July 29th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

Finding a cheaper energy deal is set to get even easier for households across the UK thanks to a new update on a free mobile app.

The Renewal app’s new energy-switching feature lets households see which providers are available at their property and how much they could save by switching. Users just have to add their home address to the app, which will then estimate how much they could save on their annual bill by changing providers.

Renewal from Go.Compare is a free app that allows customers to store all their insurance details in one convenient place. Users can quickly check what they’re covered for, find out who their insurer is, and access important contact and claims information whenever they need it. The app also sends reminders when policies are due for renewal, helping customers stay on top of their insurance and shop around for a better deal at the right time.

Now, the app is also aiming to help users find a better price on their utility costs through this new energy feature. The addition comes in light of Ofgem increasing the energy price cap by 13% this month, which saw the average annual energy bill rise by £221 for a typical household.

Matt Sanders, Go.Compare’s money spokesperson said: “With many households continuing to feel the impact of higher energy bills, consumers are understandably looking for simple ways to reduce their monthly outgoings so that their money goes further.”

“We’re delighted to bring another useful addition to Renewal from Go.Compare to help with this. Our new energy-switching feature makes it easier for users to explore the providers available at their property and see how much they could save by switching. By helping users compare their options in just a few clicks, the feature will support homeowners in finding a better deal and minimise the impact of rising energy costs.”

Matt added: “Renewal is all about helping consumers stay on top of important household expenses and renewals. Alongside the new energy-switching feature, users can also keep track of their insurance policies, and other details like their vehicle’s MOT status, in one place.”

The Renewal app can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.

July 24th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

Digital assets have grown quickly, opening up new chances for investors and businesses. But this growth also brings big challenges for accounting and reporting. As these assets become more common, knowing how to track, value, and report them correctly is no longer just for specialists; it’s a basic need for good financial health and following rules.

Understanding Digital Asset Basics

To account for digital assets, you first need to know what they are. This term covers many things that exist digitally and come with a right to use them. This includes cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and stablecoins. Many tax authorities define digital assets as any digital representation of value recorded on a cryptographically secured distributed ledger. For accounting, each type of asset might need different handling depending on its features and how the company uses it.

Why Traditional Accounting Falls Short

Old accounting systems were made for a world of regular money, physical goods, and central banks. They struggle to handle the unique features of digital assets. Cryptocurrencies change value very quickly, making it hard to value them consistently. Unlike a bank account with a clear balance, a digital wallet can hold many different assets, each with a price that changes every second. Plus, the sheer number of transactions, like trades, transfers, and staking rewards, can quickly overwhelm manual record-keeping, leading to mistakes and incomplete information.

Key Principles of Digital Asset Accounting

New rules are emerging for digital asset accounting to fix the problems with older methods. The main idea is to keep a clear, verifiable record for every transaction. This involves:

• Tracking the Cost Basis: Recording the exact price paid for an asset. This is crucial for correctly figuring out capital gains or losses when the asset is sold, traded, or spent.
• Measuring Fair Value: Regularly updating the value of holdings to show current market prices, especially for businesses that need to present an accurate financial picture.
• Proper Classification: Deciding if a digital asset should be treated as an investment, inventory (for traders), or an intangible asset on the balance sheet. This classification affects how it’s valued and reported, marking a new era in tax planning and financial strategy.

Automating for Accuracy and Efficiency

Trying to manually track thousands of transactions across many exchanges and wallets is not just slow; it’s almost impossible to do accurately. This is why specialized software is so important. Modern digital asset accounting platforms automate the whole process. They can connect directly to exchanges and blockchain addresses to automatically import transaction data. These tools match transfers, calculate gains and losses using common methods like FIFO or LIFO, and create the detailed reports needed for taxes and internal accounting. Using dedicated crypto accounting software not only saves a significant amount of time but also helps you maintain accurate records, automate reconciliation, and generate the reports needed to keep up with evolving regulatory requirements.

Preparing for Future Financial Audits

As regulators pay more attention to digital assets, being ready for an audit is vital. An audit trail for digital assets must be perfect, tracking every asset from when it was bought to when it was sold. Just having a final number for gains or losses isn’t enough; you need to be able to show how you got that number. This means keeping detailed records of every transaction, including dates, times, values in regular currency at the time of the transaction, and any fees. Using an accounting platform that creates a permanent, auditable log of all activity offers strong protection if an audit happens. It’s also smart to work with an accountant or firm that has proven experience with digital assets.

Managing your digital asset accounting correctly is a proactive step toward financial transparency and security. Adopting the right tools and principles now helps you build a strong foundation that supports growth while reducing risk.

