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

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.

25 March 2026

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.

25 March 2026

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

25 March 2026

Typically, the quicker you pay off a personal loan, the cheaper the overall cost of borrowing, as you'll pay less interest. Though you must follow the correct process to repay early and most lenders charge early repayment fees. This guide has full info.

25 March 2026

White piggybank on a white surface next to a white mobile phone. There is a blue background.

24 March 2026

Some children's savings accounts offer comparable or even better rates than adult accounts. But many kids have cash in accounts that pay next to nothing in interest, depriving them not only of the cash that generates, but also of the lesson that you can make your money work for you. We've top pick accounts for kids below...

17 March 2026

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.

17 March 2026

You may have noticed when looking for an ISA that some banks offer ‘flexible’ ISAs, and others don’t. This short guide – a spin off from our main cash ISA guide – explains what a ‘flexible’ cash ISA is and whether it's right for you.

13 March 2026

If you need a new car but don't have the cash to buy it outright, Hire Purchase (HP) is one of the most popular ways to pay for it. It's been used to buy cars almost since there have been cars, but just because it's an oldie, doesn't mean it's a goodie, and will be right for you. Here we break down the basics of HP so you can decide if it might suit you.

18 February 2026

If you need a new car, but don't have the cash to pay for it, then car finance could be a way to get behind the wheel of one – though it's a big commitment. Here we've broken down the basics of Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) car finance, so you can work out whether it's right for you.

18 February 2026

Don't just stick with your student bank account after uni – loyalty can cost! Some banks let you switch even if you've not had their student account and you can get 0% overdrafts for up to three years. If you've graduated recently, see if you can ditch and switch your account to save £100s in interest.

22 January 2026

The Help to Save scheme gives low-income earners a savings boost – and it's become more accessible. Now open to more Universal Credit claimants, the scheme offers a 50% bonus on the amount saved, paying up to £1,200 over four years. If you’re claiming Universal Credit here’s how the account works and how you could benefit.

20 January 2026

Best banks if you have Power of Attorney.

If you have Power of Attorney and manage somebody else's finances, choosing the best bank for day-to-day use and any savings can be a challenge. We've full bank-by-bank help on how to register for access to existing accounts, plus the easiest banks to deal with if you're looking to open a new account.

7 January 2026

A 0% money transfer allows you to shift cash from a card to your bank account to clear your overdraft or give yourself a 0% cash loan for up to 14 months. This guide has full info and the best deals, though not many cards offer these transfers any more.

6 January 2026

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

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