www.thisismoney.co.uk Open in urlscan Pro
2a02:26f0:fb:59c::16c4  Public Scan

Form analysis
1 forms found in the DOM

GET https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/search.html

<form action="https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/search.html" method="get">
  <label class="search-phrase-container">
    <span class="visually-hidden">Enter search term</span>
    <input class="search-phrase" name="searchPhrase" placeholder="Search" type="text">
    <button type="submit"><span class="visually-hidden">Search</span></button>
  </label>
  <fieldset class="search-types">
    <legend class="visually-hidden">Search within</legend>
    <label><input name="searchWhere" value="article" type="radio" checked="checked"><span class="custom-radio-button"></span>All articles</label>
    <label><input name="searchWhere" value="company" type="radio"><span class="custom-radio-button"></span>Share prices</label>
  </fieldset>
  <input name="channelshortname" type="hidden" value="money">
</form>

Text Content

 
 * Money Home
 * Business
 * Saving & banking
 * Investing
 * Bills
 * Cars
 * Holidays
 * Cards & loans
 * Pensions
 * Mortgages
 * Experts
 * Buy-to-let

 * My Profile
 * Logout

 * Login

How we can help Contact us


Monday, Mar 28th 2022 4PM 19°C 7PM 13°C 5-Day Forecast
Advertisement

 * small business
 * diy investing
 * guides
 * comment
 * life insurance
 * property
 * all
   

Toggle Search
I want to find…
 * Guides for my finances
 * The best savings rates
 * Best cash Isas
 * A better bank account
 * A cheaper mortgage
 * The best DIY investing platform
 * The best credit cards
 * A cheaper energy deal
 * Better broadband and TV deals
 * Cheaper car insurance
 * Stock market data
 * Power Portfolio investment tracker
 * This is Money's newsletter
 * This is Money's podcast
 * Investing Show videos
 * Help from This is Money
 * Financial calculators

Enter search term Search Search within All articles Share prices


IS THIS NOW THE BEST BANK ACCOUNT IN BRITAIN? CHASE LAUNCHES LINKED 1.5%
EASY-ACCESS SAVINGS RATE ALONGSIDE PAYING 1% CASHBACK ON PURCHASES

Chase Bank has today raised the bar for savings providers by offering an
easy-access rate that blows the competition out of the water. The savings
account, linked to the Chase current account - which is digital only - offers
savers a rate of 1.5%.

 * 57 comments
 * 18 shares Best savings rates: Chase Bank launches 1.5% easy-access account


I'M 77 AND PAID SAFE HANDS £3,355 FOR A FUNERAL PLAN SIX YEARS AGO - CAN I GET
MY MONEY BACK? STEVE WEBB REPLIES

In 2016 I paid Safe Hands for a cremation service. I have since read that they
may not have the funds to honour my funeral. The firm is now in administration.

 * 3 comments
 * 1 video
 * 28 shares I paid Safe Hands for a funeral plan: Can I get my money back?

  'I'd rather drive a petrol car but I'm saving £50 a month': Would going
electric save you money overall?          


LATEST BUSINESS NEWS

 *  
   BUSINESS LIVE: Ted Baker | HMT Natwest stake
 *  
   HM Treasury sells £1.2bn Natwest Group stake
 *  
   Ted Baker rejects £254m private equity bid
 *  
   Scottish Widows ends tobacco investments
 *  
   Bitcoin climbs to most valuable level in 2022
 *  
   Hedge funds lay siege to Royal Mail
 *  
   Shares in Rolls-Royce spike amid bid rumours
 *  
   Goldman: Risk of a recession within two years
 *  
   Bidding war for Boots hotting up
 *  
   Arm edges closer to float in US
 *  
   Wickes Group profits more than double


SANTANDER BOOSTS RATE ON ITS EASY-ACCESS ISA JUST BEFORE THE TAX YEAR ENDS
MAKING IT A RARE MAJOR BANK ENTRY INTO OUR BEST BUY SAVINGS TABLES

Santander has increased the interest rate on its easy-access Isa account making
it a rare major bank entry in our best buy tables .

 * comments
 * share Best Isa rates: Santander boosts its e-Isa deal




HOME HUNTERS WARNED ABOUT THE TRAPS OF BUYING OFF-PLAN AS NEW FIGURES SHOW SALES
OF PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT YET BUILT RISING 

Home hunters are being warned about the potential traps in buying off-plan after
new figures claimed sales of homes not yet built was on the rise. Sales of
properties that have not yet been built have risen for the first time since
2016, according to Hamptons estate agents. It said that buyers have shifted to
buying off-plan houses rather than flats - with the buyers being owner-occupiers
rather than investors.

 * 45 comments
 * share Home hunters warned about buying off-plan as sales rise


CAN THE £1BN HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT FUND HELP YOU PAY YOUR BILLS: WHAT IT IS, HOW YOU
ACCESS CASH AND WHAT ESSENTIALS IT CAN BE SPENT ON

The Chancellor boosted the Household Support Fund to £1bn in the Spring
Statement. Here we explain how you qualify and what essentials it covers.

 * 1 comment
 * share What is the Household Support Fund and how do I access it?


COULD YOU PAY YOUR BILLS IF YOU COULDN'T WORK DUE TO INJURY OR ILLNESS? ONLY 6%
OF US HAVE INCOME PROTECTION INSURANCE BUT IT COULD PROVE VITAL

Income protection insurance is designed to pay you a monthly amount if you are
unable to work due to illness or injury, but most of us don't have this vital
cover.

 * 30 comments
 * 1 share What is income protection insurance and who needs it?


IS IT TIME TO BE A PATRIOTIC INVESTOR AND BAG A BARGAIN? AS THE FTSE RIDES THE
INFLATION STORM, EXPERTS PICK THE TOP FUNDS AND TRUSTS TO INVEST IN THE UK

While every stock market has been affected by the awful events in Ukraine,
London has stood relatively firm.

 * 31 comments
 * 1 share Bag a bargain and be a patriot... why it's time to invest in Britain


HOUSEHOLDS URGED TO TAKE A METER READING ON THURSDAY BEFORE THE ENERGY PRICE CAP
RISE BITES TO ENSURE THEY'RE NOT OVERCHARGED

GoCompare says households should take gas and electricity readings on 31 March
to ensure they are not charged higher rates for energy used before April 1

 * 48 comments
 * 26 shares Why you should take an energy meter reading on 31 March 2022


EDITOR'S DEALS OF THE WEEK
Broadband

Fibre broadband
£100 voucher on sign-up
£28 per month for 18 months
Fixed-term saving

Fixed-term saving
9 month fix. Market-leading rate
1.05% interest and £30 Raisin bonus
Savings account

Market-leading 0.75% interest
Market-leading 0.75% interest
Access savings twice per year
Share investing

Commission-free
Share investing platform
24+ million global community
Stocks & shares Isa

Stocks & shares Isa
£100 voucher reward for new Isas
Capital at risk. ISA rules & T&Cs apply.



THIS IS MONEY PODCAST

 *  
   Why did Rishi Sunak cut tax and raise tax at the same time? The cost of
   living crisis Spring Statement dissected


ABOUT THIS IS MONEY

 * How we can help you
   A message from the editor


SAVE MONEY, MAKE MONEY

 * Credit cards
   Best balance transfers, reward cards and more
 * Life insurance
   See the lowest rates on the market
 * Savings accounts
   Cash Isas, easy access, fixed rates and more
 * Current accounts
   Earn interest and rewards on your money
 * Best mortgages
   Expert advice on the right deal for you
 * DIY investing
   Best and cheapest ways to invest in shares and funds

