September 16th, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

A new study has estimated that approximately 3.1 million policyholders in the UK are at risk of having their home insurance cancelled or voided, all due to making simple errors. In the last year, around 7% admitted to doing something that could lead to their policy being cancelled, equal to millions nationwide who could be left without protection when they need it most.

The figures come from Go.Compare home insurance, which applied its latest survey results to ONS data to calculate the number of people at risk of losing their policy. The home insurance comparison site said several factors can cause a policy to be cancelled, including missing payments or failing to give accurate or up-to-date details.

The most common error is falling behind on home maintenance tasks, which just under 4% of policyholders admitted to. Insurers expect properties to be kept in good condition, and can cancel a policy if the home isn’t properly looked after.

Approximately 1.19% didn’t update their insurer about damages to the property, while 1.01% said they didn’t inform them about a change of circumstances, like a new job or occupant. A further 1.15% didn’t tell their insurer about home improvement works, and 0.23% simply didn’t give all the information they should’ve. The same percentage admitted that they’ve missed some payments.

Yet, most of these policyholders know these errors can cause their insurance to be cancelled. Over three-quarters (78%) admit they’ve knowingly done something that could get their policy cancelled, equal to 2.4 million policyholders nationwide. This is despite the fact that it could leave them especially vulnerable if their property suffers any damage.

Just under a quarter (22%) didn’t know the consequences of these errors, equal to 693,575 policyholders unaware that their home insurance could be cancelled.

Go.Compare said that having a policy cancelled can also have a long-term financial impact, as some insurers will ask if you’ve had a previous policy cancelled when determining your premium. The comparison site’s figures show that home insurance costs are almost twice as high for those who’ve had a policy cancelled.

The median price paid for combined buildings and contents cover is £230 for those who haven’t had insurance declined in the past, but jumps to £449 for those who have. Similarly, the median for buildings-only cover is £205 for those who haven’t had a previous policy cancelled, but £450 for those who have, while contents-only cover increases from £65 to £133.

Nathan Blackler, home insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “Insurance policies often require certain conditions to be met to remain valid. So, in some instances, insurers can reject a claim or cancel your policy altogether, and you would have to cover any costs yourself. Yet, many policyholders are knowingly taking this risk.

“If your policy is cancelled, you’ll likely see higher insurance costs in the future, so it’s critical you do what you can to ensure your cover remains valid. For example, regularly check that all the information is up to date. Every policy is different, so make sure you familiarise yourself with the conditions and exclusions so you’re aware of any restrictions that apply to you.

“Keep your policy documents safe so that you can check them when you need to, and make a note of the key points if it helps. This way, you can be sure that you know how to keep it valid and avoid any unwanted costs in the future.”

More information about cancelled home insurance policies can be found on Go.Compare’s website.

September 16th, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

Unlocking home equity can be a useful way to access funds based on the value of your home. The amount of mortgage you have outstanding impacts the amount you have access to, and there may be other limits depending on the type of scheme you opt for. However, using the funds for renovation, for example, can increase the value of your property. From unlocking certain loans to how equity impacts your future, here is what you need to know.

Establish The Value of Your Property

Aside from remortgaging and lending against assets, there are a few ways you can access the equity of your home. Of course, it begins with understanding what you have to work with.

Exploring survey and valuation services in your area can help you get a good idea of the value of the property so you can secure equity based on its value. For example, a home worth £150,000 with an outstanding mortgage of £70,000 has a potential of £80,000 equity.

Loans for Unlocking Home Equity

A home equity loan provides funds with a fixed interest rate and one off lending fee: 

• You can access a large lump sum of money that can be used to renovate the home.
• A fixed rate means you can anticipate repayments, making it easier on your finances.

Lifetime mortgage

A lifetime mortgage delays repayment until after death or moving into long-term care. However, the interest is added to the loan month by month, and the debt is settled when the house is sold at a later date.

Home reversion

You can sell a portion of your home to a company that will pay you a lump sum. You can stay at the property without paying rent, and you don’t pay back the money until the house is sold.

