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10 Top Financial Tips

01/01/2018

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Here are 10 ideas which should help to get your finances into shape! 

1. Trim back that expensive debt

We should all clear expensive debt as a key priority. Debt is like fat – there are good types and bad types. Mortgages and student loans are typically OK debt for us to have – not too expensive and part of a normal financial diet. Credit card debt on the other hand is pretty bad news and it makes sense to try and pay this off, or to sort out a transfer to a 0% environment. Hop online and look for 0% balance transfer credit cards. And if you can, try and set up direct debits to pay off credit card bills every month.

2. Sort that life insurance – especially if you have children or dependants

This is the question we all hate thinking about but what would happen to your dependants if you die or become incapacitated? How would the mortgage get paid and the bills covered? And jolly thoughts like that.

Check to see if you are covered at work? Many of us will have some cover and the amount will typically be a multiple of your salary. Call HR and check.

You may need to top this up if it’s not enough, or if you’re not covered you can find a quote for life cover online. There are lots of comparison sites which will give you a quote in less than 10 minutes. As a very rough guide (although it depends on health, age and whether you hit the fags) a healthy 40 year old would pay about £10 a month for £100,000 of life cover. But shop around.

If you have more complex needs or want some hand-holding try Lifesearch, an online broker with humans on the phones (!) to talk you through your choices and get you some quotes.

3. Auto enrolment. Don’t opt out. (This is free money!!)

This is your new company pension at work. You should now be set up in one (unless you’re self -employed, under 22 or earn less than £10,000 a year). 

This year you will have seen 1% of your wages (on the chunk of your salary which falls in between about £5,000 and £45,000) going here with an additional 1% top up from your employer. That 1% is like a free pay rise from your boss – they were mandated to pay it for all employees who didn’t opt out of the scheme.

1% doesn’t feel that meaningful so no-one has got particularly excited about this. But (drum roll) from April 2018 this will go up to a 3% contribution from you and 2% from your employer. Try and take this handout. It’s free money from your boss which you give up if you choose to ‘opt out’ and say you don’t want to participate. 


4. Self-employed? Get pension smart (and get free money from the Government!) 

If you are self-employed you are missing out on these pension freebies from an employer and you’re particularly vulnerable to hit pension age with diddly-squat saved to supplement the State Pension which isn’t much more than £8,000 a year. Think about setting up a DIY pension online yourself. It’s easier than it’s ever been to do this.

If you can spare £25 a month, AJ Bell Youinvest and Hargreaves Lansdown both let you set up a pension online. They’re both reputable and I think either will see you right. And here’s the real benefit. The Government runs a sort of bonus scheme on pensions so you get freebie top-ups from them. For every £80 a basic rate taxpayer contributes you get a free £20 from the Government. If you’re a higher-rate taxpayer you can claim back another £20 when you come to do your tax return. The catch? It’s locked away until you turn 55 and there are annual caps on how much you can pay in. 

5. Switch energy bills and save immediately

Compare energy providers every 12 months and switch for a better deal.  If you haven’t done this for a while, then jump online today. It takes less than 15 minutes and is a no-brainer. 

Loyalty does not pay and a comparison website such as USwitch will quickly show you if you should move. This could save you hundreds of pounds a year. Simply enter your current providers for gas and electricity, along with details of your current plan, and the sites will point you to cheaper alternatives.

6. If you haven’t checked your direct debits out for a while then jump online.

Every 6 months it is worth printing off your most recent bank statements. (I’m still a bit of a paper fan for this – not ideal I know but I find it much easier to go through than staring at a screen.) Check your direct debits and standing orders. Are you paying for things you aren’t using? Recent research from the Citizens’ Advice Bureau suggests the average person spends £160 every 3 months on services they don’t want and aren’t using. Automation makes life easy – but it can also make it expensive!

7. Get your head around investing.

Investing is a bit like going to the gym. There’s a mindset battle. “It’s not for me”. “I’m not rich/clever/motivated enough.” Well here are some tips on making it as painless as possible. 

So-called robo advisor Wealthify lets you start from £1. One tiny pound. For that much, it’s well worth opening an account with a tenner just to find your feet and feel your way!? App MoneyBox will round up and invest your change from any small purchases – it’s easy to use and a great way to get going.