Follow
This is Money

Follow
@ThisIsMoney

Advertisement
   


DON'T MISS

 * How an extra ten years of investing can more than double your money: Six ways
   starting early can help grow your investments Ad Feature  
 * A new tax blow for the middle classes We reveal how wealth levies will rake
   in extra £50bn as Rishi tries to plug the Covid black hole
 * MIDAS SHARE TIPS: The legal eagles of DWF have spread their wings and are on
   the up and up Its stock should rise
 * Looking to grow your savings? The app that aims to help make investing as
   little as £1 simple and hassle-free  Ad Feature  
 * Let the beach battle begin! Would you choose an empty £70k beach hut in
   Dorset or a pimped-up £57k version in Essex?
 * Actor Michael Greco tells ME & MY MONEY how EastEnders changed his life 'I
   was £0k in debt, but joined the cast... and could buy a Porsche'
 * 'I love Boots - it's a pharmacy in the heart of the community. But it's time
   to sell.' Says Ornella Barra, one half of billionaire couple who own chemist
 * I bagged a Platinum Jubilee 50p coin in my change Can I sell it for a mint or
   should I keep hold of it in case its price soars?
 * Could a spot of retail therapy beat the inflation blues? The supermarkets,
   retailers and brands whose shares could prove resilient in tough times
 * Six ways to cut your tax bill in the next two weeks From pensions to Isas and
   being strategic with capital gains, how to keep more of your investments
   growing
 * Think your ex has a secret bitcoin stash? A legal expert explains how to hunt
   one down and the stiff penalties for hiding crypto in divorce
 * CRANE ON THE CASE: TSB down-valued my house by £1.3MILLION when I tried to
   remortgage... And made me miss out on a super-low rate
 * DWP slammed for 79p state pension top-up blunder and long delays Complaints
   of poor service to older savers continue to mount
 * How to ensure you diversify but don't 'diworsify' We're told to spread our
   risk with a diversified portfolio but you can have too much of a good thing
 * Why did Rishi Sunak cut tax and raise tax at the same time? The cost of
   living crisis Spring Statement dissected on the This is Money podcast

BUSINESS & MARKETS


BUSINESS LIVE: TED BAKER DISMISSES £250M SYCAMORE BID; HMT SELLS £1.2BN OF
NATWEST SHARES; AUSTRALIAN BANK BUYS STAKE IN UK GAS GRID 

Ted Baker has rejected two unsolicited non- binding proposals from private
equity firm Sycamore Partners Management for a possible cash offer for the firm.
The UK Government's stake in NatWest Group has fallen to below 50 per cent,
returning the lender to majority private control for the first time since it was
bailed out by taxpayers at the height of the global financial crisis over a
decade ago.

 * comments
 * share BUSINESS LIVE: Ted Baker rejects second bid; HMT sells Natwest shares


TAXPAYERS NOW HOLD A MINORITY STAKE IN NATWEST AS THE BANK BUYS BACK A £1.2BN
STAKE FROM HM TREASURY 14 YEARS AFTER THE RBS BAILOUT

Formerly the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), NatWest was bailed out during the
2008/09 global financial crisis with £45.5billion of public money.

 * 5 comments
 * 1 share Taxpayers' stake in NatWest Group falls below 50%


TED BAKER SHARES FALL AFTER FASHION RETAILER REJECTS SECOND £254M BID FROM US
PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM SYCAMORE

In response to weekend reports, the company said on Monday it had rejected an
offer of 130p and another of 137.5p per share made over the past two weeks.

 * comments
 * share Ted Baker rejects £254m bid from US private equity firm Sycamore


'VAMPIRE KANGAROO' SNAPS UP VITAL PART OF UK'S GAS GRID: AUSSIE INVESTMENT BANK
MACQUARIE TAKES 60% STAKE FOR £5.8BN

Sydney-based Macquarie has taken a 60 per cent stake in National Grid's gas
transmission and metering business.

 * 34 comments
 * 22 shares £6bn 'Vampire Kangaroo' grab for UK gas grid


SCOTTISH WIDOWS TO STOP INVESTING IN TOBACCO AND CUT BACK ON COAL AS PENSION
PROVIDER PULLS ANOTHER £1.5BN FROM FIRMS WITH WORST ESG CREDENTIALS

Scottish Widows said it would sell shares and bonds in any companies making more
than 10 per cent of its revenues from tobacco.

 * 2 comments
 * 1 share Scottish Widows stops investing in tobacco firms


RISHI SUNAK WANTS US TO THINK HE IS A TAX-CUTTING CHANCELLOR BUT INSTEAD HE'S A
FISCAL DRAG, SAYS RUTH SUNDERLAND

What a long time ago it seems since 'Dishy' Rishi basked in the popularity of
Eat Out To Help Out. The hissing has only just begun.

 * 150 comments
 * 19 shares RUTH SUNDERLAND: Chancellor's choices very un-Conservative


SAVE MONEY, MAKE MONEY

 * This is Money's five favourite best buy cash Isas
 * Looking for a better bank? Five of the best current accounts
 * IS it time to fix your mortgage? Check the best rates
 * Best (and cheapest) DIY investing Isa platforms
 * Don't just renew:Ten top tips to cut the cost of car insurance
 * Savings platforms to manage cash in one place
 * The best credit cards: Our pick of the top deals
 * Ten tips for buy-to-let and how to find a mortgage
 * Best current account switching offers picked
 * How to get the cheapest and best life insurance

  Previous
 * 1
 * 2

  Next

MONEY NEWS & ADVICE


WHY DOES HSBC KEEP MOVING THE GOALPOSTS FOR OUR ANGLING CLUB? TONY HETHERINGTON
ON BANK CHECKS CAUSING SMALL ORGANISATIONS A HEADACHE

I am secretary of a local anglers' association and our viability is in doubt if
we cannot resolve our banking arrangements with HSBC. The problems started in
September last year, with the bank's 'safeguard' review. We have banked with
HSBC for years, but now it is suddenly demanding to see documents that we do not
have, such as utility bills and proof of our address. The list of information
requests seems endless and the goalposts move with every communication.

 * comments
 * 25 shares Tony Hetherington: HSBC's bizarre checks are hurting our angling
   club

Ad Feature


AN EXTRA TEN YEARS OF INVESTING CAN MORE THAN DOUBLE YOUR MONEY: SIX WAYS
STARTING EARLY CAN HELP GROW YOUR INVESTMENTS

Investing is more of a marathon than a sprint but the sooner you start, the
faster you can reach you goals. Starting early on your investment journey could
mean a bigger stocks and shares Isa balance to enjoy, achieving your financial
goals and more, or even retiring sooner or with a larger pension pot. And it
also means you can benefit from the magic of compounding.

 * comments
 * share How an extra 10 years of investing can more than double your money


ACTOR MICHAEL GRECO TELLS ME & MY MONEY HOW EASTENDERS CHANGED HIS LIFE: 'I WAS
£10,000 IN DEBT, BUT JOINED THE CAST... AND COULD BUY A PORSCHE'

The actor Michael Greco enjoyed his best year financially in 1997 - the year he
joined the cast of BBC soap EastEnders. He went from being £10,000 in debt to
earning a six-figure salary and driving a Porsche. Today, the 51-year-old is an
avid supporter of Great Ormond Street Hospital after his son Gianluca was born
prematurely last year and was treated there. He spoke to Donna Ferguson.

 * 75 comments
 * 3 shares Michael Greco on Eastenders: I went from £10k in debt to a Porsche


'I LOVE BOOTS - IT'S A PHARMACY IN THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY. BUT IT'S TIME TO
SELL,' SAYS ORNELLA BARRA, ONE HALF OF BILLIONAIRE COUPLE WHO OWN CHEMIST

Her long-term partner is the legendary dealmaker, Italian billionaire Stefano
Pessina, who created Walgreens Boots Alliance and is its executive chairman.

 * 53 comments
 * 19 shares 'It's time to sell Boots,' says one half of couple who own chemist


MAJORITY OF INVESTORS ARE UNAWARE THEY CAN VOTE ON HOW A COMPANY IS RUN… BUT
YOUNGER SHAREHOLDERS ARE LEADING THE WAY IN TAKING ACTION

While institutional investors' votes at AGMs are increasing year-on-year,
individual investors' votes only represented 28 per cent of their total shares.

 * comments
 * share Most investors are unaware of their shareholder rights

Ad Feature


WANT TO GROW YOUR SAVINGS? THREE STEPS TO START INVESTING FROM AS LITTLE AS £1 -
AND A CHANCE TO WIN £20,000 IF YOU OPEN AN ISA WITH PLUM

There's a stereotype about investing that it's only for people with specialist
financial knowledge and bundles of spare cash. But that's not true and nowadays
it is possible to start investing easily with small amounts. And those who open
an account with app Plum could win £20,000.

 * comments
 * 24 shares How to invest from £1 with Plum and get a chance to win £20,000


NEW TAX BLOW FOR THE MIDDLE CLASSES: HOW WEALTH LEVIES WILL RAKE IN EXTRA £50BN
AS RISHI TRIES TO PLUG COVID BLACK HOLE

Rishi Sunak has been dubbed a 'fiscal illusionist' for claiming to make cuts
when the tax burden has actually risen. But now, an investigation by us can
reveal the amount he raises from Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax will soar
over the next five years - delivering the extra windfall into the hands of the
Treasury.

