Easter is a time for family, food, and a bit of a breather – but it can also bring unexpected costs. Between school holidays, days out, chocolate eggs and big meals, it’s easy to overspend without realising. To help you stay on track, we’ve pulled together some practical Easter money saving tips so you can…
April 2025: The Money Changes You Need to Know About April brings the council tax rise 2025 that will impact millions of households — here’s what you need to know. Whether you’re managing a tight budget, juggling bills, or just want to stay ahead of the curve, here’s a clear breakdown of what’s changing this…
Worried about the energy price cap increase 2025? From April 2025, the UK energy price cap will rise again, pushing the average household energy bill up to £1,849 per year. With energy costs continuing to put pressure on household budgets, many are looking for ways to reduce their bills and access financial support. If you’re…
Christmas toy appeals for families in need provide vital support during the holiday season, ensuring every child has the chance to experience the joy of opening a gift on Christmas morning. If you or someone you know is struggling this festive season, many organisations across the UK offer free toys and support for families in…
Understanding the Debt Crisis in Northern Ireland In Northern Ireland, a growing number of people rely on food banks, due to increasing poverty and financial challenges. Indeed, this trend underscores the urgent need for effective debt management. Most notably, young adults aged 18-25 are increasingly seeking food support. The Role of the Trussell Trust Jonny…
New research from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has found that while many are struggling to meet financial commitments 7.4 million people were struggling to pay bills and credit repayments in January 2024, down from 10.9 million in January 2023.
According to new research by Compare the Market, the annual cost of household bills is expected to decrease by an average of £350 year-on-year starting April 2024. The analysis includes energy, water, home insurance, motor insurance, and council tax costs.
Debt Awareness Week aims to shed light on the challenges individuals encounter while dealing with various types of debt and to emphasise the importance of seeking help to manage their finances effectively.
Latest Bank of England data has highlighted that mortgage defaults and missed payments on credit cards and loans both surged at the end of the year, and are expected to keep rising.
According to a new survey from Nationwide, 84% of people expect this January to be the toughest yet financially due to Christmas spending added to debt from the cost of living crisis.
New research by Lowell has found that over a quarter (28%) more people think they will have any Christmas debt paid off by the end of February when compared to last year.
Debt can be a significant source of stress and anxiety for many people. Studies have shown that there is a strong link between mental health and debt.
In a recent study conducted by Mind, the UK’s largest mental health charity, statistics have come to light regarding the impact of increasing mortgage costs on people’s mental health. The research revealed a concerning connection between rising mortgage expenses and a decline in mental well-being, highlighting an issue that has been made even worse by…
Millions of households in England face a 5% rise in April, with bills in the rest of the UK also expected to rise sharply.
A quarter (26%) of couples argue about money at least once a week; around 5% say they argue about finances every day according to new research.
One in five people (over 12 million) are borrowing to pay for food and other essential bills, with half doing so for the first time according to research.
New consumer research from Go.Compare Energy has revealed that a sixth (16%) of UK households won’t be putting up their Christmas lights this year, to save on energy costs.
Almost half (47%) of the Uk population struggle to talk about debt with family and friends, new research by Go.Compare Loans has revealed
Soaring energy costs and rising food and fuel prices are set to put an extra burden on families’ budgets over the school holidays, which begin this week with more parents being forced to turn to borrowing to make ends meet over the summer according to new research.
Struggling parents can apply for financial support for their children’s school uniforms. This may not apply to you but please share with friends and family that may be struggling.
Grocery bills are set to rise by £271 a year, and many of us are looking at ways we can make a saving.
The latest figures from the Insolvency Service have indicated that personal insolvencies in England & Wales decreased by 18.5% to 9,409 in April 2022 compared to 11,550 in March.
Debt Awareness Week is an annual campaign that aims to encourage people to speak up and seek advice quickly to ensure their debt problems don’t spiral out of control.
Follow our tips and advice for straightforward ways to save energy, lower your bills and reduce your carbon footprint. Whether you’re a homeowner, a private or social renter, or you live with your parents, there are lots of things you can do.
Just when you’re starting to recover from the extra money you spent at Christmas, along comes Valentine’s Day, which for many is another pressure to spend money that you don’t have.
