First-time buyers spend 39 per cent of take home pay on a mortgage – Nationwide January 13, 2023 Homes for first-time buyers are at their most expensive as a proportion of take-home pay since the financial crisis. The proportion of monthly income that first-time buyers are having to put towards mortgage repayments is returning to levels last seen in the 2008 financial crisis, according to Nationwide. Nationwide, the UK’s third largest lender has [...]
What You Need To Know About Career Cushioning January 9, 2023 The world––and the world of work––is changing. 2022 brought about once-in-a-generation interest rate hikes, a crippling surge in the cost of living and a worrying number of layoffs in the tech sector. Understandably, that uncertain economic environment has made many people nervous. Will jobs be secure into the future, are workers looking at layoffs, and [...]
‘Divorce Day’: Why cash-strapped couples are looking at putting off their split amid money woes January 9, 2023 Over a third of married couples who had been considering a divorce are now opting to stay in their relationship because of the cost-of-living crisis, according to a survey. The first working Monday of the new year has been dubbed ‘Divorce Day’ by lawyers, but many couples are thinking twice before splitting from their partner [...]
5 Job Hunting Tips If You Can’t Do Another Year At Your Job January 3, 2023 It takes roughly five months, from start to finish, to get a new job. So, if you’re serious about pursuing a new role or getting your foot in the door in a new industry in 2023, you need to start getting organised now. Here’s how to go about it. 1. Do your research Salary still [...]
Work and pensions minister quits for ‘personal reasons’ January 1, 2023 Work and pensions minister Baroness Stedman-Scott has stepped down for “personal reasons”, Downing Street has said. Lady Stedman-Scott, 67, has been a minister in the department since 2019, having previously been a Government whip in the House of Lords. She is replaced by Viscount Younger of Leckie, who moves from the whips’ office where he [...]
Scottish Widows: Unmarried couples missing out on life insurance payouts December 30, 2022 Many unmarried couples with life insurance could be at risk of not receiving a payout if one of the partners dies, a survey suggests. Just over half (52 per cent) of unmarried people know if their partner has a life insurance policy, while 43 per cent said their other half has no plans to ensure [...]
4 Reasons You Should Look For A New Job In 2023 December 26, 2022 It’s safe to say the job for life model of yore that your parents probably aspired to is about as relevant today as ping-pong and pool tables in an office where most of the workforce are doing their daily duties remotely. Redundant perks aside, there are lots of reasons why the start of the new [...]
Brits untroubled by rising mortgage rates as property transactions rise December 21, 2022 Monthly property transactions have increased across the UK and returned to pre-pandemic levels despite the ongoing cost of living crisis. Today, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) published statistics indicating that monthly property transactions in the UK above £40,000 have increased consecutively over the past nine months. Frances McDonald, research analyst at Savills said: “In light [...]
3 Ways To Keep Your Job Search Going This Month December 21, 2022 Have you seen the meme? The one where the man answers every work related question from mid-December on with “that’s 2023’s problem”? Funny? Yes. Clever? No. Those who want to make career strides in 2023 know that among the parties, carol services and mince pie-filled lunches comes a continued effort to maintain momentum––especially if you’re [...]
Shop ’till you drop: Christmas spending up despite rampant inflation December 20, 2022 Shopping habits die hard as Brits continue to spend across the board in the run-up to Christmas and the holiday season despite historic levels of inflation raising prices. Spending on essentials is up by an average of 43.5 per cent compared to the same time last year, with non-essential expenditure also rising by an average [...]