2021

If you're under 22 or on a low income, a pension is probably the furthest thing from your mind, but what if I were to tell you there's a totally legal way, that doesn't need any negotiation, to make your employer pay you more money – possibly £1,000s over the years? Hopefully that piques your interest, and means you'll forgive me for not mentioning pensions in the blog title – but I wanted to ensure you read this.

This is a warning for every worker in the UK. Have you turned down a pay rise without realising it? Millions have – around 10% of the workforce currently – and many others risk doing it, unaware of the consequences. It happens when your employer 'auto-enrols' you into a pension scheme, but you decide to opt out – in most cases, a huge mistake.

I was invited on to BBC Radio 2 Vine's 'What Makes Us Human' programme. The brief: "Write then read out an essay on one unique element of humanity, interspersed with some autobiographical notes". That was followed by an interview with Jeremy. That didn't go where I expected to, and I found it emotionally tricky at times, but we discussed important issues, so feel free to listen to the full BBC Radio 2: Martin Lewis: What Makes Us Human interview

Ignore everything you've read in the papers. Ignore the political spittle that flies across Parliament. And in some cases, ignore what parents tell you too. There are more myths and misunderstandings about student finance than any other subject (my polite way of saying there's a lot of bull spoken). So in this blog is my updated 2021/22 version of the must knows, with links to far more info.

In 2016, I founded the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) charity – in a very short time, due to the hard work of the team, it has established itself as the go-to place for policies to divorce the marriage made in hell that is debt and mental health issues.

When it comes to finances, numbers are key – whether it's what you earn, your credit card balance or the interest rate on your mortgage, small changes can add up to a big difference. Yet there's one number you shouldn't pay too much attention to – your credit score. I've bashed out a video and a blog to explain.

Which is better, the Help to Buy ISA (H2B ISA) or the Lifetime ISA (LISA)? I'm asked this all the time. No wonder, as they both offer an unbeatable, no-brainer 25% bonus for first-time buyers saving in them – yet there are some big differences, so I've bashed out an answer...