• Weary firms gear up to hit the Brexit pause button – for a second time

    Manufacturers face a repeat of March’s deadline tensions and worst-case planningBritish manufacturers are preparing for a re-run of the tense build-up to a Brexit deadline as the country awaits a new prime minister who threatens to leave the EU without a deal.The UK is currently scheduled to leave on 31 October, forcing manufacturers to restart preparations for their worst-case scenario six months after the last scheduled exit date. Continue reading...
  • The government is fuelling homelessness by freezing benefits as rents soar | Andy Street

    It’s time to address a policy putting thousands at risk of living in poor accommodation or on the streets
    • Andy Street is the Conservative mayor of the West MidlandsI left the job I loved at John Lewis to run to be the Conservative mayor for the West Midlands because I believed I could help restore pride in the region. That meant expanding the economy, and two years later, business growth is strong. However, alongside the cranes and new offices, rough sleepers are to be found in door
  • Tell us about your favourite canal boat shop

    There are more licensed boats using Britain’s canals than at the height of the industrial revolution – and barge-based businesses are booming too. Tell us which canal shops float your boat
    As city centres are emptying waterways are becoming not just an alternative place to live but an attractive business space too.Are waterways becoming a new high street? Floating traders now run all manner of businesses from their boats – from grocery shops to record stores and restaurants to
  • Our car boot is too small – should we get a roof box?

    Our family is outgrowing our hatchback and either need more storage or a bigger carEvery week a Guardian Money reader submits a question, and it’s up to you to help him or her out – a selection of the best answers will appear in next Saturday’s paper.Our family is fast outgrowing our hatchback car and we need to add some space for holiday trips. A roof box looks favourite but I have also seen roof bags that are much cheaper at £55. Do these work, or do we need to buy an e
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  • Mortgages: switch now to cut your payments

    Homeowners could save £200 a month thanks to competitive rates and higher prices, says lenderMore than £26bn worth of mortgage deals are due to mature in October, the largest monthly volume of the year, according to new figures released this week.So if one of those thousands of home loans is yours, you might want to start thinking about looking for a new deal now – particularly as you may be able to make a chunky saving on your monthly payments. Continue reading...
  • I turned detective to lift the lid on mystery mobile phone charges

    I found murky world where users can be charged for services, sometimes unaware that they signed upYou might want to check your mobile phone bill for mystery payments after reading about how I was stung for nearly £240. My vexing tale goes like this.I vaguely recall receiving some text messages on my phone about learning German. Continue reading...
  • 'I had my leg amputated, but now I’m an athlete and motivational speaker'

    Jamie Gane, 25, on how he quit a full-time job for a role in which he can help inspire others Name: Jamie Gane
    Age: 25
    Income: £13,000 a year
    Occupation: Motivational speaker, athlete, accountant and personal trainerI was 22 when I had my right leg amputated. Severe plantar fasciitis meant I’d been a full-time wheelchair user since I was 12. By the time I was 16 I just wanted my leg off. It took six years for the doctors to operate as they insisted on waiting until I was older and in
  • Cat food: should you spend more on posh brands?

    We look at the options from the budget to the pricey and ask: what’s the difference?Something of a revolution is under way in terms of what we eat, with growing numbers of people opting to go vegan, vegetarian or flexitarian. But what about the food we give to our pets? What’s in it, and is it worth spending more on premium brands?My two cats are generally not fussy eaters, but last year, after one became ill, I started to look into the ingredients in their food. Continue reading...
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  • As the pound dips, how to get best deal for your holiday cash

    No-deal Brexit worries have hit the pound. Here’s a guide to getting the best summer deals for your eurosThe timing couldn’t have been much worse. Ahead of yesterday’s school break-up and the big holiday getaway, the pound dipped this week to its lowest value against the euro since the start of the year.While it’s great news for tourists coming to the UK, Brits taking their summer holidays abroad in the next few weeks face bar bills that might make even Peter O’Tool

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