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Karl Talbot

Karl is a writer specialising in investing and personal finance content. He regularly contributes articles on savings, bank accounts, mortgages, and loans. He was previously a Personal Finance Writer for MoneySavingExpert.

Recent Articles

Personal Finance

Revealed! How the biggest FTSE 100 companies performed in 2021

| Karl Talbot

The FTSE 100 is up over 11% since the turn of the year. So how have its biggest members performed…

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Personal Finance

Is the savings tide turning? NS&I boosts interest rate on three accounts

| Karl Talbot

NS&I has increased the savings rate on three of its accounts. So how do the new rates stack up? And…

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Businessman touching on number 2022 for preparation
Personal Finance

Will the base rate rise again in 2022?

| Karl Talbot

The Bank of England recently upped its base rate from 0.1% to 0.25%. But will there be further rises in…

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Personal Finance

Keen for an income boost? Check out these side hustle ideas for 2022

| Karl Talbot

Having a side hustle is now commonplace, with almost half of Brits earning a second income. So what are some…

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A retired couple review their investing portfolio
Personal Finance

These FTSE 100 companies are set to pay big dividends in 2022

| Karl Talbot

FTSE 100 members returned £82 billion in share dividends in 2021, and 2022 is set to be an even better…

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Portrait of worried woman standing beside window
Personal Finance

HSBC bank customer? Don’t get caught out by this app change!

| Karl Talbot

HSBC has made a significant change to its mobile banking app, leaving many of its customers unhappy. Here's what you…

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Man putting a coin into a pink piggy bank
Personal Finance

Inflation is soaring: will savings rates increase in 2022?

| Karl Talbot

Savings rates remain low, but could a Bank of England base rate rise finally give savers hope in 2022? Karl…

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Young man shopping with credit card and laptop computer
Personal Finance

The way I use credit cards has changed in 2021 (and I’m better off for it)

| Karl Talbot

Since the pandemic began, my credit card usage has changed significantly. Interestingly, I've found myself better off as a result!…

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Inflation in newspapers
Personal Finance

Inflation surges to 5.1%: what does it mean for investors?

| Karl Talbot

Inflation is now at 5.1%, meaning the prices of everyday goods continue to rise. So what can investors do to…

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Piggy bank rocketing skywards
Personal Finance

Worried about retirement? Follow these 4 tips to boost your pension pot

| Karl Talbot

New research reveals that a large percentage of Brits worry about the size of their pension pots. So how can…

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A young couple take use a laptop together in their living room
Personal Finance

These were the biggest FTSE 100 risers last week

| Karl Talbot

Which stocks were the biggest risers in the FTSE 100 last week? And which stocks suffered the biggest falls? Karl…

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Hand holding pound notes
Uncategorized

Bank of England warning: do you have a £20 note that’s set to expire?

| Karl Talbot

The Bank of England has issued a fresh warning that two banknotes will no longer be spendable next year. Here's…

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Personal Finance

£200 BILLION!? Why 2021 was a huge year for mortgage lending

| Karl Talbot

New data reveals that mortgage lending jumped in 2021 – a clear sign the booming housing market is unlikely to…

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Man putting a coin into a pink piggy bank
Personal Finance

Are you saving enough into a pension? These groups are officially ‘under-pensioned’

| Karl Talbot

A new report highlights that many in the UK are 'under-pensioned' and are consequently facing a grim retirement. So are…

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Modern suburban family houses with car on driveway
Personal Finance

House prices rising by £1,700 a month: when will they (finally) crash?

| Karl Talbot

House prices are rising by a staggering £1,700 a month. So with the average home now costing £272,992, surely house…

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A couple hug having moved into their new home
Live: Coronavirus Market Crash Coverage

Revealed! How first-time buyers receive £30k towards buying a home

| Karl Talbot

According to new research, first-time buyers are beating record house prices by accessing an average of £30k from a particular…

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Little girl kissing her granddad at christmastime
Personal Finance

Are you eligible for the government’s £10 Christmas bonus? Here’s how to check

| Karl Talbot

The government is paying a £10 Christmas bonus this year. But how can you check whether you're eligible for the…

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Aerial Houses Residential British England Drone Above View Summer Blue Sky Estate Agent
Personal Finance

Revealed! How homeowners are cashing in on rising house prices

| Karl Talbot

Soaring house prices mean many homeowners have hit the housing equity jackpot. So what are they doing with their newfound…

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Smiling diverse couple holding Christmas presents while walking through a winter forest
Personal Finance

Are you making this big mistake with your Christmas savings?

| Karl Talbot

Christmas is almost here, but are you making this big mistake with your festive savings? Here's everything you need to…

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For sale sign outside a home in an affluent suburb of London
Personal Finance

The rise of the 40-year mortgage: what does it mean for house prices?

| Karl Talbot

House prices are soaring. To help with affordability, some lenders now offer ultra-long mortgage terms. But does this simply inflate…

