Articles by John Ellmore:
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Challenging Reads – Understanding Buy Now, Pay Later T&Cs
NerdWallet has analysed how long it takes to read the Terms & Conditions and privacy policies of popular buy now, pay later apps'. The study revealed it takes an average of 36 mins to read buy now pay later apps' T&Cs. We review how long it takes to read leading providers T&Cs.
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The World’s Most Dangerous Drives
From poor weather conditions to inexperience behind the wheel, accidents on the road can occur for a number of different reasons. With millions of drivers and billions of vehicles across the world, where are the most dangerous places to drive?
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What Is The Cost Of Owning A Car In The UK?
Are you one of the 65% of Brits who don’t know how much they’re paying to run their car? Our exclusive survey has revealed that it costs an average of £3406.80 a year to run a car in the UK – or £5744.40 for those with car finance. Use our car costs calculator to calculate your car costs.
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Getting a Car on Finance: 10 Things to Be Aware of
Before applying for car finance there are a number of things you need to know in order to make an informed decision. It’s worth knowing when you can cancel, whether you are obliged to buy the car at the end of the contract, and last but not least, how much you’ll pay each month.
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How to Plan Your Perfect UK Staycation
In the current climate your next holiday might end up being a staycation. Our guide will help you get the most out of your UK staycation.
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Britons Struggling with Feelings of Guilt During Lockdown
A new survey commissioned by NerdWallet into Brits’ attitudes during the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that 20% of us have significant and regular feelings of guilt around our daily behaviours and how we spend our time. Plus, more than quarter of people felt guilty about not saving more.
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How to defer insurance payments if the COVID-19 pandemic has affected your finances
The FCA have released guidance for insurers to help those whose capacity for payments has been altered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Lifetime Cost of a Gaming Console
Our study analyses some of the most popular consoles that will cost you most over their lifetime. Whether you are an avid gamer, just starting out, or assessing making that big purchase for your children, here's everything you need to know.
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Are There Alternatives For Investing My Money
Alternative investments have traditionally been regarded as the preserve of wealthy individuals who could afford to risk a substantial amount of money.
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We Need to Talk About Debt
With 24% of the UK losing sleep over debt and 48% worried about how Brexit will impact their personal finances, is it time to talk about debt?
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Mortgage Calculators
Our free online mortgage calculators are designed to help you work out how much you could borrow and what affects your repayments.
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Buy-to-let Mortgage Calculator
A buy-to-let mortgage calculator can help you work out the size of the loan you might need to purchase an investment property. Add your figures below to work out how much you could borrow for your buy-to-let property.
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What is a Homeowner Loan?
Homeowner loans are a form of secured loan. Available only to homeowners with equity in their property, these loans are secured against the value of the borrower’s home.
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Can I Get a Loan in Retirement?
From weddings to big promotions, there are many milestones in our lives, and retirement is one of them. But, like in your working life, in retirement there comes times when you need access to funds for a big life event, such as helping your child buy their first home.
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What are the Pros and Cons of the Help to Buy Scheme?
The Help to Buy equity loan scheme has helped over 355,000 home buyers on to the property ladder since it was introduced. It’s designed to help first-time buyers with a smaller deposit improve their chances of securing a mortgage, but there can be drawbacks of buying a home this way too.
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What do I need to drive in Europe? Driving in Europe checklist
British drivers are not uncommon on European roads – particularly in the summer months. However, each country has sets of rules that may differ from those you're familiar with back home, so what do you need to do before you start driving in Europe?
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When Should You Remortgage?
You might be looking to remortgage to save money while interest rates are low, or to avoid your lender’s standard variable rate at the end of a fixed deal. Or perhaps you want to tap into equity from your home. Whatever the reason, it’s an important decision and you’ll want to time it right.
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The Cost to be in Love
From anniversary gifts and getting engaged to going to the ultimate honeymoon destination, being in a relationship doesn’t always come cheap. But can you really put a price on love?
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Should I Pay off My Student Loan Early?
‘Should I pay off my student loan early?’ This is a question that has passed the lips of pretty much every graduate. Most of us are not sure of the pros and cons of paying back our loans early. It all hinges on when you studied and how much you earn.
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How Long Does a Mortgage Offer Typically Last?
With the lengthy nature of the home buying process, it’s good to know how long your mortgage offer will last so that you can make plans to complete the purchase of your home even if there are unexpected delays or knots in your chain.
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Tips for Selling and Buying a Home at the Same Time
Selling your home to move into a new home at the same time can be a challenge. There are a lot of factors to consider: should you sell your home first? Are you willing to live in rented accommodation while contracts are exchanged? We share our top tips for selling and buying a home at the same time.
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What Does the Car and Home Insurance Loyalty Penalty Ban Mean For You?
Millions of car and home insurance customers are now protected from annual price hikes. We explain what this change might mean for you, and why it’s still worth shopping around.
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Loan, Overdraft or Credit Card — Which is Right for Me?
Consumers have various options when looking to borrow money, from loans to overdrafts to credit cards. Each form of borrowing is suited to different purposes, so read on to discover which might suit your needs and financial circumstances.
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Mortgage Declined: What Should My Next Move be?
