We've just agreed the final payments for my Coronavirus Poverty Emergency Fund. The total distributed is £3,414,143 to 415 small local charities (or organisations with charitable status). That's an average of over £8,000 per charity. For transparency, I want to run through how we organised, selected the charities, and where the money has gone. I hope this may also help others planning similar things in future.

We face an unprecedented challenge to our health, economy, businesses, personal finance and way of life. And many of those who normally help society – our charities – are going to face similar pressures right now too. 

Financial and economic abuse are often a prelude to domestic violence. Raising awareness is important. It helps those facing it realise they're not alone and help is available. Plus, it means friends and family may be able to spot the signs. Karen wrote to us, having read my Financial Abuse blog (which includes help links and explanations).

Sitting next to my desk are a raft of copies of my old book The Money Diet. I just picked it up, at the start of the New Year, as a minor trip down memory lane. And I turned to one of the musings I'd jotted down in the book – bringing back bittersweet memories. It says…

As regulars will know, I'm obsessed with fitness-tracking statistics. So this is my annual steps report for 2019. According to my tracker, I did 8,877,851 steps – a ridiculous number, a healthy obsession.

Beware student loan statements, they're dangerous and misleading. I wish I could tell you to rip 'em up without looking at them, but occasionally there's practical info you need. Over five million uni leavers still have outstanding loans. Many panic seeing £100s interest added each month – a financial canker that's led some into making catastrophic decisions.