After a year of lockdown measures, our gardens and outdoor spaces have become far more important. In fact, more than half of people say they get a good deal of pleasure from their garden. With spring arriving, now is the perfect time to invest in yours. Our latest guide aims to help you get the
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A year ago, Rishi Sunak delivered his first Budget just as the pandemic began to take hold. While his £30 billion package sounded significant, it’s a sum that has paled into insignificance over the last 12 months as the chancellor has spent £280 billion shoring up the UK economy. As the chancellor acknowledged in his
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On Wednesday 3 March, Rishi Sunak delivered his second Budget as chancellor. The Budget outlines the state of the economy and the government’s spending plans. The World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic on 11 March 2020, the same date as the 2020 Budget. Since then, the pandemic has led to lockdowns, restrictions, and an
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The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have made a significant impact on many people’s finances in recent months. According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, published in the Guardian, almost nine million people have had to increase their borrowing just to make ends meet. Financial disruptions can cause large amounts of stress, which can
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The current tax year will end on 5 April 2021, a date when many allowances and tax breaks will reset. In some cases, it will be your last chance to use them. Making use of appropriate allowances can help you get the most out of your money. Our guide explains seven key allowances you should
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If your estate could be liable for Inheritance Tax (IHT), gifting is one solution for passing on wealth while reducing the bill that could be appropriate for you. Our latest guide explains the basics of IHT and what you need to consider if you want to make gifting part of your long-term financial plan. The
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Buying a house is likely to be the biggest financial commitment you ever make. So, it’s important that you get it right, otherwise, it could end up costing you hundreds or even thousands of pounds. While finding the home of your dreams is an exciting time, the truth is that the house-buying process can be
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The social distancing measures put in place to slow the spread of coronavirus, unsurprisingly, affected the housing market. Viewings of properties were halted, estate agent offices closed and, worried about uncertainty, some buyers pulled out of purchases. In April, as lockdown restrictions were in place, property transactions fell 53%. Some of the sales that stalled
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Over the last couple of months, life as we know it has changed beyond recognition. In early March, we were drinking in pubs, working in offices, and dropping our children off at school in the morning. Now we’re working from our spare room, homeschooling our kids, and observing strict social distancing guidelines to avoid spreading
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Last week, Rishi Sunak has delivered the first Budget of the new Conservative government. With a large majority behind him, the theme of the Chancellor’s speech was to deliver the promises made in the party’s election manifesto or, as Sunak himself repeatedly said, to ‘get things done’. Of course, the coronavirus outbreak has significantly changed
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