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Karl Talbot

Karl is a writer specialising in investing and personal finance content. He regularly contributes articles on savings, bank accounts, mortgages, and loans. He was previously a Personal Finance Writer for MoneySavingExpert.

Recent Articles

Man putting a coin into a pink piggy bank
Personal Finance

Savings rates RISE following base rate change: earn 0.75% easy access or 2.2% fixed

| Karl Talbot

Savings rates have risen following the Bank of England's latest base rate decision. Here's how you can maximise the return…

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A senior man shortlisting stocks at his kitchen table
Personal Finance

Are you paying credit card interest? Here’s why you should ACT NOW

| Karl Talbot

If you're paying credit card interest, then using a balance transfer could cut it to zero. Karl Talbot explains how,…

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Twenty pound notes in back pocket of jeans
Personal Finance

New £150 council tax discount from April: do you qualify?

| Karl Talbot

The chancellor has announced that some households in England will get £150 off council tax as energy bills are set…

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Aerial Houses Residential British England Drone Above View Summer Blue Sky Estate Agent
Personal Finance

TWO lenders hike mortgage rates following base rate rise: more could follow

| Karl Talbot

Two big-name lenders have announced they are hiking mortgage rates following the Bank of England's base rate decision. Here's what…

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Bus waiting in front of the London Stock Exchange on a sunny day.
Personal Finance

Base rate rises to 0.5%: does this signal the end of ‘cheap money?’

| Karl Talbot

The Bank of England has raised its base rate (again) to 0.5%. So, with higher borrowing costs, is this the…

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Woman looking sideways at credit card
Personal Finance

Are you aware of this trick to beat inflation with a credit card?

| Karl Talbot

Inflation is on the up, but did you know that with a credit card you can use rising inflation to…

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A young couple take use a laptop together in their living room
Personal Finance

Premium Bonds: how to check if you’ve won in February’s draw

| Karl Talbot

NS&I has revealed its Premium Bond prize winners for its February draw, with two people bagging £1 million! Here's how…

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Piggy bank being carried by balloon
Personal Finance

Rising inflation: are you making this common mistake with your money?

| Karl Talbot

Inflation is rising, yet many people are making a common mistake with their cash savings. Karl Talbot takes a look…

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Home key with house keyring with calculator.
Personal Finance

February 2022: what’s the current house price forecast?

| Karl Talbot

Nationwide's February House Price Index reveals house prices are rising at their fastest pace in 17 years. So what's the…

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Personal Finance

National Insurance rise: why is work taxed more than wealth?

| Karl Talbot

With National Insurance all but certain to rise in April, Karl Talbot explores why the government prefers to tax work…

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pensive bearded business man sitting on chair looking out of the window
Personal Finance

Money worries? Here are 10 tips to help with the cost of living crisis

| Karl Talbot

The UK is facing a cost of living crisis. So, if your finances are tight, these 10 tips could help…

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Happy African American Man Hugging New Car In Auto Dealership
Personal Finance

Revealed! The cheapest locations to own an electric car

| Karl Talbot

New data reveals the cost of charging an electric car can vary massively across the UK. So, which areas offer…

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Retirement saving and pension planning
Personal Finance

Do you fear a poor retirement? Here’s how to boost your pension pot NOW

| Karl Talbot

According to new research, less than 40% of people are saving enough into a pension. So how can you boost…

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Personal Finance

Nationwide RAISES savings rates by up to 0.5%: how do the new rates compare?

| Karl Talbot

The base rate is expected to rise next week, and Nationwide has already upped its savings rates in anticipation. But…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Personal Finance

New bank switch bonuses for 2022: grab an easy £150 for moving banks

| Karl Talbot

Bank switch offers are on the rise, with two providers launching juicy switching incentives this week. Here's how to bag…

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Personal Finance

Cost of living crisis: the shocking number of unpaid household bills in January

| Karl Talbot

New research reveals that the cost of living crisis is having a big impact on household finances. So why are…

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Old empty wallet in hands.
Personal Finance

Beer prices set to rocket: get ready for £7 a pint!

| Karl Talbot

Beer prices are set to rise, with one leading pub landlord claiming £7 pints are on the horizon. So what…

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Young casual man and girl using laptop while looking at invoice and plan the budget to save.
Personal Finance

Will the National Insurance hike be scrapped? 3 reasons why it might be

| Karl Talbot

National Insurance is set to be hiked for millions of workers from April. Here are three reasons why I think…

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For Sale signs displayed outside terraced houses
Personal Finance

Revealed! Why a house price crash could now be on the cards

| Karl Talbot

House prices in the UK are near all-time highs. Yet a big development on Monday suggests prices could fall in…

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Portrait of worried woman standing beside window
Personal Finance

Inflation worries? 3 tips to help with the rising cost of living

| Karl Talbot

UK inflation is continuing to accelerate. So if you're struggling with the rising cost of living, here are three tips…

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estate agent welcoming a couple to house viewing
Personal Finance

Property sales on the rise according to HMRC: is this really the case?

| Karl Talbot

According to HMRC, property sales are on the rise. But do these stats tell us the full story about the…

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Man putting a coin into a pink piggy bank
Personal Finance

New savings account pays 1% interest with a monthly prize draw: is it any good?

| Karl Talbot

Yorkshire Building Society's new savings account enters savers into a monthly prize draw. Should you consider getting involved?

