Harriet Meyer

London

Financial Journalist at Freelance

Banking and Small Business Editor at The Times

Award-winning Personal Finance Journalist, Copywriter and Trainer.

Articles

‘A great perk’: seven ways to make the most of your employee benefits

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Harriet Meyer

Look beyond your salaryYour employment contract should outline your overall benefits package but it is also worth logging into your company’s intranet or benefits portal. You should find more details there, or speak to your HR department for a breakdown of your entitlements.
"A large hotel chain didn't pay £3,000. I said I’d go to small claims, but they laughed"

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Harriet Meyer

Late payments are crippling small businesses. We speak to owners about their strategies to safeguard cash flow.
"We started with £3,000 from crowdfunding

1 month ago | thetimes.com | Harriet Meyer

Alice Wainwright, 34, and Ben Charalambous, 38, started their business from their London flat during lockdown with just £3,000 raised from a crowdfunding campaign. Five years later, it's the UK's number one coffee subscription club, certified as sustainable and approaching half a million in annual revenue. But success didn't happen overnight.
How to use AI to get a job interview and nail it - along with the salary you deserve

1 month ago | theguardian.com | Harriet Meyer

Supercharge your researchThe fear that artificial intelligence (AI) will replace millions of jobs is widespread. But equally, in today’s tough job market, not using AI wisely as part of your search could mean you miss out. It’s a tricky balancing act to harness the technology’s power without losing the human touch. You can use AI models such as ChatGPT and Perplexity to research employers, competitors and industry trends before applying for a job.
How to boost your state pension and not miss out on £24,600 cash

1 month ago | thesun.co.uk | Harriet Meyer

TIME is running out for workers to boost their state pension by tens of thousands of pounds over retirement. If you don’t act before April 5, you could lose the chance to top up your National Insurance (NI) record. That’s the deadline for topping up gaps in your record to max your state pension. If you miss it, you could be stuck with a lower payout for life. You need 35 NI years to get the full new state pension, worth £221.20 a week or over £11,502 a year, and ten years to get anything at all.
Letter to the Editor: Homeless shelter near Hyde Park's lakefront? Bad idea.

1 month ago | chicagobusiness.com | Harriet Meyer

Buried deep in Gov. JB Pritzker's budget is funding for a $2 million homeless shelter in the city. Good for us. We need one. Perhaps two or three. But where? There is the rub. The East Kenwood community in Hyde Park learned that our city had picked a piece of lakefront property located on the 4900 block of DuSable Lake Shore Drive and turned it into a shelter during the migrant crisis. Our community welcomed them with open arms.
What are your duties as an executor of a will?

1 month ago | restless.co.uk | Harriet Meyer

If you’re named as an executor in someone’s will, you’ll be responsible for sorting out their estate when they die. The role of executor can be both time-consuming and stressful, as you’re the person responsible for sorting out the finances and possessions of the person who’s died, and passing these onto beneficiaries named in their will. If their financial situation is complicated, this can feel like an overwhelming task, and you may need to seek specialist help to administer their estate.
How AI can help your business: six tips for success

1 month ago | thetimes.com | Harriet Meyer

Small business owners are in a fantastic position to benefit from the artificial intelligence boom. From researching competitors to building your social media following, there's masses you can do with AI to boost your business. With the right approach, you can use AI to gain a competitive edge, without needing a big budget or tech skills.
Energy bill to car tax hikes: changes to expect for your money in April 2025

2 months ago | thetimes.com | Harriet Meyer

Important informationKnown as "Awful April", the annual wave of price hikes will strike again when the new tax year begins. The 2025 edition looks particularly challenging, as rising household bills add hundreds of pounds to typical annual outgoings. Here's our round-up of the changes you need to know about. Last year's autumn budget set out measures including the hike in employer national insurance contributions (NICs).
Should I take a salary or dividends from my company?

2 months ago | thetimes.com | Harriet Meyer

Important informationRunning your own limited company comes with several important decisions, with one of the biggest being how to pay yourself. Most directors pay themselves through a mix of regular salary and dividend payments, alongside pension contributions. The best approach for you will depend on company profits, tax and any benefits you receive. Here, we look at how to pay yourself as a company director. Should you take a salary or dividends from your company?