The potential risks

These schemes can be helpful, but they come with risks. Mostly, the risk is in the accrual of debt, which can add up quickly, reducing the home’s value and reducing future family inheritance.

Accessing the equity of your home through loan schemes is a good idea on paper.  However, there is still some risk, mainly in how the debt can rise because of interest, and a loss of total home value.

Avoiding Some of the Risks

Of course, there is never an absence of risk when accessing any type of funding scheme, especially when it comes to mortgages and properties. The biggest risk you face with some of these, no matter how useful, is losing your house. That could be a disaster that ends in foreclosure. While you can’t avoid risk, you can offset it somewhat. Obviously, ensure you have the ability to pay any loans you take out, and try not to take out the maximum available amount.

Always Seek Professional Advice

Even looking into one of these schemes is enough to make your head spin! There are so many terms, facts and figures that reading through them is tiresome and tedious. So what can you do? Fortunately, there are experts out there who can help you navigate the cold waters of financing. If you are unsure about anything, it is best to seek professional advice. When doing so, be aware of fees, though, and ask as many questions as you need to for the info you need.

The Future of Unlocking Home Equity

The average homeowner who has already released equity from their property has seen a 7.5% average rise in home value over the past five years. However, equity release can have a major impact on property value, which can in turn affect your future finances:

• You can use the money from equity release to renovate and increase the home value.
• However, more debt now can affect future financial applications.
• The type of loan you choose can negatively affect your budget and repayment terms.

Timing It Right

Is there a good time or bad time to release home equity? The short answer is no, there isn’t. Everyone has a different situation, and there are so many variables that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. The important things to consider are your personal needs and financial goals. Ask if you really need to, what you will use the money for and whether you can realistically afford it.

Summary

Understanding your home’s value is the first step to unlocking home equity. From there, you can make decisions regarding which equity release product(s) to consider. 

September 15th, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

If you are a freelancer just starting out or are having trouble getting things off the ground, it is important that you build your business foundations. Once you have your core pillars in place, you will find that it is smooth sailing from there. 

To grow your business, you are going to need to deploy a variety of strategies in different areas of your business to build and support your growth. Marketing is going to be a key part of this, but what most people fail to do is set themselves up in other areas, such as finances, skills, market positioning and customer support. If you only focus on marketing your business, even if you do attract clients, you are not going to have the foundation to serve them and scale your business. 

The right strategies will enable you to drive the right people to your business more efficiently and cost-effectively, build a loyal following with repeat customers and word-of-mouth referrals, make the right investments back into your business and scale your business easily. 

To support you on your business journey, here are some of the most important strategies you need in place to grow your business. 

1 Build your brand

You need to have a clear, solid and consistent brand that stands out in your market. Start by defining your niche, which is a specialist and specific area within your industry. Define your core purpose, mission and values, and craft your target audience through market research and conversations with people in your industry. This will help you pull together a story and personality for your business, as well as a visual identity. Your branding is what customers are going to see, and it needs to resonate with them and be memorable from your competitors. This needs to be clearly defined and created, so it can be used consistently throughout all of your products, services and marketing. If you don’t have one, or keep changing it, people are not going to get to know you or trust you. 

2 Organise your finances 

Finances are a vital part of your business. While you might want to set up your brand and hit the ground running, you are quickly going to come up against challenges if your finances aren’t in order, and even worse, you may face costly penalties if your finances are not organised correctly or compliantly. Finances don’t just help you build your business, but they fuel all areas, including marketing, as well as ensure you are legally compliant in your country. You need to have a clear budget and forecast to get your business going and growing. You need to consider how you can build financial resilience, manage risks and irregular income, avoid debt, and plan for your taxes. Taxes are one of the most critical parts of your business, and it may be that you work with a specialist tax consultant to support you in this area.  

3 Ensure integrated business operations

Depending on the size of your business and your budget, the operations of your business may differ. Regardless, it is vital that you have the right tools and systems in place so that your business, customer service and workflows all run smoothly and efficiently. Consider what tasks can be automated and outsourced, so you are not overwhelmed and no bottlenecks are created. 