 * 430 comments
 * 18 shares Exposed: Chancellor's new tax blow to middle classes


HOW TO ENSURE YOU DIVERSIFY BUT DON'T 'DIWORSIFY': WE'RE TOLD TO SPREAD OUR RISK
WITH A DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO BUT YOU CAN HAVE TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

While most investors know the value of diversification in protecting their
wealth, many botch it in the execution.

 * 16 comments
 * share How to diversify an investment portfolio but not diworisfy


INFLATION IS RISING FAST AND THE COST OF LIVING CRUNCH IS GOING TO HURT BUT
STOCK MARKETS HAVE DECIDED THE WORLD WILL COPE, SAYS HAMISH MCRAE

When you get a tidal wave of information the problem is always to sort out what
is really new and important, and what is just political noise.

 * 15 comments
 * share HAMISH MCRAE: Markets show world WILL cope




THE CHANCELLOR'S STATEMENT DIDN'T PUT A SPRING IN MY STEP, SAYS JEFF PRESTRIDGE,
BOLDNESS SHOULD BE THE ORDER OF DAY AND SOONER RATHER THAN LATER

Smoke and mirrors. That was my initial reaction to last Wednesday's Spring
Statement by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak - and it hasn't changed
since, despite much cogitating. I am sure Sunak will have no choice before the
year is out but to come up with more than he offered last Wednesday to stop the
economy freefalling - and with it the Government's chances of winning the 2024
election.

 * 34 comments
 * 1 share Rishi Sunak needs boldness, not pragmatism, says Jeff Prestridge


THOUSANDS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO TOOK OUT PRE-PAID FUNERAL PLANS WITH SAFE HANDS
FACE LOSING MOST OR ALL THE MONEY THEY HANDED OVER

The news, which has left many customers distraught, follows the appointment of
administrators at Safe Hands Plans.

 * 36 comments
 * 31 shares Safe Hands funeral clients may lose ALL their money


WHY DID RISHI SUNAK CUT TAX AND RAISE TAX AT THE SAME TIME? THE COST OF LIVING
CRISIS SPRING STATEMENT DISSECTED ON THE THIS IS MONEY PODCAST

We look at the Spring Statement and whether tax fiddling, a 5p petrol duty cut
and some money off solar panels really cut the mustard in the face of a cost of
living crisis.

 * 84 comments
 * 1 share Why did Rishi cut tax and raise tax at the same time? TiM podcast

Ad Feature


WHAT KIND OF INVESTOR ARE YOU? FROM THE NEWCOMER, TO THE CAUTIOUS SAVER, OR KEEN
STOCK OR FUND PICKER, WE ASK AN EXPERT FOR STRATEGIES TO HELP YOU PROFIT

Investing can be an effective way to build your wealth but that doesn't mean
everyone is on the same journey. Each investor will have their own goals, time
horizon and risk appetite they need to be aware of when putting money aside. Rob
Morgan, of wealth management firm Charles Stanley , helps us explain how to
decide what type of investor you are and the strategy you should use.

 * comments
 * 1 share What kind of investor are you? Strategies for different savers


SIX WAYS TO CUT YOUR TAX BILL IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS: FROM PENSIONS TO ISAS AND
BEING STRATEGIC WITH CAPITAL GAINS, HOW TO KEEP MORE OF YOUR INVESTMENTS GROWING

Although the end of the tax year is just two weeks away it isn't too late to
think about employing some effective tax tactics to protect your wealth. An Isa
and pension's tax benefits are the obvious route, but there are other
tax-incentivised investments that could help you keep more of your money growing
too. We reveal six top tips to help reduce your tax burden before 5 April.

 * 226 comments
 * 2 videos
 * 2 shares Six ways to cut your tax bill in the next two weeks


MIDAS SHARE TIPS: THE LEGAL EAGLES OF DWF HAVE SPREAD THEIR WINGS AND ARE ON THE
UP AND UP AND ITS STOCK SHOULD RISE

DWF has come on in leaps and bounds since Knowles was appointed, and further
growth is on the cards. At £1.15, the stock is a long-term buy.

 * 2 comments
 * share MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Legal eagles DWF on the up and up


MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: GROWTH EXPECTED AT INSOLVENCY PRACTITIONERS FRP AND
BEGBIES TRAYNOR

Existing shareholders should stick with their stock. New investors could find
particular upside from FRP.

 * comments
 * share MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Growth expected at FRP and Begbies




COULD A SPOT OF RETAIL THERAPY BEAT THE INFLATION BLUES? THE SUPERMARKETS,
RETAILERS AND BRANDS WHOSE SHARES COULD PROVE RESILIENT IN TOUGH TIMES

Analysts argue that supermarkets, discounters and some luxury brands may prove
more resilient, if only because of the love of a consolatory treat in tough
times. Our passion for pets means we will carry on spending on animal care, come
what may. Also, although Britain may face the worst decline in living standards
since the 1950s, some are still lucky enough to be able to splash out on a
£5,000 wristwatch. So let's look at the potential winners and losers.

 * 3 comments
 * share The retail and brand name shares that could prove resilient


ARGONAUT ABSOLUTE RETURN: FUND MANAGER BARRY NORRIS LOVES THE CHALLENGE OF A
BEAR MARKET AS HE GOES LONG AND SHORT TO MAKE A PROFIT

Norris usually makes money for investors when stock markets are in freefall, but
tends not to do so well when equities are in a bullish mood.

 * 1 comment
 * share ARGONAUT ABSOLUTE RETURN: The fund that loves a bear market challenge


INVESTING EXPLAINED: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ABSOLUTE RETURN FUNDSAND THEIR
AIM TO DELIVER POSITIVE RETURNS WHATEVER THE MARKET CONDITIONS

They were enthusiastically marketed to private investors from 2005 onwards, with
some being called 'real return' or 'multi-strategy target income'.

 * 1 comment
 * share What are Absolute Return Funds? Investing Explained




I BAGGED A PLATINUM JUBILEE 50P COIN IN MY CHANGE - CAN I SELL IT FOR A MINT OR
SHOULD I KEEP HOLD OF IT IN CASE ITS PRICE SOARS?

I recently received a Platinum Jubilee 50p coin when I was buying something in a
shop - I still like to pay with notes and coins for budgeting reasons. I also
quite enjoy picking out the unusual and exciting looking 50p coins. I have one
of the Kew Gardens ones. Are these Platinum Jubilee coins selling for big bucks
online, and if not, are they worth holding onto and could they grow in value
like the Kew Gardens Holy Grail? Via email.

 * 29 comments
 * 6 shares Platinum Jubilee 50p coin: How much are they worth?


'PLUGGING IN SAVES ME £50 A MONTH': EVEN AFTER THE 5P CUT PETROL PRICES ARE SKY
HIGH, SO DESPITE THEIR HIGHER COST WOULD AN ELECTRIC CAR SAVE YOU MONEY?

For an increasing number of drivers it may now make financial sense to stump up
the higher upfront cost of an electric car in return for lower day-to-day
running costs.

 * 896 comments
 * 48 shares Will an electric car save you money? We crunch the numbers


BEWARE THE CAR CLONES CAUSING MISERY: FROM MYSTERY PARKING TICKETS TO BUYING
STOLEN CARS AND HOW RAY MASSEY ENDED UP 'IN A HIGH SPEED CHASE'

So-called 'car-cloning' is on the increase leaving innocent motorists with
parking tickets and speeding fines for which they're not responsible.

 * 127 comments
 * 1 share Car cloning ID theft left me in a 'high speed chase' says Ray Massey

MORE BUSINESS & MARKETS NEWS


NEW POLDARK ERA OF MINING LOOMING AS INDUSTRY VETERAN SIR MICK DAVIS IS SET TO
PLOUGH £25M INTO RESTORING SHUTTERED CORNISH TIN MINE

Cornwall was the focus of Winston Graham's Poldark novels, which became a BBC TV
series starring Aidan Turner (pictured). The South Crofty tin mine, in Pool,
Cornwall, closed in 1998 after more than 400 years of production. But it should
be open again in 2026 with fundraising backed by Davis - the former Tory party
treasurer who led mining giant Xstrata - through his green energy fund Vision
Blue Resources.

