Benjamin Taylor

Money Analyst – Banking and Insurance

Benjamin's experience

Benjamin joined MSE in June 2022 as an Editorial Assistant. In his pre-MSE days, he studied English at the University of Sheffield and worked an array of odd jobs.

A little more about Benjamin

He lives in London and enjoys going to Morrisons, seeing friends and family, and just generally walking about. He supports Norwich City Football Club.

Benjamin says...

"As a member of MSE's Money team, I cover everything from credit cards, ISAs, loans and car finance, to pet, cycle and home insurance. I joined MSE to try to help people claw back pounds from big business and love to read about MSE users' innovative successes each week on the MSE Forum."

Latest from Benjamin Taylor

Most credit cards are good for new spending OR cutting the cost of existing debt, but some offer cheap intro rates on both. We've full info and our top picks, plus our Balance Transfer & Spending Eligibility Calculator will show the cards you have the best odds of getting before you apply.

21 May 2025

With mortgage, rent, energy and food costs soaring, it's easy to cut or forgo a spend such as pet insurance. But this can lead to difficult choices for many if treatment is needed, as there's no NHS for pets, and treatment costs can be £100s or £1,000s. This guide explains what pet insurance covers, what to watch out for and how to find a cheap policy.

21 May 2025

Personal loans are one of the cheapest ways to buy a car – and that's even considering that their rates have doubled in the past two years.

21 May 2025

A Lifetime ISA (LISA) can be opened by anyone aged between 18 and 39. You can use one to save up to £4,000 a year, towards either a first home costing up to £450,000 or for retirement, with the state adding a bonus of up to £1,000 a year on top. This guide takes you through how LISAs work, whether they're right for you, how you get the bonus and the best buys.

15 May 2025

Cheapest loan rates have finally started to creep down recently, though they're still close to double what they were a few years ago. If you NEED to borrow, this guide has full info on the cheapest loans – how to get them, and what to watch out for.

14 May 2025

Junior ISAs (JISAs) let you save or invest up to £9,000 in the 2025/26 tax year, with the cash locked away until the child turns 18. This guide has the pros and cons of junior ISAs, how to transfer in from a Child Trust Fund, plus the top paying accounts.

14 May 2025

You may have noticed when looking for an ISA that some banks offer ‘flexible’ ISAs, and others don’t. This short guide – a spin off from our main cash ISA guide – explains what a ‘flexible’ cash ISA is and whether it's right for you.

14 May 2025

Every adult has a £20,000 ISA allowance for 2025/26 and it's possible to use all or part of that ISA allowance to invest in the stock market. This guide runs through what you need to know before investing in a stocks & shares ISA.

13 May 2025

Navy blue Chase debit card next to £1 coin

If you've got a Chase account, check if you can boost your easy-access savings to 4.8% – made up of a 1.8% AER fixed six-month bonus plus its standard 3% variable rate. Chase says over 2 million customers can get the boost, which would top our normal savings tables if it were open to all, though it's beaten by the top easy-access cash ISAs.

2 May 2025

There are regulations governing how APRs must be displayed. Below are loan providers' official examples of the cost of taking out a loan.

2 May 2025

If you need a new car but don't have the cash to buy it outright, Hire Purchase (HP) is one of the most popular ways to pay for it. It's been used to buy cars almost since there have been cars, but just because it's an oldie, doesn't mean it's a goodie, and will be right for you. Here we break down the basics of HP so you can decide if it might suit you.

2 May 2025

Can my age reduce my car insurance costs?

Age is one of a number of factors that insurers look at when calculating your premium – which is usually bad news for younger drivers who can be hit with much higher prices. Though as age is often a proxy for experience, premiums generally do come down the longer you've been driving (and driving well). Read on for more about how this works...

16 April 2025

Cover for damage and loss when your home is broken into is one of the key benefits of home insurance, so the financial cost of resecuring your home and replacing stolen things is one less thing to think about. This guide looks at what you should expect from your insurance in the event of a break in, and how to make a claim.

16 April 2025

You've passed your test, you've got the keys and you are ready to get out on the road. BUT you'll need insurance first, and new driver insurance can be eye-wateringly expensive. Use the tips in this guide to make sure you get the best deal possible on your first policy.

11 April 2025

A 0% money transfer allows you to shift cash from a card to your bank account to clear your overdraft or give yourself a 0% cash loan for up to 14 months. This guide has full info and the best deals, though not many cards offer these transfers any more.

11 April 2025

A car insurance quote can often feel like a figure plucked from nowhere, but there are a number of factors that come into play when insurers give you a price. In this short guide we run through the key metrics that could affect what you pay.

10 April 2025