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Fiona Vanier

Fiona is a freelance writer specialising in personal finance. She has a particular interest in helping people struggling with debt, and finding new and interesting ways to travel on a budget.

Recent Articles

woman sitting in wheelchair at the table and looking at computer monitor while talking on mobile phone and drinking coffee at home
Your money

How much can you earn on Universal Credit?

| Fiona Vanier

You can get Universal Credit and work at the same time. If you want to know how much you can…

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Young man shopping with credit card and laptop computer
Personal Finance

Credit card refund rules: everything you need to know

| Fiona Vanier

With more of us shopping online in lockdown, it’s useful to know the credit card refund rules just in case.…

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a couple embrace in front of their new home
Personal Finance

Top tips for securing a self-employed mortgage

| Fiona Vanier

Are you self-employed? Do you want to get on the housing ladder? Read this article for some top tips for…

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Mortgages

What happens if I don’t pay my mortgage?

| Fiona Vanier

If you are struggling to pay your mortgage, it helps to know your rights. To find out what happens if…

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Young woman holding credit card for online shopping at home
Your money

The best ways to send money abroad

| Fiona Vanier

There are a number of different ways to send money abroad. If you want to know the safest and most…

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Happy retired couple on a yacht
Personal Finance

5 questions to ask before taking flexible pension payments

| Fiona Vanier

Are you close to retirement? Do you want to know what questions you should ask before taking flexible pension payments?…

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Stressed Asian Senior Couple using calculator and calculate family budget
Personal Finance

Crime rate is the biggest factor when deciding where to retire

| Fiona Vanier

When thinking about retirement, deciding where to retire is just as important as when. We take a look at what…

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Happy parents playing with little kids riding in box
Personal Finance

The basic cost of raising a child until 18 in the UK is £71,611

| Fiona Vanier

If you’re planning a family, you may be interested in the cost of raising a child in the UK. This…

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African American woman working in home office
Personal Finance

How to get a loan from a bank

| Fiona Vanier

There are many situations when some extra cash might come in handy. If you're wondering how to get a loan…

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A retired couple review their investing portfolio
Personal Finance

Tips for planning your retirement income

| Fiona Vanier

Careful planning is key if you want financial security when you retire. We take a look at some useful tips…

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Modern brick houses, built to traditional designs on a housing development in Northern England.
Personal Finance

What’s the difference between a leasehold and a freehold?

| Fiona Vanier

Are you planning to buy a home and wondering what the difference is between a leasehold and a freehold? Read…

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Frustrated young woman gazing out of the window while her male companion stares at his phone
Personal Finance

Does my ex have to pay half of the mortgage?

| Fiona Vanier

Divorce or separation is hard enough without worrying about finances. If you want to know whether your ex has to…

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A young woman sitting on a couch looking at a book in a quiet library space.
Personal Finance

Is redundancy pay taxable?

| Fiona Vanier

No one likes the idea of redundancy, but it can help to be prepared. Want to know if redundancy pay…

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Typical street lined with terraced houses and parked cars
Personal Finance

How much does it cost to learn to drive?

| Fiona Vanier

Do you want to be able to drive but not sure how much money you’ll need? If you want to…

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Young woman preparing home budget, using laptop and calculator
Personal Finance

How long should I keep payslips?

| Fiona Vanier

If you have ever been employed, then you will have received payslips. Are you wondering how long you should keep…

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Personal Finance

5 times to ask for financial help rather than go it alone

| Fiona Vanier

There are times when it’s worth seeking financial help rather than going it alone. If you want to know when…

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Streets of terraced houses from above
Personal Finance

These areas have the best credit scores in the UK

| Fiona Vanier

A good credit score is important if you want to borrow money. Have you ever wondered which areas in the…

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Wedding table for a newlywed banquet with eco decor and floral design in the style of boho.
Personal Finance

Managing money in marriage: 4 key areas

| Fiona Vanier

If you’re married, it helps if you both understand each others’ personal finances. Want to know more about managing money…

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woman sitting in wheelchair at the table and looking at computer monitor while talking on mobile phone and drinking coffee at home
Personal Finance

How long can a bank freeze an account?

| Fiona Vanier

If you have a bank account, you may not be aware of all your rights. Read on for information on…

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Sun setting over a traditional British neighbourhood.
Personal Finance

Can I get a mortgage on auction property?