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Sold sign displayed outside a terraced house
Personal Finance

Homeownership plummets: will house prices crash in 2022?

| Karl Talbot

As house prices soar, levels of homeownership have plummeted among younger generations. So will house prices crash in 2022 to…

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Piggy bank being carried by balloon
Personal Finance

Can you inflation-proof your savings?

| Karl Talbot

With prices officially rising by 4.2%, is there a way to protect your savings from inflation? Karl Talbot takes a…

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Man using credit card and smartphone for purchasing goods online.
Personal Finance

Are you guilty of believing these two credit card myths?

| Karl Talbot

A new survey reveals that two myths persistently abound about credit cards. What are they and what else does the…

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

Grants galore! Why there’s never been a better time to buy an electric car

| Karl Talbot

The government is encouraging the move to electric vehicles by offering grants left, right and centre. Here's everything you need…

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Piggy bank group pastel color background
Personal Finance

Got a Barclays bank account? Here’s why you may want to switch

| Karl Talbot

Barclays will soon make a number of changes to its Blue Rewards scheme, all of which are bad news for…

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Smiling young man sitting in cafe and checking messages, with his laptop in front of him.
Personal Finance

Revealed: The 3 best-performing FTSE 100 stocks of 2021 (so far)

| Karl Talbot

The FTSE 100 has had a decent 2021 so far, but what about individual stocks within the index? Karl Talbot…

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Mature woman with headache at home
Personal Finance

The UK has 50,000 mortgage prisoners: are you one of them?

| Karl Talbot

The FCA has released its 'Mortgage Prisoners Review' that claims 50,000 homeowners are unable to switch deals. So how can…

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Image of person checking their shares portfolio on mobile phone and computer
Personal Finance

These were the most popular stocks among UK investors last week

| Karl Talbot

Stock markets slumped last week following the discovery of a new Covid-19 variant. So which shares have UK investors been…

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'For Sale' sign outside of a terraced house in the UK
Personal Finance

Mortgage approvals plummet: are house prices set to crash?

| Karl Talbot

The number of new mortgage approvals fell sharply in October. So does this mean house prices are set to crash?…

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Hands of woman with many shopping bags
Personal Finance

UK debt crisis? 1 in 10 Brits to use ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ to fund Christmas

| Karl Talbot

Almost one in 10 Brits plan to use 'buy now pay later' services to fund their Christmas shopping. So does…

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Young woman wearing face mask while walking in the streets of London
Personal Finance

FTSE 100 plummets amid new Covid-19 variant. Will the stock market crash?

| Karl Talbot

The FTSE 100 plunged on Friday following the discovery of a new Covid-19 variant, raising fears of a stock market…

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Couple paying bills online at home
Personal Finance

How to beat easy access savings rates AND grab £50 cashback

| Karl Talbot

Savings rates aren't great right now, but did you know that there is a way to beat easy access rates…

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Bus waiting in front of the London Stock Exchange on a sunny day.
Personal Finance

Is the UK on the cusp of a recession?

| Karl Talbot

A recession is bad news for everyone. But what are the chances the UK economy is heading for another? Karl…

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Close-up Of A Piggybank With Eyeglasses And Calculator On Desk
Personal Finance

NS&I boosts Income Bond interest rate: how does it stack up?

| Karl Talbot

NS&I has upped the interest rate on its Income Bonds. So how does its new 0.15% rate compare with the…

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Man sat at laptop computer using credit card to pay online using mobile phone
Personal Finance

Amazon shopper? You can now get 3% cashback with this current account

| Karl Talbot

Amazon shoppers are expected to spend billions in the run-up to Christmas. If you use Amazon, here's how you can…

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Father working from home and taking care of baby
Personal Finance

Will you pocket the average pay rise in 2022?

| Karl Talbot

The average private sector worker is set to bag a 2.5% pay rise next year. But is it enough in…

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Stack of one pound coins falling over
Personal Finance

Inflation surges to 4.2%: here’s what it means for you

| Karl Talbot

Inflation is rocketing, with the Consumer Prices Index reporting prices are now rising at a rate of 4.2%. So how…

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Sale agent deal to car loan contract with customer.
Personal Finance

Car insurance prices are falling: can you save at renewal?

| Karl Talbot

Car insurance is getting cheaper, with typical policies costing £54 less than they did a year ago. Here's how to…

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Senior woman wearing glasses using laptop at home
Personal Finance

Why Premium Bonds may now be a better bet than normal savings accounts

| Karl Talbot

Premium Bonds have a payout rate of 1%. So with savings rates so low, is it worth chancing your luck…

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Sixed group of millennial aged friends discuss investing
Personal Finance

What were the five most popular stocks among UK investors last week?

| Karl Talbot

Tesla remains a hugely popular stock to both buy and sell. But which other stocks have UK investors been buying…

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