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James Andrews

Author

James Andrews

Senior Editor, Personal Finance

About the Author

James was a Senior Editor at Money.co.uk and used his personal finance expertise to help our readers understand their financial needs and options.

James started out his career reporting on banking for the DeHaviland news agency. He then went on to be the founding editor of MyFinances.co.uk, before joining MSN Money UK as a content editor, where he reported on the credit crunch among other financial crises.

James was Editor of Yahoo Finance UK for four years. He then joined Mirror Online as the founding editor of its Money section, where he remained for six and a half years.

James's radio experience includes regular appearances on BBC Radio, LBC and Talk Radio. He's a frequent commentator on the cost of living in the Press, and has won and been shortlisted for a string of media awards - including Best use of Social Media at the HeadlineMoney awards, Best Brand Development at the Drum awards and Pensions Journalist of the Year at the Willis Towers Watson media awards.

James left Money.co.uk in September 2023.

Expertise

Macro Economics
Pensions
Property
Mortgages
Credit Cards

Education

NCTJ - Diploma in Journalism
MPhil Archaeology, Cambridge University
BA Archaeology & Anthropology, University of Durham

Featured in News

Feature image with the title "UK business cost of living statistics 2023" and a business person at a desk calculating their finances with a pile of money next to them.

UK Business Cost of Living Statistics Report 2023

We’ve pulled together the latest UK business cost of living statistics and trends for 2023 covering the average cost of UK energy bills for small businesses, such as gas and electricity bills for different sectors and more.

A picture of a laptop showing graphs and charts. The title "UK small business statistics 2023" is written over the top.

UK Small Business Statistics 2022 (SMEs)

Explore our small business statistics to find out more about SME births and deaths, earnings, employment, growth and more in 2022.

A picture of a diverse team having a group meeting. The title "Diversity in business statistics" is written over the top.

UK Diversity in Business Statistics 2023 - Facts and Stats Report

Celebrate diversity in business with our statistics on women in business, ethnic minorities, and more.

Trip of a lifetime

Travelling in first or business class is something that many of us will never get to experience. But if you were to embark upon one of these once-in-a-lifetime trips, which airlines are the best, and which would cost the most?

image of a glacier with an overlay titled - where the world wants to ski

The most popular ski resorts around the world

A new study reveals the most searched for ski resorts around the world

Global Tourist Taxes

Which city is charging the most tourist tax? By investigating the rates of tourist taxes around the world our experts have revealed the cities which are currently charging visitors the most.

The most popular wedding venues

A new study reveals the most popular wedding venues around the world. Casa Loma in Toronto, Moana Surfrider in Honolulu and London’s Claridges take the top three spots.

Inflation rockets to 9.4%

Britain’s cost of living crisis is deepening by the day and there’s a growing expectation that things are about to get a whole lot worse.

Amazon Prime Day tips from personal finance experts

Prime Day was launched to create a sales event and get people spending in the otherwise quieter summer months. It has plenty of bargains on offer, but some traps too.

Wedding budget planner

One of the first things to think about when planning a wedding is your wedding budget and how much you can afford to spend, ahead of setting the wedding date.

How does working from home affect your mortgage?

The latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that homeworking has more than doubled in the UK since 2019.*

Public patience running out as fuel price cuts fail to materialise

Oil prices are down 8% since the beginning of June and yet the price of the petrol on forecourts has risen 12.5% since then

Pickpocket hotspots

When travelling abroad, it’s important to be switched on to the threat of pickpockets, but which cities do tourists say have the most pickpockets?

Change in the air as Bank of England reveals rising mortgage borrowing and cool approvals

Net mortgage borrowing is well above its pre-pandemic average while approvals have fallen behind. The current trend is likely being powered by house hunters rushing to transact before the cost of borrowing climbs further.

64,000 people have pulled the emergency lever on problem debt

64,000 people have pulled the emergency lever on problem debt.

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45 cities with the most spa break locations

Looking for a spa break? The personal finance experts at money.co.uk reveal that Paris, Barcelona, and Brussels are the best places to go.

Inflation creeps towards double figures as pay packet pain continues for workers

If you’re covering the CPI data published today, the following comments from James Andrews, personal finance expert at Money.co.uk, might be of interest:

Nightmare scenario for commuters as fuel prices surge again in face of rail strikes

Nightmare scenario for commuters as fuel prices surge again in face of rail strikes.

Planning a holiday with guaranteed sunshine

Exploring the amazing cities of the world is one of life’s great pleasures. So there's always a good excuse for planning a holiday in the city; whether it’s for a romantic getaway, to spend more time with friends and family, or simply by yourself for some mindful me-time, making sure you have a holiday plan is vital.