Having your mortgage application declined shouldn’t spell the end of your dream to own your own home. There are many reasons why your application could have been turned down. In this guide we’ll explain why a lender might have declined your application and what you can do to boost your application.
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How to Get a Mortgage as a First-Time Buyer
As a first-time buyer, understanding the different types of mortgages and the jargon that comes with them can be tricky. This guide presents all the essential information you need to take your first step on the property ladder.
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Moving House Checklist: 14 Things To Do
From booking a removal firm to the move-in day itself, our checklist rounds up 14 ways to make the moving process simpler and to ensure you don’t miss anything.
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Mortgages for Older Borrowers: How to Get a Mortgage in Later Life
You don’t need to give up on your dreams of securing a mortgage because you’re close to retirement age or you’ve already retired. Some banks lend up to the age of 85, and many specialist providers create tailored mortgage products for older borrowers.
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How Much Money Can I Borrow for a Mortgage?
As a first-time buyer thinking of applying for a mortgage to buy a property, you’ll need to know approximately how much you’ll be able to borrow before searching for appropriate properties, and getting on the property ladder.
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What is a Buy-to-Let Mortgage?
A buy-to-let mortgage is a mortgage that you would use to buy a property to rent out. Your mortgage repayments should be covered by your rental income, but there are other expenses to consider and lending criteria you’ll need to meet.
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The cost of the average UK wedding – and how to fund yours
Weddings are joyous, once-in-a-lifetime occasions – but they’re also massive financial commitments. Just how much do they really cost, and what plans can you make to pay for yours?
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Single Person Mortgages: Everything You Need to Know
If you’re a single person spending significant sums on rental costs every month, you might ask yourself ‘can I get a single person mortgage?’. In this article we’ll outline everything you need to know, about applying for, and being accepted for a single person mortgage.
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Buying a New-Build Home: What do You Need to Consider?
New houses and flats are popping up nationwide, with many snapped up before building has even been completed. What do you need to consider when buying one?
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How SMEs Can Adapt for Social Distancing in the Office
It’s been a while now since the Government implemented lockdown to slow the spread of COVID-19, but the implications for the workplace are set to change for the long term—even when we return to the office.
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What Happens if I Can’t Make My Loan Repayment?
Missing a loan repayment can have serious consequences for your credit score and may lead to legal action being taken against you. Today we examine what happens if you’re struggling to make your loan repayments—and how to avoid that situation in the first place.
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How Does the Six-Month Coronavirus MOT Extension Work?
The expiry date for MOTs has been extended by six months as part of the Government’s COVID-19 prevention plans.
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How to rebuild your credit history
Do you have some financial skeletons in your closet? All is not lost! We’ve got some top tips to help you rebuild your personal credit history and get back on track.
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Could Minimalism Improve My Finances?
As an approach to life, minimalism is most commonly considered a way of reorganising your home—but its principles can just as effectively help you reorder your finances.
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7 Great Ways to Teach Kids About Money
It’s far easier to teach your children about money than you might think—and it can prove hugely beneficial for them in the long run.
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How to save for a mortgage deposit
Knowing how much you'll need to save for a mortgage deposit and the best ways to find the funds will help you get together the cash for your dream home. Read on for guidance on how to save for a mortgage deposit.
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The Future of the High Street
We can reveal that 54% of British high street businesses believe trading conditions have become more difficult over the past five years. This exclusive data was sourced by NerdWallet from a representative survey of more than 500 decision-makers from UK retail businesses.
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How to Get Free Debt Help
Over eight million people in the UK are estimated to be in debt, making millions vulnerable to debt crises. Learn about how to get the debt help you need.
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How Couples See Their Money
Love is in the air for many at this time of year, and all over the UK, people are looking ahead, wondering what their next step should be from a financial point of view.
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The Most Recalled Cars of 2019
Vehicles are one of the most significant expenditures that households budget for in Britain, beside the financial commitment of a mortgage.
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The True Cost of a Great British Christmas
How much do you spend on your loved ones at Christmas? Read our survey to find out who splurges on presents, food and decorations and who watches the pennies. We also look at how Brits finance their festive spending and whether more of us want an environmentally-friendly Christmas.
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The Psychology of Debt
In an unprecedented era of easy credit, it’s important to have the right attitude to debt. Here, we explore the psychology of debt, its impact on our mental health, and how it can affect our lives without us even realising it.
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The Cost of University in the UK
For a number of years, the cost of higher education has moved in only one direction – higher and higher. During this time, more people have enrolled in higher education than ever before. But what is the real cost of going to university?
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Maternity Leave: What Could I Be Entitled To?
Taking time off work to welcome a new child into your life can cause financial worries. We look at the pay and benefits you are entitled to on maternity, paternity and adoption leave, and suggest a few money-saving tips to help you settle into family life.
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What is Section 21 and What Does it Mean?
Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 allows private landlords to evict tenants in England and Wales on an assured tenancy agreement or rolling contract, without having to establish that the tenant is at fault. It is a controversial law and requires specific circumstances to be valid.
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Using football to understand your finances
The beautiful game can teach us all a thing or two about personal finances. We take you through some of the most important things we can learn about income, debt and finance from the world of football.
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Exploring the finances of the Premier League
Find out about our new interactive tool that lets you explore the finances and debt of your favourite Premier League team and their surrounding areas.
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