July 23rd, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

If you aren’t in control of your finances, then it’s reasonable to claim that you aren’t in control of your life or your destiny. Your long-term spending priorities, like a deposit for a house, or a pension pot, might end up being undermined by short-term, frivolous spending decisions.

So, how can we solve this problem? Let’s take a look a few key tips for staying in control of your spending.

Understand Where Your Money Is Going

Before you attempt to cut costs in a meaningful way, you’ll need an idea of what those costs amount to. Get a budget together for the average month. Review old bank statements, and try to divide spending into essential and non-essential. Fortunately, many modern digital banking services will provide tools that make this much easier to do.

Cut Household Bills Without Cutting Comfort

Of course, just because a give expense is ‘essential’ doesn’t mean that you can’t lower it. By comparing services and costs from different energy, broadband, and mobile phone providers, you may find that you can save money without compromising on the quality of the service you enjoy.

Shop Smarter Rather Than Spending Less

Often, you might find that spending big on quality items might help you to spend less in the long term. Price comparison services, discounts, and loyalty schemes might all offer scope for savings. The same goes for the second-hand market, which can often lead to major savings, too. Second-hand jewellery often represents much greater value than the pieces you buy fresh off the rack.

In short, cutting down on spending doesn’t always mean that you need to give up the things that you really appreciate. If you go into the task of reviewing your spending thinking that you’re going to end up giving things up, then you’re likely to put it off – perhaps indefinitely. But the truth is that this is rarely necessary.

Find Everyday Savings That Add Up Over Time

Often, it’s not the major items of spending that make the biggest difference, but the small, seemingly minor ones. It’s easy to leave savings on the table when it comes to things like food shopping, transport, and energy usage, because these areas of spending so often amount to a myriad of smaller costs.

For example, when it comes to spending on energy, you might find that changes in your heating habits make a big difference to the amount you spend over the course of a given winter. Try to keep the temperature on your thermostat low, and to dial down the temperature in rooms that don’t need it, like hallways and spare bedrooms. In the long term, the savings that you accrue will add up.

Finally, you might consider performing a financial ‘health check’ every so often. This is a review that will ensure that your spending remains aligned with your goals, and that you haven’t slipped back into bad habits.

July 15th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

The broadband experts at Go.Compare have explained consumers’ rights and shared the steps they can take to leave their contract following the news that Ofcom is fining Virgin Media for preventing contract cancellations.

The industry regulator Ofcom announced earlier in the week that it has fined Virgin Media £28 million for breaching its consumer protection rules, following an investigation.* It cited that millions of calls made by customers between January 2022 and September 2024 were likely mishandled to delay or prevent a cancellation.

In response to the news, Catherine Hiley, broadband expert at Go.Compare, said: “We all have the right to leave a broadband provider at any time, even if you’re mid-contract – although this will likely incur an early termination fee. Providers also can’t try to delay or prevent a cancellation to get you to stay, as this goes against Ofcom’s rules, which state that cancellation procedures must not act as a disincentive to customers who wish to leave. If you believe this has happened to you, you can make a complaint.

“Start by following your provider’s complaints process and gathering as much evidence as possible to support your claim, including records of previous communications and details of when you contacted them. If your complaint hasn’t been resolved after eight weeks, or if your provider issues a deadlock letter before then, you can escalate it to an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme. They can investigate the complaint independently and may award compensation where appropriate.

“You can also report your experience to Ofcom. While it doesn’t investigate individual cases, consumer complaints can help it identify wider issues and may lead to enforcement action, as we’ve seen with Virgin Media this week.

“It’s also worth remembering that, while leaving a contract early will usually come with a charge, you may be able to leave without paying an early termination fee if your provider isn’t delivering the minimum level of service it promised and the issue can’t be resolved.”

This follows the news that 43% of UK households now feel broadband is the connected expense that has increased the most over the past five years, according to Go.Compare’s latest research.** It also found that the average UK household now spends £774 a year on broadband, mobile and digital subscriptions combined.

In addition to this, Catherine Hiley shared the following steps customers can take to cancel their broadband contract:

• • “Check if you’re mid-contract: You may have to pay an early termination fee to cancel if you’re mid-contract, so be sure to check this and consider if you’re willing to pay it before cancelling. You might prefer to wait until the end of your contract, when you can leave for free. You can also leave for free if you’re still within the provider’s cooling off period.
  • “Check your provider has been delivering the service promised: You can leave for free if they haven’t, even if you’re mid-contract, but you will need to attempt to resolve the issue with them first. Use a broadband speed checker to get proof that the speed promised isn’t being delivered, taking screenshots of the results. Use this to complain to your provider about their service, keeping a record of each time you contacted them. If the issue still isn’t resolved, you can then use all of this as evidence to leave penalty-free.
  • “Compare deals to switch providers: If you decide you’re cancelling after this, your next step should be to compare other providers so that you can find a deal to replace them. Ofcom’s One Touch Switch policy means you no longer have to tell your current provider about a switch – your new provider does this for you. Once you’ve found a deal you prefer you can simply agree to switch with your new provider. You might even be able to find a deal that will give you some money towards any early cancellation fees. So it’s well worth shopping around, even if you’re not out of contract yet.
  • “Cancelling without switching: If you’re not switching providers and just want to cancel your contract, you will need to get in touch with your provider directly. Each provider has a different process for this, so you’ll need to check the process for yours.”