Borrowers on red alert as BoE raises interest rates by 0.25% to 13 year high

Borrowers on red alert as BoE raises interest rates by 0.25% to 13 year high - money.co.uk comment

Wages plummet as cost of living crisis batters household budgets

Wages are continuing to plummet in real terms, chalking up the biggest fall in more than a decade.

Benefits to bricks, our personal finance expert responds to new announcement.

If you’re covering Boris Johnson’s “Benefits to Bricks” announcement, then the following comments from James Andrews, personal finance expert at Money.co.uk, might be of interest:

Tourism recovery across the world following covid

Research reveals which countries are recovering the quickest from tourism lost as a result of COVID-19.

The UK regions getting the best return on their council tax

With the cost of living on the rise, money.co.uk conducted a study to find out which UK regions were offering the best return on council tax.

Half term holiday chaos

This week, widespread cancellations and delays at UK airports have frustrated holiday plans for thousands of Brits, with providers Tui and Easyjet hit hardest by the disruption.

Cost of living bites hard into food budgets

New data reveals 80% common grocery items have risen and just 20% that have gone down in price in the last 12 months.

Consumer confidence plummets: How to make plans to secure your future income

Consumer confidence has fallen to the lowest level since records began almost 50 years ago, as the cost of living crisis continues to pile pressure on household finances. The GfK Consumer Confidence Index revealed confidence is now even lower than it was following the financial crisis in 2008.

Meta image for weddings trends page. Image shows 2 wedding rings next to text 'Wedding trends report 2022.

We have delved into Google search volumes to reveal the top wedding trends for the season ahead.

The biggest Wedding Trends predicted by Google. 1= Pet at wedding; 1= Multi-coloured wedding; 1= In-season wedding flowers 4. Rent bridesmaid dresses 5. Daisy Bouquet

Young beautiful blond guy is behind a window of luxury jewellery shop. Boyfriend in love is searching a present for his love, expensive gold ring with diamond is perfect gift for anniversary celebration

How much should you spend on an engagement ring?

It can be difficult to know how much an engagement ring should cost. Our guide will help you decide how much you can spend and where to choose your engagement ring. Discover how much you can afford to spend on an engagement ring with our new calculator

Luxury on a budget

Travelling in the lap of luxury may be a pipedream for many of us. However, if you do want to treat yourself to the trip of a lifetime, where the most affordable luxury destinations to do so?

Universal credit changes: Here's what you need to know

The government has been slowly moving households who receive Working Tax Credits, Child Tax Credit and similar benefits to Universal Credit through a mandatory migration process.

Workers with more than one job could now miss out on state pension entitlement

Part time workers up and down the country could be stripped of their state pension entitlement under new plans laid out by the Department for Business Education and Skills (BEIS).

Mental Health Awareness Week: How to manage financial stress

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and with the UK in the midst of a cost of living crisis, it’s never been more important to learn how to manage financial stress.

Bank of England rolls the dice as UK struggles to afford bills

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has just raised the cost of borrowing for the fourth time in a row - seeing the base rate soar from 0.1% in November to 1% today.

Inflation rises at record rate: Why has this happened and how does it affect you?

Inflation surged 6.2% in the year to February, its highest rate in 30 years, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed today.

The ultimate cheap city break

Our travel finance experts have created the ultimate city break index, revealing the cheapest city breaks in Europe. Top ten includes: Istanbul, Thessaloniki, Berlin, Porto, Naples, Athens, Valencia, Bologna, Lisbon, Antwerp.

National price hike day

National Price Hike Day is the day Brits will be hit with a raft of inflation-busting price hikes and many of those day-to-day activities will now cost people more.

Your cost of living questions answered amid Spring Statement fallout

Following Rishi’s Sunak’s announcements in the Spring Statement on rising interest rates, inflation and bills, our personal finance expert, James Andrews answers some of your most coveted questions as Brits face the biggest cost of living crisis thus far.

Movie superfan costs

A new study reveals the film franchises that cost the most for super fans around the world.

The 2022 Spring Statement has been delivered by Chancellor Rishi Sunak

What Rishi Sunak announced in the 2022 Spring Statement and what it all means for your money

Rishi Sunak has delivered his 2022 Spring Statement - outlining his plans to help people and businesses survive the cost of living crisis as inflation soars and finances are stretched. This is what he said and what it all means for you.

Highest-rated destinations according to travellers

We all have our own travel bucket lists that we’ve been adding to over the years. Planning and saving up for the But which are the highest-rated destinations according to travellers?

