Latest articles by Ruth Jackson-Kirby
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Don't buy pre-paid funeral plans, save for death instead
Analysis Funerals are costly, but pre-paid plans have not been a reliable way to prepare for them. Set up your own savings instead, says Ruth Jackson Kirby.
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The best long-term fixed-rate mortgages available now
Analysis Rising interest rates will increase your mortgage costs. This could be a good time to lock in a five-year or ten-year fixed-rate mortgage deal, says Ruth Jackson-Kirby.
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Ethical savings accounts: make your cash green
Advice NS&I’s Green Savings Bond helps fund environmentally sound projects, but there are better eco-friendly options for your money, says Ruth Jackson-Kirby.
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The best credit card for collecting air miles
Advice The Barclaycard Avios and Avios Plus are more widely accepted than Amex, says Ruth Jackson-Kirby.
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Split your money into pots with Zopa's new savings account
Advice A new account from Zopa lets you tailor your savings to your needs by putting your money in separate pots. Ruth Jackson-Kirby explains how it works and if it's worth a look.
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Get paid to switch your current account
Advice Santander and NatWest are offering bonuses if you switch to their current accounts, but make sure you choose the right service.
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How to keep your mortgage payments low as interest rates rise
Advice Rising interest rates pose a threat to your mortgage, but it’s not all bad news. Here are some ways to secure a better rate.
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Tax return deadline extended – but don't forget to file
Advice HMRC is being slightly more lenient about tax returns this year, but falling behind will still incur hefty fines.
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Should you join in on the dash for digital banks?
Advice App-based financial-services providers are proving efficient and popular
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Does part of the £50bn lying forgotten in dormant accounts belong to you?
Advice Around £50bn of our money is just sitting in dormant bank, savings and pension accounts. Make sure none of it's yours, says Ruth Jackson Kirby.
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How to navigate the child-benefit maze
Advice The child benefit system is infernally complicated and rife with potential pitfalls.
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Make sure you use all your allowances before the end of the tax year
Advice There’s still time to ensure you don’t overpay your tax this financial year, says Ruth Jackson-Kirby - but make sure you use all your allowances
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Not been driving much? Here's how to save money on costly car insurance
Advice If you've not been driving your car much lately, it’s important to shop around for a better car insurance package, says Ruth Jackson-Kirby.
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Beware of expensive pre-paid funeral plans
Advice Farewells are expensive, so many people opt for package deals. But they can be opaque and pricey, says Ruth Jackson-Kirby.
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Why you should still put money into a cash Isa
Advice Interest rates may be lousy, but tax-free saving into a cash Isa is still a good idea.
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Prepare yourself for an end to “free” banking
Advice Free bank accounts could soon be a thing of the past. But paid-for accounts can come with plenty of worthwhile perks, says Ruth Jackson-Kirby.
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Tax returns: make sure you declare child benefit
Advice If you owe HMRC a repayment of child benefit cash, you need to act quickly, says Ruth Jackson-Kirby.
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How to deal with self-assessment tax returns after a very trying year
Advice The Covid-19 pandemic will complicate the self-assessment tax return process for 2019-20. What if you can’t pay? Ruth Jackson-Kirby has some advice.
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Travel to the EU: how the Brexit deal affects you
Advice The Brexit deal will mean some administrative changes when you next travel to the EU. Here are the most important ones.
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Beware these cons and scams this Christmas
Advice Ruth Jackson-Kirby outlines some of the worst new scams to watch out for this year
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Loyalty to your energy supplier doesn’t pay – switch
Advice New measures will make energy suppliers22 switch you to a cheaper deal when your fixed-rate tariff ends.
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The best financial gifts to give this Christmas
Advice Christmas is coming and most of us are now planning presents. If you are thinking about giving a financial gift this year, then there are a few things you need to be aware of, says Ruth Jackson Kirby
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What to do with your work-from-home savings
Advice If you’ve saved more than usual this year, where should the money go? On paying off your debts, says Ruth Jackson Kirby.
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This year’s endless fiasco at NS&I
News National Savings & Investments (NS&I), has lurched from one disaster to another this year. Ruth Jackson-Kirby looks at what's gone wrong.
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