Rebecca Goodman

Rebecca Goodman

I am an award-winning freelance journalist with more than a decade of experience working for online and print consumer publications. I have written for many of the national newspapers and magazines including The Guardian, The Independent, The Mirror, The Sun, This is Money, Stylist and The Telegraph. I also regularly take on corporate content projects and in my spare time set up my own successful baking blog and social media network. 

Your Money •

Lifetime ISA interest rates soar: An essential guide to the first-time buyer and pension saving scheme

Providers are paying significantly more interest to holders of cash Lifetime ISAs (LISAs) with rates soaring nearly 320% in the last year. Our complete guide will give a greater understanding of all aspects of the LISA and help you decide whether one is right for you. The average cash LISA pays 3.26%, trouncing the paltry 0.78% offered in July 2022, data from Moneyfacts reveals. This represents a four-fold increase or a 317% rise in just a year, off the back of consecutive hikes to the Bank of
The Independent •

How to navigate the mortgage crisis, by the experts

Recent peaks in interest rates have spooked millions of homeowners and potential buyers and experts are predicting it to rise further. It has pushed up the cost of borrowing – again – and comes in an environment where prices are rising across the board, from food and clothes to energy and travel. With stubbornly high inflation, the rise was not welcomed by borrowers, especially those already struggling financially. Fixed-rate mortgage costs are continuing to rise, and the average two-year fixe
The Independent •

Buying or selling? How to steer a path through the rocky housing market

For millions of Britons who had plans to move house or get on the property ladder this year, the latest mortgage misery coupled with the cost of living crisis makes paints a grim picture. House prices fell 3.5 per cent in June, when compared with last year, according to the latest Nationwide housing index. This is the fastest drop since 2009, thanks to the pressure of increasing mortgage rates. Yet it’s hard to predict what will happen next as they also rose unexpectedly by 0.1 per cent in the
This is Money •

Should you spend £229 or £2,149 on a washing machine?

The first electric washing machine for the home was launched nearly 100 years ago, by Bendix Home Appliances, and they get ever more sophisticated every year. Shoppers are now faced with hundreds of options, with some almost five times more expensive than others. We’ve all heard the saying ‘you get what you pay for’, but when it comes to washing machines is a £2,149 model really any better at cleaning clothes than one that costs £229? And could you save money by buying an expensive machine th
Your Money •

Controversial childcare reforms reportedly scrapped to tackle rising fees

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has scrapped proposed reforms to the childcare sector, including a plan to increase the minimum ratio of children to staff, according to reports. The plan to increase the minimum ratio, from one staff member per four children to one staff member per five children for those aged under two, were originally suggested by Liz Truss back in 2013 when she was the education and childcare minister. Once Prime Minister in September 2022, Truss brought this back to the ta
Your Money •

Economic abuse cases rise but most people unaware of how to help victims

One in 10 people, or 11%, have been a victim of financial abuse yet few people know how to recognise the signs that a friend or family member is a victim. This figure rises to 15% for those aged 18 to 24 and 17% for those with children at home. Yet just 8% of adults said they think a friend has been a victim and only 6% said they think a family member has. Meanwhile 72% say they don’t know anyone who has faced financial abuse, according to a study of 2,000 adults by Hargreaves Lansdown. New c
MoneyWeek •

Buying vs renting: as mortgage rates rise, which is cheaper?

Is it better to buy a home or rent? UK house prices saw their biggest fall since 2008 in November, which might make some think now is a good time to buy a house. But it’s not that straightforward. Mortgage rates have also risen sharply from this time last year. Meanwhile rents are also on the rise. Buying property has always been the preferred option, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right course for everyone and as the cost of living rises, it’s worth weighing your options. So, which is the bette
TheMoneyEdit.com •

How to close a bank account

It’s easy to close a bank account and shouldn’t take up much of your time but you’ll need to do it properly including paying off any money owed and transferring any balances to your new account. Here we look at how to close a bank account, one for yourself, or someone else, and how to close a bank account for someone who has died. How to close a bank account for yourself If you need to close a bank account you should check with your bank what it requires you to do. You will usually have the
TheMoneyEdit.com •