How to save petrol while driving

With petrol and diesel prices hitting all time highs in the UK, we’ve tracked down some of the people who are managing to almost double the distance they can drive on a full tank to share their secrets.

Biggest income squeeze in 50 years: How to navigate the choppy financial waters

UK families are facing the biggest drop to their incomes in nearly 50 years. According to The Resolution Foundation, the typical household income is set to fall by around £1,000 this year, the steepest decline since the mid-1970s.

Global event effect

Renting out property on a platform such as Airbnb can be a very shrewd source of income, but lots of factors affect just how much money can be made.

What bad financial habits should you be giving up this lent?

Lent this year begins on the 2nd of March and lasts until the 14th of April. Although traditionally a Christian holiday, anyone can take part - with thousands giving up treats like chocolate, wine or takeaways.

Weekly shop index

The bare food essentials such as fruit, vegetables and dairy are part of our weekly grocery shopping lists right around the world, but how does the cost of these necessary items vary from one country to another?

Train cancellations: How to claim a refund

Commuters are facing major setbacks this week on rail travel after Storm Dudley wreaked havoc across the UK, causing severe delays and cancellations to rail services. All rail services in Scotland were suspended yesterday due to high winds, power disruptions and fallen trees.

Inflation rises at record rate: Why has this happened and how does it affect you?

Inflation surged 5.5% in January to its highest rate in 30 years, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed today. The shocking figure is even higher than the previous record of 5.4%, which was set just the previous month.

Real wages fall as inflation outpaces pay increases: Is it time to ask for a pay rise?

Real wages fell by 1.2% at the end of 2021 as shop prices rose faster than salaries, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Petrol prices rocket to record high: Is it time to go electric?

Petrol prices have hit a record high after soaring to a whopping 148.02p a litre over the weekend - eclipsing the previous high set in November last year.

The price of love

Whether it’s dating app subscriptions or the cost of the dates themselves, love doesn’t always come free, so our personal finance experts looked at how much a singleton can expect to pay in the search for that special someone.

UK economy rebounds 7.5%: what does this mean in real terms?

The UK economy grew at its fastest rate since the Second World War last year after GDP surged by 7.5%, official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have revealed. The resurgence comes after a devastating 9.4% collapse in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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2021 Fraud Report

As a result of the pandemic, we’ve seen an evolution in fraud attacks over the past two years, as criminals explore new and sophisticated ways to target potential victims. Our personal finance experts have dug into the latest police figures to reveal the full impact of fraud and cybercrime in 2021.

House price hike: top tips and tricks to save for a mortgage

House prices have grown at their fastest annual rate since June 2021 due to high demand and low supply, according to Nationwide building society. The lender today revealed that prices have rocketed by 11.2% year-on-year in January, while Lloyds Bank has launched its cheapest ever 10 year mortgage this week.

How much does it cost to pop the question?

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and many lovestruck Brits are gearing up to propose on the most romantic day of the year. As much as this can be exciting, it’s easy to get stressed by the financial implications of the whole process.

Universal credit: Are you missing out on payments of up to £7,300 a year?

More than 1.3 million people could be missing out on Universal Credit payments of up to £7,300 a year, according to data from the New Economics Foundation. The number of Brits eligible for the benefit has skyrocketed thanks to a rule change in the Autumn Budget.

Brits urged not to delay in submitting tax returns despite HMRC extension

This year HMRC has waived the penalty for missing the self assessment tax deadline (January 31st), effectively meaning that individuals have until February 28th to file their tax returns

The Beauty Index 2022

When it comes to skincare or cosmetics there is a wealth of options available, from household names to boutique style start-ups but what products are our favourites?

Inflation surges to 5.4% - its highest rate in 30 years

Inflation has climbed to its highest rate in 30 years, 5.4%. That’s the fastest rise in prices since 1992. Following levels of personal debt rising and cost of living changes our personal finance experts urge that it’s more important than ever to keep costs down in the face of price rises across the board.

Thousands submit tax returns on christmas day

While the rest of us were unwrapping presents, 2,828 Brits were filing their tax returns on the 25th of December. Our personal finance experts have put together some handy tips to guide you through the process.

One month to go until the self assessment deadline

Why it’s a good idea to have your tax return paid through PAYE

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The Debt Index

The personal finance experts at money.co.uk survey the nation to discover how much household debt we will be in at the start of the new year.

Last minute christmas shopping tips

With just over a week to go, here is a handy guide to help you with your last minute preparations

Amazon to stop accepting Visa credit cards in UK

Retail giant Amazon announces its ban of Visa Credit Card payments in the UK from 19 January. Money.co.uk comments on the change

Should you get a Reward Card for Black Friday?

