Rebecca Goodman

Rebecca Goodman

I am an award-winning freelance journalist with more than a decade of experience working for online and print consumer publications. I have written for many of the national newspapers and magazines including The Guardian, The Independent, The Mirror, The Sun, This is Money, Stylist and The Telegraph. I also regularly take on corporate content projects and in my spare time set up my own successful baking blog and social media network. 

Times Money Mentor •

How much do I need to retire? - Times Money Mentor

Many people long for the day when they stop working and have more time for the finer things in life – long weekends away, mid-week trips to a gallery or even a leisurely morning swim. But how much do you ultimately need annually to afford your desired lifestyle in retirement and pay your everyday expenses? The average single person needs £31,300 after tax for a moderate income when they retire, says the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA), but this is just one figure to look at....
inews.co.uk •

How to save money without giving up your social life

Even without much sunshine, the summer can feel like it drags on forever if you are constantly trying to find extra cash for foreign holidays, staycations, day trips, activities, nights out childcare and food. And just when the end is finally in sight, the August bank holiday comes along with yet more pressure to “make the most” of the long weekend with a trip away, day out or by getting together with friends and family for a picnic or barbecue.The summer can be a worrying time financially, as a...
Times Money Mentor •

I tried Hello Fresh for a week and I don’t want to go back to fishfingers - Times Money Mentor

I’m targeted by adverts for Hello Fresh on an almost weekly basis, via social media and newspaper adverts – last week a salesperson even knocked on my door. The marketing campaign is aggressive and almost every advert promises money off when you sign up for the weekly food box delivery service. With deals such as 60% off the price of the first box and 20% off the next two, the offers are tempting and it’s a great marketing ploy to sign people up to a service they end up paying full price f...
Times Money Mentor •

Fourteen things to do in the five years before retirement - Times Money Mentor

Large numbers of people approaching retirement remain hazy about how they will pay for it, with four people out of five of those aged between 55 and 64 not knowing how much they have saved in their pension, according to research from Standard Life. The good news is that, if you’re willing to act, there are ways to improve your situation no matter how late you leave it – but the sooner you take action, the better the outcome. That’s what we’re here to address in this article, which counts down...
Times Money Mentor •

Winter fuel payments for pensioners explained - Times Money Mentor

With new rules coming into force this autumn limiting exactly who does and who doesn’t get the winter fuel payment for the first time, we take a look at exactly how the new system will work. Winter fuel payments are made every year to pensioners to help them with higher energy costs in the colder months. Sums between £100 and £300 are paid out in winter but, following an announcement by the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, most people – approximately 10 million – will lose the benefit this year...
Times Money Mentor •

Seven common Facebook Marketplace scams - Times Money Mentor

Facebook Marketplace lets users buy and sell second-hand items and it boasts more than one billion shoppers each month. As well as shoppers, it attracts scammers who try and take advantage of people on the hunt for a bargain. Here, we outline the Facebook Marketplace scams to watch out for, and how to protect yourself. You can buy pretty much anything it’s legal to sell – from televisions to wardrobes and even cars – on Facebook Marketplace. It works in a similar way to Vinted but anyone usin...
Times Money Mentor •

Do you need public liability insurance? - Times Money Mentor

If you own your own business and a member of the public makes a claim against you, public liability insurance can cover the costs. This could be for anything, from a slip, trip or a fall or to something more severe, such as if someone dies in the worst-case scenario. You’ll also be covered for accidental damage to a third party or their belongings. Every year UK insurers pay out millions in business claims. In 2020 for example, around £22 million per day was paid and around £7.2 million of...
The Times Money Mentor •

What is the average salary by age in London and the rest of the UK in 2024?

