Monday 15th June 2026
The Mouthy Money Podcast
No money topic is too big or too small. Welcome to the Mouthy Money Podcast,…
Iran war revives spectre of 2022 market shock
An energy shock in 2022 is a harbinger for potential investment market disappointment in 2026…
Two years until pension freedom age rises – and what to do about it
It’s time for fellow millennials to start thinking about building an ISA bridge to beat…
The pension lie we tell ourselves
There’s a lie many of us tell ourselves about pensions and we don’t want to…
The tide is finally turning in favour of first-time buyers
First-time buyers are finally reaping the benefits of higher wages and stagnant property prices in…
A beginner’s guide to crypto trading
Cryptoassets have become a familiar topic in recent years, often discussed in the news…
A guide to Coinbase
Coinbase is one of the largest global platforms for trading cryptoassets. In partnership with…
Should the Bank of England prepare for aliens? A thought experiment in extreme risk
The Bank of England is duty bound to consider and prepare for exogenous shocks to…
The mortgage market in 2026: Cautious optimism as rates ease
With 1.8 million homeowners set to remortgage in 2026, the odds of getting better rates…
Is Rachel Reeves trying to get us to buy up her debt?
New limits on cash ISA allowances will push higher volume savers into putting more cash…
‘Fat Cat Day’ distracts us from the biggest employment issue of 2026
‘Fat Cat Day’ which falls every year in early January, returned on 6 January this…
As I go in to maternity leave number two, and as the New Year approaches, my savings are not as high as I predicted. I plan on making a few changes to accommodate this. If, like me, your 2016 is ending with your finances in a bit of a muddle, then the New Year will be just what you need to get things back in line.
To make the next twelve months of your life a little easier, whatever it is that you need to change financially, take on board a few of these pointers:
Plan out your year
I am not really one for having a day-to-day calendar, but find it really useful having something that documents all birthdays and celebratory dates for the year ahead. This will help you to plan and buy presents in advance, spread the cost, and will give you a great, super-prepared feeling!
Check your policies
Are all your policies and insurances working well for you? Now might be the time to look over them, one at a time, and check that they still cover you accordingly and work to your interests. If not, then you can modify them yourself or have a chat with a financial adviser to make sure that you only pay for what you really need.
Also, have a look at shifting money between your current account and savings account. This could bring in a little more interest.
Set up regular savings
To have more in your savings by the end of the year, try setting up a standing order; sending money to your savings account the same day you get paid. That way you’re less likely to miss it, as it hasn’t sat in your current account long enough for you to even really notice it’s there! You will be pleasantly surprised that, by the end of the year, such savings have added up nicely. It might even pay for next year’s Christmas presents -although that might just be planning ahead a little too far!
Sell, sell, sell
I have a lot of love for selling on eBay. The Christmas and New Year period is a great time to cleanse your home of anything that you don’t use or need. It may seem brutal, but even unwanted gifts can be sold on eBay to bring you in a little extra money (just don’t tell the person who gave it to you).
Pay in bulk
My littlun goes to a few classes each week in term-time and each have the option to pay up front. In the short term, it can feel like you’ve just spent a packet on them, but when you don’t have to hand over money each week, it feels like you’re getting the classes for free! Also, knowing that those classes are paid for and sorted, means one less thing on your busy mind.
No matter how badly your finances need pulling in line, making a few little changes here and there could make a big difference!
Jenny Taft
Part time secondary physics teacher, mother of one (soon to be two), and my financial hurdles are mostly parental based.