Unpaid caring can have a significant financial impact. I may reduce my working hours, spend more on travel or heating, or simply have less flexibility to earn because somebody depends on me. It is therefore reasonable to ask whether carers can receive grants. The answer is yes in some circumstances, particularly through charitable funds and…
Having a business loan application rejected can be frustrating, particularly when I believe the business is perfectly capable of repaying the money. However, a rejection does not necessarily mean that the lender thinks my business is doomed to fail. Business lenders assess risk according to their own criteria. One lender may reject an application that…
When planning a new business, it is easy to begin by asking how much somebody will lend me. I think the more useful question is how much the business actually needs and can afford to repay. Startup borrowing ranges from relatively small amounts to substantial commercial finance, depending on the business, the borrower and the…
Finding enough money to start a business can be one of the biggest obstacles between having an idea and actually trading. Equipment, stock, premises, insurance, marketing and technology can all require money before the business has generated its first meaningful income. It is therefore understandable to search for startup business grants. Business grants do exist…
Home care can become necessary when someone is older, disabled, recovering from illness, living with a long-term condition, or finding everyday tasks difficult. Families often search for home care grants because paid care can be expensive, and many people want to remain safely in their own home for as long as possible. The difficulty is…
A washing machine or fridge can stop working without much warning, and replacing one can easily become a serious financial problem if I am already living on a tight budget. The good news is that help with essential appliances does exist in the UK. Depending on where I live and my circumstances, I could potentially…
Solar power contributes to the UK economy in several different ways. It generates electricity, attracts investment, supports jobs, reduces exposure to fossil fuel price volatility, gives some households and businesses more control over energy costs, and creates demand for skills, technology and infrastructure. It should not be exaggerated. Solar power is not the whole energy…
Macroeconomic terms appear regularly in financial news, government announcements and everyday discussions about the economy. Words such as GDP, inflation, recession, productivity and interest rates can sound technical, but they describe issues that affect households, businesses and public finances. Macroeconomics looks at the economy as a whole. It studies broad measures such as national output,…
GDP is one of the most common terms used in economic news, government announcements and financial forecasts. When people talk about whether the UK economy is growing or shrinking, they are usually talking about gross domestic product, or GDP. At its simplest, GDP measures the value of goods and services produced in a country over…
Economics terms appear regularly in news reports, government announcements, business updates and personal finance articles. Words such as inflation, GDP, recession and interest rates are often used as if everyone already understands them. In reality, many economics terms can feel confusing at first. They describe large economic forces, but those forces can affect everyday life….