Abby Wilson

Started working for yourself between 2015 and 2024? If you didn't tell HMRC using the specific CWF1 form – even if you registered for self-assessment – you may have incorrect gaps in your National Insurance (NI) record. And if that means you're not on track for the full State Pension, you're at risk of being underpaid £1,000s. But you don't need to do anything right now, as HMRC will contact you directly if you're affected.

If you use buy now, pay later to spread your spending, you'll start to get stronger protections from tomorrow (Wednesday 15 July) – with MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis saying he's "delighted" with the change. The new rules include clear refund rights and access to the independent Ombudsman if something goes wrong. Here's all that's changing.

Stronger safeguards are needed to protect the 1.5 million households relying on heating oil, regulator the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said.

Private parking operators have been issued a new warning by the Competition and Markets Authority to treat motorists fairly. The regulator has sent letters to both the industry and the Government detailing concerns, particularly around the process for appealing parking tickets. Separately, it’s also launched an investigation into the actions of Euro Car Parks.

MoneySaver John successfully reclaimed a whopping £7,600 in overpaid Council Tax – going back 18 years – after using our tips to check and challenge his incorrect Council Tax band. Despite John's case taking almost a year, he says he'd still encourage others to do the same.

The 29-year-old said it was "a difficult decision to reach" but ultimately said he was not ready to compete at the level he expected of himself.

If you're looking to open a junior ISA for your child, first check whether they have a forgotten Child Trust Fund. Around 1.7 million CTF accounts were set up automatically, meaning it can be easy to double up. One MoneySaver who thought he was doing the right thing investing for his kid in an ISA has a salient warning for others.

Find out how to protect your garden from wildfire smoke and ash.

We've dished out 'awards' to six savvy MoneySavers who've made £1,000s by stoozing – the art of manipulating 0% credit card deals for profit. They've shared their success stories below. Plus, if you're debt-free and financially disciplined, we explain how you can do the same.

You'll need 20 more loyalty points ('stars') to claim the cheapest coffee and tea 'freebies' from Starbucks' loyalty scheme from Thursday 3 September. For higher value freebies, you'll need 150 more points. The changes mean you'll need to spend more to earn the same rewards in future.