Bank account switching bonuses are on the rise again – is it worth it?
Bank account switching is back on the cards if you’re looking to earn some easy extra cash. But is it worth it?
The number of switching offers – where a bank will pay you cash to change your main current account to them – saw a big drop off during and even before the pandemic. However, banks are once again competing hard for current account customers, meaning deals for switching are popping up like mushrooms. The deals however do come and go quickly, depending on how successful they are for the bank looking to attract new customers, so you’ll often have to move quickly.
The best deals right now
At the time of writing, the best deal on the market comes from first direct, which is offering a £175 cash bonus if you switch your account to them. Until recently Nationwide offered £200, NatWest offered £175, and Lloyds Bank was offering £150 – but all of these deals have now expired. However, it is highly likely that new deals will come around again in short order, so it is worth keeping an eye out for when they do.
How to switch
For the first direct switching offer, there are a series of caveats in order to obtain the £175 cash. You’ll need to open a 1st Account and use the current account switching service (CASS) to move from your old account within three months of opening. To make the switch you’ll just have to fill out a request on the first direct website. You’ll need to pay in over £1,000 to get the bonus, which will be paid within 28 days once this is done.
Is switching worth it?
Switching bank accounts might seem like a big hassle, but the process comes with guarantees to make it as simple as possible. The CASS guarantees to switch over all your direct debits and ensure your money is moved over to the new account within seven days and promises to make the process as seamless as possible. CASS will even ensure your salary goes into the new account without you needing to do anything. This doesn’t however extend to regular card payments such as a Netflix or Spotify subscription. You’ll need to update these details with the providers yourself.
With regards to first direct in particular, the bank is owned by HSBC but operates independently. It has routinely come near or top of customer satisfaction ratings which the Government commissions. The bank is only bested by digital-only providers Monzo and Starling. Neither offer a switching bonus but come with an array of other benefits which might be more tempting than a simple cash offer. It’s worth remembering first direct is also a branchless bank, so if you need access to a local bank, this won’t be the one for you. It is also worth considering the other benefits that come with the account. For instance, first direct offers an interest-free overdraft up to £250, with anything above that charged at 39.9% EAR variable.
There are other considerations such as savings accounts on offer and other packaged benefits you might get with a current account. But if you principally just use your current account as a place to keep your spending money, then an extra £175 could be just the ticket.
Any opinions stated are honestly held but are not guaranteed and should not be relied upon.
The information contained in this document is not to be regarded as an offer to buy or sell, or the solicitation of any offer to buy or sell, any investments or products.
The content of this document is for information only. It is advisable that you discuss your personal financial circumstances with a financial adviser before undertaking any investments.
All the data contained in the communication is believed to be reliable but may be inaccurate or incomplete. Unless otherwise specified all information is produced as of 12th January 2023.
Inheritance tax at record-breaking levels
The Government earned £4.8 billion in inheritance tax (IHT) receipts between April and November 2022, according to the most recent figures. This represents a £600 million increase on the same period a year earlier and sets another record in the upward trend for the tax.
Inheritance Tax (IHT) is by no means the biggest earner for the Government – of the £490.8 billion it took in tax between April and November 2022, Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions accounted for £251.4 billion combined. However, the tax has risen steadily for over a decade and is becoming an increasing issue for many middle-class families.
Who pays IHT and why is the Government attracting more money?
Inheritance Tax (IHT) receipts have risen significantly in the past 10 years, chiefly because the Government has frozen the threshold at which families become liable to pay the tax for consecutive years. The current threshold of £325,000 has been in place since April 2009. As asset prices for wealth such as property and investments have grown, more and more estates have been pushed over the line. With the average property price standing at £296,000 in October 2022, it doesn’t take much to reach that threshold if you’re a homeowner. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt committed to keeping this threshold in place until at least 2028, meaning this trend is only set to continue.
How to mitigate IHT liability
Inheritance Tax (IHT) comes with a series of rules and extra thresholds that makes liability for paying the tax more complicated than the simple £325,000 level, however. Married couples benefit from a transferable nil rate band. This means the combined wealth of a married couple can reach £650,000 before becoming liable.
Estates which contain a main residence property also enjoy a residence nil rate band. This means the primary family home enjoys a residence nil rate band of £175,000. If a married couple combines this, the total estate can be valued up to £1 million before incurring IHT liabilities, assuming they own a home.
Pensions are also free from IHT liability, but this only applies to lump sums that are a discretionary payment from the pension provider. This does not apply for specific products such as annuities where the estate is entitled to a guaranteed payment.