Stress can come in many different forms, acute, episodic, chronic stress can be the result of different situations. Workplace stress, personal stress and psychological stress are all quite common. However, there is one that is less commonly talked about and that is financial stress.
Charity, Age UK is calling for urgent action as research by the company shows over 80 per cent of over-65s think the Government should step in to help poorer older people.
Buy now pay later (BNPL) has taken the online shopping scene by storm thanks to platforms like Klarna, Clearpay and Laybuy. Banks, both traditional and disruptors, are also embracing this type of lending with products like Monzo Flex and Barclays Partner Finance.
Blue Monday, considered to be the most ‘depressing’ day of the calendar year, falls on the third Monday of January. In 2022, this will be Monday, January 17.
Health and fitness-related goals are usually at the top of the list in Jan, but what about financial goals and resolutions. Your financial health is just as important to evaluate.
Latest statistics from the Insolvency Service have shown that Northern Irish business insolvencies increased by 29% whilst personal insolvencies doubled.
The team at Refresh would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Opening times during the festive period can be found here.
New research by GoCompare has revealed the impact that soaring household energy prices are having on consumers’ plans to decorate their homes this Christmas.
Latest figures from the Insolvency Service have indicated that personal insolvencies increased by 9.2% to 9,954 in September 2021 compared to August’s figure of 9,118.
Personal insolvencies in England & Wales increased by 0.2% to 9,106 in August 2021 compared to July’s figure of 9,090 and were 42.7 % higher than August 2020.
900,000 people are still expected to be on the scheme when it finishes on 30th September. As a result, huge uncertainty surrounds what might happen next.
One of the easiest ways to spend money unnecessarily and unknowingly is by automatically renewing your car insurance policy.
The latest monthly figures from the Insolvency Service have indicated that personal insolvency numbers across England & Wales fell by 7.8% to 9,079 in July
The impact of the pandemic hits families hard with a third of those with children struggling to afford everyday goods.
New research from Yolt, has revealed that over one in six (16%) UK adults never review some of their key household expenses.
School uniforms can become a costly expense, but struggling parents may be able to claim up to £200 to help cover this expense.
33 percent of women, compared to 19 percent of men, admitted they would not be financially stable in the event of a marriage breakdown, according to Fidelity International.
A summary report from the Money Charity highlights the current state of UK personal finances.
The phenomenon of wedding debt is a fairly modern and underreported one. What’s more, the problem seems to get worse with each passing year.
Debt in today’s society is rife and there has been an abundance of research carried out in relation to it, research has found that one in seven people have hidden debt from their partner.
The latest figures from the Insolvency Service have indicated that personal insolvency numbers across England & Wales fell by 14% in May 2021.
If you are made redundant, it’s important to know your rights. You can only be chosen for redundancy fairly — never based on your age, gender, disability, or mental health status.
If you are in debt, there are various techniques the court can use to force you to pay back what you owe. One of these techniques is a County Court Judgment (CCJ).
The latest figures from the Insolvency Service have been released for April 21. Figures are lower when compared to 2020 but there has been a month-on-month increase this year.
More people will be able to access the debt solution, giving them a fresh start, as a result of the changes announced today, which will come into force at the end of June.
Temporary relief from Council tax, rent and other forms of debt arrears have been introduced as the “Breathing Space and Mental Health Crisis Debt Respite Schemes” are launched by the Government.
Hundreds of thousands of people struggling with debt problems will be supported through a new debt respite scheme that launched today (4 May 2021).
A quarter of young people making Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) repayments haven’t been able to pay for food, rent or household bills
Nearly a third (31%) of credit cardholders have been unable to repay their balance in full each month since the pandemic began.
New research from Lowell as part of Debt Awareness Week has revealed that seven in ten people don’t discuss their debt with anyone.
This week we are encouraging people to take The First Step towards getting debt help, by opening up the conversation around debt.
If you’re struggling to meet regular repayments, a debt management plan (DMP) can take some of the pressure off.
Both debtors and creditors are legally bound by this arrangement and must comply with what is set out in the proposal..
Experian’s free Boost service, which launched last week, lets people share details of some everyday transactions. This then allows Experian to create a “boosted” credit score.