Trade Feature Award category in 2012. She was nominated for the General Insurance Journalist of the Year at the 2010 Association of British Insurers Financial Media Awards, for Trade Newcomer at the 2012 Santander Media Awards and for General Insurance Journalist of the Year at the 2012 Headline Money Awards.

Latest from Amy Roberts

Many have student loan repayments automatically deducted from their wages each month, and assume all is well. Yet 100,000s accidentally overpay their student loans each year, often without realising. Here's how to check if you're one of them and, if so, how you can reclaim £100s, or even £1,000s.

15 April 2025

Jar containing coins with a label reading "retirement" on it.

Fancy an easy pay rise? Start a pension and you could get one. Not only will the Government top up your pension pot, but if you're employed, your employer may also HAVE to help.

8 April 2025

Nothing's as certain as death and taxes. Yet while there's no doubt we'll all be taxed, the rates can change rapidly. This guide covers income tax thresholds, the personal allowance, national insurance and more for the 2025/26 tax year.

7 April 2025

If you wear a uniform at work and have to wash, repair or replace it yourself, you may be able to reclaim £100s of tax for up to five years of expenses. You can reclaim whether it's just a branded T-shirt or if you're a fully uniformed pilot, police officer or nurse. Do not pay a claims firm, as their charges can eat up most of what you're due, or even leave you out of pocket – do it yourself for FREE.

7 April 2025

Student loan interest is now 7.3% - should I panic or pay it off?

You leave university, looking forward to your future, then spot your student loan statement. There's a sinking feeling as you see £1,000s of added interest. Yet student loan statements can be dangerously misleading. They've led some into making catastrophic financial decisions. For most graduates, bizarrely, interest isn't relevant. Ignore it, and it'll go away.

6 April 2025

Wales has had the same student loans system for over a decade, yet there are still misconceptions about how it works, with many students (and parents) worrying about leaving university with £10,000s of debt. But that worry is mostly misplaced. This guide is written to bust common myths about how these 'Plan 2' student loans work for Welsh students who started uni since 2012.

6 April 2025

Student loans - the truth about uni fees, loans and grants

If you live in Northern Ireland and decide to go to university, you'll be on a different student finance system to the rest of the UK, regardless of where in the country you go to study. There are 11 key things you need to know about how this work if you, or someone in your family, is applying for a 'Plan 1' student loan in Northern Ireland.

6 April 2025

Student loans in Scotland work differently to the rest of the UK. If you normally live in Scotland and decide to go to university, there are 11 key things you need to know about how 'Plan 4' student finance works – even if you study elsewhere in the UK.

6 April 2025

In April 2021 Scotland introduced its own student loan repayment plan, separate from the rest of the UK, to replace its existing plan 1 loans. This easy-to-follow guide is for Scottish students who started uni since September 1998 and have a plan 4 loan with the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).

6 April 2025

If you took out an old 'mortgage style' student loan between 1990 and 1997, you might be wondering whether overpaying is a good idea. With many of these loans due to be written off in the next couple of years and many, especially those who can't afford to pay back, deferring their payments – the answer is 'no'. This guide explains who has these loans, when you do and don't have to repay and whether you should ever consider overpaying.

6 April 2025

Small claims (now often simply called 'court claims') can be a low-hassle way to take legal action for up to £10,000 against a firm or individual in the UK. In this guide we've full help on small claims court procedure, including how to work out whether you've got a strong case – important, as, if you lose, you WON'T be refunded your fees, plus you may have to pay costs for the other side. We cover how to make a claim, look at small claims court fees, and show how to maximise your chances of winning.

5 March 2025

The cost-of-living crisis means more and more people are struggling with debt. But even if you're struggling to make ends meet, your debt problem isn't unsolvable. It might not be easy or quick to resolve, but there's always a route. And the earlier you tackle your debts, the easier they are to deal with. Our four-step guide shows you where to start and how to get free one-on-one help.

18 February 2025

If you have two or more private or workplace pensions, consolidating some or all of them in the same place can have benefits, though there are things to consider before deciding if moving them is the right option. This guide gives you an overview of what you need to think about when combining your pensions – and where to go for free guidance.

4 February 2025

Taking financial advice does come with a cost. But when it comes to making life-changing financial decisions, it might save you money in the long run. This guide will help you understand what a financial adviser is, whether you need to use one and how to find one. Plus, most importantly, how much it'll cost.

4 February 2025

Job moves, new addresses and name changes can mean it's easy to lose track of your pensions over the years. But with billions of pounds in unclaimed, inactive or lost pensions in the UK, it's worth finding out if any of that money might be yours. This guide explains how to find lost or old pensions for FREE, which could help bolster your retirement.

4 February 2025

There's lots to think about when you go to uni, and sorting your budget should be a top priority. Student maintenance support, designed to help cover the cost of rent, transport, food, household bills and other outgoings, isn't always enough. Knowing what you have to spend each week is essential... here's how to do it.

23 January 2025