 * comments
 * share Sir Mick Davis set to restore shuttered Cornish tin mine


STOCKS TO WATCH: TAKEOVER TALK MAY REV UP TROUBLED ENGINEER ROLLS-ROYCE'S SHARES
WHEN MARKETS REOPEN

Shares have just received a lift after a blog post from financial website
Betaville said Rolls was about to be involved in a 'significant corporate
transaction'.

 * 8 comments
 * 1 share STOCKS TO WATCH: Takeover talk may rev up Rolls-Royce shares


GOVERNMENT SET TO TAKE 20% STAKE IN NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANT AT SIZEWELL IN
SUFFOLK ALONGSIDE FRENCH GIANT EDF

Sizewell C will be built next to Sizewell B and generate enough nuclear power to
supply six million homes. It is expected to cost around £20billion to build.

 * 11 comments
 * share Government to take 20% stake in new nuclear power plant at Sizewell


STAGECOACH BOSS ACCUSED OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST OVER HIS LINKS TO GERMAN
INVESTMENT GIANT DWS TRYING TO BUY IT

Raymond O'Toole has collected more than £360,000 in pay from Yorkshire Water
which counts Frankfurt-based DWS among its owners.

 * comments
 * 7 shares Stagecoach chief Raymond O'Toole has 'conflict' over German bid


DYSON SETS OUT PLANS TO INVEST £840M IN SINGAPORE AS IT OPENS ITS GLOBAL
HEADQUARTERS IN THE CITY STATE

James Dyson sparked a backlash in 2019 when he shunned Britain by announcing
plans to shift the company closer to its fastest-growing markets.

 * 13 comments
 * 2 shares Dyson sets out plans to invest £840m in Singapore


THE CZECH SPHINX BREAKS HIS SILENCE: HEDGE FUNDS CALL BILLIONAIRE'S BLUFF AS
THEY BET £115M AGAINST ROYAL MAIL

There has been speculation Kretinsky may try to buy Royal Mail or force it to
spin off its £4billion European parcel business GLS.

 * 3 comments
 * 16 shares Hedge funds vs the Czech Sphinx as they bet £115m against Royal
   Mail


GYMSHARK HAS A NEW APPRENTICE: KARREN BRADY LANDS NEW ROLE AT FASHIONABLE
SPORTSWEAR GROUP

Baroness Brady, an aide to Lord Sugar on the BBC TV show, has become an adviser
to the rapidly growing brand.

 * 14 comments
 * share Gymshark takes on a new Apprentice... Karren Brady


MARK MOBIUS SAYS BLACKROCK'S LARRY FINK WRONG TO PREDICT 'END OF GLOBALISATION'
AFTER UKRAINE INVASION

Mobius, one of the world's most high-profile investors, said firms will still
rely on goods and products from overseas, including China.

 * 2 comments
 * share Globalisation is NOT dead, insists Mark Mobius


GO-AHEAD TRACKS HIGHER AFTER IT LANDS MULTI-MILLION-POUND CONTRACT TO CONTINUE
RUNNING UK'S BIGGEST RAIL NETWORK

The Department for Transport awarded it an agreement to run the Thameslink,
Southern and Great Northern rail services.

 * 2 comments
 * 51 shares MARKET REPORT: Rail network deal puts Go-Ahead back on track

YOUR MONEY ESSENTIALS


DWP SLAMMED FOR 79P STATE PENSION TOP-UP BLUNDER AND LONG DELAYS AS COMPLAINTS
OF POOR SERVICE TO OLDER SAVERS CONTINUE TO MOUNT

More older people have come forward to accuse the Department of Work and
Pensions of bungling and delays to state pension payments. Pensioners claim
complaints have gone ignored, phone lines are 'a joke', and staff continue to
make empty promises of cases being escalated. Problems with state pension
top-ups are now being reported, including an error which could have led to a
loss of thousands of pounds over the course of retirement.

 * 17 comments
 * 14 shares DWP slammed for 79p state pension top-up blunder and long delays


NUMBER OF ISA MILLIONAIRES UP 69% IN A YEAR, HARGREAVES LANSDOWN SAYS, AND SOME
ARE INVESTORS IN THEIR 20S AND 30S

There are 973 investors with Isas worth more than £1million with broker
Hargreaves Lansdown, up from 576 last year, which is an increase of 69 per cent.

 * 90 comments
 * 111 shares Isa millionaires jump 70% in a year, says Hargreaves Lansdown


THINK YOUR EX HAS A SECRET BITCOIN STASH? A LEGAL EXPERT EXPLAINS HOW TO HUNT
ONE DOWN AND THE STIFF PENALTIES FOR HIDING CRYPTO (AND OTHER ASSETS) IN A
DIVORCE

Luckily most people who invested in crypto love to boast about it, says lawyer
Toby Yerburgh of Collyer Bristow. He explains what to do if you are getting
divorced and one partner (or both) owns crypto.

 * 33 comments
 * 1 share What can I do if my ex is hiding crypto stash from me during divorce?

Ad Feature


WHAT IS DECENTRALISED FINANCE AND WHY ARE CRYPTO INVESTORS INTERESTED IN BACKING
IT? WE EXPLAIN DEFI

Decentralised finance, or DeFi, has been one of the hottest topics in crypto for
several years now.

 * 1 comment
 * share What is DeFi and why are crypto investors backing it?

Ad Feature


ORDINARY INVESTORS SPOTTED RISKS AHEAD OF TIME: WHAT ARE THEY DOING NOW AND
WHERE ARE THEY LOOKING TO BUY?

Retail investors have anticipated some of the biggest issues facing markets well
ahead of some of the big institutional players, according to research.

 * comments
 * share What are ordinary investors doing and where are they looking to buy?


CRANE ON THE CASE: TSB DOWN-VALUED MY HOUSE BY £1.3MILLION WHEN I TRIED TO
REMORTGAGE... AND MADE ME MISS OUT ON A SUPER-LOW RATE

I bought my house in South East London 11 years ago for about £1.7million. I
currently owe around £1.3million on the mortgage, for which I pay around £2,350
per month. Last November, I noticed the extremely low mortgage rates on the
market and decided to remortgage to a five-year fixed rate of 0.89% with my
current lender, TSB. I calculated that this would cost me around £950 per month
- a huge saving. I had the house valued by three estate agents at between
£2.6million and £2.8million, which would give me just under 50 per cent equity
at least. But when I tried to remortgage TSB said my house was valued at
£1.3million: half of what the local agents said and £400,000 less than I paid
for it 11 years ago. It doesn't make sense as property prices are rising fast in
my area. Could they be looking at the wrong house?

 * 8 comments
 * 75 shares TSB down-valued my house by £1.3MILLION when I tried to remortgage


CHANCELLOR'S VAT CUT WORTH £1,000 ON SOLAR PANELS IS DISMISSED AS DOING 'LITTLE
TO HELP' THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS AS INSTALLING THEM COSTS ALMOST £5,000

Rishi Sunak said in the Spring Statement that he would remove VAT on energy
efficient measures such as solar panels, heat pumps and insulation installed for
five years.

 * 93 comments
 * share 'Sunak's VAT cut on solar panels won't help cost of living crisis'


WHETHER ASTRO OR PERFECTLY MANICURED NATURAL TURF, A WELL-KEPT LAWN CAN MAKE A
BIG DIFFERENCE WHEN SELLING YOUR HOME - HERE'S HOW TO SORT YOURS

Spring is in the air - and taking the time to spruce up the garden could add 5
per cent to the value of your home, according to experts.

 * 19 comments
 * 6 shares How to prepare your garden when selling your home




LET THE BEACH BATTLE BEGIN! WOULD YOU CHOOSE AN EMPTY £70K BEACH HUT IN DORSET
OR A PIMPED-UP £57K VERSION IN ESSEX?

Beach huts can range in price significantly from a few thousands pounds to a few
hundred thousand pounds - we take a look at two versions at around £60,000 and
ask which one would you pick? One is a brand new empty shell on sandy Friars
Cliff in Dorset's Christchurch that is on the market for £69,950, (pictured
right) and the other is a pimped-up version in Essex's Walton-on-the-Naze that
costs £57,000 and was built in 2015 (pictured left).

 * 64 comments
 * 11 shares Beach huts for sale: Would you pick the Dorset or Essex one?


DO YOU LIKE TO BE BESIDE THE SEASIDE? FIVE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE DREAM COASTAL
HOMES FOR SALE AROUND THE BRITISH ISLES REVEALED

We revealed some of the most expensive homes for sale around Britain's
shoreline, with price tags ranging from £2.25million to £12.5million.

