Jump to content
Sign up to our newsletters
Independent
US election
More
Best
Climate
TV

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Simon Read

@simonnread

Simon Read is Personal Finance Editor at The Independent. He edits the Saturday Your Money section as well as writing for the news and business pages of the Independent and i newspaper.

Pensioners are up in arms about the new state pension
Money

‘New state pension has wreaked havoc on me’

Simon Read
Money

It’s a privilege to help – but help yourself, too

The proposals are intended to reform the energy market and increase competition, in order to help consumers save money
Business News

Six in 10 customers are still confused over their energy bills

Existing and future pensioners are hit
Money

Millions short-changed by state pension reforms

Rapper 50 Cent is the latest star to go bankrupt
Money

From today it’s a lot easier to go bankrupt

It's becoming less attractive to buy an investment property
Money

Buy-to-let investors face lending clampdown and higher tax

Just 15 per cent of those over retirement age say they could live of the state pension alone
Pensions

​Millions are clueless about their pension entitlements

Investments

Number of Premium Bond prizes handed out each month to be reduced

The man on the left is battling the man in the middle for idiocy
Money

Protect fraud victims, don’t punish them

The Chancellor hopes to encourage more savers
Money

Keeping it personal: the new savings allowance

Premium Bonds will still pay out two £1m jackpots each month
Money

Premium Bond prizes shrink as NS&I cuts savings rates

Spending money on tap: hi-tech innovations such as Apple Pay were beyond our imaginations 30 years ago
Spend & Save

The future of finance is great - if you're plugged in

High-street fixtures such as Barclays may have history on their side - but not the best deals
Spend & Save

Simon Read: 'The fight for financial justice goes on'

Spend & Save

Simon Read: 'The fight for financial justice goes on'

High-street fixtures such as Barclays may have history on their side - but not the best deals
Sue Sharpe said the changes would throw the health service into ‘chaos’
Spend & Save

Bargain Hunter: Beat the rise in prescription charges

You can save up to £15,240 into an Isa in the current tax year
Tax

Five Questions On: Isa deadline

Losses were recorded across payment cards, cheques and remote banking applications on the internet and mobile phones
Spend & Save

Cyber crooks are cashing in as sophisticated scams net them £755m

Turning to debt managers has often proved to be the wrong thing
Money

Let's be rid of these debt advice rogues

Turning to debt managers has often proved to be the wrong thing
Money

Let's be rid of these debt advice rogues

Don't think about it for too long - you could miss out
Money

This tax year, make your Isa allowance count

‘Getting financial guidance to people early is key to improving their security,’ said Gillian Guy
Spend & Save

The Money Advice Service: Help for those in need must not die

Spend & Save

Bargain Hunter: National Gardens Open Day and 25% off wine

George Osborne is trying to lock you in until retirement
Spend & Save

Five questions on: Lifetime Isas

The knees have it in yet another posed holiday snap for the Camerons
Money

Weekly Money: the personal finance stories we noticed 14 to 18 March

The changes won’t come into effect until April 2017
Money

The winners and the losers of George Osborne's Budget

Many insiders say it has been clear for a number of years that the Government was laying the ground for an effective abolition of pension plans in their current form
UK Politics

Lifetime Isas 'could signal the death knell for pensions'

The bank's marketing trick could leave savers with just 0.25%
Money

Santander's 5% savings come-on that turns into a stinker ...

The changes won’t come into effect until April 2017
Money

The winners and the losers of George Osborne's Budget

Many insiders say it has been clear for a number of years that the Government was laying the ground for an effective abolition of pension plans in their current form
UK Politics

Lifetime Isas 'could signal the death knell for pensions'

The bank's marketing trick could leave savers with just 0.25%
Money

Santander's 5% savings come-on that turns into a stinker ...

