Latest news with #MoneySavingExpert
The Independent
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Martin Lewis shares important council tax payment update on live TV
Martin Lewis announced that the government is launching a consultation into council tax payments, which will affect over three million people. The Money Saving Expert founder criticised the current council tax debt collection process as "so rapid and aggressive it would make banks blush". Mr Lewis said that forcing individuals to pay for a year when they cannot afford a month is "destroying lives". The consultation will consider slowing down the debt collection process to allow people more time to pay before further action is taken. Watch the video in full above.
The Independent
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Martin Lewis makes major council tax payment announcement affecting three million people
announced on live TV that the government is launching a consultation into council tax payments which will affect over three million people. Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Friday (20 June), the Money Saving Expert founder said he is 'grateful' that the government is listening to concerns on council tax debt collection, which Lewis described as 'so rapid and aggressive it would make banks blush'. He said that 'forcing someone to pay for a year when they can't pay for a month' is 'destroying lives'. Lewis announced that the consultation will consider slowing down this process so people have longer to pay the debt before action is taken.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Martin Lewis shares free way families can get £2,000 to help cover childcare costs this year
The consumer champion is urging working parents not to miss out on childcare help this summer. How to apply for Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours childcare Martin Lewis is urging millions of parents across the country to check for free financial help with the cost of childcare over the summer holidays, or year ahead. The consumer champion and the team at Money Saving Expert ( have compiled the ultimate 'Childcare Costs guide' in this week's edition of the newsletter. Martin wrote: 'The school summer holidays add a time and money burden on many parents, yet millions are unaware of potential help to cover the cost. So if you shell out money year-round, or will do just for the summer, I want to highlight the available schemes.' The easy-to-use guide includes eligibility for the HMRC Tax-Free Childcare scheme, accessing support if you're on Universal Credit or in work and pay for childcare. Martin also clarified what counts as childcare. He wrote that 'whether it's nurseries, childminders, holiday or after-school clubs, or even summer camps, what matters for all the help' is whether providers are registered. This means: Martin added: 'For all of them, see how to check if a provider's registered. Though with Tax-Free Childcare, it is also worth double-checking they will accept payment via it (the vast majority do, but check just in case).' You can read the full guide to free childcare here. Tax-Free Childcare The latest figures from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) show that nearly 826,000 working families saved up to £2,000 per child through the Tax-Free Childcare scheme during the 2024/25 tax year. The data also indicates that in March 2025, 36,095 families in Scotland used the scheme to save on their annual childcare bills. Working families who sign up to Tax-Free Childcare can boost their annual budget by up to £2,000 per child up to the age of 11 or up to £4,000 up to the age of 16 for a disabled child. However, Martin and the team estimates '825,000 of the possibly 1.3m eligible families don't claim it' because the name - Tax-Free Childcare - is 'totally misleading as it has nowt to do with tax'. Parents can use the scheme to help towards the cost of approved childcare whether that's nursery for younger children, or for older children - wraparound or after school care clubs during term time or holiday clubs for the long summer holidays ahead. For every £8 deposited in a Tax-Free Childcare account, the UK Government tops it by £2, which means parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every three months towards paying for their childcare costs. Once families have opened a Tax-Free Childcare account, they can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to use it whenever it's needed. Any unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time. HMRC said it takes just 20 minutes to apply online for a Tax-Free Childcare account. Once an account is opened, parents can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to use it whenever it's needed. Any unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time. Eligibility for Tax-Free Childcare Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they: Have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on September 1 after their 11th birthday. If their child has a disability, they may get up to £4,000 a year until September 1 after their 16th birthday Earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average Each earn no more than £100,000 per annum Do not receive Universal Credit or childcare vouchers A full list of the eligibility criteria is available on here. Financial support for parents in Scotland Social Security Scotland delivers five family payments which can help pay for extra school term expenses alongside everyday family costs like food, clothing and days out. Scottish Child Payment is a weekly payment of £27.15 for eligible families with children up to the age of 16 - the payment is worth £108.60 every month and is only available north of the border. Combined with Child Benefit payments from HMRC, parents could be due up to £212.20 each month in additional support. Child Benefit is a separate UK-wide payment worth £26.05 for the eldest or only child and is also paid every four weeks, amounting to £104.20. The three Best Start Grant payments and Best Start Foods, also part of social security support, are designed to help families at key stages in their children's early years, including during pregnancy. There is no cap on the number of children in one family who can receive these payments. One-off payments for families Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment - one-off payment of up to £767.50 available after 24 weeks of pregnancy until a baby turns 6 months. Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment - one-off payment of £319.80 to help with the costs of early learning when a child is between two, and three years and six months. Best Start Grant School Age Payment - one-off payment of £319.80 to help with the costs of starting school available between June 1 and the last day in February in the year when a child is first old enough to start primary one. Best Start Foods - up to £43.20 every four weeks from pregnancy up to when a child turns three to help buy healthy food, milk and first infant formula. Scottish Child Payment Scottish Child Payment helps towards the costs of supporting your family and is a weekly payment of £27.15 that you can get for every child you look after who is under the age of 16. Payments are made every four weeks and worth £108.60 per child. Parents, carers and guardians can get more information on the dedicated Children and Family section on here or by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222. Families can learn more about the childcare offers available to them and what could fit their family by visiting Childcare Choices on here. Families in Scotland may be able to access help during the ongoing cost of living crisis through the Cost of Living Support Scotland website here.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Martin Lewis reveals the cheapest ways to stay cool during the heatwave