 * 131 comments
 * 44 shares Here are five of the most expensive homes for sale by the sea


HOMEOWNERS DOING EXTENSIONS FACE EYE-WATERING COSTS AS THE PRICE OF A BRICKLAYER
DOUBLED LAST YEAR: HERE'S HOW TO STICK TO YOUR BUDGET

The average cost of home improvements jumped 61 per cent between January 2021
and January 2022.

 * 714 comments
 * 1 video
 * 14 shares How much building costs have risen and how to stick to a budget




BORIS PROMISES A TENFOLD INCREASE IN ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING POINTS BY 2030:
GOVERNMENT TARGETS 300,000 PUBLIC DEVICES BY THE END OF THE DECADE

The Government has unveiled fresh measures and £1.6billion in new and existing
funding to bolster the charging network from 30,000 to 300,000 devices by 2030
in a report published by the Department for Transport. However, industry
insiders say the target might not go far enough to match demand for plug-in
vehicles in the lead up to the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars from
2030.

 * 404 comments
 * 1 video
 * 29 shares Boris promises a tenfold increase in electric car chargepoints by
   2030


FUEL DUTY: WHAT IS IT, WHEN WAS IT FIRST INTRODUCED, HOW DOES IT IMPACT PUMP
PRICES AND IS IT HIGHER THAN LEVIES ON PETROL AND DIESEL IN OTHER COUNTRIES?

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a 5p-a-litre fuel duty cut in his Spring
Statement. We explain everything you need to know about the levy on petrol and
diesel.

 * 704 comments
 * 4 videos
 * 46 shares Fuel duty explained: What is it and how does it impact petrol
   prices?


DRIVERS CAUGHT HANDLING PHONES GET £200 FINES AND SIX POINTS UNDER NEW 'ZERO
TOLERANCE' RULES - BUT WHAT IF YOU TOUCH A PHONE IN A MOUNT ON THE WINDSCREEN?

Drivers will still legally be allowed to use their phones as sat-navs if they
are secured in a mount on the windscreen - though you can still be punished for
touching a device in a cradle.

 * 2.4k comments
 * 2 videos
 * 221 shares Drivers caught handling phones get £200 fines and 6 points




SIMON LAMBERT: SUNAK'S NATIONAL INSURANCE CUT AND 5P OFF PETROL WILL BARELY EASE
THE COST OF LIVING PAIN - BUT THE OBR'S STARK CHARTS SHOW HOW HARD THAT IS

Was that enough? When Rishi Sunak stood up to deliver his Spring Statement, the
nation awaited news on what he would do to help with the cost of living crisis.
A measure of that came just a few hours earlier when the ONS revealed CPI
inflation had hit 6.2 per cent. That meant Sunak faced a challenge chancellors
haven't seen for three decades: how to placate a nation whose bills are rising
this fast?

 * 86 comments
 * 2 videos
 * 1 share An NI cut will barely ease the inflation pain but that's a tough job


HOUSEHOLDS FACE THE BIGGEST DROP IN LIVING STANDARDS SINCE THE 1950S AS
DISPOSABLE INCOME LEVELS DWINDLE, THE OBR WARNS

Surging inflation is expected to reduce real household disposable incomes by a
'substantial' 2.2% over the next year, resulting in a marked slump in living
standards.

 * 92 comments
 * 1 video
 * 48 shares Britain faces biggest drop in living standards since 1950s, OBR
   says


SPRING STATEMENT IN BRIEF: WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU AND HOW MUCH WILL YOU SAVE OR
PAY EXTRA IN NATIONAL INSURANCE?

Chancellor Rishi Sunak failed to spike the NI rate hike but did raise the
threshold at which it is paid, creating some winners and losers.

 * 198 comments
 * 1 video
 * 162 shares SPRING STATEMENT: What it means for you and your NI bill




BATTERY STORAGE FUNDS CAN PROFIT FROM THE PUSH FOR GREEN ENERGY: INVESTORS ARE
REAPING 5%-PLUS DIVIDENDS FROM MAKING RENEWABLE POWER RELIABLE

A number of investment trusts are targetting an area of the market considered
essential for the future of green power - energy storage. Two of those leading
the way, Gresham House Energy Storage and Gore Street Energy Storage, have
dividend yields above 5 per cent and posted total returns of 23 and 20 per cent,
respectively, over the past year.

 * 72 comments
 * 2 shares How to invest in renewable energy storage funds like GRID


ARE VAMPIRE APPLIANCES SUCKING YOUR CASH? HOW 23% OF YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL MAY
COME FROM DEVICES YOU AREN'T USING

'Vampire devices' - named after the mythical blood-sucking creature - wreak most
of their damage at night, draining power even when not in use.

 * 1.2k comments
 * 2 videos
 * 275 shares Vampire electrical appliances sucking cash from your bank account


MY HEAT PUMPS WORK A TREAT AND SHOULD DRAMATICALLY CUT MY BILLS - BUT THEY COST
ME £25,000 TO INSTALL!

Rishi Sunak is planning to introduce cheap taxpayer-backed loans to help
homeowners install energy efficient measures to combat rising fuel bills.

 * 344 comments
 * 1 video
 * 254 shares My heat pumps work a treat - but they cost £25,000!




HOW TO INVEST IN A ISA TO TRY TO BEAT INFLATION: FIVE FUND AND INVESTMENT TRUST
TIPS, FROM, SAFETY FIRST TO GOING FOR GLOBAL GROWTH

Judging by recent weeks on the stock markets, you can understand why savers
might feel like staying clear of investing. After spending much of the past two
years pushing from one high to the next, markets have endured a tricky three
months. Yet personal finance experts say investing remains one of the most
reliable ways to grow your savings - provided it's done responsibly.

 * 1 comment
 * share Invest to beat inflation: Stocks and shares could offset rising costs


WILL THE CASH ISA MAKE A COMEBACK? AS RATES FINALLY START TO RISE FROM ROCK
BOTTOM, THE TAX-FREE ATTRACTION SHOULD GROW FOR SAVERS

Cash Isas have had a terrible year, with savers taking out billions of pounds.
But with rates on the rise they are beginning to look more appealing.

 * 7 comments
 * 1 share Is a cash Isa now a good investment? Rates rise from rock bottom  


HOW TO SHELTER YOUR SAVINGS FROM THE BIG SQUEEZE: WE'RE FACING A COST OF LIVING
STORM, SO WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO USE AN ISA TO PROTECT AGAINST INFLATION AND
TAX? 

Inflation is running riot, interest rates paid on savings are too low, and
Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine is causing stock market chaos.

 * 193 comments
 * 1 video
 * 22 shares How to use an Isa to protect against inflation and taxes




FAMILIES ARE FEEDING THEMSELVES USING BUY NOW, PAY LATER: NOW NATWEST BECOMES
FIRST HIGH ST BANK TO OFFER THE EASY CREDIT

Like many online shoppers, Student Synthia Gazi (pictured) was first tempted to
use buy now, pay later services to buy clothes. But the controversial lenders
are now touting their credit for everything from food to travel - and critics
fear this easy credit will drag struggling households into debt as the nation
faces a cost-of-living crisis.

 * 1 comment
 * 1 share How families are feeding themselves using buy now, pay later lenders


SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATIONS SOARED 70% LAST YEAR...  BUT HOW EXPENSIVE ARE THEY TO
INSTALL AND HOW MUCH MONEY DO THEY SAVE ON BILLS?

Installers tell Money Mail they have seen a recent increase in customer
inquiries desperate to avoid rising energy prices next month.

 * 184 comments
 * 8 shares How much money do solar panels save on energy bills?


FIRST DIRECT SAYS CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE TO GET A ONE-TIME CODE AND TYPE THEIR
EMAIL ADDRESS IN FULL TO PAY ONLINE AS IT UNLEASHES MORE SECURITY CHECKS

First Direct customers are facing the prospect of an arduous extra security
check in order to make online payments.

 * 82 comments
 * share First Direct customers must type in email AND get a code to pay online

Ad Feature


WE'RE CONSIDERING EQUITY RELEASE TO HELP FUND OUR RETIREMENT, HOW DO WE MAKE
SURE OUR HOME IS PROTECTED AND GET ADVICE? 

We are in our 60s and will be retiring this year. We have paid off our mortgage,
and our home has increased in value substantially since we moved in 25 years
ago. A friend told us that they took cash from their home using equity release,
and we think this might be an option for us, too. How can we be sure that our
equity release provider is trustworthy, and, and that we will be able to stay in
our home no matter what? We also want to be sure that the interest will not
spiral out of control, leaving our family with big bills to pay after we have
gone.