 In-house tools like HubSpot are especially beneficial at this stage. HubSpot provides a free plan that enables you to start building robust cross-channel marketing, analytics, and customer care. As can be seen from this HubSpot plan comparison, these benefits don’t quite compete with paid offerings such as between-software integrations, but they can help you to streamline as you grow, without the financial outlay seen from many other integration-based alternatives. 

4 Prioritise your customers 

Your customers are the heart of your business, and it is vital that you treat them as such. When you prioritise them, you are putting them at the centre of all your tasks, from product/service development to marketing campaigns. This is essential, as everything you are doing is for them. Speak to them, send out surveys, run focus groups and have conversations with your target audience and learn as much as you can about them, so you can really get specific with all areas of your business. Some businesses make the mistake of thinking they know best, which is only going to waste time and money. Not only should you integrate this into development and marketing, but also the customer support that you offer. Make sure you listen actively, learn their needs and solve their problems. Be consistent and always offer high-quality, valuable and efficient service. 

5 Strategically market your business

Marketing is how your business gets seen by your target audience. Without effort in this area, you are going to find business very slow and difficult to come by. However, marketing doesn’t just mean random ads and social posts. There needs to be a solid strategy behind it, built with all your market research incorporated into it. This will help you to really refine your strategy and speak directly to your target audience. If you don’t, you risk wasting budget and effort casting too wide a net. Instead, you want to drive intentional traffic to your website. You should define clear goals, find out what channels will meet your target audience and determine your unique value proposition. Develop your messaging according to your target audience and your business mission, and then craft specific campaigns across the relevant marketing channels, for example, social media. Leveraging these platforms and search engine optimisation (SEO) will help you to build a sustainable and organic stream of traffic.

6 Network and position yourself as an authority 

Networking is key in any industry. The more you put yourself out there, speak to different people, attend and host events and get involved in communities, you will find that your recognition, trust and authority skyrockets. Crafting your business image as a thought leader and an authority in your industry will not only give you recognition, but will help build long term trust and drive people right to your business. It will support all of your marketing campaigns and help you get more eyes on your business.

It is difficult to start and run a business, let alone be seen in your industry. Use these vital strategies to hit the ground running and build a business you can be proud of.

September 15th, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

A new study has revealed that the UK’s broadband users could be missing out on up to £1.2 billion worth of savings, simply because they aren’t switching providers regularly enough. It found that users can save an average of £58 on their annual broadband bill by switching to the cheapest deal available for the same speeds when their contract runs out.

Despite this, over three-quarters (77%) of broadband users don’t switch as often as needed to maximise savings, equal to 21 million households across the country. As a result, the nation is missing out on a fortune of broadband savings.

The research comes from Go.Compare broadband. It estimated how many households could switch providers more often by applying its latest survey figures to ONS data. It then calculated the average maximum saving if they switched to a cheaper package offering the same speeds, based on its internal sales data.

The comparison site says that the optimum time to switch is at the end of a broadband contract, which will be around once every one or two years for most users. Based on this, it recommends that Brits start to compare deals around 30 days before their current contract ends.

But, only around a fifth (23%) of users routinely change their provider every year or when their contract ends, and almost a third (32%) admitted that they’ve never changed providers.Older users are especially unlikely to perform this routine switch, with just 18% of over-54s saying they do so, compared to just over a quarter (26%) of under-35s.

Surprisingly, lower-income households were found to be less likely to switch providers, despite the potential savings on offer. Two in five (40%) of those on a lower income stated that they’ve never switched providers, compared to a quarter of higher-income homes. This means that those struggling the most might be missing an opportunity to cut costs.

Matt Sanders, broadband expert at Go.Compare, said: “Things like introductory rates and mid-contract price rises are commonplace in broadband deals, so you’re more likely to see costs creeping up if you stick with the same provider for a long time. This means you can usually find a cheaper deal by comparing packages when your contract is up, without having to settle for slower speeds.

“The best time to compare deals is around a month before your contract ends, as this means you’ll avoid paying any early exit fees. Changing providers is much more straightforward these days, too, as Ofcom launched its ‘One Touch Switch’ process last September. When you buy a deal from a new provider, they’ll tell your current provider that you’re leaving, so there’s no need to be put off by the thought of switching being a hassle.”