Borrowers can end up paying more at rent-to-own firms
Money

The high street scandal that makes the poor pay more for less

Money

The high street scandal that makes the poor pay more for less

Borrowers can end up paying more at rent-to-own firms
An estimated 16 million people need pension and savings advice
Business News

Watchdog acts to make financial advice affordable

Low income families typically had £95 in savings this winter compared to £136 the same period last year
Money

Close dodgy debt managers but don't leave clients out in the cold

Dreaming of the spires? You can see the sights of Reims, including the cathedral, by taking up a Eurostar offer
Spend & Save

Bargain Hunter: AI compensation letter could net you £200

Government urged to tackle problem of collapsing debt managers
Money

Weekly Money: the news stories that we noticed 7 to 11 March

Government urged to tackle problem of collapsing debt managers
Money

Weekly Money: the news stories that we noticed 7 to 11 March

Three-quarters of households are paying up to £250 a year more than their energy company's cheapest tariff
Voices

Being able to switch energy providers means solution is in our hands

Price cuts were moved off the bank burner as npower reduced its gas tariff
Money

Low-income households to get energy price cap

Credit cards can prove to be far from a convenient way to pay
Money

Credit cards are pushing people into damaging long-term debt

Confusing add-ons and charges leave us no chance of finding the best account
Money

A regulator with no teeth leaves us in current account confusion

Kate Hudson, the face of Fabletics, which claims its terms and conditions are clear
Money

Fabletics' sneaky subscription tactics add to online shoppers' woes

Confusion about pensions is rife
Money

People should see all retirement and savings pots info in one place

You may only discover a payment when the money leavs your account
Money

2million hit by unexpected sneaky payments from their account

he regulator should use the further extension of its inquiry to bring forward stronger solutions to tackle unfair charges and ensure banks are held to account for how they treat their customers
Business News

Watchdog’s report on retail banking suffers new delay

Beales retains 24 stores across the UK
Business News

Beales asks landlords for 70 per cent rent cut

Difficulties switching current accounts, a lack of smaller competitiors to the "big four" banks and lending to businesses were all areas for concern
Business News

CMA banking investigation delayed until August

Built to last? Fears that China’s woes could spark another crisis should put us on our guard
Spend & Save

Simon Read: We must prepare for the next financial crisis

Spend & Save

Simon Read: We must prepare for the next financial crisis

Built to last? Fears that China’s woes could spark another crisis should put us on our guard
The Original Factory Shop has cut the price of a jar of Olay Regenerist moisturiser from £29.99 to £10
Spend & Save

Bargain Hunter: Fee-free bank accounts, and money off moisturisers

Business Secretary Sajid Javid: 'It seems like everything we buy these days comes with the line 'terms and conditions apply'
Spend & Save

Government to crack down on small print following Which? report

Spend & Save

Look after the pennies and the pounds won't even buy you a pizza

Which is the best way to save for a pension? Cameron has no idea
Money

Weekly Money: the stories we noticed 29 February to 4 March

Which is the best way to save for a pension? Cameron has no idea
Money

Weekly Money: the stories we noticed 29 February to 4 March

Dangerous drivers would find their insurance premiums rising
Money

Be the driving force to secure cheap car cover

It's often impossible to work out what firms mean
Money

Pension firms urged to use plain English

Taq Taq oilfield in Kurdistan contains only about half the oil it previously claimed
Business News

Genel shares slide by 41% as it halves estimate for Iraqi oil reserves

If Britain votes to leave Europe, pensioners may be punished for broadening their horizons
Pensions

400,000 Britons living on Continent could have state pensions frozen

Make a £1 donation and you will enter a draw, with the Bentley Continental GT as the big prize
Spend & Save

Bargain Hunter: Help the sick and win a personalised Bentley

Lloyds seems to be the worst for dealing fairly with customers' complaints
Insurance

Five questions on: The PPI mis-selling scandal

Puzzled by personal finance and budgeting? many are
Money

Weekly Money: the news stories that we noticed 22 to 26 February

Badly-heated homes lead to winter diseases
Money

Four million childen in fuel poverty which costs the NHS £27,000 a day

MP Mhairi Black has been very supportive of the women's campaign
Money

State pensions still a battleground in fight for sexual equality

There's no escaping the march of time, but financial planning will give you satisfaction
Money

The money minefield facing you when you get older

There are savings to be made on electricity and gas bills
Money

Six million have switched energy deals to spark savings: why not you?

Money

Six million have switched energy deals to spark savings: why not you?