 * comments
 * share We are considering equity release: Which providers can we trust?

SAVE MONEY, MAKE MONEY: TIPS AND GUIDES


HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST (AND CHEAPEST) DIY INVESTING ISA - AND OUR PICK OF THE
PLATFORMS

Choosing the right DIY platform is crucial but a wealth of choice and a variety
of charges can leave investors scratching their heads. We pick some of the best.
We pick some of the best. We also highlight why investing in an Isa makes sense,
as it should protect your hopefully growing investments from tax forever.

 * 246 comments
 * 274 shares How to choose the best (and cheapest) DIY investing Isa




OUR SAVINGS PICKS: THIS IS MONEY'S FIVE FAVOURITE BEST BUY CASH ISAS

We pick our five favourite cash Isas for savers. This is essential Isa reading
and is kept up-to-date throughout the year

 * 406 comments
 * 1 video
 * 55 shares Best cash Isas: Where to get the best cash Isa rates and deals


WHAT NEXT FOR MORTGAGE RATES? INTEREST COSTS ON THE RISE FOR EQUITY-RICH
BORROWERS FOLLOWING BASE RATE INCREASE

Following months of historic lows, mortgage rates are starting to edge up for
many borrowers following a rise in the Bank of England's base rate.

 * 371 comments
 * 1.5k shares What next for mortgage rates?


HOW TO INVEST IN SHARES: YOUR GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL STOCK-PICKING

If you are interested in buying shares or know more about unearthing good
companies and valuing them, read our guide to share investing.

 * 78 comments
 * 1 video
 * 4 shares How to invest in shares: A guide to becoming a successful
   stock-picker


TEN TIPS FOR BUY-TO-LET: THE ESSENTIAL ADVICE FOR PROPERTY INVESTORS

Buy-to-let lost some of its spark in recent years but that might be about to
change as new tax cuts and low mortgage rates have caused landlords to flock
back to the market.

 * 400 comments
 * 1 video
 * 1.8k shares Ten tips for buy-to-let - the essential guide for investors




PREMIUM BONDS WINNERS

Prize Area Value of bond £1,000,000 Devon £2,000 £1,000,000 Cheshire West and
Chester £8,000 £100,000 Derby £25,000 £100,000 Cardiff £15,000 £100,000 Wales
£46,000 £100,000 Central Scotland £21,400 £100,000 Cumbria £1,000 £100,000 Devon
£40,000

More March 2022 winners
View list of March 2022 winners


Advertisement


THIS IS MONEY ON TWITTER

 * > This is Money
   
 * > Simon Lambert
   
 * > Lee Boyce
   
 * > Tanya Jefferies
   
 * > Helen Crane
   
 * > Myra Butterworth
   
 * > Rob Hull
   
 * > Angharad Carrick
   
 * > Mike Sheen
   
 * > Harry Wise
   

   


SAVE MONEY, MAKE MONEY

 * Five of the best cash Isas: Our favourite best buy tax-free savings accounts
    
 * Get a better bank account: Best for switching deals,  interest and perks  
 * How to find the best mortgage rate: Compare the top fixed rate deals    
 * Best savings rates: Savings platforms to manage your money in one place and
   get bonus boosters  
 * How to choose the best (and cheapest) DIY investing platform and stocks and
   shares Isa  
 * The best credit cards rated: Our pick of the top deals for cashback, rewards,
   clearing debt and airline points  
 * How to save hundreds on car insurance: Ten top tips to cut the cost in just a
   few minutes  
 * How to save money on spending abroad: From the best bank accounts and credit
   cards, to taking cash  
 * How to get the best and cheapest life insurance: What to consider and how to
   save money  


THE INVESTING SHOW

 * Has the shift from growth to value kicked in already and what shares could
   profit?
 * BP and Shell shares have bounced 45% in a year and pay big dividends, but
   will they be held back for not being green?
 * Gresham House's Ken Wotton on why he gets stuck in to back small companies
   that can win big
 * The hunt for exceptional companies that bring disruption and big returns:
   Baillie Gifford US Growth's Kirsty Gibson
 * Where investors can profit in the dividend recovery- the firms bringing back
   payouts for shareholders
 * Investing in the best of British smaller companies can pay off in the Covid
   recovery: Georgina Brittain
 * 'Crypto is the poster child of empty calorie speculation': Barry Norrison how
   inflation could affect growth stars, value shares and bitcoin
 * Are Lloyds, NatWest, Barclays and HSBC primed for recovery profits - and will
   investors ever fall back in love with bank shares?
 * Tom Becket: Will investors profit from a Roaring Twenties stock market or
   face a return to low growth with even more debt?
 * How we invest in companies helping the planet: Jupiter Green manager Jon
   Wallace
 * A simple mix of shares, bonds and cash doubled investors' money in five
   years: Baillie Gifford Managed Fund's Iain McCombie
 * Nick Train: 'As long as you're not taking an apocalyptic view, there's plenty
   to be optimistic about'

       
Advertisement
   


MOST READ MONEY

 * Beware the car clones causing misery From mystery parking tickets to buying
   stolen cars and how RAY MASSEY ended up 'in a high speed chase'
 * Are vampire appliances sucking your cash? How 23% of your electricity bill
   may come from devices you aren't using
 * Fuel duty What is it, when was it first introduced, how does it impact pump
   prices and is it higher than levies in other countries?
 * Households face the biggest drop in living standards since the 1950s as
   disposable income levels dwindle, the OBR warns
 * Battery storage funds can profit from the push for green energy Investors are
   reaping 5%-plus dividends from making renewable power reliable
 * The best savings accounts: CPI rises to 6.2% and NO deals come close to being
   inflation busters... Here's where to at least find the best rates
 * Chancellor's VAT cut worth £1,000 on solar panels is dismissed as doing
   'little to help' the cost of living crisis Installing them costs almost
   £5,000
 * City of London retains crown as the dominant financial hub in Europe as
   Brexit fallout fears fail to come to fruition New York holds world's top spot
 * My heat pumps work a treat and should dramatically cut my bills But they cost
   me £25k to install! 
 * How to shelter your savings from the BIG SQUEEZE We're facing a cost of
   living storm, so what's the best way to use an Isa to protect against
   inflation and tax?
 * Should you buy or sell a house on the secret market? The private buying
   agents fixing sales that aren't even advertised 
 * How to invest in a Isa to try to beat inflation Five fund and investment
   trust tips, form safety first to going for global growth
 * BEN WILKINSON: As inflation attacks the nation's savings, it's time to ditch
   the arrogant High Street banks
 * Families are feeding themselves using buy now, pay later Now NatWest become
   first High St bank to offer easy credit
 * DAME ESTHER RANTZEN: Axing landlines and shifting to digital is a betrayal of
   the most vulnerable and many could be cut off
 * Solar panel installations soared 70% last year... But how expensive are they
   to install and how much money do they save on bills?
 * Will the cash Isa make a comeback? As rates finally start to rise from rock
   bottom, the tax-free attraction should grow for savers
 * We want to sell our home Should we set an asking price, try offers in excess
   of, or even for a secretive price on application? 
 * Could landlords see stamp duty surcharge increase to 4% in the Spring
   Statement? Here's what it would mean and the chances of it happening...
 * I've broken up with my boyfriend and want to sell our home fast Should we use
   a 'quick sale' firm offering to complete within one week?
 * I've already built up 48 years of National Insurance towards a state pension,
   so do I need to pay any more? Steve Webb replies
 * A fifth of homes are sold within a week of going on the market Asking prices
   hit another record high




STEVE WEBB ANSWERS YOUR PENSION QUESTIONS

 * My old pension has sent me baffling letters about 'equalisation of the GMP'
   between men and women - please explain!
 * Why are financial advisers trying to charge me so much to transfer my defined
   benefit pension?
 * What's the best way to top up my wife's pension so we can afford to retire at
   the same time?
 * What do I need to save for a decent retirement? I'm 50 and have £60,000 in my
   pension so far
 * How will the Chancellor's support deal on energy bills help pensioners paying
   reduced council tax?
 * I'm taking a 25% tax-free lump sum from my pension, but how will the rest be
   taxed?
 * I've been unable to get a state pension credit for time I couldn't work
   during pandemic - can I challenge this?
 * What should I do about the gaps in my state pension record that the official
   website says it is still 'checking'?
 * How are annual state pension increases worked out because I'm baffled by all
   the separate figures?
 * My 95-year-old mum missed out on council tax benefits for 18 years - how can
   she get her money back?