London has more millionaires than most countries, but as well as bankers and international film stars, there are also plenty of road sweepers and shelf stackers. We look at how average salaries in London really compare to those across the UK. Money is something we traditionally avoid talking about in the UK, so while you might have an idea about what the average UK salary is, you probably don’t know what your friends or colleagues earn. Some of the UK’s highest-paying jobs pay £100,000 or more
The Times Money Mentor •

The top cashback apps of 2024

You can get cashback on a huge range of products and services, from insurance policies to new TVs, by using the right app. Using a cashback website is a good way to make a passive income, as the only thing you need to do is visit the site, sign up as a member, and then click through it to earn some extra cash. The cashback on offer varies from a few extra pennies to hundreds of pounds and the offers change regularly. Two of the UK’s leading cashback apps are Quidco and TopCashback. They secur
inews.co.uk •

How I use loyalty cards to pay for flights to Vegas and five-star hotel in India

Rachel Bancroft is a savvy points hoarder, making around £500 a year just from storing up her supermarket loyalty points. The 53-year old from Tenterden in Kent recently used her Tesco Clubcard points to pay for a two-night hotel stay while on a trip to India at the five-star Taj Mahal hotel. Rachel, who works as head of safety for a property firm, said she saved her points until the last minute before cashing in her Clubcard points for the hotel stay this January. This would have cost her aro
The Times Money Mentor •

The Jeremy Hunt debate: Is £100k-a-year enough to live comfortably in London?

The chancellor of the exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, this week sparked controversy by suggesting an annual salary of £100,000 “doesn’t go as far as you might think”. He also said it wasn’t a huge salary in his constituency in Godalming, where average house prices are approximately £683,463. The average salary in the UK is £34,963 a year, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), yet the amount the chancellor was suggesting was almost three times this figure. Some of the best-p
The Guardian •

Longing for a baby? The IVF postcode lottery can have a high price

The cost of fertility treatment varies drastically across England with some people paying almost 30% more for IVF depending on where they live. New figures show a clear “postcode lottery” , with huge variances between different cities. London comes out as the most expensive with an average total cost of £6,150. But, for the same treatment in Manchester, it is £4,764, according to data given to the Observer by Fertility Mapper, a website collating costs and giving personal reviews and experience

What is ESG investing? | John Lewis Finance

Environmental, social and governance investing – or ‘ESG’ investing – comes in different shapes and sizes. Some investors choose companies that not only meet their financial standards, but also match a clear set of non-financial measures. These might include the company’s culture, the diversity of the leadership team, and the firm’s impact on the environment. What the company does is also important – ESG investors often want to avoid putting their money into firms that engage in controversial,

The best Christmas markets in Europe | John Lewis Finance

Christmas is the perfect time of year for a European break. There's something delightfully enchanting about visiting these beautiful mediaeval cities, decorated with twinkling festive lights and a touch of snow, at this time of year. It’s also a great opportunity to stock up on unique presents and traditional gifts for the big day. With chalet-style stalls laden with everything you could wish for, from handmade baubles to Christmas lanterns. From Strasbourg to Copenhagen and everywhere in betw

What is ATOL protection? | John Lewis Finance

ATOL, which stands for Air Travel Organiser’s Licence, is a scheme which protects people when they go on holiday if the travel company goes bust. It is run by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and it lets them reclaim any money they’ve already spent on the trip and repatriation if they’re out of the country. It was introduced in 1973, and all package holidays sold in the UK must legally have ATOL protection. These are holidays where you booked through the same provider and often include both f

How to Transfer an ISA | John Lewis Finance

ISAs are a great tool for investing your money and being tax efficient. Every tax year, all ISAs have a maximum contribution limit – referred to as your - that you can pay into your account without being taxed on returns or growth. In the 2022 to 2023 tax year, the maximum you can contribute into a cash ISA or a stocks and shares ISA is £20,000. The deposit limit for Junior ISAs (JISAs) is £9,000. For the 2023 to 2024 tax year, the limit will remain the same. If you have both a stocks and shares

ISA allowance 2023/24 | John Lewis Finance

Where you put your ISA allowance will depend on your goals. If you invest with us, you have the following ISAs available to you at John Lewis Investments: Stocks and shares ISA: any money put into a stocks and shares ISA will be invested in global equity and bond markets. Junior ISA: a Junior ISA can be opened for a child and only they can access the money when they turn 18. Again, these contributions will be invested in global equity and bond markets. For both our stocks and shares ISA and J

Moving house checklist | John Lewis Finance

Before moving home there is a lot of admin and to-do lists to tick off, but once this is done it will make the experience a lot smoother and hopefully less stressful. Book a moving date One of the first things on your list will be confirming your moving date, which either the house seller or your conveyancer can give you if you’re buying. If you’re renting you should be given the date by your new landlord or estate agent. Give notice to your landlord (if you rent) As soon as you have your mo
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