Money matters

Perhaps you’ve been a bit loose with your summer spending or back to school has brought you down to earth with a bump. Either way, autumn is the perfect time to give your finances a health check so th

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

Helping you spend wisely and save more, with money expert Faith Archer

Q My kids say their packed lunches are boring. Do you have any tips for cheap ways to improve them? A Consider keeping a selection of different types of bread in your freezer, such as pittas and bagel

Q I’d like to help my teenager learn about money. Do you have any tips on where to start? A The good news is there’s loads of help online. For example, HSBC has resources aimed at ages from young chil

Q How does a Junior ISA work and what are the advantages and disadvantages of opening one? Junior Individual Savings Accounts are long-term, tax-free savings accounts for children. In this 2025/2026 t