Money
Money & everyday finance guides
Bank switching, credit, budgeting and financial resilience for everyday households.
What do you need to work out?
Pick the closest match. Each path leads to a curated cluster of guides.
I want to switch bank
The switch guarantee, what moves, what to check.
4 guides →I want to understand my credit
Credit files, scores, how to improve them.
6 guides →I'm thinking longer term
Savings, budgeting, planning ahead.
6 guides →I'm struggling to make ends meet
Hardship support, debt help, your rights.
2 guides →Editor’s picks
See all 18 guides →Key Guide
4 guidesCore Guide
6 guidesDeep Dive
6 guidesSupport & Rights
2 guidesThe full library
Showing 6 guides of 18Core Guide
Credit Scores Explained
- Your score is based on your credit report, but lenders use their own models
- Payment history and missed payments matter a lot
- High credit utilisation can reduce your score
- Stable personal details and electoral roll registration help
- Improvements usually take time, not days
APR & Interest Rates Explained
- Interest is the cost of borrowing money
- APR includes interest plus compulsory fees
- Representative APR applies to 51% of approved applicants
- Higher credit risk usually means higher APR
- The lowest APR advertised may not be the rate you receive
Overdrafts Explained
- An overdraft is borrowing on your current account
- Arranged overdrafts are agreed in advance; unarranged are not
- Overdraft interest is usually charged daily
- Long-term overdraft use can become very costly
- If you're persistently overdrawn, you may be eligible for support from your bank
Buy Now Pay Later Explained
- BNPL is a form of short-term credit
- Many offers are interest-free if paid on time
- Missed payments can trigger fees and collections
- Multiple BNPL plans can build up unnoticed
- It should be used for planned purchases — not essential bills
Direct Debits & Standing Orders Explained
- Direct Debits are controlled by the company taking payment
- Standing orders are controlled by you
- Direct Debits are covered by the Direct Debit Guarantee
- Standing orders must be manually amended or cancelled
- Both can impact your credit file if payments fail
Hard vs Soft Credit Checks Explained
- Soft checks are for eligibility and identity; they do not affect your score
- Hard checks are linked to credit applications and can affect acceptance
- Multiple hard checks in a short time can look risky to lenders
- Eligibility tools help you avoid unnecessary hard searches
- You can check your credit file for free through major services