AUTHOR
Katie Binns
Katie Binns is an award-winning journalist, and former Sunday Times writer where she spent 10 years covering news, culture, travel, personal finance and celebrity interviews. She has also written for the Times, Telegraph, i paper and Woman and Home magazine.
Her investigative work on financial abuse has examined the response of banks, the Financial Ombudsman and the child maintenance service to victims, and resulted in a number of debt and mortgage prisoners being set free.
How much will it cost you to retire early?
Pensions
How much will it cost you to retire early?
The pre-state pension income gap means couples may need an extra £136,000 if they want to retire at 60 – can you afford to retire early?
6 Jun 2023
Mortgage choice continues to fall as more deals are pulled from sale
Mortgages
Mortgage choice continues to fall as more deals are pulled from sale
The choice of mortgage products has fallen since 24 May - and rates for fixed deals have risen.
5 Jun 2023
HMRC issues scam warning to 1.5m tax credits customers
Personal finance
HMRC issues scam warning to 1.5m tax credits customers
Scams targeted at tax credits customers are being sent out by text and email. We explain what to look for as HMRC’s tax credits renewal deadline draws…
30 May 2023
Is my pay keeping up with inflation?
Personal finance
Is my pay keeping up with inflation?
High inflation means take home pay is being eroded in real terms. An online calculator reveals the pay rise you need to match the rising cost of livin…
30 May 2023
House prices rise 4.1% in last year - but fall monthly for fourth consecutive time
House prices
House prices rise 4.1% in last year - but fall monthly for fourth consecutive time
The latest house price index show finds that house prices are slowing
24 May 2023
Demand for heat pumps on the rise - how to lower the cost of installation
Energy
Demand for heat pumps on the rise - how to lower the cost of installation
Incentives from government, energy firms and lenders help homes green-up.
22 May 2023
E.on Next, Good Energy and Octopus Energy pay £8m amid failures over late final bills
Energy
E.on Next, Good Energy and Octopus Energy pay £8m amid failures over late final bills
Three energy firms have paid £8 million over compensation failures after lengthy delays in producing final bills to more than 100,000 customers when t…
17 May 2023
More than 10 million UK adults struggling with bills and credit repayments, UK watchdog warns
Personal finance
More than 10 million UK adults struggling with bills and credit repayments, UK watchdog warns
Millions of people are now struggling with bill payments amid the cost of living crisis and at risk of falling into the debt trap, the UK regulator ha…
17 May 2023
Millions of households face a mortgage hike of £2,300 a year
Mortgages
Millions of households face a mortgage hike of £2,300 a year
Around 3.75 million households are yet to feel the impact of rising mortgage rates because they are still on cheap fixed deals
15 May 2023
3 ways to save on rail tickets
Personal finance
3 ways to save on rail tickets
Train fares have gone up, but there are ways to cut costs.
11 May 2023
NIESR: ‘Squeezed’ middle class households now £2,560 a year worse off
Economy
NIESR: ‘Squeezed’ middle class households now £2,560 a year worse off
Britain will feel like it’s in recession even if it isn't after a significant drop in middle-class income - and the poorest households are even worse …
11 May 2023
Skipton launches a 100% mortgage – how does it compare
Mortgages
Skipton launches a 100% mortgage – how does it compare
Skipton Building Society has launched the UK's first 100% loan-to-value mortgage exclusively available to renters. Similar deals are already available…
9 May 2023
Lord Lee of Trafford: how I’ve invested since 1962
Savings
Lord Lee of Trafford: how I’ve invested since 1962
Katie Binns speaks to Lord Lee - one of the UK’s first ISA millionaires - about how UK shares made him his million, how he’s weathered many market sto…
4 May 2023
Cold calls on financial deals to be banned under Government plans
Personal finance
Cold calls on financial deals to be banned under Government plans
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will extend powers to target cold calling and text scams. Here’s what you need to know.
3 May 2023
As the US earning season kicks off, we look at how you can save on US trading fees
Investments
As the US earning season kicks off, we look at how you can save on US trading fees
One investment platform is marking the US earnings season with a three-day trading offer on US shares. Here we explain how it works
27 Apr 2023
Energy firms holding £7bn in customer credit
Personal finance
Energy firms holding £7bn in customer credit
Energy firms are holding almost £7bn in customer credit with some households owed more than £400 in credit. We explain how to claim your money back.
26 Apr 2023
How much does it cost to run an electric oven?
Personal finance
How much does it cost to run an electric oven?
We explain how much making a jacket potato, casserole or pizza in the oven costs you.
22 Dec 2022
Investing trends to watch out for in 2023: what analysts say
Investment strategy
Investing trends to watch out for in 2023: what analysts say
What are sensible strategies for high inflationary times? We ask analysts to find out.
22 Dec 2022
Solar panels vs heat pumps
Personal finance
Solar panels vs heat pumps
If you’re looking to decarbonise your home and save money on your energy bills, you may want to consider investing in solar panels or a heat pump – or…
29 Nov 2022
October’s Premium Bonds: how to check if you are a winner
Savings
October’s Premium Bonds: how to check if you are a winner
NS&I has added almost 110,000 more prizes to October’s Premium Bond draw – are you a winner?
4 Oct 2022