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. 

The Guardian •

The best toys and gifts for four-year-olds, chosen by kids (and parents)

Four is a magical age. Children are on their way out of the “threenager” stage, growing in confidence and independence but still needing help and support from parents and friends.Four was the age at which many seasoned parents told me that “things get a little easier”, and I’ve found this is slightly true now that my daughters are almost four and seven.In my experience, it’s also when children start to enjoy activities that adults also enjoy. While I’ve spent many long hours role-playing schools...
The Guardian •

Wobble boards, Duplo and screen-free stories: the top toys and gifts for three-year-olds

Three-year-olds are a unique breed. Growing in confidence and independence daily, they’re no longer toddlers, but they’re still a way off starting school. With both of my children, I’ve found three a funny yet challenging age. My youngest is three and is now determined to do everything by herself, despite not quite being able to, resulting in frequent tantrums. She’s forming new friendships and is full of curiosity and wonder at the world (we get extremely detailed and lengthy descriptions of th...
The i Paper •

I've been a self-employed influencer for 10 years - here's how I did it

Hannah Witton has been working for herself since 2015 and has built up a strong following online Hannah Witton has been working as a content creator and influencer for over a decade. The 33-year-old, from North London, believes making a full-time career from an online platform is “definitely still possible”, despite the fact that the market is far more saturated now than when she started out in 2011. Witton has an impressive following, including her own @morehannah You...
The i Paper •

I went self-employed weeks before lockdown. Here are my tips to those considering it

Adam Faulkner is one of more than 4 million self-employed people in the UK Adam Faulkner started out his career in journalism and quickly moved into working in TV. But in March 2018, he decided to leave his day job. “I became a bit disillusioned with my life in London, including my job in TV, and decided to go on an adventure with one of my best friends, cycling to Japan, which is probably not the most average reason for leaving a job,” the 38-year-old says. When he ret...

What happens if I stop my pension contributions? | PensionBee

With high living costs impacting groceries and travel to bills, you might be looking for ways to cut back and save money where you can. One area where it could be tempting to do this is on your pension contributions. You might feel as though you have no choice - and that having enough money to pay for essentials like food and energy, will take priority over pension payments. If you’re tempted to opt out of a workplace pension or stop contributions to a private pension, there are con...

What does the Pension Schemes Bill mean for self-employed workers? | PensionBee

It’s estimated that 20 million people could benefit from the government’s new Pension Schemes Bill. The bill aims to simplify pensions and help working people to better plan for their retirement. Yet it doesn’t address the huge gap between the self-employed and their pension pots. Here we look at what the bill promises, what this means if you work for yourself, and how you can boost your pension. The Pensions Schemes Bill is part of the UK government’s wider ‘Plan for Change’ programme. It...

How to turn your clutter into cash: A seller’s guide

Over a lifetime it’s easy to build up a collection of belongings, from clothes, shoes and accessories to books, vinyl and crockery. And there could be some serious value to be had in these items. Whether you’re clearing out your attic, or dealing with a late relative’s belongings, it’s worth keeping an eye out for items that could be worth more than you thought. Below, we’ll explain what to look out for and how to maximise the selling price. It can be overwhelming to start a clearout, especiall...
The Guardian •

Need a new pair of glasses? Here’s how to save money on eye tests and specs

At the age of 39, I’ve been told I should start wearing glasses when working or driving.On finding out, I suddenly faced a world of decisions – and they all involved a cost.As well as theeye test, I needed to pay for frames – costing from about £20 to £200 at the optician’s I was in – and decide whether to go for extras such as anti-reflection coatings for the lenses or extra-light frames.Most people (86%) buy their glasses from the same optician’s where they have an eye test, according to resea...
The Guardian •

Back-to-school essentials: 21 tips, tricks and kit – from parents and kids

Parents are stocking up on uniforms, booking in shoe fittings and gearing up for the return to school – or, in Scotland, already battling the school run.Whether your child is just starting reception or well into secondary school, it’s a big adjustment after six weeks off. Arming them with tools to cope with the change, and the right kit, can ease this period for everyone.My eldest daughter is going into year two and after over-buying everything on the school’s list when she started in reception,...
The Guardian •

No more meltdowns, mess or madness! 20 simple tips for surviving long family journeys

The phrases “Are we there yet?” and “I’m hungry” provide a soundtrack whenever I travel with my six- and three-year-old daughters. No matter how far we’ve gone, there’s a constant stream of demands for snacks, games, entertainment, stories, songs … the list goes on.Every summer, we travel to the Lake District, a seven-hour drive. And we regularly holiday in France, which involves long train, ferry and car journeys, so my husband and I have become skilled at managing these.Keeping all ages happy...