More statistics about switching broadband providers can be found on Go.Compare’s website.

September 12th, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

You know that feeling when you order something online and it arrives looking, well, pretty questionable? Like the logo looks like someone whipped it up in Microsoft Paint, the packaging is giving “Amazon box with a bit of tape,” and then you’re left wondering if you just wasted your money. Honestly, none of this is exactly confidence-inspiring, right? It’s like businesses that do that don’t even want to bother with elevating their business. So what’s even the deal with that in the first place?

Well, that’s what happens when businesses cut corners on branding. They think they’re saving cash, but really they’re whispering to customers, “Hey, don’t take me too seriously.”Okay, maybe it’s not that direct, but it still gives a clear message, and once people clock that, it’s hard to win them back.

Bad Branding Hits Your Wallet Pretty Hard

For starters, customers don’t sit there analysing your brand like it’s a case study. Why would they? They’re not making a pro and con list. Instead, they’re going with gut instinct. Does this look trustworthy? Does it look like someone’s put effort into it? Well, if the answer’s no, they’re already moving on to the next option before you’ve had a chance to pitch yourself.

Oh, and it’s not just about losing one sale either. In fact, cheap-looking branding can chip away at your reputation. In that case, you’re spending way more time and money trying to convince people you’re worth it. Basically, repairing trust costs a whole lot more than just getting the branding right to begin with. It’s just not worth it to mess up from the beginning, either.

Looking Polished isn’t that Expensive

Now, this isn’t exactly saying you need to splash out on embossed packaging or a designer who charges the same as a new car. Sure, that’s what luxury brands do, but expectations for them aren’t the same as they are for you and your business (well, most likely). But you do need to look like you care. And yeah, like what was already mentioned, customers notice the details. They notice if your logo looks the same on your packaging as it does online. They notice if your stuff feels put-together instead of slapped together.

But in all seriousness here, it doesn’t take a fortune to nail this. Even small touches can make you look ten times more professional. Something as simple as rectangle stickers on packaging instantly makes it feel intentional instead, and customers like stickers anyway, well, good-looking ones at least. It just shows you’re actually putting in an effort.

There’s the Hidden “Trust Tax”

Well, when your branding looks cheap, people assume your product is too. That’s pretty harsh, right? So, that’s the hidden cost no one talks about. You end up lowering your prices, offering discounts, or bending over backwards just to convince people to buy. It’s not exactly a great place to be. But flip it around, though, and good branding does the opposite.

You Can Spend Smart and Cheap

The whole “cheap now, pay later” thing applies big time in business. It’s a principle you’re just going to have to forever keep in mind because saving a few cents on branding might feel clever in the moment, but if it makes customers question you, it’s going to cost you far more than it saves. To sum this all up here, strong branding doesn’t have to drain your budget. It just has to make customers feel confident choosing you.

September 12th, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

Ofcom has reported that 1.6 million people have already used its new One Touch Switch process to move broadband or landline provider, making it quicker and simpler than ever to shop around for a better deal.

But, according to financial wellness platform Money Wellness, millions of low-income households are still missing out on even bigger savings because they don’t realise they could qualify for discounted broadband and phone social tariffs.

Social tariffs are specially discounted deals available to people on certain benefits, such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some disability benefits. They can cost as little as £12-£20 a month, which is often half the price of standard packages. And could save households around £200–£250 a year.

Yet take-up remains low. Of the 4.3 million eligible households, only around 220,000 (5.1%) are currently signed up. That means millions are still paying over the odds.

Thomas Gibbons, a money adviser at Money Wellness, said: ““It’s brilliant to see so many people taking advantage of Ofcom’s One Touch Switch. Switching has never been easier. But we’re worried too many low-income households are being left behind. Social tariffs could make broadband and phone bills genuinely affordable, yet most people who qualify don’t even know they exist. We speak to hundreds of people every day who have never heard of them or understand how they can help reduce their bills.

“With the cost of living still tight, we’d urge everyone to check today if they qualify for a social tariff. It could save you hundreds of pounds a year, and switching couldn’t be simpler.”