Money saving expert Martin Lewis has issued his budget friendly advice for how homeowners can stay cool during a heatwave amid soaring UK temperatures. Amid an energy market crisis, keeping cool in the heat can come with an expensive price tag, the expert, who hails from Manchester, said. 'With the energy market in crisis, people have been worrying more often about energy prices,' the 53-year-old wrote. Writing on his website, Money Saving Expert, Lewis told readers an electric fan may be the best bet, with the calculated cost of running revealing prices from as little as 1p an hour. Compared to air conditioning units, which cost around £1.70 an hour to run, fans are easily one of the most affordable ways to keep the heat at bay. 'You can use an electric fan to manage the heat without breaking into a cold sweat at the cost,' the website reads. 'A typical 12-inch 35-watt desk fan would cost around 1p an hour to run based on the current Price Cap rates, so about 8p if you leave it on all night.' Meanwhile, a tower fan with a higher 50-watt will only cost marginally more at just 1.5p an hour. A large floor fan, which usually range between 10 watts and 120 watts, then cost 4p an hour. Dyson Cool AM07 Cooling Fan The Dyson Cool AM07 Cooling Fan £269.99 Shop The Dyson Cool AM07 Cooling Fan is the number one recommended fan, according to The Telegraph. Praised for its 'air multiplier' tech, the Dyson product is one of the most sought after fans in the UK. It projects over 290 litres of air a second, which is significantly more powerful than many others on the market, and comes with a 'Helmholtz cavity' to reduce the sound. The fan comes with an easy sleep timer, as well as an auto mode that adjusts the fan speed according to the temperature. With a stylish cylindrical design, it fits seamlessly into any modern living room and weighs a modest 2.6kg, so can be moved around easily. The device also combined technologies from turbochargers and jet engines to provide the strongest heat blasting jet of cooling air. John Lewis Tower Fan John Lewis Tower Fan A more budget friendly option would be the John Lewis 36 inch Tower Fan, a bestseller that is thin and versatile as well as powerful at controlling the heat. Pictured £75 Shop A more budget friendly option would be the John Lewis's 36-inch Tower Fan, a bestseller that is thin, versatile and powerful at controlling the heat. It comes with a control panel and a remote control to make adjusting the temperature as easy as possible, even from the comfort of the sofa. Though it's not as powerful as it's Dyson rival, it makes up for what it lacks in the engine with a sleek black and white design that can sit discreetly in the corner of any room. It is 107cm tall and weighs slightly more at 5.7kg. The device can be set at either a fixed or 85° oscillating function, with its tall body designed to make it quiet and convenient. It carries both normal modes, to mimic a steady breeze, and natural modes, which cycle through fan speeds a random to simulate a natural wind. Woozoo 30m2 £57.85 Shop The Woozoo 30m2 serves as the perfect cooling device for bedrooms, living rooms and even a desk. Its small size makes it easy to place, but powerful blades mean it can reach up to 30m2, with 'breeze patterns' than can replicate that of a natural wind for the most natural cooling experience. It has a multidirectional oscillation and provides 80° horizontal and 75° vertical airflow simultaneously to distribute air across the space. The fan even comes with a remote control so users can project airflow from across the other side of the room, ensuring maximum comfort and ease. Just 30 dB on low-speed setting, the fan is also perfect for plugging in next to a bedside or by a computer. With more than three quarters of users awarding it a five star rating, the Woozoo is the perfect budget friendly option that comes with a multiplicity of uses. Philips 2000 Series White & Grey Desk Fan £55 Shop At just 8 inches in size, the Phillips desk fan is quietly versatile and is able to produce cool air to up to 25 metres, making it ideal even for larger spaces. It also comes with SilentWings technology that allow for it to be up to 30 per cent quieter than standard blades. It has three speed setting to choose from and has a variable speed, making it adept for a range of climates, temperatures and preferences. With a special quiet mode for sleeping, the Phillips fan is also perfect for using at night. It's ample airflow of 738 m/h ensures whole-room circulation, allowing for the entire room to be kept ventilated and stagnant air eradicated. At just £55, it is one of the more affordable options and one which doesn't compromise on quality. Vortex Air Pro - Bladeless Tower Fan £139.99 Shop The Vortex Air Pro offers more than cooling. Also a heating device, it uses state-of-the-art airflow mechanics to generate a smooth stream of deliciously cold air that mimics a natural breeze. It comes with an impressive 10 speeds to offer tailored airflow, optimal comfort and energy efficiency. With a bladeless design, it is able to offer a range of settings that span a gentle breeze to strong gusts of wind. The fan also has a remote control so users can alter the gust speed, temperature and wide-angle oscillation. The sleek design also comes in 12 different colours, making it suited to a range of different rooms and interior aesthetics.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Martin Lewis issues warning to anyone using credit or debit card abroad this summer
Showing now | News 01:53 Martin Lewis has issued a warning to anyone using a credit or debit card abroad this summer. The Money Saving Expert founder explained that when you spend on your bank cards abroad normally, the bank adds a non-sterling exchange rate fee between 2.75 percent and three percent. He told This Morning viewers: 'Your £100 worth of euros costs you £103. With the specialist cards, they don't add that. So you get the near same perfect exchange rate. Mr Lewis then went through the specialist cards currently available , 'The top at the moment is the Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card, which is giving you half a percent cash back on spending abroad.'