The 7 savings accounts savvy over-50s are using instead of ISAs

Cash ISAs have had a temporary reprieve, now that chancellor Rachel Reeves has backtracked on plans to cut the annual cash ISA allowance. But if you’ve already filled your ISA for this year, or if you’re wondering if there are better places for your money, there are plenty of other options out there. We’ll explore 7 ways that you can grow your money with low (or no) risk. What’s on this page? As the name suggests, fixed-rate savings reward you with a set rate of interest when you lock your mo...
The i Paper •

A DIY guide to boosting your pension if you’re self-employed

Those who are self employed tend to save less than other people as they may receive irregular payments. Here, experts provide tips on how to boost retirement pots  Twenty million workers are set to benefit from the new Pensions Bill, according to the Government, but this doesn’t include those who are self-employed.There are 4.4 million self-employed workers in the UK, but on average, they save less than those who are employed and have less money left over at the end of the mo...
Times Money Mentor •

The best eSIMs for international travel

You have probably used a physical SIM card in the past, which is a small plastic device inserted into a mobile phone for data, calls and texts.   An eSIM works in a very similar way but it’s completely virtual and you don’t need to buy a SIM or insert it into your phone. Most modern phones have eSIMS embedded within them, allowing you to instantly buy a bundle online from a different network provider and use that for your data, calls and texts. In some situations, especially when trave...
CompareBanks •

A Complete Guide To Square: Point-of-sale (POS), Readers, And More | CompareBanks

If you’re a small business owner, you’ve probably heard of Square, the point-of-sale (POS) system which allows companies to sell their products quickly and cheaply in person, over the phone, or online with a Square reader.  Square payments are a popular way for businesses to make sales and it’s one of the only POS systems to offer a free plan. It caters to a wide range of businesses, from hair salons to online book shops, and it aims to simplify how businesses run, making it easier to process...
The i Paper •

10 ways you can make an extra £500 by the summer

You could put the money towards a holiday, DIY project, or a savings account for a rainy day There are endless ways to make money that require little effort, from switching bank accounts to caring for a neighbour’s cat.If you start now, you could earn an extra £500 by the summer, which you could put towards a holiday, a DIY project, or a savings account for a rainy day.1.Pause your subscriptionsIf you’ve finished Severance and binged Squid Games, why not pause or cancel your...
The i Paper •

How to spring clean your finances from budgeting to sorting your pension

From finding an old pension to cashing in your loyalty points, this Easter weekend, why not take a little time to get a handle on your finances with these easy tips Sorting your money over the Easter weekend may not sound fun but spending even a few minutes on some simple money tasks can save you a lot in the long run.“Getting your finances in check can seem like a daunting chore, so breaking it down into smaller, more manageable tasks can stop you from feeling overwhelmed,”...
Times Money Mentor •

What is an IVA: how the debt solution schemes work - Times Money Mentor

An individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) is an agreement between you and any companies or organisations you owe money to.  It states that you will pay them back, through pre-agreed and affordable sums, and they will not charge you interest or pursue you for the money. Last year there were 117,947 individual insolvencies in the UK, a 14% annual rise, and of those 57% were IVAs, 37% were debt relief orders (DROs) and 6% were bankruptcies, according to the latest government figures. In De...

Get the lowdown on the high street's best loyalty schemes

In the UK, 97% of us have at least one loyalty card, according to the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA). The biggest schemes, such as Tesco, Nectar and Boots, have more than 15 million members. Waitrose even made headlines earlier this year when it brought back free tea and coffee for MyWaitrose members without a requirement for a purchase. But while you might regularly use your favourite supermarket’s loyalty scheme on your weekly shop, are you making the most of all the schemes currentl...
Young Car Driver •

How will my No Claims Bonus affect how much I pay for car insurance?

Find out how your no claims bonus can start to significantly reduce your car insurance cost after just one year of accident free driving, our insurance expert, Rebecca Goodman, explains. There’s no escaping the fact that young drivers tend to pay the highest amount for car insurance, so if you’ve just passed your test, be prepared for a hefty bill. But it’s not all doom and gloom; there are plenty of ways you can cut the cost of your insurance and free up cash to spend on more exciting things. O...
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