While major providers such as BT, Virgin Media, Sky, and Vodafone offer discounted plans for eligible low-income households, not all providers have introduced social tariffs. Availability can also vary by location. And some smaller or regional providers, for example Quickline, KCOM, and YouFibre, may offer social tariffs that are not widely advertised.

Money Wellness is urging households not to miss out on support that could help ease the pressure of rising bills.

Gibbons adds: “Take just half an hour this week to check what tariff you’re on – it could save you hundreds of pounds a year. If you’re on a low income or receive means-tested benefits, such as Universal Credit, there’s a good chance you qualify for a social tariff. If you’re unsure where to start, speak to your current provider first; they can often help you switch to a cheaper deal before you even need to look elsewhere. If they don’t offer a social tariff, you can find a complete list of providers who do on Ofcom’s website. And if you need to switch, just contact the provider you’d like to join, and One Touch Switch will handle the process for you. It’s really straightforward and easy to do.”

September 10th, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

A new study has revealed that 1.3 million UK households could be missing out on a cheaper broadband deal simply because of forgetfulness. The research found that over three-quarters (77%) of broadband users don’t switch providers as regularly as needed to maximise savings. Of these users, 6% said they don’t switch more often because they just forget to look for better deals.

As a result, these households could be missing out on an average saving of up to £58 on their yearly broadband bill, if they switched to the cheapest deal available for the same speeds. This means users are leaving up to £76.6 million worth of savings up for grabs nationwide.

The research comes from Go.Compare broadband, which applied the results of its latest survey to ONS data to estimate how many homes are forgetting to switch regularly. It then compared how much Brits pay for their broadband to its internal sales figures to calculate how much could be saved by switching.

Women in particular are twice as likely to forget to look out for cheaper broadband deals. Around 8% of women who don’t switch regularly gave forgetfulness as a reason, compared to 4% of men. Younger users are also more likely to make this error, as one in 10 under-35s who don’t switch regularly stated that forgetfulness was a reason why. Just 4% of over-54s make the same mistake.

While many users cited forgetfulness, convenience was the most common reason for not changing providers more often. Of those who don’t switch regularly, around two in five (39%) gave this reason, saying it’s easier to keep their current provider, despite the introduction of Ofcom’s One Touch Switch process last year.

A similar percentage (37%) said they don’t switch if their current provider has been highly reliable. A smaller proportion (16%) admitted they didn’t think they’d be able to find a cheaper deal, despite the high potential savings on offer. Others said their provider delivers good customer service, or that their package includes a TV deal they want to keep, both of which were picked by 15% of those surveyed.

However, many users said they will change if they are unhappy with their provider for some reason. Just over a fifth (22%) said they usually switch when their provider increases prices, while one in 10 said they do so if their service becomes too unreliable. A smaller percentage (2%) said they would switch if their provider starts slowing down their speeds.

Catherine Hiley, broadband expert at Go.Compare, said: “Things like introductory rates and mid-contract price rises are commonplace in broadband deals, so you’re more likely to see costs creeping up if you stick with the same provider for a long time. This means you can usually find a cheaper deal by comparing packages when your contract is up, without having to settle for slower speeds.

“The best time to compare deals is around a month before your contract ends, as this means you’ll avoid paying any early exit fees. Of course, it can be easy for this to slip your mind, so it’s worth setting a reminder on your phone or calendar for when it’s time to look over deals.

“Changing providers is much more straightforward these days, too, as Ofcom launched its ‘One Touch Switch’ process last September. When you buy a deal from a new provider, they’ll tell your current provider that you’re leaving, so there’s no need to be put off by the thought of switching being a hassle.”

More statistics about switching broadband providers can be found on Go.Compare’s website.

September 10th, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

In the food industry, success doesn’t just come from branding, pricing, or even presentation. It starts with your ingredients. Whether you’re running a bakery, a beverage company, or a larger scale food production facility, the quality and consistency of your ingredients have a direct impact on your product, your reputation, and your bottom line. 

For instance, choosing the right type of sweetener, like invert sugar syrup, can influence taste, shelf life, and customer satisfaction. Let’s take a look at why sourcing the right ingredients is one of the most important choices you’ll make in your food business.

