Money

A £500 gift or a free toothbrush: is it worth switching bank accounts?

As the battle for current account customers takes a new twist we look at how tempting the offers really are Fancy up to £500 of “free” cash – or how about a complimentary eco-friendly electric toothbrush? Many of Britain’s banks are offering sizeable “welcome

The Guardian4h ago

Have a little fun scamming the scammers | Letters

Gary Calder responds to an article by a Guardian Money reader who got even by stringing the fraudsters along Anyone wishing to get their own back on bank-card scammers using the method described in your article ( ‘I’ve £80k in the account, here’s my pin’: turn

The Guardian18h ago

UK petrol prices hit highest level since Iran war began

The price of unleaded hits 163p a litre, according to motoring group the RAC, as oil prices remain elevated.

BBC News21h ago

Women report pension shortfalls to deputy

Deputy Lee van Katwyk is talking to women whose pensions were affected by a system change in 2003.

Prosecco, cakes and beauty products - how to get birthday freebies and why there's a catch

Cake, coffee, make-up and burgers are just some of the free things you can get on your birthday.

Homes for sale minutes away from a train station in England – in pictures

From a period cottage in Oxford with its own blue plaque, to a quiet leafy pocket in a bustling area of London Continue reading...

The Guardian1d ago

Would you lie to get a birthday freebie?

We ask people in London if they would fib about their birthday to get a free treat from a shop or restaurant.

'I built my own home to beat the London housing crisis'

How people in London decided to build their own homes, learning new skills and finding stability.

Business Daily

Rising bonds yields and growing government debt could see interest rates start to rise

UK mortgage borrowers brace for rate jump amid global bond sell-off

Swap rates rise to three-year high as increase in oil prices leads to fears of higher inflation Business live – latest updates Homeowners in the UK are braced for a jump in mortgage rates, driven by higher inflation and interest rate increase expectations amid

My dad died suddenly with no will. Am I morally obliged to share his estate with my estranged half-sibling? | Leading questions

It’s kind of you to wonder if you should change the way things were left, writes advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith . But it’s possible his preference is already clear Read more Leading questions My dad died suddenly earlier this year, with no will, and I a

UK homeowners: has the hot weather damaged your property?

Are you dealing with subsidence or other issues caused by the hot weather? During a dry spell, such as the successive heatwaves that affected some parts of the UK this year, houses built on clay-rich soil suffer as moisture is sucked away by trees and bushes.

Jersey housing group bans balcony pet enclosures

Andium Homes has developed the policy in consultation with the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service.

Tell us: have you given up on trying to buy your first home?

We’d like to hear from people in the UK who have abandoned or delayed plans to get on the property ladder UK house prices rose for the first time in four months in August, while mortgage approvals fell to their lowest level in more than two years amid increasi

MoD fears new housing could undermine SAS base

The MoD is asking to have a final say before any final layout of the scheme is approved.

How much should you give towards a leaving gift?

We ask workers in London how much they'd contribute.

Almost half of households do not see benefits of economic growth, report says

Analysis has found a "stark" gap in the spending power of households in the north and south of England on average.

Housing cited 'huge priority' ahead of election

Housing is billed as a top priority for the majority of the 82 candidates standing in the election.

Stingy bosses and spare change: How much should you give to the office whip-round?

Office whip-rounds are a staple of working life but they can raise a lot of awkward questions.

Moral Maze

Live debate examining the moral issues behind one of the week's news stories.

The $1 Trump coin: legal tender, depending on what you mean by legal

Various laws and 250 years of tradition prevent the likeness of living people from appearing on currency. Donald Trump and Scott Bessent don’t want you to worry about that This was originally published in This Week in Trumpland. Sign up to receive it in your i

The Guardian3d ago

Why are UK borrowing costs rising and what does it mean for me?

Some government borrowing costs have hit their highest level for 28 years - what does it mean for you?

Fake 10 Downing Street listing on Booking.com highlights security failures

Consumer watchdog Which? set up and accepted payment for fake listing for ‘1 bed apartment in heart of London’ Successive politicians have clawed their way past colleagues over the years to call the residence home. Yet in an offer that probably seemed too good

The Guardian3d ago

Community cafe offers 'hope and hot meals'

Hope Kitchen Social Cafe offers pay as you feel meals to residents in Longley using surplus food.

My autistic son lives in fear of bailiffs from Ovo breaking into his flat

He doesn’t have an account with them, but is being bombarded with demands for money and threats of debt collectors My autistic son has been bombarded for years by letters to his home from OVO Energy addressed to “The Occupier”, with demands for money and threa

The Guardian3d ago

Council looks to close its housing company

Shropshire Council says it cannot loan Cornovii Developments any more money.

Homes to rise from ashes of former arson-hit pub

Work begins to transform former Griffin pub into 87 care apartments for over-55s.

The Guardian view on the global bond shock: Andy Burnham should take note | Editorial

Japan’s collision with Donald Trump reveals the dilemma facing Britain: economic independence is becoming more necessary – and more tricky to achieve “In the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity” is an aphorism attributed to Albert Einstein . It seems

The Guardian4d ago

Swinney to cut number of health boards from 14 to two

Existing boards could be merged so there would be one for the west and another for the east of Scotland.

How to get a refund when using your credit card

Consumer expert Harry Kind explains how you can get your money back.

Ikea cuts prices as customers struggle with rising cost of living

The Swedish retailer has seen revenue decline as the rising cost of living reduces people's ability to buy new furniture.

Second homes numbers in Western Isles falling slower than expected

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar introduced a 200% council tax rate on the properties two years ago.

Housing committee proposes first-time buyer scheme

Proposals include a reduction of document duty and a selection of properties at 75% of market value.

UK house prices rise for first time since April, says Nationwide

Average price of home rose 0.2% month on month in August to £275,465 as market awaits interest rate vote Houses near top state secondary schools ‘cost £40,000 more’ UK house prices increased for the first time in four months in August, according to a leading i

The Guardian4d ago