March of the Mummies: Why 20,000 parents are protesting this Saturday

UK childcare costs are the second highest out of any developed country, according to the OECD, but providers are struggling to make ends meet and around 20,000 parents are taking to the streets on Saturday in anger. Thousands will be protesting to demand reform to childcare, parental leave and flexible working. Many families spend almost 50% of their income on childcare, leaving little to cope with other rising living costs, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). The fi
Your Money •

Parents spend up to 65% of wages on childcare fees

Some parents in England are spending as much as 65% of their wages on nursery fees for children under two, research reveals. The cost of full-time nursery fees for a child under the age of two is £274 per week on average in England. Yet the average take-home pay of a working adult is £418, which equates to 65% of a parent’s weekly wages going on fees. For older children, those aged between five and 11, an after school childminder costs an average of £71 a week, or 17% of an average parent’s sa
Your Money •

More than 100,000 sign petition against plan to relax childcare ratios

A petition against government proposals to relax staff ratios in early year settings has reached 100,000 signatures – a significant milestone for the parents who launched it after losing their toddler a year ago. The petition was created by Zoe and Lewis Steeper after their son Oliver died following an incident at nursery on 29 September 2021. It was set up to oppose the government’s latest childcare plans, which would see the maximum number of two-year-olds per adult increased from four to fi
This is Money •

Here's how to bag a summer holiday on a budget

As inflation rockets to 9 per cent and a recession looms, millions of families are wondering whether they can really afford a summer holiday this year. But there are creative ways to keep costs down – and even get a holiday for free – if you know how to do it. Here are our top tricks for saving hundreds of pounds on travel, accommodation and while you're away. Holidaymakers mostly prefer to travel by car, plane or train, but going by coach is usually cheaper. For example, Megabus has tickets
TheMoneyEdit.com •

What is council tax and how much do you have to pay?

Council tax is a payment you make to your local council. The money the council collects is to help pay for services like bin collections, street lighting or to deal with those annoying pot holes. Council tax is one of the big expenses most of us face each month. What’s more, it’s just become more expensive too, with an average increase of 3% kicking in from the start of April. While the government has introduced a in order to provide a helping hand with the rising cost of living, there have be
TheMoneyEdit.com •

What is council tax and how much do you have to pay?

Council tax is a payment you make to your local council. The money the council collects is to help pay for services like bin collections, street lighting or to deal with those annoying pot holes. Council tax is one of the big expenses most of us face each month. What’s more, it’s just become more expensive too, with an average increase of 3% kicking in from the start of April. While the government has introduced a in order to provide a helping hand with the rising cost of living, there have be
The Independent •

Mothers paid 47% of minimum wage while on maternity leave

Statutory maternity pay should be increased in line with the national living wage, says the charity Maternity Action, as 96 per cent of women say they worry about money while on maternity leave. Maternity pay increased to £156.66, from £151.97 per week at the start of April, a rise of 3.1 per cent. Yet as inflation was seven per cent in March, the amount has fallen in real terms. This figure is equivalent to 45 per cent of the National Living Wage, or minimum age, for a 35-hour week at a rate
The Independent •

10 ways your money can help protect the environment

All eyes are on the climate for this Friday’s Earth Day, focused this year on investing in our planet. Making ethical choices as a consumer should be easy, but all too often it seems to mean jumping through more hoops or spending more money. Here, we’ve picked out 10 easy ways your money can help protect the environment. It’s easy and quick to switch your current account but how do you find one that’s good for the planet? Triodos is one of the most well-known green banks while The Co-operativ
Your Money •

The black box alternative which offers up to 25% off car insurance

Motorists could save around £100 a year on their car insurance with a new cashback scheme which rewards good driving – and doesn't track your every move. VitalityCar is rewarding drivers with up to 25% cashback on their car insurance premiums every month for good driving and car-free days. Drivers will need to fit a sensor in their car and connect it to the Vitality app in order to get the cashback. The provider says it’s not a telematics policy as drivers have the option of using the sensor
TheMoneyEdit.com •

What is universal credit?

Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit paid out once a month to those with low incomes or who are unable to work. If you’ve recently had a drop in income or a change of circumstances, you could be entitled to universal credit. Around 1.3 million people who are eligible for the benefit, worth up to £7,300 a year, aren’t claiming it according to research from the New Economics Foundation. It says this figure could reach 2.3million by 2027 when the system will be fully rolled out. Universal C
Load More Articles