Home » News » Authors

emma-lou

About: emma-lou

Having written about money for more than 15 years, Emma-Lou knows a thing or two about how to get the most from it, whether it’s saving it, growing it, stretching it, or – ahem – spending it. A self-styled discount diva, Emma-Lou doesn’t stop until she gets the best deal. An experienced journalist, she has worked for The Daily Telegraph, the Evening Standard and The Times and was previously editor of Shares magazine, and Moneywise magazine and editor-in-chief of iii.co.uk.

emmalou_m@live.com

Round-up of Ethical Banks

There is a revolution going on in banking. While up until just a very short time ago you were statistically more likely to get divorced than change who you bank with (see A Tale of Two Banks) today a smart switch can make all the difference to your hard-earned money. Ethical banks are seeing a… Read more »

A Tale of Two Banks

When I switched from Lloyds TSB to the Co-operative Bank earlier this year little did I know I was treading a path that thousands would soon be following. Admittedly it wasn’t the bank’s ethical credentials that appealed to me, more the £200 they were paying to anyone who would switch, but then that in itself… Read more »

5 Reasons Why You Should Scrap This Year’s Holiday

So where’s it to be this year?  Here’s an idea, instead of blowing a small fortune on this year’s summer break, how about taking a real break – from debt? Because holidays cost. And if, like many people you still haven’t quite finished paying off last year’s holiday yet, adding more debt to your credit… Read more »

Shed those excess summer pounds

weighing scales

Summer’s here – no really it is. It’s the prime time to reflect, perfect and generally get everything in shape. But I’m not talking about getting that bikini body you’ve always wanted. And I don’t mean trimming those additional ‘curves’ you got after getting through too much booze on your two week break in the… Read more »

Why it pays to give your pet a holiday this year

couple-beach

You know that £250 spending money you were counting on? Well I’m afraid that’s no longer yours to spend on yourself. This year it’s time give your loyal mutt a proper break too and treat them to a little TLC while you’re lapping up the sun, sea and sangria on holiday. Because, let’s face it,… Read more »

6 ways to cut the cost of the school summer holidays

Happy_Sunshiney_Mom_Baby_XSmall

The summer holidays are upon us. And while that will have children clapping their hands in glee, it’s also likely to have parents wringing theirs in despair. Not at the thought of spending six weeks with their children – but the cost. Six weeks of laying on entertainment 24/7 can take its toll on your… Read more »

Want to know why your car insurance is so expensive?

car-keys-money

It’s no word of a lie to say that the cost of insuring a car has increased at a phenomenal rate over the past couple of years. You can now expect to pay, on average, £816 for a comprehensive car insurance policy. I suppose we should be smiling. That’s actually better than you would have… Read more »

Is the battle of the sexes really nearly over?

There’s no doubt that 2012 is a momentous year. And that’s not even just because of the Olympics or even the Queen’s diamond jubilee. There’s something else about to happen that will mean 2012 will go down in history  - as the year the battle of the sexes ended. Or perhaps just the year the… Read more »

The financial benefits of getting married

How many times have you heard someone say ‘I don’t need a piece of paper’ when it comes to the question of whether to wed or not? You might have even said it yourself. However romantic your notion of marriage may be (or not) there’s no denying the fact that getting hitched is a life-changing… Read more »