This is no longer the preserve of a wealthy few who get off on Economics! Just 10 minutes could see you take a step into the world of investing with a very small amount at risk. Put in a small amount and start to feel your way around this space and how it works. Clearly £10 will not deliver financial wellbeing but could you make 2018 the year you get your head around investing, ready to start drip-feeding in more as confidence levels go up? If you are saving with timeframes of at least 5 years then we all need to look for alternatives to cash which is being gobbled up and spat out by inflation.  

8. Stop being fleeced when you go abroad

Make 2018 the year you avoid getting fleeced at the airport when you change your pounds. Get yourself a card such as the Halifax Clarity Mastercard with good rates and decent fees, or have a look at Revolut which has top exchange rates but limited free withdrawals. 

Even if you forget until the week before, at least hop online and get currency delivered to your house by the Post Office. Don’t leave it for the airport or your holiday could easily cost you 10% more.

9. Sort out your will!

About 2/3rds of UK adults don’t have a will and it’s one of those gremlins that lurks on the to-do list. It’s particularly important if you’re not in a shiny” 2:2 children 1950s” marriage. Divorced or have step-children? Remarried? Making a will becomes doubly important to make sure that your assets would be split as you wish if the worst happened. 
 
You can either go to a solicitor and outsource this – costs will typically be about £400 to £700 unless you’re an Onassis. Or in the spirit that something is better than nothing, get a will kit online from Amazon for about £15. Solicitors Irwin Mitchell have an online service which starts from £145+VAT – this is a DIY approach but it is overseen by a lawyer for some extra peace of mind. They say that this can be done in just 10 minutes which I suspect is exaggerating a bit, however this does not need to turn into War and Peace and is probably less time-consuming than you imagine.

10. Pay yourself first.

I like this tip and have done this for years. If you get a pay rise, or you move jobs and head to a higher salary, set up a direct debit to siphon a realistic % of the extra income into a savings account on pay day. The idea is that you can’t miss what you’ve never had. So if a pay rise is on the cards, could you allocate 30% of the extra monthly money to savings. All this stuff can feel a bit trivial and it’s easy to moan that it won’t be enough, but saving is like making a snowman. At first you have to roll that annoying snowball for what feels like hours before it gets any bigger. But the bigger it gets, the quicker it grows.

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Related Questions

Got a Question?

  • I work for my company which funds my SIPP directly. I will be receiving compensation in the coming months - is it possible to pay SIPP contributions from the compensation payment? If pension significant contributions are not possible, what might we consider when looking for a tax efficient home for the compensation?

    Andy | Lancashire | 12/06/2019 | 3

    • Private Pension
    • Stocks and Shares ISA
    • Workplace Pension
    David Stone's Response

  • I have two pension pots, one of which is a stakeholder - this one is currently worth £120,000 - the other is approximately £50,000. I will be 60 in 4 years time and am anxious that my pots may not be growing fast enough. I currently input £300 per month into the Stakeholder. I do not intend to access either of these accounts until I am 65. Can I combine both these pensions, or should I leave them as is? I would appreciate an opinion on this. Many thanks, Maggie

    Maggie | Gloucestershire | 29/05/2019 | 0

    • Private Pension
    • Workplace Pension
    Helena Wardle's Response

  • Hello, I already have a workplace pension. Can I also have a private pension? If so, I have a LISA as well. Can I have all three in place?

    Precious | Surrey | 23/05/2019 | 0

    • Private Pension
    • Lifetime ISA
    • Pension
    • Workplace Pension
    Phoebe Smith's Response

  • I am a self-employed 55 year old, with only a state pension. What can I do to increase my money for retirement?

    Sandra | Dumfries and Galloway | 21/05/2019 | 1

    • Private Pension
    • Stocks and Shares ISA
    • Lifetime ISA
    • State Pension
    • Pension
    • Workplace Pension
    Helena Wardle's Response

  • I'm a 30 year old woman earning a reasonable salary with a low cost lifestyle. I have saved almost £8,000 and want to start investing. I like the idea of using a robo-investor like Wealthify, but I'm not sure if it's better to start with a Stocks and Shares ISA instead? Should I go with a Stocks and Shares ISA or a Robo Advisor, or both?

    Kate | London | 29/04/2019 | 4

    • Stocks and Shares ISA
    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    Pete Matthew's Response

  • I am a British/Irish citizen living in Malta and have between £5k-£10k to invest for 5 years. Clearly, ISAs are out as there is a requirement to be a UK resident. I am happy to accept a medium level of risk, and would appreciate some info on where to put this to maximise returns.

