IDEAL HOME’S COLUMNIST AND EDITOR OF MONEYWEEK.COM KALPANA FITZPATRICK SHARES HER FINANCIAL WISDOM

Q I’ve tried the 50/30/20 method of budgeting, but found it too difficult. Is there an alternative? A50/30/20 budgeting involves allocating 50% of your income to essential spending like rent and food,

Just 23 sleeps until the big day – make sure you’re not wasting cash in the run-up to Xmas. Financial strategist Laura Linden, of Feisty FD (feistyfd. com), shares some savvy reminders...

Q I’ve got a big night out planned and I’d love a new outfit. How can I do it for less? A The ideal situation would be having a friend the same size as you with a stylish wardrobe you could borrow fro

Start right now! It’s the best way to keep calm, make informed choices, allow a little flexibility and spread the cost. You’ll be able to reap the rewards of being super-organised nearer the time. Set

We all want to make the festive season magical for kids, but it’s also important to set expectations