Inheritance Tax (IHT) also contains exemptions when it comes to gifting. The seven-year rule stipulates that any wealth given away to others is tax free, assuming the person who is giving away money survives for seven years after it is given. There are also annual gifts that can be given tax free. Gifts of up to £3,000 can be made each tax year without incurring any liability, while a wedding gift allowance of £5,000 is also applicable for parents. Grandparents or great grandparents can gift £2,500 towards a wedding.
The exemptions don’t end there – business owner exemptions, putting assets into a trust, and certain investments also carry tax breaks with regards to IHT. However, such methods are best discussed with a financial adviser in order to ensure that IHT liability mitigation is being done in the right way.
Any opinions stated are honestly held but are not guaranteed and should not be relied upon.
The information contained in this document is not to be regarded as an offer to buy or sell, or the solicitation of any offer to buy or sell, any investments or products.
The content of this document is for information only. It is advisable that you discuss your personal financial circumstances with a financial adviser before undertaking any investments.
All the data contained in the communication is believed to be reliable but may be inaccurate or incomplete. Unless otherwise specified all information is produced as of 12th January 2023.
Top tips for saving money on holidays in 2023
For many a holiday might seem like something of an expensive luxury at the moment. But there are still ways to save on holidays in 2023.
A falling pound, rising costs and hotspot congestion – these are just some of the factors which might make you think a holiday abroad is out of reach this year. By following a few simple money tips and tricks, jetting away on a well-deserved holiday is absolutely possible for most people.
Here are some ideas to get you started in 2023.
Go where the pound is strong
The pound had a miserable year in 2022. This was compounded by a series of calamitous policy decisions taken by the Government towards the end of the year which sent the value of the currency sliding. While the value of sterling has recovered somewhat from nearly reaching parity with the dollar, it is still much weaker than it was at the start of last year, meaning some destinations remain pricey for British holidaymakers. This is particularly true in locations where the US dollar is king – mainly the US, but lots of other countries use dollars as their main currency, such as Puerto Rico and Panama, too.
However, there are still some top global holiday destinations where the pound has maintained its relative value, or even become stronger. For instance, the South African rand has remained at broadly the same level over two years compared to sterling, while Egyptian pounds have in fact become weaker versus the UK pound. Other countries such as Argentina, Hungary, India, Israel, Japan, Norway and Sweden have all seen their currencies weaken versus GBP, making the relative cost of travelling there cheaper.
If you want to see where the best rates are for your foreign exchange, then XE.com’s currency charts are a really good place to start. Of course, some of these destinations are on the more adventurous side, and others require big long-haul travel, so savings are only really worth it if you can still get a good deal on flights and other aspects.
Use price comparison
This is where making good use of price comparison comes in. We’re all reasonably accustomed to using price comparison websites to get deals for our insurance, broadband and other home services. However, travel comparison is no different, with a big selection of services that will find you the best deals out there. Price comparison isn’t just for flights – you can get quotes for hotels, car rentals and even package deals too.
Good websites to get started include Kayak, Google Flights, Momondo and Skyscanner. One thing to watch out for with price comparison though – and this is particularly the case for flights – is added extras that aren’t in the headline price. This is a common tactic used by airlines to mask the “true” cost of the flight in order to make it look attractive. Airlines will offer cheap fares, but then pile on costs from adding baggage, picking seats, and other amenities that once upon a time were inclusive of the price, but these days rarely are.
Get a good deal on foreign currency
Exchanging your pounds for the local currency can be one of the most deceptively expensive aspects of travelling abroad. We all know that buying foreign currency at the airport is expensive, as you’ll pay fees and won’t get the true exchange rate, leaving you with significantly less for your money. Even well-established high street institutions such as the Post Office don’t offer the best rates. The trick to see where this is the case is if the exchange offers ‘fee free’ currency. If you don’t pay headline fees, you’re most likely paying through a worse exchange rate.
It is much better these days to just use a bank card abroad that offers no fees and the Mastercard real exchange rate. Far and away the best for this is Starling Bank, where you’ll get the live exchange rate for your currency and there are no limits on spending.
Get a local sim card
Since the UK left the EU, roaming charges have bounced back into our lives when travelling to Europe. Some UK providers do still offer decent terms when travelling, but this is usually only the case within the EU. At the time of writing those include Asda Mobile, BT Mobile, iD Mobile, Lebara, O2, Plusnet, Sainsbury’s, Smarty and Virgin. If you use EE, Three or Vodafone then charges now apply when you use your minutes or data abroad. However, there is another way to secure a cheaper deal when you travel and that is to get a local sim card. Many modern phones will allow you to pop in a second physical or digital sim card, meaning you don’t have to use your UK minutes and data abroad.
The best thing to do when you arrive at the airport of your destination is go straight to one of the local providers’ shops to ask for a sim data deal – the airport arrivals is usually packed with them offering deals to tourists. Do your research on the destination before arriving though to ensure you pick a reputable carrier.
Come to the airport prepared
It can be really easy to find yourself spending large sums unwittingly in the airport before you’ve even left the UK. From expensive sandwiches to extortionate water bottles – the products on offer are usually very expensive compared to normal. It pays then to come prepared. Bring an empty water bottle to fill up once you’ve passed security and pack sandwiches if you think you’ll get hungry.
This also extends to other things like buying a neck pillow for your flight – you’ll get ripped off if you can’t live without one on the plane but forget it at home. This is also a salient point if you think you’ll struggle to stay within the baggage limit. Leave behind basic items like shower gel and toothpaste – ubiquitous products you can buy locally at your destination when you arrive.
Make sure you’re insured
While this isn’t a direct saving per se – failing to get good travel insurance can be extremely costly for you and your family. It’s easy to pick up good value travel insurance these days using price comparison sites to find the deal that suits you. The cost of healthcare in countries such as the US can be extraordinarily high and will be crippling if you don’t have insurance to protect you if you get injured or fall ill abroad.
With the UK leaving the EU, the old European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is now expiring too, so make sure you apply for the new GHIC. But also remember this won’t preclude you from paying any costs, it just gives you right of access to state healthcare in EU countries and Switzerland and is not a replacement for insurance. It is also a really good way to save on rental insurance costs. Instead of paying over the odds for the premium insurance direct from the car hire firm, get car hire excess insurance instead, which will cover the premium you have to pay if you have an accident abroad with a hire car.
Be flexible
Ultimately, the deciding factor on how much your holiday is going to cost will be the destination you pick. If prices in popular destinations such as Spain, France or Italy are looking high, consider alternative up and coming destinations such as Albania, Hungary, Morocco, or even at home in the UK. You can often find staying closer to home or venturing further afield can reward you with the same top-quality experiences at much more competitive prices.
Any opinions stated are honestly held but are not guaranteed and should not be relied upon.
The information contained in this document is not to be regarded as an offer to buy or sell, or the solicitation of any offer to buy or sell, any investments or products.
The content of this document is for information only. It is advisable that you discuss your personal financial circumstances with a financial adviser before undertaking any investments.
All the data contained in the communication is believed to be reliable but may be inaccurate or incomplete. Unless otherwise specified all information is produced as of 12th January 2023.
The World In A Week - Winter is (still) coming
Written by Cormac Nevin.
Last week was another challenging one for markets, as the MSCI All Country World Index fell -1.5% in GBP terms. In local terms, the Equity Index was down -2.9%, illustrating the strong fall in GBP vs other major currencies over the week. Sustained rises in interest rates also resulted in a negative week for Fixed Income, with the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Index down -0.9% in GBP Hedged terms.
Markets continue to fret about the energy crisis, particularly in Europe, as we approach the winter. These worries were compounded by Russia’s decision to indefinitely suspend flows of natural gas through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany, which prompted a renewed surge in wholesale gas prices. The reasons given were spurious concerns about very minor leaks, but European leaders are not in any doubt that this move is in retaliation for sanctions over the ongoing war on Ukraine.
OPEC has also floated the idea of supply cuts to oil production, citing concerns over global demand given the ongoing COVID-19 lockdowns in China. Political changes in the UK, Italy, and mid-term elections in the US will give the markets plenty to focus on towards the end of the year, but we remain convinced that the diversification of our portfolios will allow us to react to events as they arise with our typical long-term approach.
Any opinions stated are honestly held but are not guaranteed and should not be relied upon.
The information contained in this document is not to be regarded as an offer to buy or sell, or the solicitation of any offer to buy or sell, any investments or products.
The content of this document is for information only. It is advisable that you discuss your personal financial circumstances with a financial adviser before undertaking any investments.
All the data contained in the communication is believed to be reliable but may be inaccurate or incomplete. Unless otherwise specified all information is produced as of 5th September 2022.
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by silvia