Financial news

• Five people break down their wellness budgets: ‘incredibly expensive and time-consuming’

  07-05-2025 18:00 via theguardian.com
  Groceries, fitness classes and therapy all go under the wide umbrella of health expenses – and it all costs moneyWhat does it take to be well? The answer varies from person to person. For some, it may require prescription medication and yoga classes; for others, it could be a vegetarian diet and regular doctor visits. One thing is certain: it costs money.Americans spend more than $6,000 (£4,500) per person a year on wellness, according to the Global Wellness Institute. This makes the
  
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• The Reserve Bank played it safe and didn’t cut interest rates in April – and households suffer as | Greg Jericho

  07-05-2025 17:00 via theguardian.com
  As we focused on the election, the latest retail trade figures came out – and they stunk. Another reason why the RBA should have cutAustralia news live: latest politics and federal election updatesFull federal election results: live Australian Senate seat countSee our full coverage of the Australian electionGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe latest retail spending figures show that households continue to do it tough and that the Reserve Bank of Australia was wro
  
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• How are you supposed to handle cold callers nowadays? You can’t even slam the phone down | Adrian Chiles

  07-05-2025 16:48 via theguardian.com
  I’m being plagued by a particularly pushy estate agent. I’ve tried blocking them, reasoning with them, even barking at them. And still they keep coming back for more …Every breath I take, and every move I make, every bond I break, every step I take, they keep phoning me. This is a chain of London estate agents, well known to be – and doubtless proud of the accolade – the pushiest of a pushy breed. I bought a flat through them more than 10 years ago and I’ve h
  
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• Disability benefit cuts to hit 700,000 families already in poverty, DWP forecasts show

  07-05-2025 16:00 via theguardian.com
  Exclusive: Internal government forecasts obtained by the Guardian reveal ‘truly shocking’ effects of planned cutsUK politics live – latest updatesThe government’s planned disability benefit cuts will hit 700,000 families who are already in poverty, according to internal Department for Work and Pensions forecasts obtained by the Guardian.The figures, sourced under the Freedom of Information Act, are in addition to the projected 250,000 people who will be newly driven below
  
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• Woman wins £30,000 compensation for being compared to Darth Vader

  07-05-2025 12:04 via theguardian.com
  Croydon employment tribunal rules NHS worker Lorna Rooke suffered workplace ‘detriment’Comparing someone at work to the Star Wars villain Darth Vader is “insulting” and “upsetting”, an employment tribunal has ruled.A judge concluded that being told you have the same personality type as the infamous sci-fi baddie is a workplace “detriment” – a legal term meaning harm or negative impact experienced by a person. Continue reading...
  
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• What to do if your UK passport is lost or stolen: steps you need to take

  07-05-2025 08:00 via theguardian.com
  
  From reporting the loss to getting a replacement, act fast to ease your travel Phone lost or stolen? Practical steps to restore peace of mindSound aadvice if your wireless headphones are lost or stolenYour passport serves as a gateway to travel abroad and allows you to identify as a citizen of a country. So losing it or having it stolen provides a number of headaches, especially if you are travelling at the time. If it does go missing, the most important thing is to act fast.The first thing you
  
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• One-of-a-kind ‘Delayed Start’ mortgage launched in UK

  07-05-2025 08:00 via theguardian.com
  
  The deal, unveiled by Skipton building society, means buyers would not have to make any repayments for the first three monthsA one-of-a-kind mortgage offering a major financial perk – no repayments for the first three months – has been launched in the UK.The deal, unveiled by Skipton Building Society, is the latest innovation aimed at cash-strapped first-time buyers and is designed to provide them with a bit of breathing space as they settle into their new property. Continue reading.
  
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• British Gas is struggling to accept that my sister is dead

  07-05-2025 08:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Bills continued to arrive despite calls, emails and legal firm handling probate sending copy of death certificateMy sister passed away nearly two years ago but I am struggling to get British Gas to accept she is dead.Since her death in July 2023 I have emailed, called and even got the legal firm handling probate to contact it. They sent a certified copy of her death certificate but all that happened was the address on the account was changed to the solicitor’s. Continue reading...
  
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• UK savers urged to ‘act now’ before interest rates start falling

  07-05-2025 07:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Experts say there are competitive products available despite expected Bank of England rate cutBritain’s savers are being urged to “act now” to take advantage of the best rates before they start falling.With a Bank of England interest rate cut on Thursday considered a near-certainty, experts cautioned against “apathy” and said there were still competitive products available for those looking for a better deal on their savings. Continue reading...
  
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• I’m a woman of 48 – and as replaceable in the office as the swivel chair at my desk | Nilanjana Bhowmick

  07-05-2025 07:00 via theguardian.com
  
  In India, as elsewhere, ‘menopenalisation’ means women in middle age are failed by their employers and wider society“If I take another pay cut, I might as well start working pro bono,” I joked with a friend recently, during another brutal round of job hunting in my home-city, Delhi. She, in her early 40s, laughed and said: “I feel the same.”A few weeks later, I had deja vu on a call with another writer friend in her early 40s. “I’m tired of trying
  
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• Pensioners could be missing out on £8,110 in freebies - see if you're eligible

  07-05-2025 06:29 via express.co.uk
  
  There are a number of perks available to state pensioners to help ease cost pressures and enhance their quality of life without spending more money
  
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• Five household habits that could be costing you hundreds of pounds a year

  07-05-2025 04:00 via express.co.uk
  
  Britons' routines change in hot weather, but some habits could be costing you hundreds of pounds a year - and they're also bad for the environment.
  
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• Some State Pension women owed almost £8,000 in underpayments

  07-05-2025 02:49 via express.co.uk
  
  A Government body has been conducting a State Pension corrections exercise to rectify missing Home Responsibilities Protection period
  
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• HMRC explains tax refund rule as 'we can't do a bank transfer' in this situation

  07-05-2025 01:02 via express.co.uk
  
  A taxpayer said it was 'ridiculous' that they couldn't claim their refund online
  
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• Nationwide update on £50 payments as some people still haven't been paid

  07-05-2025 00:11 via express.co.uk
  
  Millions of members will get the bonus payment
  
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