    Phil | Malta | 25/04/2019 | 4

    • Stocks and Shares ISA
    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    Zoë Dagless's Response

  • I am a beginner investor and would like to invest in a "socially responsible" Stocks & Shares ISA. I have looked into the Nutmeg and Wealthify funds. Is there information about any other such providers on your website? And do you have any advice about how to compare the "socially responsible" criteria on the different funds?

    Joy | Glamorgan | 16/04/2019 | 1

    • Stocks and Shares ISA
    • Robo Adviser
    • Ethical Investing
    Phoebe Smith's Response

  • I'm in my very early 20s, and earning well. I have no debts or dependants. I have a Stocks and Shares ISA, and am weighing up the pros and cons of a General Investment Account vs a Private Pension. What should I keep in mind?

    Cecily | Berkshire | 08/04/2019 | 0

    • Private Pension
    • Stocks and Shares ISA
    • Lifetime ISA
    • GIA
    • Workplace Pension
    Tommy Watson's Response

  • I have two separate company pensions from previous employers. For the last 12 years I have not contributed to a pension. I am now 44 and know I need to put money into one. I'm not financially aware and the robo providers sound tempting but, obviously, I want the possibility for the best return at medium risk. Your Q2 2018 results update showed Nutmeg’s Portfolio 10 as returning different figures than the Best Buys page for Nutmeg says. Why are these figures so different? Is Vanguard Lifestrategy 60 a good choice, though they don't have a SIPP.

    Dave | West Yorkshire | 26/03/2019 | 0

    • Private Pension
    • Robo Adviser
    Lesley James's Response

  • For the last 9 months I've drip fed just over £10,000 into a Moneyfarm Investment ISA... it has been a very volatile year as you know. Moneyfarm seem to have done a good job of protecting my capital... however I haven't really made much in the way of gains... If I wanted, would I be able to transfer the whole lot to another platform where the fees are lower? I know you're not allowed to give regulated advice - but I'm uncertain if I should transfer the whole lot in one go, or drip feed.

    Robert | UK | 14/03/2019 | 3

    • Stocks and Shares ISA
    • Robo Adviser
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I am in my mid 20s & earning a regular salary. I have decent savings and am toying with the idea of Wahed Invest (I am looking for shariah compliant funds). I am also dabbling with the idea of property. If I have no financial commitments (living at home for next 2 yrs), is it worth using 90% of my savings for a house deposit for buy-to-let purposes? I am thinking this would reduce my loan to value?

    Zara | West Midlands | 12/03/2019 | 0

    • Lifetime ISA
    • Cash
    • Robo Adviser
    • Mortgage
    David Stone's Response

  • I have about £100 monthly extra I want to invest, but I am not sure if my ISAs represent good value. I thought I could put the money in a higher risk investment, as it is money I can invest over 5-10 years, and had thought Nutmeg might be a good option as I have little investment experience. Am I right in thinking I can only contribute to one Stocks & Shares ISA at a time in my name? I could just put more money into my existing ISAs. What do you think?

    Colin | Lothian | 11/03/2019 | 0

    • Stocks and Shares ISA
    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • My 60 year old mum is not very financially literate and has has no private pension. She has approximately £900k to invest, from which she will need to draw down c.£40k a year for life. She is not very financially literate and would not be able to proactively manage the money herself. Would you favour an Independent Financial Adviser or a Robo Adviser for someone in her position? Thank you!

    Harry | Kent | 11/03/2019 | 1

    • Private Pension
    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I am 47 and I would now like to open an investment ISA for growth for at least 10 years. I am tempted by the Vanguard LifeStrategy 80 due to the low fees and strong reputation. I would also consider investing in a couple of other Vanguard funds as well. Would this be advisable or relatively unnecessary, if I'm already investing in the LifeStrategy fund? I have also been looking with interest at Nutmeg, Wealthify, IG and AJ Bell Youinvest. Is there any provider that would stand above the others as most suitable in my circumstances?

    Matt | South Yorkshire | 11/03/2019 | 0

    • Stocks and Shares ISA
    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I am 65 and still working. I have a workplace pension, which was closed and replaced with a retirement saver pension. I contribute to this via salary sacrifice. I also have a personal pension serviced by an IFA. Should I move my personal pension fund to a SIPP provider at this late stage of my life? I would like to consolidate the workplace retirement saver and personal pension fund together and manage it myself.