With only two weeks until Black Friday, everyone wants to make sure they can bag the biggest bargains and make the most of their money. If you’re considering picking up a rewards card to make the most of your money this Black Friday this is what you need to know.

Wooden table with blue plate presenting mince pies

Revealed: Best value mince pies

Christmas is just around the corner and the supermarkets are ready for the festive season. With this in mind, we have analysed the price and ingredients of mince pies across large UK supermarkets, to reveal the best value mince pies of 2021.

Tracing your pension

Our pensions experts have curated a list of actions for anyone looking to take control of their miscellaneous pension pots.

Find out how to tracing your pension

Key measures from Rishi Sunak's 2021 Autumn Budget speech

Key points from Chancellor Rishi Sunak's 2021 Autumn Budget speech to the house of commons - and what it all means for your money.

The Quarterly Fraud and Cyber Crime Report | July - September 2021

Money.co.uk have reviewed the latest figures from Action Fraud, to uncover fraud and cyber crime activity in the UK.

Hospitality workers accuse bosses of keeping tips for themselves

More than half of hospitality workers in the UK say their bosses lie about tips, according to new research by leading price comparison site money.co.uk.

Photographic of a man making a transaction through contactless payment

Contactless security myths debunked

Our personal finance experts show the history of contactless payments and sieve through the fiction and facts to debunk seven common myths around contactless payments.

How to plan for half term without breaking the bank

For those in full time work, the cost of childcare alone can be a massive financial strain, and that’s not even counting half term activities. If you’re looking for fun and free ways to keep your kids busy this half-term, you should check out what services your council provides.

FSPS report reveals employer pension contributions down by 5%

Now is the time to review your pension options to make sure your chosen scheme is setting you up in the best possible way for retirement.

Ultimate fresher finance guide

Our personal finance experts share several tips and tricks you can use to ensure you have fun during Freshers, while also maintaining a healthy bank balance and preparing for any potential disruption.

How to stop your ex ruining your credit score

Breakups can be difficult when finances are involved and often money is one of the most contentious of issues between you and your ex-partner. Money.co.uk share several simple steps to ease the process of financial separation and keep yourself protected.

Why cash ISAs are small but perfectly formed

New data from HMRC reveals that cash ISAs attracted 1.2m more savers in 2019-20, as an increasing number of people ignored low rates to put money away. Money.co.uk highlight the rewarding benefits of cash ISAs.

Local Council Support: What you can get from your local authority for free

Money.co.uk highlights what you can receive from your local authority for free such as a variety of different services, support schemes and freebies.

Influential Investors

Profiting from stocks and shares has been around for hundreds of years. But some people get their inspiration for financial decisions from key figures, even celebrities. Money.co.uk investigate which celebrities have influenced stock prices the most, from just a single Tweet.

Disabled drivers' car insurance rules explained

How does having a disability impact what you pay for insurance and are there any financial benefits or services available to help? We explain all

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Cashless Countries

Using data from the World Bank and the largest debit and credit card providers, money.co.uk can reveal the most cashless economies in the world.

Free ‘Breathing Space’ Scheme Launches Today, But Concern People Could Still Miss Out

Press release | Money.co.uk comments on the new breathing space scheme, which has the potential to help out thousands of people in debt

HOW TO PREVENT HOLIDAY HOME HELL Is investing in property abroad really the answer?

The personal finance experts at money.co.uk comment on if a holiday home investment is worth it, after a number of high profile individuals are reportedly set to lose millions on investments.

ISA Season : Now may be the time to invest but are Investment ISAs for you?

As the tax year begins, many will consider putting money into an investment ISA. Money.co.uk comment on if opening one is worth the investment.

National Price Hike Day 2021

Press release | Millions of people have found themselves to be hundreds of pounds poorer thanks to price hike inflations. Money.co.uk have laid bare figures.

Debt Awareness Week: Average Brit brought £9,246 debt into 2021

Press release | Money.co.uk has analysed the extent of debt that Brits' have built up in the last year and uncovered how Covid-19 has impacted this.

Cheers! Brits set to spend £447m in pubs by Thursday 15th April

Press release | A new study from money.co.uk has revealed how much Brits will be spending as lockdown restrictions are lifted. Pub goers are predicted to spend £447M by Thursday 15th April.

The ultimate student budget planner

Being a student is fun, enriching and very expensive. Here's a full list of what you'll have to pay for, as well as a handy tool that will calculate the cost of going to different UK universities based on the cost of studying, plus the cost of living in each location.