1. The quality of your ingredients impacts product consistency. One of the most critical elements of running a food business is consistency. Your customers expect the same great taste and texture every single time they buy your product. So if your ingredients vary in quality or composition, your product will too. And that’s a quick way to lose loyal customers. Using a consistent ingredient like invert sugar syrup, which has a reliable sweetness profile and stability, helps to maintain uniformity across batches. This is especially important in packaged foods and beverages where texture, sweetness, and appearance need to be consistent.
2. Ingredients improve shelf life. Shelf life is a key factor for any food business, especially if you distribute your products over long distances or store them for extended periods. Choosing functional ingredients can improve how well your product holds up over time. Take invert sugar syrup as an example. Again, it’s not just a sweetener. It helps to retain moisture, and using the right ingredients can reduce your rates, lower return rates and improve customer satisfaction.
3. Your ingredient choices affect production efficiency. Your ingredients don’t just influence your final product, but they also impact your production process. Some ingredients are easier to store, mix or measure, and others may require special handling or more labour intensive processing. Choosing high quality, functional ingredients can streamline your operations. For example, liquid sweeteners are easier to blend and dissolve compared to granulated sugar, which will save time and energy during production.
4. Customers do care about what’s inside. Today’s consumers are so much more ingredient savvy than they ever have been. They read the labels, they research sourcing, and they care deeply about what goes into foods that they eat. If your ingredients don’t align with your brand’s promises, you risk losing customer trust. Sourcing the right ingredients shows that you care about quality and transparency along with the health of your consumers.
5. Better ingredients protect your brand. If something goes wrong with an ingredient, whether it’s a contamination issue, poor quality, or inconsistent supply, it damages the reputation of your brand, which you could be avoiding. Choosing trusted suppliers and proven ingredients help to mitigate that risk. A reliable ingredient from a reputable source can mean fewer production issues and happier customers. 

September 5th, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

Capital on Tap surveyed over 250 UK business owners and 1,000 British consumers to understand how people are using credit and how credit habits differ between business owners and consumers.

• 46% of business owners don’t have a business credit card, with 54% of consumers actively avoiding them

• Small business owners spend over £1,900 per month on employee-related expenses alone

• Brits spend nearly £400 per month on credit cards towards holidays and travel

• Over three-quarters of Brits aged 18-24 have maxed out their credit card

• High interest rates or fees are the biggest blocker to credit card usage

For many businesses and consumers, using credit cards is a practical and helpful way to manage everyday cash flow, build credit scores, and spread costs. A new survey conducted by Capital on Tap of 250 UK business owners and 1,000 British consumers revealed that 36% of business owners have never owned a business credit card, and 54% of consumers said they actively avoid using credit cards.

The survey also revealed the reasons behind these stats, as well as showing how attitudes towards credit cards vary by business industry and across generations.

You can read the research in full here: https://www.capitalontap.com/en/blog/posts/the-uks-attitude-towards-credit/

Small business owners spend an average of £1,903 per month on employee-related expenses alone

For business owners, cash flow management is the main purpose of a credit card, with 80% highlighting this as their reason for use. But how much are small business owners spending on their credit cards?

Employee-related expenses such as payroll and employee perks rank as the biggest expenditure for small businesses, with an average of £1,902.90 spent each month on these costs. This is followed by raw materials (£1,707.50) and professional services (£1,429.40). Interestingly, businesses that have operated for over a decade invest more in professional services, spending an average of £2,076.70 per month in this area.

The survey also explores how different industries engage in credit cards, with the building and construction industry topping the list: nearly two-thirds (65%) of owners in this sector state they use a credit card. At another end of the scale, just 23% of personal care business owners currently use business credit cards.

Brits spend an average of £389.20 per month on credit cards towards holidays and travel

The survey also explored how the general population uses credit cards and their spending habits. Brits rely on their credit cards the most for holidays and travel, spending nearly £4,670.40 a year on this.

The second biggest spending area is rent and utilities (£318.20), followed by insurance (£244.70).