    Den | South Yorkshire | 27/02/2019 | 0

    • Private Pension
    • Pension
    • Workplace Pension
    Helena Wardle's Response

  • Trying to get a bit more pro-active with my pension. If my money had been in an online managed fund like Nutmeg for example, is it reasonable to assume that as the markets fell last year the funds would have been managed in real(ish) time to limit the damage? If so, is it therefore a no-brainer to transfer my pension to an online managed pension or is it not quite as simple as that?

    David | London | 08/02/2019 | 2

    • Private Pension
    • Robo Adviser
    • Pension
    Lesley James's Response

  • I recently came across your blog and it has been a great introduction to learning about my personal finances. I was wondering if you could recommend any additional resources (websites, books, online help) for beginners and that are tailored to the UK market. I am in my early 20's and I'm looking to further my knowledge of money, and foster a greater relationship with it. In addition to that, I'd like to know your opinions on how the possible outcomes of Brexit will affect the market and potential personal finance investments.

    Rita | London | 23/01/2019 | 0

    • Stocks and Shares ISA
    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    Phoebe Smith's Response

  • With a SIPP in drawdown would a company like Netwealth whose investment management fees are of the order of .66% of the value of the portfolio, be a better option compared to companies like Hargreaves Lansdown or Investec? What are the relative benefits of Netwealth over the more traditional wealth managers?

    Steve | Lancashire | 22/01/2019 | 6

    • Private Pension
    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    Helena Wardle's Response

  • Is there a Robo Investor who provides both income and growth for those who are retired? (There must be a large market for this?) It seems to me that at the moment all the Robos focus on long term growth and reinvesting dividends - which is fine if you are younger.

    David | 18/01/2019 | 1

    • Robo Adviser
    Dr Richard Bradley's Response

  • I’m new to investing and in my late 30's. I'm actually stuck in a dilemma whether to invest using DIY platforms like Interactive Investor, A J Bell or Hargreaves Lansdown OR invest using robo advisors like Nutmeg, Moneyfarm or Pensionbee. I have compared the fees and they are not significantly different. Do robo advisers have a better return rate? I can dedicate some time to DIY investing but not a significant amount of time. Please advise. Thank you.

    Victor | Kent | 14/01/2019 | 1

    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    Phoebe Smith's Response

  • I have an old pension and they have written to me saying that they are going to enhance my pension if I transfer it out. The company is also offering free independent advice. I have £117,000 in the pension at the moment, which would give me £6400 a year at 65. I am 61 in April and would like to finish work at that point. I am not sure how much extra they will give me. Have you any ideas or suggestions to help me decide? Thanks.

    Nicholas | Carmarthenshire | 04/01/2019 | 0

    • Pension
    • Workplace Pension
    Lesley James's Response

  • From my retirement I received a lump sum of money and a monthly pension. I have £100,000 that I do not need for the foreseeable future... One of my main concerns with Financial Advisers are their costs... All I want is simply to see this money grow to its potential, sensibly and above inflation... Therefore my next thoughts are Stocks and Shares ISAs... My only concerns here are the current Brexit problems - I saw the FTSE drop this past week. I cannot find any information out there to assist with my decision making if this is certainly a good time to invest... I am aware that I can place £20,000 for this year. Come April 2019 I place another £20,000 and so on until the £100,000 has been utilised. Do I have to place it into the same fund or can I choose another different fund with a different company?... Please can you help to ease some of this burden, which has proved an awful part of my retirement and made me frightened to spend any money.

    Katherine | Derbyshire | 02/01/2019 | 0

    • Private Pension
    • Stocks and Shares ISA
    • Cash
    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Workplace Pension
    Helena Wardle's Response

  • I’ve been investing in Nutmeg’s Risk 10 profile for three years which helped my deposit for my house. I am now wondering whether to use Nutmeg again, or should I use LifeStrategy for my £1000 per month? Is there a difference between Vanguard's LifeStrategy option and let’s say a well known robo adviser like Nutmeg? I am still a beginner and would like to keep things simple, but happy to take risk and prepared to leave my investments for a long time.

    Jordan | Surrey | 26/11/2018 | 8

    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Funds
    Phoebe Smith's Response

  • Do you have any recommendations for books that I can buy my 18 year old daughter for Xmas on the subject of pensions and investments so she can start to understand the subjects? She's young I know but I would like to get her started. Many thanks!