| Fiona Vanier

Property auctions are not just for investors. If you want to know whether you can get a mortgage on auction…

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Stressed Asian Senior Couple using calculator and calculate family budget
Personal Finance

Do I need a financial adviser for my pension?

| Fiona Vanier

Do you have a pension? Do you know when to seek advice? If you’re wondering whether you need a financial…

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Young lady working from home office during coronavirus pandemic.
Personal Finance

How to start a blog and make money

| Fiona Vanier

Fancy yourself as a bit of a wordsmith? You might be interested in creating your own blog. If you want…

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Models of houses on top of pound coins
Personal Finance

Everything you need to know about ground rent

| Fiona Vanier

If you’re going to buy a leasehold property, you'll need to think about ground rent. If you want to know…

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Sun setting over a traditional British neighbourhood.
Personal Finance

How much rent will Universal Credit pay?

| Fiona Vanier

If you need help with rent, you might be able to claim Universal Credit. Read on if you want to…

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Two women in the home office
Personal Finance

7 steps to finding a financial adviser

| Fiona Vanier

When planning for the future, a financial adviser can help. If you want to know how to find a financial…

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Personal Finance

How much can you invest in premium bonds?

| Fiona Vanier

If you have some spare cash, you could try investing in premium bonds. To find out how much you can…

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Working from home due to social distancing
Personal Finance

How to transfer money to someone else’s bank account

| Fiona Vanier

Have you ever wanted to know how to transfer money to someone else’s bank account? This article tells you everything…

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Woman back at home after shopping groceries
Personal Finance

How much money can you withdraw from an ATM?

| Fiona Vanier

Even in the digital age, there are times when only cash will do. If you want to know how much…

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Happy woman with excess weight smiling and dancing alone in sports clothes
Personal Finance

6 places to buy cheap home gym equipment

| Fiona Vanier

Are you thinking of starting a new fitness regime? Are you on a budget? Check out our list of places…

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Young woman with face mask using mobile phone and buying groceries in the supermarket during virus pandemic.
Personal Finance

How Brits made extra cash over lockdown

| Fiona Vanier

The pandemic has changed our working lives in many ways. Want to know what some Brits are doing for extra…

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Young casual man and girl using laptop while looking at invoice and plan the budget to save.
Personal Finance

What household bills are changing in 2021?

| Fiona Vanier

There will be some changes to your household bills in April. If you want to know what these changes will…

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Stressed Asian Senior Couple using calculator and calculate family budget
Personal Finance

How much will your local authority pay for a care home?

| Fiona Vanier

If you or someone close can’t live alone, they may need a care home. Want to know how much your…

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Happy parents playing with little kids riding in box
Personal Finance

What is a Junior ISA?

| Fiona Vanier

If you are a parent or legal guardian you might be thinking about opening a Junior ISA. We take a…

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Concentrated young african american black guy sitting on heated floor at modern coffee table in living room, looking at laptop screen
Personal Finance

Pre-qualified vs pre-approved: what’s the difference?

| Fiona Vanier

Do you want to apply for credit? You may be wondering whether there's any difference when considering pre-qualified vs pre-approved.…

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Hispanic man using laptop in home office and drinking coffee
Personal Finance

What happens if I can’t pay my tax bill?

| Fiona Vanier

If you work for yourself, paying your tax bill is a priority. But if you want to know what happens…

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Row of terrace houses.
Personal Finance

7 things that could stop you from getting a mortgage

| Fiona Vanier

Want to apply for a mortgage but think you may be refused? Read this article if you want to know…

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Financially free and calm woman sitting in kitchen
Personal Finance

How long does it take a cheque to clear?

| Fiona Vanier

Personal cheques aren't popular these days, but they still have their uses. Ever wondered how long it takes a cheque…

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Hands of woman with many shopping bags
Personal Finance

Items that are VAT exempt in the UK

| Fiona Vanier

The UK government charges VAT on some goods and services. But do you know which ones are VAT exempt? This…

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Road trip. Father and son travelling together by car
Personal Finance

Can I live off my investments?

| Fiona Vanier

Are you sick and tired of the nine to five? Do you want to know if it’s possible to live…

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Woman calculating figures next to a laptop
Personal Finance

What is a P45?

| Fiona Vanier

If you have ever changed jobs in the UK you will have probably been given a P45. But what is…

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