Benjamin Taylor

Money Analyst – Banking and Insurance

Benjamin's experience

Benjamin joined MSE in June 2022 as an Editorial Assistant. In his pre-MSE days, he studied English at the University of Sheffield and worked an array of odd jobs.

A little more about Benjamin

He lives in London and enjoys going to Morrisons, seeing friends and family, and just generally walking about. He supports Norwich City Football Club.

Benjamin says...

"As a member of MSE's Money team, I cover everything from credit cards, ISAs, loans and car finance, to pet, cycle and home insurance. I joined MSE to try to help people claw back pounds from big business and love to read about MSE users' innovative successes each week on the MSE Forum."

Latest from Benjamin Taylor

A Lifetime ISA (LISA) can be opened by anyone aged between 18 and 39. You can use one to save up to £4,000 a year, towards either a first home costing up to £450,000 or for retirement, with the state adding a bonus of up to £1,000 a year on top. This guide takes you through how LISAs work, whether they're right for you, how you get the bonus and the best buys.

31 December 2025

Most credit cards are good for new spending OR cutting the cost of existing debt, but some offer cheap intro rates on both. We've full info and our top picks, plus our Balance Transfer & Spending Eligibility Calculator will show the cards you have the best odds of getting before you apply.

30 December 2025

23 December 2025

Junior ISAs (JISAs) let you save or invest up to £9,000 in the 2025/26 tax year, with the cash locked away until the child turns 18. This guide has the pros and cons of junior ISAs, how to transfer in from a Child Trust Fund, plus the top paying accounts.

23 December 2025

Every adult has a £20,000 ISA allowance for 2025/26 and it's possible to use all or part of that ISA allowance to invest in the stock market. This guide runs through what you need to know before investing in a stocks & shares ISA.

22 December 2025

When you get a home buildings insurance quote, you'll be asked for your home's rebuild value, which is how much it would cost to repair your home if it were completely destroyed, not how much it's worth. It will often provide an estimate for you, but it's always worth checking this (and regularly throughout the policy) to ensure you have the right amount of cover – this short guide shows you how.

19 December 2025

Payday loans are a financial nightmare, and you should avoid them entirely if possible. This guide explains alternative (and much cheaper) ways to borrow, and – if a payday loan is the only answer – what to watch out for.

17 December 2025

The personal savings allowance (PSA) lets most people earn up to £1,000 in interest without paying tax on it. At current savings rates, basic-rate taxpayers need around £20,000 in the top easy-access savings account to exceed the allowance. This guide has full details on the PSA and how it works...

17 December 2025

With mortgage, rent, energy and food costs soaring, it's easy to cut or forgo a spend such as pet insurance. But this can lead to difficult choices for many if treatment is needed, as there's no NHS for pets, and treatment costs can be £100s or £1,000s. This guide explains what pet insurance covers, what to watch out for and how to find a cheap policy.

16 December 2025

If you've given your long debit or credit card number when paying for a subscription or other repeat service, it's likely you've set up a continuous payment authority (CPA). This allows the company to take money from your account when it thinks it's owed – we run you through all the key need-to-knows.

16 December 2025

Help to Buy ISAs are now closed to new applicants. Didn't get one in time? Lifetime ISAs also offer a 25% bonus for first-time buyers. But if you do have a Help to Buy ISA, here's everything you need to know, including how to claim the 25% bonus, whether it's worth transferring to a Lifetime ISA and how to get a better rate by changing provider.

11 December 2025

Cheapest loan rates have finally started to creep down recently, though they're still close to double what they were a few years ago. If you NEED to borrow, this guide has full info on the cheapest loans – how to get them, and what to watch out for.

8 December 2025

Personal loans are one of the cheapest ways to buy a car – and that's even considering that their rates have doubled in the past two years.

8 December 2025

While the lowest loan rates have doubled over the past few years, that doesn't mean that you can't cut the cost of existing loans, especially if your credit rating meant you had to take out a high-rate loan in the past. If you're paying more than 6%, it's worth checking if you can save by getting a new loan to pay it off. This guide shows you how to find the best new deal, and has a unique loan-switching calculator so you can see if you'll save.

8 December 2025

There are regulations governing how APRs must be displayed. Below are loan providers' official examples of the cost of taking out a loan.

8 December 2025

2 December 2025