Family Finances

Family Finances guides

Family money management — childcare, school costs, allowances, family budgeting and gifting on a budget for UK households.

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Family Finances 8 Sep 2026
Student Money 2026: The Maintenance Shortfall, Bank Accounts and the First-Term Traps
The 2026/27 maintenance loan runs from £10,830 down to £5,048 for a student living away from home outside London. Here is the parental contribution gap that creates, when the instalments actually land, and the first-term traps that cost the most.
20 min read Read guide →
Family Finances 12 Sep 2026
Student Loans from September 2026: New Rates and Thresholds
Student loan interest is set at 4.1% from 1 September 2026, with Plan 2 and postgraduate loans capped at 6%. Here is which plan you are on, what leaves your pay each month, and why the balance matters far less than you think.
17 min read Read guide →
Family Finances 7 Aug 2026
Universal Credit 2026: New Rates and the April Changes
Universal Credit changed on 6 April 2026: an above-inflation standard allowance, the two-child limit abolished, and a health element that pays £429.80 to protected claimants but £217.26 to most new ones. Here are the numbers.
15 min read Read guide →
Family Finances 12 Sep 2026
Back-to-School Costs 2026: How to Budget for the New School Year
UK parents face an average back-to-school bill of around £450 per child in 2026. Here’s a realistic budget breakdown, the new uniform rules, the help available, and 12 ways to cut the cost.
11 min read Read guide →
Family Finances 12 Sep 2026
Best Junior ISAs UK 2026: Cash vs Stocks and Shares Compared
How cash and stocks and shares Junior ISAs compare on risk, growth and access, the 9,000 pound 2026/27 allowance, Child Trust Fund transfers, and why long horizons favour investing.
12 min read Read guide →
Family Finances 21 Jul 2026
High Income Child Benefit Charge 2026: The New Rules and How to Claim
The High Income Child Benefit Charge kicks in above £60,000 and tapers to £80,000 — and from 2025 you can pay it through PAYE instead of Self Assessment. Here are the 2026/27 Child Benefit rates, worked examples, and why you should usually still claim.
10 min read Read guide →
Family Finances 12 Sep 2026
Father’s Day on a Budget UK 2026: 30 Gift Ideas Under £75
Father's Day 2026 is Sunday 21 June. Average UK spend is £54.38 — here are 30 thoughtful gift ideas under £75 plus free ideas dads remember most.
10 min read Read guide →
Family Finances 21 Jul 2026
Tax-Free Childcare UK 2026: How to Get £2,000 Per Child From the Government
Up to 2 million UK working families are eligible for Tax-Free Childcare worth £2,000 a year per child, but only a third claim it. A 2026 guide to how the scheme works, who qualifies, and the pitfalls that cost families thousands.
11 min read Read guide →
Family Finances 12 Sep 2026
Best Children’s Bank Accounts UK 2026: Compared and Ranked
Compare the best UK children's bank accounts and spending cards for 2026. Nationwide FlexOne, GoHenry, NatWest Rooster Money, Starling Kite, HSBC, Lloyds and more — fees, age limits, FSCS protection and verdict.
15 min read Read guide →
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