There are savings to be made on electricity and gas bills
Past Ombudsman figures have highlighted Lloyds Bank as one of the worst for using the tactic
Business News

Companies failing to bring down numbers of complaints

Lloyds has the worst record of all the banks for upheld decisions
Money

Banks still using delaying tactics on PPI claims

The bonus of HSBC chief executive, Stuart Gulliver, was reduced from £3.4m to £3m
Business News

Write-downs, investigations and tax hikes hammer HSBC profits

The scam centered on timeshare properties in Spain
Spend & Save

Fraudsters conned elderly people out of their life savings

The scam centered on timeshare properties in Spain
Spend & Save

Fraudsters conned elderly people out of their life savings

Companies rely on the inertia of customers to maximise profits
Insurance

You shouldn't have to haggle with insurers. But it works

Go economy class on stamps by buying before the price rise on 29 March
Spend & Save

Bargain Hunter: Act now to beat another stamp duty

Saving has always been important
Money

If you don't save now, you may never be able to afford to retire

What misery are Cameron and Osborne cooking up for us now?
Money

Weekly Money: the news stories that we noticed 15 to 19 February

The daily commute could go on and on and on for older people
Money

Delaying retirement becomes the norm as people forced to work longer

You can't measure a parent's love in pounds and pence
Money

Bringing up children is not about the cost

Even the cost of borrowing for new-builds is dropping
Money

How low can they go? Home loans edge towards 1%

David Cameron delivering a speech to workers in the Charge Hall at Hinkley Point B in 2013. The Prime Minister is relying on Hinkley Point C as part of his strategy to 'keep the lights on' in Britain in the next decade
Money

Money Video: inflation, stockmarkets, energy and free loans

A pleasing win for Sunderland fans this week
Money

Weekly Money: the news stories that we noticed 8 to 15 February

The FTSE 100, slipped to its lowest level since 2012
Money

Falling stock markets: Five things you need to know about the FTSE 100

‘I’m a mum of four,’ says Anne MacDonald , ‘and paying high energy bills can be a struggle’
Spend & Save

Hubbub launches Facebook community project to tackle fuel-poverty

You can give your puppy some love with affordable credit for treatment by a vet
Loans & Credit

Bargain Hunter: Cheap loan will get your pet to the vet

David Cameron wrote a letter to the local council leader says the proposed cuts were 'unwelcome and counterproductive'
Money

Money Video: mortgages, bank accounts, energy bills and free stuff

Crooks hide behind bogus identities on dating sites to trick people out of money
Money

Fresh fraud worries as crooks target bank accounts and lonely hearts

British Gas looks after its profits by cutting bills by just 5 per cent
Money

The Big Six energy companies really don’t deserve your loyalty

Sergei Pugachev fled the UK after his assets were frozen during a major fraud trial
Business News

'Kremlin's banker' Sergei Pugachev guilty of contempt

Crooks hide behind bogus identities on dating sites to trick people out of money
Money

Fresh fraud worries as crooks target bank accounts and lonely hearts

British Gas looks after its profits by cutting bills by just 5 per cent
Money

The Big Six energy companies really don’t deserve your loyalty

Sergei Pugachev fled the UK after his assets were frozen during a major fraud trial
Business News

'Kremlin's banker' Sergei Pugachev guilty of contempt

Npower has delayed its cut until the end of March
Money

Paltry £32 energy cut annoys consumers as poorest pay more

And you thought your cash was safe... George Osborne could tax company contributions to workplace pensions to limit the scope of salary sacrifice
Pensions

Tories plan tax raid on your work pension

War hero Harry Penny, who died this week, aged 94, fought injustice throughout his life
Pensions

UK Government denied a war hero an increase in his state pension

HotUKDeals has half-term deals including up to 50 per cent off Butlin's passes
Spend & Save

Bargain Hunter: Hotel rooms for £35 and 50% off Butlin's passes

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney warned that there could be deflation ahead
Money

Five questions on interest rates

Jamie Vardy scored a thundering goal this week, but saving should be your aim
Money

Weekly Money: the news stories that we noticed 1 to 5 February

Heating homes has become every more expensive with rising bills
Money

Energy prices continue to fall, but not by enough

Water costs are rising, showering more worries on struggling homes
Money

Water companies must do more to help struggling consumers

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in