Master your subscription game with my top tips
Taken advantage of a free trial just before Christmas? You could get a nasty surprise when you next check your banking app... It has long been a bugbear of the Young…
The 20 Something Financial Starter Kit!
"A goal without a plan is just a wish." So said Antoine Saint-Exupery in a simple yet profound statement of truth. I'm often asked by 20 somethings (and their parents/grandparents,…
Can you save for a home today? Iona on BBC Radio London
Iona was on Vanessa Feltz’s breakfast show on BBC Radio London this morning discussing young people’s chances of getting on the housing ladder. An estate agent’s survey has claimed that…
The seven deadly sins of money & how to keep them in check
Iona Bain We're not necessarily the righteous or censorious kind here on the Young Money Blog. But as we approach Halloween, we thought "hey, why don't we jump on the ridiculous…
Alternative, artistic London – on the cheap
Iona Bain Living in London – it’s a dear do, right? But it’s also non-optional for many gen Yers. Job opportunities tend to drag us down to the capital, which…
The ultimate cupboard beauty haul – save £s & look FIERCE
Iona Bain Over the weekend, all I wanted to do was indulge in a bit of me-time. Last week, I was filming a mini money-saving series for STV up in Stirling…
Number’s up for our fear of figures
Iona Bain Picture the scene. I am in a restaurant, having enjoyed a lovely meal with friends, when the waiter arrives with the bill. Panic ensues. What do I owe?…
I’m appearing at the Ideal Home Show tomorrow
Iona Bain I'll be making my first-ever appearance at the Ideal Home Show on Thursday 30th March at 7pm to discuss my acclaimed book Spare Change. Produced in conjunction with…
Slash your food costs with these 8 super-smart tips
Iona Bain Relentless pressure on the pound is pushing up shopping bills for families, with inflation climbing to 1.8 per cent. Food prices are being hiked for the first time…
Why are girls more “moral” consumers than boys?
Iona Bain Another month, another timely reminder of the moral facets of our finances that we can all so easily forget - but are nonetheless there if we choose to examine…
Don’t get X-maxed this Black Friday!
Iona Bain X-MAXED: (adjective) The unwelcome state where your credit card is maxed out after buying Christmas presents for everyone on Black Friday. Typical use: "OMG, I've got totes X-maxed…
Why Alexa Chung shouldn’t play around with M&S fortunes
Iona Bain When Alexa Chung was unveiled as the new saviour of Marks & Spencer's fashion range earlier this year, commentators veered towards one extreme or the other; the majority of fashion editors and fan…
How I learned about upselling from The Organic Pharmacy
Iona Bain I like to think I'm a savvy sort. I book ahead for my train tickets, head sonar-like to the bargain rail in shops and have mastered the "Oh,…
Don’t get caught out by subscription traps
Iona Bain If you took advantage of a promotional offer over Christmas and new year, you could get a nasty surprise when you next check your bank statement. Angry consumers…
Repurposing – a creative kind of recycling
Put an end to jumbled in the drawer jewellery misery and get organised! Do you have an obsolete CD Rack like this one? I did and it was on…
Black Friday bargain hunters – and Amazon shoppers – beware!
Iona Bain Shoppers hoping to grab a bargain in this months’s Black Friday sales need to be on their mettle for distorted discounts and the growing dominance of shopping giant…
Save money on your shopping with these tips and tricks
Iona Bain Money talks, but all it ever says is goodbye. So goes the American proverb, which sums up many people’s relationship with their finances. Most of us are great…
The typical cost of going back to school? £400
Iona Bain Parents will fork out as much as £400 for uniform, stationery, textbooks and computers when their kids return to school this Autumn, research has found. The majority -…
And now for some good news!
This weekend, we had a rare slice of positive financial news amid the incessant doom and gloom. Find out why car insurance costs are AT LAST coming down… Iona Bain…
Don’t let your dream trip turn into a financial nightmare
Disclaimer: This is what we like to (politely) call a "heritage" blog. That means we haven't updated the information here since publication (although we have tidied up the format). A…
How to get cheaper West End tickets
Disclaimer: This is what we like to (politely) call a “heritage” blog. That means we haven’t updated the information here since publication (although we have tidied up the format). A…
Traidcraft; how to shop ethically AND get good value for money
Disclaimer: This is what we like to (politely) call a “heritage” blog. That means we haven’t updated the information here since publication (although we have tidied up the format). A…
Moneysaving sites “irresponsible” for endorsing payday loans
Disclaimer: This is what we like to (politely) call a “heritage” blog. That means we haven’t updated the information here since publication (although we have tidied up the format). A…
Should Vouchercloud have offered a discount on online gambling?
Disclaimer: This is what we like to (politely) call a “heritage” blog. That means we haven’t updated the information here since publication (although we have tidied up the format). A…
My Christmas Manifesto PART TWO: The easiest ways to be ethical and charitable this year
Disclaimer: This is what we like to (politely) call a "heritage" blog. That means we haven't updated the information here since publication (although we have tidied up the format). A…
My Christmas Manifesto: how to have a cheap, charitable and absolutely fantastic time this year
Disclaimer: This is what we like to (politely) call a "heritage" blog. That means we haven't updated the information here since publication (although we have tidied up the format). A…
