What our founder Laura said on the BBC this week
Laura was back on BBC Morning Live this week for Money Mondays with Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones. With April being dubbed ‘Awful April’ thanks to council tax, water bills and broadband costs all going up, she came armed with some genuinely useful tips.
You can watch the episode here, but for a quick sneak peek, here’s a round-up of what she covered:
Your ISA allowance has just reset, here’s what to do with it
April is the biggest month of change for personal finances – it’s the start of a new tax year, which means your ISA allowance resets. You can now save up to £20,000 tax-free again.
If you’re a basic-rate taxpayer, you only get £1,000 of savings interest tax-free before HMRC starts taking a cut. A cash ISA sidesteps that – whatever interest you earn inside one, you keep.
From April 2027, the ISA limit drops to £12,000 (apart from over-65s), so this year is the last year you still get the full £20,000 allowance across all types of ISAs (including Stocks & Shares ISAs and LISAs).
Use a price comparison website to find the best ISA for you, whether that’s easy access or fixed, and check the terms and conditions before you commit.
The Lloyds banking glitch – are you entitled to a goodwill payment?
Last month, a glitch at Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland meant around half a million customers were accidentally shown other people’s transactions.
Lloyds Banking Group has now made goodwill payments to over 3,000 customers (around £40 each) and has confirmed it’s continuing to respond to claims for financial loss.
If you were affected, it’s worth making a formal complaint. It could put £40 back in your pocket!
Passport prices have gone up, but you can keep costs down
Passport fees have just increased to over £100. Here’s what you’re looking at:
- Standard online adult passport: £102
- Standard online child passport: £66.50
- By post: £115.50 for adults
That post surcharge alone is nearly £15 extra – per passport. If you’re renewing for a family, that adds up fast. The easiest way to save is to apply online and go directly through the HM Passport Office.
Don’t leave it too late, a standard passport takes about three weeks to arrive – longer in busy periods. If you need one urgently, the costs jump dramatically (1-week fast track: around £178; 1-day premium: up to £239.50).
Your life admin for this week is to check yours tonight and especially your kids’, since children’s passports only last five years.
The content produced by Financielle is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice