Pounds and Sense https://www.poundsandsense.com/ A UK blog covering personal finance and much more from an over-60 perspective Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:48:47 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.poundsandsense.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/coffeespecs-150x150.png Pounds and Sense https://www.poundsandsense.com/ 32 32 Why Now Could Be the Ideal Time to Take Advantage of Your New Tax-Free ISA Allowance https://www.poundsandsense.com/why-now-could-be-the-ideal-time-to-take-advantage-of-your-new-tax-free-isa-allowance/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-now-could-be-the-ideal-time-to-take-advantage-of-your-new-tax-free-isa-allowance https://www.poundsandsense.com/why-now-could-be-the-ideal-time-to-take-advantage-of-your-new-tax-free-isa-allowance/#respond Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:42:29 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=11947 As of 6 April 2026, UK investors have a fresh chance to supercharge their savings and investments with a new £20,000 Individual Savings Account (ISA) allowance. ISAs represent a golden opportunity for investors to make their money work harder while shielding their returns from the taxman. With tax-free allowances for income frozen until April 2028 […]

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]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/why-now-could-be-the-ideal-time-to-take-advantage-of-your-new-tax-free-isa-allowance/feed/ 0 Pound-Cost Averaging – A Smart Strategy for Investing in Turbulent Times https://www.poundsandsense.com/pound-cost-averaging-a-smart-strategy-for-investing-in-turbulent-times/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pound-cost-averaging-a-smart-strategy-for-investing-in-turbulent-times https://www.poundsandsense.com/pound-cost-averaging-a-smart-strategy-for-investing-in-turbulent-times/#respond Sun, 05 Apr 2026 10:22:51 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=14493 Volatile investment markets can be unsettling, particularly for older investors who may be more focused on preserving wealth than chasing high returns. With ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the current conflict in the Middle East, market swings have become more pronounced. In this environment, a disciplined approach such as pound-cost averaging can help reduce risk and […]

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]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/pound-cost-averaging-a-smart-strategy-for-investing-in-turbulent-times/feed/ 0 My Investments Update – April 2026 https://www.poundsandsense.com/my-investments-update-april-2026/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=my-investments-update-april-2026 https://www.poundsandsense.com/my-investments-update-april-2026/#respond Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:52:00 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=14470 Here is my latest monthly update about my investments. You can read my March 2026 Investments Update here if you like. I’ll begin as usual with my JP Morgan Personal Investing (previously Nutmeg) Stocks and Shares ISA. This is the largest investment I hold other than my Bestinvest SIPP (personal pension). As regular readers will know, in June last year I transferred […]

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]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/my-investments-update-april-2026/feed/ 0 Get a Free Share Worth Up To £100 With Trading 212 https://www.poundsandsense.com/get-a-free-share-worth-up-to-100-with-trading-212/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=get-a-free-share-worth-up-to-100-with-trading-212 https://www.poundsandsense.com/get-a-free-share-worth-up-to-100-with-trading-212/#comments Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:50:06 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=4931 Offer Reopened! Today I’m featuring a way you can get a free fractional share worth up to £100 by signing up (for the first time) with an online share trading platform called Trading 212. Trading 212 is unusual in that it offers commission-free and fee-free share trading. As a special offer, until Tuesday 28th April 2026 they […]

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]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/get-a-free-share-worth-up-to-100-with-trading-212/feed/ 6 How to Save Money on Travel Insurance https://www.poundsandsense.com/how-to-save-money-on-travel-insurance/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-save-money-on-travel-insurance https://www.poundsandsense.com/how-to-save-money-on-travel-insurance/#respond Sun, 29 Mar 2026 09:51:45 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=14443 As we reach the end of a long, cold winter, many people’s thoughts are turning to holidays. And that makes the topic of travel insurance a lot more relevant – in these uncertain times especially. Travel insurance is one of those expenses that can feel like a grudge purchase – until you need it. For […]

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]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/how-to-save-money-on-travel-insurance/feed/ 0 Don’t Miss Out! Use Your £20,000 ISA Allowance Before It’s Too Late https://www.poundsandsense.com/dont-miss-out-use-your-20000-isa-allowance-before-its-too-late/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dont-miss-out-use-your-20000-isa-allowance-before-its-too-late https://www.poundsandsense.com/dont-miss-out-use-your-20000-isa-allowance-before-its-too-late/#respond Sat, 21 Mar 2026 10:20:23 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=11915 As the end of the tax year on 5 April 2026 approaches, so too does the deadline to utilize the annual tax-free Individual Savings Account (ISA) allowance. The clock is ticking, and unless you take action in the next few weeks, this opportunity to maximize your tax-free savings for the 2025/26 financial year will be gone. […]

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]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/dont-miss-out-use-your-20000-isa-allowance-before-its-too-late/feed/ 0 What Is an Annuity – and Who Should Consider Buying One? https://www.poundsandsense.com/what-is-an-annuity-and-who-should-consider-buying-one/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-is-an-annuity-and-who-should-consider-buying-one https://www.poundsandsense.com/what-is-an-annuity-and-who-should-consider-buying-one/#comments Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:00:55 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=14410 If you’re approaching retirement (or have retired already), you’ve probably come across the term annuity. For some people it represents security and peace of mind. For others it feels restrictive and poor value. So what exactly is an annuity – and who should consider buying one? Let’s take a closer look. What Is an Annuity? […]

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]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/what-is-an-annuity-and-who-should-consider-buying-one/feed/ 2 Are River Cruises Suitable for Solo Travellers? https://www.poundsandsense.com/are-river-cruises-suitable-for-solo-travellers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=are-river-cruises-suitable-for-solo-travellers https://www.poundsandsense.com/are-river-cruises-suitable-for-solo-travellers/#respond Sun, 15 Mar 2026 10:26:47 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=14396 My recent posts about cruise holidays and river cruises have generated quite a bit of interest among PAS readers. One asked if I could say something about the suitability of river cruises for solo travellers. I thought that was an interesting question (and one that’s relevant to me personally). So today I shall be addressing […]

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]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/are-river-cruises-suitable-for-solo-travellers/feed/ 0 Beat the Postage Stamp Price Rise! https://www.poundsandsense.com/beat-the-postage-stamp-price-rise/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=beat-the-postage-stamp-price-rise https://www.poundsandsense.com/beat-the-postage-stamp-price-rise/#respond Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:44:49 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=2861 A quickie today to let you know that the price of stamps is rising again on Tuesday 7 April 2026. That will be the SEVENTH rise in the price of first class stamps in just four years. On this occasion a standard first class stamp is going up from £1.70 to £1.80, a 6% increase. […]

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]]> https://www.poundsandsense.com/beat-the-postage-stamp-price-rise/feed/ 0 My Investments Update – March 2026 https://www.poundsandsense.com/my-investments-update-march-2026/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=my-investments-update-march-2026 https://www.poundsandsense.com/my-investments-update-march-2026/#respond Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:22:41 +0000 https://www.poundsandsense.com/?p=14360 Here is my latest monthly update about my investments. You can read my February 2026 Investments Update here if you like. I’ll begin as usual with my JP Morgan Personal Investing (previously Nutmeg) Stocks and Shares ISA. This is the largest investment I hold other than my Bestinvest SIPP (personal pension). As regular readers will know, in June last year I transferred […]

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