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2 weeks ago | 
thisismoney.co.uk | Ruth Jackson-Kirby
Last month our labrador, Holly, suddenly started limping. Our vet said we needed X-rays, and £250 later we discovered she'd torn her cruciate ligament. The only fix? A £3,500 operation. But then I read that vet fees in Europe are a quarter of what we pay in the UK. That raised several questions. Should I have taken the dog on holiday to Spain for a cut-price op? Maybe book myself in for some budget dental work while she got her knee fixed in Turkey?
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4 weeks ago | 
dailymail.co.uk | Ruth Jackson-Kirby
The cost of a basic funeral has hit an all-time high of £4,285, and families end up paying more than twice that on average, once additional costs such as the wake and flowers are included. But not my family. I’ve planned my own send off – and it’ll be cheap as chips. I’m only 42 years old and in good health.
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2 months ago | 
goodmoneyguide.com | Ruth Jackson-Kirby
When it comes to investing, most of us aren’t just focused on the returns. In fact, 81% of us want our money to make a positive difference in the world, according to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). But how do you make sure your money is doing good, not harm? Leave it in cash, and you bank could be lending it to companies involved in fossil fuels, arms, or other sectors that might clash with your personal ethics.
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2 months ago | 
msn.com | Ruth Jackson-Kirby
Microsoft Cares About Your PrivacyMicrosoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
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2 months ago | 
msn.com | Ruth Jackson-Kirby
Microsoft Cares About Your PrivacyMicrosoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
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2 months ago | 
thisismoney.co.uk | Ruth Jackson-Kirby
Whether you're saving for the holiday of a lifetime or a retirement that's still decades off, Individual Savings Accounts (Isas) are an ideal place to build up a nest egg. You can save up to £20,000 each financial year, split across as many Isas as you like, without having to pay a penny to the taxman. With this tax year ending on April 5, savers are understandably rushing to use the allowance while they can.
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2 months ago | 
moneyweek.com | Ruth Jackson-Kirby
Families in England have seen a significant reduction in childcare costs in the first year after the government rolled out free childcare hours for children under three. But while working parents are reaping the benefits, others are being left behind as the sector grapples with rising costs and a widening funding gap. The cost of part-time nursery care for children under two has fallen by 56% in the past year, now averaging £70.51 a week, according to the latest Coram Family and Childcare survey.
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2 months ago | 
msn.com | Ruth Jackson-Kirby
Microsoft Cares About Your PrivacyMicrosoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
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2 months ago | 
thisismoney.co.uk | Ruth Jackson-Kirby
A few days after he turned 11, my son Isaac was counting the money he'd been given at the kitchen table - £100. He was torn between spending it on new airsoft gear [a game that simulates military conflicts] and putting it in his savings account. I said: 'Why not invest it instead?'At first, he looked at me like I'd just asked him to do extra maths homework. But once I explained how his money could grow instead of sitting idly in a bank account, his interest was piqued.
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Feb 28, 2025 | 
saga.co.uk | Ruth Jackson-Kirby
Important info
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