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Sara Benwell

Author

Sara Benwell author pic

Sara Benwell

Contributing writer

About the Author

Sara Benwell is a freelance journalist, consultant and editor, specialising in personal finance, pensions and investments, and consumer affairs, where she focussed on helping people understand their personal finances. Sara is also the editor of Insurance Investor and Fund Operator, for professional asset managers and investors.

Prior to this, Sara was the consumer finance editor at Good Housekeeping, the most widely read women’s magazine in the UK. She has also previously worked as the editor of both Pensions Insight and Reward Magazines and as the Digital Editor of Engaged Investor.

Sara has been a guest speaker at InvestOps and the Law Business Research Network.

Expertise

Mortgages
Pensions
Investments

Education

BA (Hons) in Philosophy, University of Cambridge

How To Find Lost Savings and Bank Accounts

Find out how to recover lost assets and trace lost savings and dormant bank accounts quickly and free of charge with our step-by-step guide.

How To Be Tax Efficient With Your Savings

Do you need to pay tax on interest from your savings accounts? Find out when tax is due and how to make sure you’re not paying more than necessary.

What Does Annual Percentage Rate of Charge (APRC) Mean?

The annual percentage rate of charge is a useful tool for comparing mortgage and loan products. Here’s how to use it effectively.

How To Pay Off Your Credit Card

A step-by-step guide to the best strategies for paying off your credit card and clearing your debts quickly.

Top view owe, mortgage asian woman, female sitting on floor home, stressed calculate expense from bills, no money pay in mark circle deadline on calendar.Debt, bankruptcy or bankrupt person concept.

How long does bankruptcy stay on your credit report?

Becoming bankrupt is one way of dealing with debts, but it will affect your credit rating. Here we explain everything you need to know.

It does clear eventually

Worried woman looking at laptop

Why is my credit score going down?

There are lots of things that can cause a credit score to drop. Here we explain the most common reasons and how to rectify them.

Woman sitting and thinking near table at home. Businesswoman working online during the quarantine. Self isolation. Networking. Online education. Coronavirus. Crisis. Researching. Debt.

How to deal with defaults on your debt

If you fail to make debt payments on time, you could be issued with a default. Here’s what you need to know about them and what to do next

What to do after a default

A craftswoman looks out of the window of her workshop and thinks about the future.

How to write a business plan for a loan: a step-by-step guide

Many lenders require a strong business plan before approving a loan. Learn what to include to boost your chances of success.

Troubled-looking man looks at his laptop while surrounded by paperwork.

How to create financial projections for a business plan in 6 steps

The financial forecast is a crucial part of every business plan. Learn how to create one and the key details you need to include.

Home office environment with young Asian woman working on laptop and taking notes.

How much business insurance costs and how to save money

Discover the main factors that determine how much your business insurance costs and how you can lower your premiums

Colleagues gathered around a laptop in a modern office.

How to Manage a Business Bank Account With Multiple Directors

If your company has more than one director, you need to set up your banking so that the right people have access. Find out how in this complete guide.

Woman paying for something by credit card on the phone

Can You Use A Personal Credit Card For Business Purposes?

Using a personal credit card for business spending is legal, but creates challenges. This guide explains why business credit cards may be a better option.

Couple paying bill in a restaurant with card.

How Do Prepaid Travel Cards Work?

Prepaid travel cards are a handy and cost-effective way to manage your holiday money. Find out more, including how to choose the right card for your needs.

Is SEIS and EIS Right for My Small Business?

Learn how the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) can help you secure funding to grow your small business.

Two friends relax in a hotel room while on holiday

How to Find Cheap Hotel Rooms for Your Holiday

Pay less for your next holiday by bagging a bargain on your hotel room. Our guide reveals essential tips to let you unlock the best room rates with ease.

Tricks to saving money and finding cheap hotel accommodation

Happy couple shopping on holiday

What Should You Do with Leftover Currency?

From exchanging foreign currency back to pounds to gifting it to charity, we explain all the options available for dealing with leftover foreign currency.