    Nicki | Devon | 15/11/2018 | 2

    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Other
    Catherine Morgan's Response

  • I am a 30 year old British expat living and working in the Netherlands. I worked in the UK for 5 years but to my knowledge I did not have a work pension of any sort. I've been working in the Netherlands for the last 4 years, and again have no pension (my company does not provide anything). I'm getting increasingly worried about my future retirement and my lack of any kind of pension. Firstly, I am not sure what - if any - state pension I could receive (either from UK or Netherlands) but I assume not much. Secondly, I'm ready to start investing on a monthly basis into a private pension fund, but I have no idea what the best option for me would be. Really lost and confused, and would really appreciate any advice you might have.

    Lucinda | Kent | 09/10/2018 | 0

    • Private Pension
    • State Pension
    • Workplace Pension
    David Stone's Response

  • My wife, 56, is still working but has a final salary scheme which she is drawing as well - currently £26k per annum. Her current employer's pension scheme is defined contribution, and her fund stands at £1.050m. Therefore, her total pension is around £1.57m. We protected her Lifetime Allowance at £1.25m, but all growth will now be taxed at the excess rate. My idea is to take the 25% tax free amount out of the defined contribution pot, and reinvest it in the same funds as the pension. This will then remove growth on the 25% from the excess tax rate to a capital gain when sold, thereby saving a considerable amount of tax. Am I right?

    Rod | Hampshire | 05/09/2018 | 1

    • Private Pension
    • Workplace Pension
    Danny Cox's Response

  • I'm 24 and would like to begin investing. Am I better off using a robo advisor such as Wealthify/Wealthsimple or a fund such as Vanguard LifeStrategy?

    Amanda | Greater London | 06/08/2018 | 6

    • Shares
    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I am 73 and cautious. There are two areas that your advice would be helpful..what if you just spend thousands on buying the gold standard footsie companies like shell and the rest and keep them for five years and then cash them in ?

    DB | UK | 24/07/2018 | 6

    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Funds
    • Pension
    Holly's Response

  • Nutmeg require a minimum investment of £5,000. As I have less than £5,000 per annum income I am a bit confused about how much I can put into a pension. I know the government will only gross up a maximum of £2,880 per year but can I put more than this in and forgo the gross up?

    Barbara | HRT | 10/07/2018 | 1

    • Robo Adviser
    Richard Allum, MD, The Paraplanners's Response

  • We have a portfolio of ISAs/ PEPs worth around £250k, currently invested via Cofunds, managed by Chelsea and Bestinvest. I'm told this is quite an expensive option regarding platform charges. Are there better options?

    John | BRK | 08/05/2018 | 6

    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    Helena Wardle, Certified Financial Planner's Response

  • Do you have information on taking your pension pot before retirement? My husband is 62, on a final salary scheme & is trying to get clear information on it.

    Jo | 17/04/2018 | 3

    • Pension
    • Workplace Pension
    Helena Wardle, Certified Financial Planner 's Response

  • I've got £20,000 from an endowment policy (astonishing, I know), and I'm looking into how best to invest to get a reasonable return without excessive risk. Any thoughts much appreciated!!

    Penny | Peterborough | 09/08/2018 | 1

    • Stocks and Shares ISA
    • Cash
    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Life Insurance
    Danny Cox's Response

  • I am looking for a fund for myself (54 yrs old) but also my son (19 yrs old). Is this fund suitable for either of us with an investment strategy of 10 years +.

    | 29/05/2018 | 3

    • Robo Adviser
    • Funds
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I use H&L and although they are a bit 'plumy' on the phone I quite like their website and the costs are OK. So I was thinking of H&L for [my son]. I would be telling him to open these two funds and regularly invest and forget about them for 10 years!

    R | Greater London | 29/05/2018 | 1

    • Lifetime ISA
    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Funds
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • Can I sort a pension out myself online?

    Sharon | Greater London | 07/09/2017 | 0

    • Pension
    • Workplace Pension
    Danny Cox's Response

  • How much should I insure my life for?

    Femi | Greater London | 07/09/2017 | 0

    • Life Insurance
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • What's this Auto Enrolment thingy?

    Derek | Greater London | 06/09/2017 | 0

    • Workplace Pension
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • How can I find out how much my State Pension is likely to be?

    Abigail | Greater London | 06/09/2017 | 0

    • State Pension
    • Workplace Pension
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • How much does life insurance cost?

    Christina | Greater London | 06/09/2017 | 0

    • Life Insurance
    Holly Mackay's Response