More information on cancelling broadband contracts, including details on how to cancel deals with the major providers, can be found on Go.Compare’s website: https://www.gocompare.com/broadband/broadband-cancellation-rights/

July 15th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

July 8th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

New research by Nationwide suggests 2026 summer holiday plans are being reshaped due to global uncertainty, with many opting to delay or cancel trips, stay in the UK or keep options open.

This is backed by Nationwide’s own spending data, which highlights a -1.2% fall in average holiday spending year on year. Customers spent an average of £498 on holidays between January and April last 2025, compared to £492 in the same period this year, reinforcing signs of more cautious consumer behaviour.

The poll of 2,000 people, conducted in May, found that almost a quarter (23%) say global events have already changed their holiday plans. Among those affected, the most common responses include delaying decisions (28%), increasing flexibility (22%) and booking UK holidays instead of travelling abroad (23%). Others are choosing cheaper trips (17%) or shorter breaks (16%), while some 15 per cent are cancelling holidays altogether (15%), or switching to day trips (15%).

Concerns linked to Iran and fuel costs are influencing decisions, with 18 per cent of those whose plans have changed saying this is a reason they are not going away this year. Overall nervousness remains high, with over four in ten (41%) cautious about booking holidays and a third holding off or keeping plans flexible.

Mark Nalder, Payments Director at Nationwide, said: “Our latest research shows that uncertainty this year is having a clear impact on people’s holiday plans. It could also be we are seeing the rise of the ‘delaycation’ as many choose to delay booking holidays, while a growing number are cancelling plans or opting for UK staycations to keep a tighter grip on their finances and budgets. Quick transfer features and budgeting tools like those on our app can be a big help when balancing spending and manage money when plans change”.

June 29th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

June 25th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

Growth can be exciting as an SME and something that is the target for most, but it is important to be aware of the financial risks of growth. There are a handful of financial risks that can threaten sustainable growth, so this post will offer practical guidance on how to monitor and mitigate these risks before they become serious problems. Keep reading to find out more.

Cash Flow Pressure & Working Capital Risk

Growth can put pressure on cash reserves even when sales are increasing. Expanding often requires upfront investment, but income can be delayed due to extended payment terms, which creates a risk. This is why effective cash flow forecasting is key for projecting income and outflows so that you can create a plan to meet your obligations. Keep out for warning signs, such as reliance on overdrafts, delayed supplier payments, or shrinking cash reserves. 

Customer Concentration, Bad Debt, & Commercial Disputes

It is also a risk to rely too heavily on a small number of loyal customers as you experience growth. There can be a strong financial impact of late payments, unpaid invoices, and contractual disagreements. This is why businesses need to establish credit control measures, customer due diligence, and clear contracts and procedures for recovering debts when disputes arise. Dispute resolution lawyers should be utilised for contractual disagreements, unpaid invoices, or supplier disputes before they escalate into significant financial losses.

Compliance, Governance, & Insolvency Risk

SMEs should also be aware of the financial consequences of failing to meet statutory obligations, including financial penalties and reputational damage (which can be hard to recover from). To avoid these, be sure to file tax returns on time, ensure accurate financial reporting, and understand compliance with tax requirements. Directors need to understand their responsibilities if the business shows signs of insolvency, including persistent losses, mounting debts, and creditor pressure.

Fraud, Cybersecurity, & Operational Disruption

Fraud, cybercrime, and operational disruption are major threats and can be costly in more ways than one. Payment diversion scams, phishing scams, and supplier fraud can lead to immediate financial losses, while data breaches and system outages can lead to downtime and erode customer trust. To protect your SME, implement strong internal controls and cybersecurity measures, including staff training, secure networks, and regular system updates. Business continuity planning is also important for minimising any disruptions.

These are the main financial risks to be aware of for growing SMEs. Growing your business can be exciting and take you to new levels of success, but it can also introduce wide-ranging risks that need to be understood and mitigated.

June 17th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

New data from Santander UK’s Scamtracker has revealed the devastating cost of fraud on male customers, who have had £22 million stolen by scammers in the first half of 2026, 50% higher than the figure reported by women (£14 million).