Read more about dealing with leftover currency

Are Business Accounts Protected by the FSCS

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme protects you if a bank or financial institution goes bust. This guide explains whether your business banking is protected

What's the best place for your money?

Knowing what to do with savings can be difficult, especially with inflation so high. Here is what you can do if you have money to invest.

How To Reduce Your Loan Repayments

Take control of your outstanding debts by reducing the monthly costs of unsecured loan repayments.

What are defined contribution and defined benefit pensions?

Most people have either a defined contribution or a defined benefit pension, but do you know which is which and understand the difference between them? Here’s what you need to know.

Read more about defined contribution and benefit pensions

Older woman looking at laptop

How Is My Pension Taxed When You Retire?

Pension taxation seems complicated, but knowing the rules is crucial so you don’t overpay. This guide explains everything you need to know.

Find out more on how your pension is taxed

Starting a Business With No Money

Starting a business doesn’t always require huge amounts of money. Here are the best ways to get your company up and running without cash.

How to Get Funding for a Business

There are plenty of options for small business funding, from bank loans and government grants to angel investors and crowdfunding. We explain the benefits and pitfalls of each approach.

Raising Money For a Business Without a Loan

If you’ve been rejected for a business loan, there are lots of finance options to consider. We run through the options from invoice finance and angel investors to bootstrapping and business grants.

Starting a Business from Scratch

Find out everything you need to know about starting a business from scratch, including tax, finances, insurance, market research and advertising.

How to Register a Trademark in the UK

Protect your business’s critical brand elements like slogans, logos and product names with this step-by-step process for registering your trademark.

Finding a Personal Guarantee for Business Loans

A personal guarantee can help you get a business loan and grow your business, but you need to understand the risks involved before acting.

What can a Financial Adviser do for your Business?

The right financial adviser can help you grow your business and ensure it is profitable in the long term. Learn how to pick the right adviser for your company.

Sole Trader vs Limited Company: What’s Best for You?

Deciding whether to operate as a sole trader or a limited company is a key decision for a small business owner. Here are the pros and cons of each approach.

Keys with house

Should you borrow against your home?

Should you borrow against your house? Find out if taking out a secured loan against your home is sensible or something to avoid.

More on borrowing against your home

Black man voter in polling election

How to check if you are on the electoral roll

Registering to vote doesn’t just mean you can exercise your rights and get a say in who runs the country – it has fairly hefty financial benefits too. Here’s what you need to know

How to check the electoral roll

Thoughtful man with tablet

How long does a default stay on your credit report

If you miss repayments on a credit card or loan, you could end up with a default. This marker goes on your credit file and impacts your score. Here’s everything you need to know.

How to turn business ideas into a profitable company

What's involved in turning a business idea into a going concern - and should you bother in the first place Here we explain how to tell if you idea for a business is actually a good one in reality, and what the next steps to making it happen.

How to tell if a business idea is any good

Home working, self employed, startup, entrepreneur, laptop, phone call

How to register a business?

Here’s everything you need to know to make sure your side hustle is legitimate including the difference between being a sole trader and a limited partnership, which might be right for you, and the deadlines and paperwork you need to consider

What you need to get ready now

A woman relaxes with a cup of coffee in an airport comfortable lounge chair

How to get access to airport and airline lounges for the least money

Getting access to an airport lounge doesn’t have to mean frequent flights or paying more for first-class tickets. Here’s how to get in cheaply or even for free.

What's on offer and what airport lounge access costs

A woman in glasses sits in front of piled of work while a man taps his watch behind her

Your legal right to go on holiday explained

The UK has strict laws around how much holiday you have a right to take each year - but when it comes to exactly which days you can take off things get a little murkier.

Your rights to take holiday

Do you homework with our guide to all the different types of student loans, grants and bursaries.

All the different types of student loans, grants and bursaries explained

From tuition fees to maintenance payments, we explain all the different types of student finance on offer and who can access them.

Student sitting cross legged with her laptop.

What’s the maximum you can borrow with a student loan?

Student loans are the most cost-effective way to pay for university for almost everyone, but how much can you borrow? Here we explain everything you need to know.