Hannah Williford

In the past 10 years, global stocks have dropped from peaks by over 10% four times before reaching new highs again. But that doesn't prevent inevitable nerves as we wonder if this time, the drop will be different and leave us out of pocket on the hard-earned cash we've invested for a prolonged period.

I recently learned that my mum purchased her first home (with no assistance) at age 24. My largest purchase by age 24 was a MacBook. This partly comes down to some financially questionable decisions by me: I moved to London touting a degree in journalism. My mum lived in a rural area on the east coast of the US as an engineer.

Investing in yourself has become popular in recent years with the rising trend of self-care. We are encouraged to spend on ourselves, whether that be a gym membership, getting your nails done, or a longer-term commitment like higher education. The idea behind this trend is that by spending money on ourselves up front, we allow for greater opportunities down the line. But one of the most effective ways people can invest in themselves is, literally, by investing.

In 2025, furry monsters known as Labubu Dolls had a moment. The dolls were the subject of at least six articles in the Financial Times , as well as stories in The Times , on the BBC website, and The Economist . Not to mention, you may well have spotted the creatures themselves dangling from purses and backpacks.

Chip companies Micron and SK Hynix have been the latest companies to reach valuations of $1 trillion dollars, joining just 13 other names including Nvidia and Apple

You might have an idea of how well-off your friends are based on the size of their home, the amount of reusable Waitrose bags they have at their disposal, or how often they tell you they’re off to the ‘ruggers’.

The government will cut the Cash ISA allowance in April 2027 to £12,000 from its current £20,000 for investors under age 65. While this was revealed months ago during the Autumn Budget, the nuances of what this will look like in practice for investors are now coming to light.

Every few weeks, the financial news likes to throw a new catchy phrase into the mix, leaving the rest of us to figure out what it means. The ‘k-shaped economy' seems to be the latest one that's stuck.

Tax-free wrappers are a big advantage for UK investors, with both ISAs and pensions providing ways for Brits to invest their money without needing to deal with the complications of UK capital gains and dividend tax. These wrappers are well known. But understanding how to use them, where to put your money, and what to do when you've used your tax-free allowances can be a bit more nuanced.

Childcare is often a hefty part of household expenses, particularly when parents are paying for additional care during the day or after school. For many families, government subsidies such as the funded hours or tax-free childcare can provide significant relief for the expenses.