       
 * Today's headlines
 * Most Read

 * Is this now the best bank account in Britain? Chase launches linked 1.5%
   easy-access savings rate alongside...
 * I'm 77 and paid Safe Hands £3,355 for a funeral plan six years ago - can I
   get my money back? Steve Webb...
 * Santander boosts rate on its easy-access Isa just before the tax year ends
   making it a rare major bank entry...
 * Home hunters warned about the traps of buying off-plan as new figures show
   sales of properties that are not...
 * Can the £1bn Household Support Fund help you pay your bills: What it is, how
   you access cash and what...
 * Could you pay your bills if you couldn't work due to injury or illness? Only
   6% of us have income protection...
 * Is it time to be a patriotic investor AND bag a bargain? As the FTSE rides
   the inflation storm, experts pick...
 * Households urged to take a meter reading on Thursday before the energy price
   cap rise bites to ensure...
 * BUSINESS LIVE: Ted Baker dismisses £250m Sycamore bid; HMT sells £1.2bn of
   Natwest shares; Australian bank...
 * Taxpayers now hold a minority stake in NatWest as the bank buys back a £1.2bn
   stake from HM Treasury - 14...
 * Ted Baker shares fall after fashion retailer rejects second £254m bid from US
   private equity firm Sycamore
 * 'Vampire Kangaroo' snaps up vital part of UK's gas grid: Aussie investment
   bank Macquarie takes 60% stake...
 * Scottish Widows to stop investing in tobacco and cut back on coal as pension
   provider pulls another £1.5bn...
 * Rishi Sunak wants us to think he is a tax-cutting Chancellor but instead he's
   a fiscal drag, says RUTH...
 * Why does HSBC keep moving the goalposts for our angling club? TONY
   HETHERINGTON on bank checks causing small...

 * MORE HEADLINES

 * I'm 77 and paid Safe Hands £3,355 for a funeral plan six years ago - can I
   get my money back? Steve Webb replies
 * Is this now the best bank account in Britain? Chase launches linked 1.5%
   easy-access savings rate alongside paying 1% cashback on purchases
 * Households urged to take a meter reading on Thursday before the energy price
   cap rise bites to ensure they're not overcharged
 * Rishi Sunak wants us to think he is a tax-cutting Chancellor but instead he's
   a fiscal drag, says RUTH SUNDERLAND
 * Could you pay your bills if you couldn't work due to injury or illness? Only
   6% of us have income protection insurance but it could prove vital
 * New York-based buyout giant Sycamore Partners makes £250m bid for Ted Baker
   by tabling 130p per share offer to takeover retailer
 * 'Vampire Kangaroo' snaps up vital part of UK's gas grid: Aussie investment
   bank Macquarie takes 60% stake for £5.8bn
 * BUSINESS LIVE: Ted Baker dismisses £250m Sycamore bid; HMT sells £1.2bn of
   Natwest shares; Australian bank buys stake in UK gas grid 
 * New Poldark era of mining looming as industry veteran Sir Mick Davis set to
   plough £25m into restoring shuttered Cornish tin mine
 * Taxpayers now hold a minority stake in NatWest as the bank buys back a £1.2bn
   stake from HM Treasury - 14 years after the RBS bailout
 * Government set to take 20% stake in new nuclear power plant at Sizewell in
   Suffolk alongside French giant EDF
 * MOST READ IN DETAIL


MIDAS SHARE TIPS

 * MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Reap rewards from loans to fruit farmers with Cordiant
   Global Agricultural Income, set up to increase supply, but keeping costs low
 * MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Palm oil producers have a poor reputation for
   destroying rainforests, but MP Evans' oil is certified as sustainable
 * MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Six superhero stocks that could protect your Isa from
   Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine
 * MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Go defensive - and buy into military firm Chemring, which
   is well-placed to benefit from increased spending by Nato countries
 * MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Babcock sees price target raised as engineer wins
   more fans
 * MIDAS SHARE TIPS: From supermarkets, to BAE and health centres... five stocks
   that'll survive the Russia-Ukraine turmoil
 * MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Gold is the safe haven asset but with the price rising nea
   record highs, should you buy?
 * MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Alert! Nuclear waste can make you richer thanks to
   Avingtrans, the well-run business with a track record of success
 * MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Our battery storage tip Gresham House charges ahead
 * MIDAS SHARE TIPS: BP and Shell have a delicate path to tread to navigate oil
   and gas markets, but as the energy giants cash in, should you too?
 * MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Pod Point is motoring after installing more than 90,000
   electric vehicle chargers across UK
 * MIDAS SHARE TIPS: In these troubled times, fix your finances with Mears Group
   - the social housing repairs firm

       



FUND AND TRUST IDEAS

 * AXA FRAMLINGTON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY: Fund 'can still grow' despite 250% returns
 * PICTET ASIAN EQUITIES: The Asia fund that goes hunting for the best ideas -
   and then bets big on them
 * STONEHAGE FLEMING GLOBAL BEST IDEAS EQUITY FUND: £1.9bn fund's big idea - to
   play the long game
 * FIDELITY JAPAN TRUST: There's been an explosion in entrepreneurship, says
   fund manager with his ear to the ground in Tokyo
 * WAVERTON REAL ASSETS FUND: Backing stocks that can pay dividends from the
   changing way people shop
 * RC BROWN UK PRIMARY OPPORTUNITIES: The minnow making waves from flotations
 * THE BANKERS INVESTMENT TRUST: A steady Eddie with 55 years of rising
   dividends that investors can bank on
 * SCOTTISH AMERICAN INVESTMENT COMPANY: The trust that's delivered a 48-year
   record on resilient dividends
 * JOHCM CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN FUND: Long-term investors have been rewarded and
   returns could rise further despite Covid

       


LATEST: MORTGAGES

 * Homeowners doing extensions face eye-watering costs as the price of a
   bricklayer DOUBLED last year: Here's how to stick to your budget
 * House prices slow slightly but the average home has still risen at a rate of
   £2,000 a month over the past year, official figures show
 * Should you buy or sell a house on the secret market? The private buying
   agents fixing sales that aren't even advertised
 * I've broken up with my boyfriend and want to sell our home fast: Should we
   use a 'quick sale' firm offering to complete within one week?
 * A fifth of homes are sold within a week of going on the market, says
   Rightmove, as asking prices hit another record high of £354,564
 * What the Bank of England base rate rise to 0.75% means for you: Will savers
   finally be rewarded - and does it spell more mortgage misery for homeowners?
 * Tenants face a record squeeze on their finances as rising energy costs and
   steep rent increases are tipped to bring an average combined bill of £18,000
 * Housing targets in jeopardy as number of new-build homes in England drops -
   potentially pushing prices even higher
 * 'Disorganised buyers will miss out': Three in five properties now sell within
   30 days, as competition for homes shows no sign of letting up

MORE HEADLINES

   


LATEST FROM SAVING & BANKING

 * Looking for a better bank? This is Money's pick of the best current accounts
   for interest, perks, packages and overdrafts
 * Santander boosts rate on its easy-access Isa just before the tax year ends
   making it a rare major bank entry into our best buy savings tables
 * Is this now the best bank account in Britain? Chase launches linked 1.5%
   easy-access savings rate alongside paying 1% cashback on purchases
 * I bagged a Platinum Jubilee 50p coin in my change - can I sell it for a mint
   or should I keep hold of it in case its price soars?
 * First Direct says customers will have to get a one-time code AND type their
   email address in full to pay online as it unleashes more security checks
 * Are easy-access savings rates about to surpass 1% for the first time since
   2020? Challengers boost deals but some big banks still stubbornly pay 0.01%
 * The best savings accounts: CPI rises to 6.2% and NO deals come close to being
   inflation busters... here's where to at least find the best rates
 * Best savings rates: Savings platforms to manage your money in one place -
   with easy-access, fixed-rates and notice accounts and bonus boosters
 * Lloyds Bank boasts that it's always 'by your side'... so why is it set to axe
   up to 100 MORE branches?
 * New fraud checks may see your card declined online: Shoppers could need a
   one-time code for every purchase they make on the internet

MORE HEADLINES

   


ANSWERS FROM THE EXPERTS

 * Why does HSBC keep moving the goalposts for our angling club? TONY
   HETHERINGTON on bank checks causing small organisations a headache
 * CRANE ON THE CASE: TSB down-valued my house by £1.3MILLION when I tried to
   remortgage... and made me miss out on a super-low rate
 * Spending £7,500 on a matchmaking agency was a dating disaster... Now I'm out
   of pocket and still lonely!
 * We want to sell our home but should we set an asking price, try offers in
   excess of, or even go for a secretive price on application?
 * Don't be fooled by the Kids Information Centre Limited... this is a scam:
   TONY HETHERINGTON investigates
 * CRANE ON THE CASE: I found out a Russian customer is paying for their Amazon
   Prime using MY card… why won't it cancel the account?
 * My 'bargain' £1,200 horse box was a rotten deal and fell apart after just one
   week, can I get any money back from the Facebook seller?
 * I made a will... but the solicitor holding it at Harraway Law has
   disappeared: TONY HETHERINGTON investigates
 * CRANE ON THE CASE: Brittany Ferries said it would refund my cancelled Covid
   trip - but now won't give back the full fare after my husband died
 * ASK TONY: Travel firm left us stranded when the package holiday hotel turned
   out to be on different island!