Santander’s quarterly Scamtracker, which charts volumes, values and trends in authorised push payment scams, found that men handed over the equivalent of £100,000 to scammers every day during the first six months of the year, with the biggest hitters by value being investment and purchase scams.

The bank’s data shows an alarming £14 million stolen from male account holders through investment scams over the last six months, more than double the amount reported by female customers in the same period (£6 million). Among those investment scams reported, cryptocurrency and property proved some of the most frequent investment opportunities that resulted in scams being reported.

The second biggest hitter was purchase scams, with men reporting over £4 million worth of scams after attempting to buy something that did not then exist or was fundamentally different to how it was advertised. The source of these scams were: Facebook (23% of cases), WhatsApp (9%), TikTok (5%), and Instagram (4%), with other customers reporting the scam begin on Autotrader, Gumtree, VivaStreet, Checkatrade and Amazon.

Men have also reported over £1 million stolen through impersonation scams: one in 10 of which were “Hi Dad” impersonation scams, where fraudsters targeted potential victims via WhatsApp, text or an AI-generated phone call, pretending to be their child requesting money or to make a payment.

Chris Ainsley, Head of Fraud Risk Management at Santander UK said: “As a parent myself, I know how busy life gets – juggling kids, work and a social life – and fraudsters often target people when they know they might not have time to properly consider what they’re being asked to do. Whether it’s an investment opportunity that sounds too good to be true, or a text or phone call out of the blue from your child asking for money, we are urging people to stay alert and stay safe ahead of this Father’s Day.”

Tips to stay alert and avoid falling for scams:

• Always take time to think before making a payment, especially if it’s a large amount of money. Speak to someone you trust first, like a friend or family member.
• Pay extra attention to the warnings provided when making a payment. They’re in place to help you bank safely and avoid being scammed.
• Always take time to complete extra checksbefore paying for goods online. This is to make sure the person and the payment are genuine. This can be reading reviews, researching companies or websites, and checking the person or company is who they say they are.
• Anyone can be easily impersonated, and criminals can make the caller ID, email address or name look exactly like the genuine caller. If you get an email, text or call, check it’s genuine by phoning them back on a known and trusted number.
• Don’t allow anyone remote access to your devices. Criminals can ask you to click on a link or download an app which will give them control over your device.

June 16th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

If you’re sitting there thinking that your office is perfectly safe, then think again. Offices can actually be home to all sorts of hazards that you wouldn’t expect, and these spaces tend to be very different from domestic environments. Even if you aren’t operating heavy machinery or handling toxic chemicals, there may be numerous hazards in your office that compromise the health and safety of all of your staff.

Poor indoor air quality

Poor indoor air quality is one of the biggest issues that modern offices and workplaces experience. As carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from synthetic carpets and cleaning agents build up, they can affect people. Airborne particulates circulate through the HVAC system, leading to so-called sick building syndrome (SBS).

Sick building syndrome sounds like something that has been made up, but research shows that elevated CO2 levels can lead people to experience headaches and reduced cognitive function, preventing them from being as productive as you’d like them to be. Therefore, you’ll want to take safety issues in your office seriously before they get out of hand.

Poor wiring

Inadequate wiring in your office is another safety concern. If your electrical system isn’t up to scratch, it can compromise your fire safety, even if you have sprinklers and an evacuation policy. 

Faulty wiring is often an issue when the circuits in your building are not sufficient for the currents that you want to pull through them. Many companies try daisy chaining extension cords and attaching multiple computers to the same plug socket, but this is not advisable. The more current that goes through the wire, the more heat that’s generated, and the more likely it will set fire to the surrounding casing.

Trip and fall hazards

Trip and fall hazards are a significant concern in modern offices, simply because of how complex they are. Often, there are wires everywhere or loose charging cables running across walkways, which puts people at risk. Slips, trips, and falls are not just a problem for keeping people present at your business. They can also lead to litigation and legal fees in the future. The main culprits are things like:

• poorly lit transition zones
• smooth flooring surfaces near entryways

When these become slick or people can’t see them properly, falls become more likely. Do an audit and make sure that you’re not at risk.

Sedentary workers

Simply being sedentary is another issue in many offices. When workers sit at a desk for eight hours, it leads to progressive musculoskeletal strain. This doesn’t have the drama of gruesome industrial accidents, but it can lead to things like intradiscal pressure in people’s lumbar spines. Repetitive strain injuries are also a problem, with people constantly clicking their mice and using them in the same way every day.

Cybersecurity threats

Lastly, your office might not be as safe as you think it is because of cybersecurity threats. Many hackers have given up trying to overcome modern digital security systems, so they’re literally reading sensitive data off the monitors of your staff, sometimes from across the room using sensitive equipment. Only make sure authorized personnel are allowed into your office spaces.