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a young couple celebrate getting the keys to their new home by taking a selfie in the garden
Personal Finance

Help to Buy blamed for UK’s soaring house prices: should it be avoided?

| Karl Talbot

The government's Help to Buy scheme has been blamed for the UK's soaring house prices. So should you avoid it?…

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Financially free and calm woman sitting in kitchen
Personal Finance

Credit card debt? Stop paying interest for 35 months with a balance transfer

| Karl Talbot

If you're paying credit card interest, a balance transfer credit card could give you a new 0% interest period for…

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Young woman sat at laptop by a window
Personal Finance

DIY investors ‘not confident’ about global economy: will the stock market crash?

| Karl Talbot

New research reveals that DIY investors lack confidence in the global economy. So does this mean that a stock market…

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Young couple going for holidays with colorful suitcases
Personal Finance

Worried about booking a holiday? Follow these 3 tips to reduce the risk of COVID disruption

| Karl Talbot

Keen for an overseas trip following the latest changes to UK travel rules? Follow these tips to reduce the risk…

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View over businesslady shoulder seated at workplace desk look at computer screen
Personal Finance

The great inflation pay squeeze: will wages rise any time soon?

| Karl Talbot

High inflation is having a big impact on UK salaries just as the cost of living crisis begins to bite.…

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Partnership of business concept. Handshake
Personal Finance

Amazon U-turns on Visa credit cards: should you take action if you’ve switched?

| Karl Talbot

Amazon WILL now continue to accept Visa credit cards. So what does it mean for customers? And what if you've…

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Man putting a coin into a pink piggy bank
Personal Finance

Savings rates are rising! You can earn 0.72% on easy access savings (if you’re quick)!

| Karl Talbot

Family Building Society has launched a table-topping easy access savings account. Here's why savers must act fast to get it.

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New Ways of Investing - Hands Only Using Smart Phone
Personal Finance

Will the FTSE 100 reach an all-time high this year?

| Karl Talbot

The FTSE 100 has made a strong start to 2022. So will the UK's largest share index reach a new…

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Woman looking sideways at credit card
Personal Finance

Ever had a Barclaycard? You could be in line for a cash refund

| Karl Talbot

Some Barclaycard customers may be in line for a refund after the provider admitted it incorrectly overcharged some cardholders. Here…

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Piggy bank rocketing skywards
Personal Finance

Got savings? 4 tips to bag yourself the highest savings rates in 2022

| Karl Talbot

Are you looking to boost your savings? Karl Talbot explores the current savings market and outlines how you can grab…

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Young man shopping with credit card and laptop computer
Personal Finance

How I get free extra protection on my shopping (and how you can too)

| Karl Talbot

I follow two simple rules to maximise my consumer protection whenever I go on a shopping spree. Here's how you…

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many happy international football fans watching tv
Personal Finance

Revealed! The cheapest way to watch live Premier League football

| Karl Talbot

Live Premier League football is the hottest ticket in town for TV broadcasters, but which platform offers the cheapest way…

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Row of terrace houses.
Personal Finance

Property rose by £24k in 2021: what’s the house price forecast for 2022?

| Karl Talbot

Nationwide's latest House Price Index suggests that a typical home in the UK now costs £24,000 more than a year…

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Trader on video call from his home office
Personal Finance

Here are the shares most bought by UK investors last week

| Karl Talbot

Which shares have been popular buys among UK investors over the past week? Karl Talbot takes a look at the…

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Young woman prioritising her finances at a kitchen table
Personal Finance

Cost of living crisis: how to avoid your bills soaring by £1,200 in 2022

| Karl Talbot

Families are facing higher bills next year, to the tune of £1,200. Here are some tips to help you reduce…

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Serious mid adult Asian woman listening on phone, sitting in office chair in dark room, holding paperwork
Personal Finance

Post-Christmas debt? How a 0% balance transfer can help

| Karl Talbot

If you overspent at Christmas, a specialist balance transfer credit card could help you avoid paying interest on your debt.…

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Twenty pound notes in back pocket of jeans
Personal Finance

These two money-saving tricks made me £350+ richer in 2021

| Karl Talbot

Two money-saving tricks made me over £350 richer in 2021. Here's how you can jump on board to set yourself…

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Lady holding mobile phone and shopping bags
Personal Finance

Amazon shopper? Think twice before using its new ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ service

| Karl Talbot

Amazon has joined the 'Buy Now Pay Later' party. But how does its new service compare with borrowing on 0%…

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