Shane Hickey

London

Cash Editor at The Observer

Finance and news journalist. Cash editor of The Observer and reporting to Ireland from London.

Articles

Keep burglars out: six ways to protect your home when you’re away

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Shane Hickey

Prepare your homeWhether it is a fortnight’s holiday, a weekend away or just an evening out, if you are planning a trip during the summer months you should take steps to secure your home against burglaries. Put valuables out of plain sight so they are not easy to find should anyone gain entry. The West Midlands police warn that many criminals will be after car keys, so if you are not driving to your destination hide the keys in a safe, secure drawer or even take them with you.
Hey AI! Can ChatGPT help you to manage your money?

2 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Shane Hickey

Artificial intelligence seems to have touched every part of our lives. But can it help us manage our money? We put some common personal finance questions to the free version of ChatGPT, one of the most well-known AI chatbots, and asked for its help. Then we gave the answers to some – human – experts and asked them what they thought. PensionsWe asked: I am 35 years old and want to ensure I have a comfortable retirement.
Holidaymakers told to beware buying Avios points on Facebook after scams

1 month ago | msn.com | Shane Hickey

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.
Holidaymakers told to beware buying Avios points on Facebook after scams

1 month ago | theguardian.com | Shane Hickey

Holidaymakers hoping to use frequent flyer points to reduce the cost of their holiday have been warned to beware of fraudsters claiming to sell them on third-party websites. In a case that highlights the dangers of buying points through unofficial channels, a young couple were left hundreds of pounds out of pocket after they were defrauded by a scammer who claimed to be selling them British Airways loyalty points.
Expert tips on saving money on meat, from alternative cuts to the best butchers

1 month ago | theguardian.com | Shane Hickey

Plan what you needIt is estimated that UK households throw away 10 % of beef, pork and poultry they buy each year. That’s about 250,000 tonnes in total, so it is important to plan what you are going to buy to avoid waste and save money. Work out how many meals you will cook during the week, and how much meat is needed for each person.
can you sell or transfer your trip if you can’t get a refund?

1 month ago | msn.com | Shane Hickey

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Holiday cancellations: can you sell or transfer your trip if you can’t get a refund?

1 month ago | theguardian.com | Shane Hickey

Even the best-laid holiday plans can go awry. Illness, bereavements, break-ups, money problems, redundancy, pregnancy, jury duty, floods – all of these can throw a getaway into disarray. But while you may miss out on a break in the sun or relaxing city break, you do not necessarily have to lose all of your money as a result of problems at home that force you to cancel your trip.
Ryanair’s £79 membership scheme takes off - but Which? says ‘think twice’

1 month ago | theguardian.com | Shane Hickey

Ryanair has become the latest low-cost airline to offer a yearly membership scheme that promises benefits such as free reserved seats and cheap flights – but the consumer group Which? says you should look at the small print before you join. The low-cost carrier’s Prime membership costs £79 a person a year and promises 12 free seat reservations, travel insurance, and monthly access to a sale. However, the terms and conditions show a number of limitations.
What to do if your UK passport is lost or stolen: steps you need to take

1 month ago | theguardian.com | Shane Hickey

Your passport serves as a gateway to travel abroad and allows you to identify as a citizen of a country. So losing it or having it stolen provides a number of headaches, especially if you are travelling at the time. If it does go missing, the most important thing is to act fast. As soon as you find your passport is missing The first thing you must do is report it to the Home Office via Gov.uk so that it can be cancelled. Only then can you apply for a new one.
Do I (in the UK) need to worry about the US stock market?

2 months ago | theguardian.com | Shane Hickey

A trade war with China and suggestions Donald Trump will sack the head of the Federal Reserve have weighed heavily on the US stock market. It was already reeling after the president’s announcement of universal tariffs on the whole world, and, despite recovering some of its losses, remains down on the start of the year. In the UK, you may be wondering whether any of it matters to you. The short answer is that it could – without realising it, you may have exposure to the ups and downs of US shares.