Over three quarters of Brits aged 18-24 have maxed out their credit card

The survey highlights how age plays an important role in attitudes toward credit cards and debt. Of all respondents, 53% have maxed out their credit card at some point, a figure that increases to 78% among 18-24 year olds.

However, the older generation appear to be more cautious, with just 31% of 65 or over maxing out their card and only 6% missing a credit card payment.

High interest rates or fees are the biggest barriers to credit card usage

Despite the survey highlighting the advantages of credit cards with 63% of business owners stating that perks and rewards are their main attraction towards credit,there is still a shared sense of uncertainty among both business owners and consumers. Specifically, 34% of business owners and 31% of consumers report that high interest rates and fees are a concern.

For consumers, worrying about overspending is the biggest barrier to owning a credit card, with 36% stating this as their main concern. This is followed by concerns about debt (33%).

While nearly a third of consumers (31%) prefer to pay upfront using methods like cash, bank transfers, or savings, this is less of a concern for business owners, as only 21% cite it as a reason for hesitating to use credit cards.

Alex Miles, Chief Operating Officer at Capital on Tap, explains that the idea that credit cards mean taking on debt is one of the biggest credit myths: “The key is to spend within your means. If you’re new to using credit, consider setting a lower credit limit to help manage spending. It’s also wise to integrate your card into your monthly budget and set up a direct debit to automatically repay your balance on time. That way, you stay in control without the stress.”

September 5th, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

With the cost of living still squeezing household budgets, many people feel their monthly salary disappears almost as soon as it arrives.

According to Christie Cook, Managing Director of Retail at Hodge Bank, making your money go further isn’t about cutting out everything that brings you joy, it’s about finding the right balance and being more intentional with your spending.

“People often think financial progress comes from big, dramatic changes like cancelling holidays or never eating out.

However, small, consistent tweaks to your everyday habits can have a much bigger impact over time. By making your salary work harder for you, you can enjoy today while still planning for tomorrow.”

• Start with a payday plan

“When your salary lands, consider deciding exactly where it’s going, before you spend a penny. You can do this by moving a set percentage into a savings account or separate ‘essentials’ pot for bills and food.

This ‘pay yourself first’ approach could help to ensure your must-haves and future goals are covered before everyday spending starts. You’re effectively making savings and security a non-negotiable part of your budget, rather than an afterthought.”

• Time your big purchases

“Not all spending needs to be immediate. From electronics and furniture to seasonal clothing, retailers have predictable discount cycles and end-of-season sales. By planning ahead and waiting for these windows, you can often save 20–50% on major purchases.

That’s money that can be redirected towards savings, debt repayment, or experiences you truly value, and it helps your monthly salary stretch further without reducing what you buy.”

• Make use of work-related perks

“Many people don’t fully explore the benefits their employer offers, yet these offers can be worth hundreds of pounds a year. Common perks include discounted gym memberships, cycle-to-work schemes, season ticket loans, and subsidised canteens. Others may offer retail discount platforms or wellness allowances. It’s effectively free money that can reduce your outgoings and help you reallocate that cash elsewhere.”

• Turn small spends into bigger wins

“While cutting small spends out of your routine entirely might not be the best option, things like your daily coffee, snacks, or lunches can amalgamate to higher spends. For example, £5 spent three times a week adds up to nearly £800 a year.

By consciously swapping just a few of these for homemade options, you could free up a lump sum to put towards something bigger, such as a holiday, home upgrade, or emergency fund. This way, you’re still enjoying life’s small pleasures but aligning them with larger, more rewarding goals.”

• Review your regular outgoings quarterly

“Subscriptions, memberships, and forgotten direct debits can slowly chip away at your salary when forgotten about. Setting aside time every three months to review your bank statement and cancel anything you no longer use is a simple but effective way to reclaim extra cash.

Even if you only find £20–£30 a month in unused services, there’s still a saving to be made when streamlining your subscription outputs, without making any lifestyle sacrifices.”

Maximising your salary isn’t about cutting out things you enjoy, it’s about making sure the money you work hard for is spent in ways that truly matter to you.

Even small changes can add up to a big difference, helping you feel more in control and more confident about your financial future.