MORE HEADLINES

   


TOURIST RATES

Currency Rate Buy now Updated 28 Mar 2022. Euro 1.17 Buy Now US Dollar 1.29 Buy
Now Australian Dollar 1.702 Buy Now Barbados Dollar 2.466 Buy Now Brazilian Real
4.893 Buy Now Bulgarian Lev 2.24 Buy Now Canadian Dollar 1.589 Buy Now Chinese
Yuan 8.699 Buy Now Croatian Kuna 8.795 Buy Now Czech Koruna 28.7 Buy Now Danish
Krone 8.612 Buy Now Hong Kong Dollar 9.949 Buy Now Hungarian Forint 438.6 Buy
Now Icelandic Króna 160.6 Buy Now Indian Rupee 87.48 Buy Now Indonesian Rupiah
17481.0 Buy Now Israeli New Shekel 4.01 Buy Now Jamaican Dollar 163.1 Buy Now
Japanese Yen 157.6 Buy Now Jordanian Dinar 0.8732 Buy Now Kenyan Shilling 143.0
Buy Now Malaysian Ringgit 5.236 Buy Now Mexican Peso 26.68 Buy Now New Taiwan
Dollar 34.5 Buy Now New Turkish Lire 18.48 Buy Now New Zealand Dollar 1.835 Buy
Now Norwegian Krone 11.11 Buy Now Polish Zloty 5.454 Buy Now Romanian New Leu
5.671 Buy Now Russian Rouble 75.14 Buy Now Singapore Dollar 1.729 Buy Now South
African Rand 18.63 Buy Now South Korean Won 1511.0 Buy Now Sterling 1.0 Buy Now
Swedish Krona 12.08 Buy Now Swiss Franc 1.187 Buy Now Thai Baht 42.55 Buy Now
UAE Dirham 4.672 Buy Now Vietnamese Dong 27664.0 Buy Now


LATEST ON HOUSEHOLD BILLS

 * Can the £1bn Household Support Fund help you pay your bills: What it is, how
   you access cash and what essentials it can be spent on
 * Households urged to take a meter reading on Thursday before the energy price
   cap rise bites to ensure they're not overcharged
 * Homes for Ukraine: Do homeowners and landlords welcoming refugees into their
   properties need to tell their mortgage lender and insurer?
 * The failure of more than 30 energy suppliers since the beginning of last year
   will add up to £2.4bn to UK household bills
 * Solar panel installations soared 70% last year...  but how expensive are they
   to install and how much money do they save on bills?
 * Are vampire appliances sucking your cash? How 23% of your electricity bill
   may come from devices you aren't using
 * My heat pumps work a treat and should dramatically cut my bills - but they
   cost me £25,000 to install!
 * Price of Asda pasta surges 56% in six months, while avocados increase by 19%
   as inflation hits the supermarket basket
 * Households face a water bills hike of 10% to add to the misery of soaring
   energy costs - here's how to save water
 * Thousands of elderly people who bought pre-paid funeral plans from provider
   Safe Hands in danger of not getting funerals they paid for

MORE HEADLINES

   


LATEST FROM CARDS & LOANS

 * Families are feeding themselves using buy now, pay later: Now Natwest becomes
   first High St bank to offer the easy credit
 * Could a balance transfer credit card help you clear debt for less in the cost
   of living crisis? Borrowers can fix at 0% for 33 months rather than pay 26%
   interest
 * 'It was either BNPL or starve': Citizens' Advice warns of Buy Now, Pay Later
   debt trap as one in twelve now use short-term credit to cover groceries
 * Credit card and loan borrowing rises at fastest pace since start of pandemic
   amid growing pressure on household budgets
 * How to save money on spending abroad: From the best bank accounts and credit
   cards, to taking cash - how to get the most bang for your buck
 * Barclaycard launches 'most generous' credit card now on offer: Here's how it
   could net you 25,000 bonus Avios points
 * The financial adviser who spent her way to a £30,000 debt... and the lessons
   she learnt that can get your finances on track
 * Death of the credit card? Almost half of under 35s don't have one with many
   turning to buy now, pay later instead
 * Britons more likely to buy now, pay later for big ticket items such as a
   washing machine or sofa rather than be tempted into spreading the cost of
   clothes

MORE HEADLINES

   


LATEST FROM INVESTING

 * SMALL CAP IDEAS: Cornish Tin set to reopen ancient British industry and to
   kickstart it via crowdfunding
 * An extra ten years of investing can more than double your money: Six ways
   starting early can help grow your investments
 * Majority of investors are unaware they can vote on how a company is run… but
   younger shareholders are leading the way in taking action
 * Is it time to be a patriotic investor AND bag a bargain? As the FTSE rides
   the inflation storm, experts pick the top funds and trusts to invest in the
   UK
 * MIDAS SHARE TIPS: The legal eagles of DWF have spread their wings and are on
   the up and up and its stock should rise
 * INVESTING EXPLAINED: What you need to know about Absolute Return Fundsand
   their aim to deliver positive returns whatever the market conditions
 * ARGONAUT ABSOLUTE RETURN: Fund manager Barry Norris loves the challenge of a
   bear market as he goes long and short to make a profit
 * Could a spot of retail therapy beat the inflation blues? The supermarkets,
   retailers and brands whose shares could prove resilient in tough times
 * MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Growth expected at insolvency practitioners FRP and
   Begbies Traynor

MORE HEADLINES

   

   


TOP CALCULATORS

 * Historic inflation: how the value of money has changed The effects of
   inflation since 1900 and what past prices mean today
 * True cost mortgage tool - rates AND fees Compare the cost of rival fixed and
   tracker rate mortgages
 * Monthly or lump sum savings calculator How much a regular monthly savings
   scheme could make or a lump sum could be worth.

 * NordVPN - Internet security
   Get a discount code to save on your internet security
 * Currys - Offers and deals
   Discover a range of promo codes on kitchen appliances
 * Vodafone - Mobile and broadband
   Get great deals on existing and new plans
 * Samsung - Mobile upgrades
   Upgrade your phones with these mobile deals
 * Dell - Computers and laptops
   Click through to score Dell's discount code
 * HP - Save on Electronics
   Score discounts on desktops and laptops





 * Money Home
 * Business
 * Saving & banking
 * Investing
 * Bills
 * Cars
 * Holidays
 * Cards & loans
 * Pensions
 * Mortgages
 * Experts
 * Buy-to-let

Sitemap Archive Video Archive Topics Index Mobile Apps Screensaver RSS
Text-based site Reader Prints Our Papers Top of page
Daily Mail Mail on Sunday This is Money
Metro Jobsite Mail Travel Zoopla.co.uk Prime Location



This is Money is part of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday & Metro media group

dmg media Contact us How to complain Advertise with us Contributors Terms Do not
sell my info Privacy policy & cookies
Advertisement

Advertisement

 
 
 

DMG Media and its partners process, store and/or access information on a device.
We and our partners process, store and/or access data such as IP address, unique
ID and browsing data based on your consent to display personalised ads and
content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development,
use precise geolocation data, and actively scan device characteristics for
identification.
Sometimes we and/or our partners don’t rely on your consent but rely on
legitimate interest to process your data. Click Cookie Settings below to see our
partners, why they rely on legitimate interest and how you can object.
Control how your data is used and view more info at any time via the Cookie
Settings link in the Privacy Policy.
Cookie SettingsGot it