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Karl Talbot

Karl is a writer specialising in investing and personal finance content. He regularly contributes articles on savings, bank accounts, mortgages, and loans. He was previously a Personal Finance Writer for MoneySavingExpert.

Recent Articles

potted green plant grows up in arrow shape
Personal Finance

Harry and Meghan get involved in ethical banking. Here’s how you can too!

| Karl Talbot

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have revealed they are now involved in ethical banking. Here's how to invest ethically…

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Personal Finance

Almost 5% of Brits are invested in cryptocurrency

| Karl Talbot

A recent study shows that cryptocurrency is popular among British investors, with almost 5% of us owning crypto assets. What…

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Golden piggy bank
Personal Finance

Keen to boost your savings interest rate? Here’s why I think notice accounts are now a decent bet

| Karl Talbot

We all know savings rates are low. But here's why I think notice accounts are now a decent option for…

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Scene depicting the City of London, home of the FTSE 100
Personal Finance

Will the FTSE 100 crash in 2022? Here’s what I think

| Karl Talbot

The performance of the FTSE 100 has been strong and steady so far in 2021. But will the share index…

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Middle age senior woman sitting at the table at home working using computer laptop clueless and confused expression with arms and hands raised.
Personal Finance

Packaged bank accounts: do the monthly fees justify the ‘free’ insurance & breakdown cover?

| Karl Talbot

Packaged bank accounts offer a variety of perks in return for a monthly fee. But do the fees justify the…

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Financially free and calm woman sitting in kitchen
Personal Finance

Here’s how to stop paying credit card interest for up to 29 months

| Karl Talbot

Do you have credit card debt? If so, it's now possible to stop paying credit card interest for up to…

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Business accounting concept, Business man using calculator with computer laptop, budget and loan paper in office.
Personal Finance

How I’m aiming to protect my money as inflation concerns soar alongside energy prices

| Karl Talbot

Inflation is kicking in, and there are fears that it could rise to as much as 4% by the end…

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Wedding guests clinking glasses while the newlyweds drinking champagne in the background
Personal Finance

Bank switch hack: how to visit the Shard or drive a supercar – for free!

| Karl Talbot

Virgin's bank switch bonus comes in the form of a £150 Experience Day voucher that you can use for a…

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Man shopping in supermarket
Personal Finance

Sainsbury’s SmartShop: Can scanning your own items save you money?

| Karl Talbot

Sainsbury's SmartShop allows you to scan your own items while you shop. But is the scheme any good? And can…

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Businessman looking at a red arrow crashing through the floor
Personal Finance

How are investors reacting to the Evergrande crisis?

| Karl Talbot

With the future of Evergrande remaining uncertain, Karl Talbot explores how investors are reacting to the Chinese property developer's situation.

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Personal Finance

What have investors been buying and selling recently?

| Karl Talbot

Wondering which stocks have been most popular among UK and US investors in the last week? Karl Talbot takes a…

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Jar filled with coins
Personal Finance

Marcus increases its easy access interest rate for the 1st time in 3 years! Are savings rates (finally) starting to rise?

| Karl Talbot

The interest rate on the Marcus savings account has risen to 0.6%. So how does it stack up against other…

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University graduate student diploma piggy bank
Personal Finance

Do students have to pay income tax?

| Karl Talbot

It is often said that tax is an unavoidable fact of life. But what if you're a student? Do students…

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Piggy bank next to a financial report
Personal Finance

When the BoE FINALLY raises interest rates, here’s what it will mean for you

| Karl Talbot

When the Bank of England raises its base rate, what will it mean for your finances? Here's what you need…

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Thoughtful anxious asian business woman looking away thinking solving problem
Personal Finance

Has your energy supplier gone bust? Here’s how to avoid higher bills

| Karl Talbot

Has your energy supplier ceased trading? Or is your energy firm on the brink? Here are some actions you can…

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Young woman smiling putting a coin inside piggy bank as savings for investment
Personal Finance

You can now earn 2% interest in a fixed savings account. But is it worth locking away cash?

| Karl Talbot

Is the interest rate on your savings account pretty dire? Well, there's now an account that pays 2% interest. Here's…

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Personal Finance

Is the stock market in a bubble? Here’s why you should worry

| Karl Talbot

The stock market has performed remarkably well during the pandemic. But is it in bubble territory? And should you be…

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Young lady working from home office during coronavirus pandemic.
Personal Finance

Flexible working from day one to become a legal right. Here’s what you need to know!

| Karl Talbot

Flexible working is a concept growing in popularity amongst employees. So what will the government's new rules mean for you?…

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Older woman worried about the future
Personal Finance

Why are energy prices increasing so much?

| Karl Talbot

Energy prices are on the up. So what is driving the upward pressure on our energy bills? And should we…

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Jar filled with coins
Personal Finance

Savings rates are in the doldrums. But did you know you can now earn 3% interest? Here’s how

| Karl Talbot

Right now, savings rates are pitiful. But did you know that there is a way you can earn over 3%…

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happy senior couple using a laptop in their living room to look at their financial budgets
Personal Finance

How to (legally) avoid having to pay the new 1.25% share dividend tax

| Karl Talbot

Share dividend tax will increase by 1.25% in the next tax year. But did you know there are ways to…

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Young woman smiling putting a coin inside piggy bank as savings for investment
Personal Finance

Thinking of opening a Cash ISA? Here’s why they aren’t what they used to be

| Karl Talbot

A Cash ISA allows you to earn tax-free interest on your savings. So why aren't they as attractive as they…

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A person holding onto a fan of twenty pound notes
Personal Finance

Santander, HSBC and RBS launch bank switch bonuses: here’s how to get them

| Karl Talbot

Three banks have launched new bank switch bonus deals this week. So how can you get them? And which is…

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Young woman prioritising her finances at a kitchen table
Personal Finance

Which current accounts give cashback on bills?

| Karl Talbot

We all have to pay bills. But did you know that some bank accounts pay cashback on your household bills?…

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Old empty wallet in hands.
Personal Finance

Inflation surges to 3.2%: here’s what it means for your bills

| Karl Talbot

Inflation now stands at 3.2% according to the latest Consumer Prices Index. So what does this mean for your bills?…

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Close up of credit cards over grey background
Personal Finance

Is the Amazon Platinum credit card good for Amazon shoppers?

| Karl Talbot

The Amazon Platinum credit card offers Reward Points on your purchases. Is it worth getting if you're a regular Amazon…

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globe with a mask and text coronavirus
Personal Finance

PCR tests could soon be scrapped. Are holiday costs set to plummet?

| Karl Talbot

Rumours are circulating that travellers will soon no longer need to take a costly PCR test when returning to the…

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One English pound placed on a graph to represent an economic down turn
Personal Finance

Here’s how I think the UK economy will perform for the rest of 2021

| Karl Talbot

A record number of job vacancies suggests the UK economy is booming. So what will the rest of 2021 look…

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Paying for online shopping using a credit card
Personal Finance

Tesco launches market-leading 0% spending credit card: here’s how it compares

| Karl Talbot

Tesco Bank has launched a new 0% credit card. But how does it compare with other 0% purchase cards on…

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Twenty pound notes in back pocket of jeans
Personal Finance

Lloyds launches £100 bank switch bonus. Here’s how to get it

| Karl Talbot

Lloyds has launched a new £100 bank switching offer. So how does the Lloyds switch offer work? And how can…

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A selection of Virgin Money credit cards
Personal Finance

Virgin launches joint-longest 29-month balance transfer card

| Karl Talbot

If you have credit card debt, a balance transfer card can cut your interest to zero. So how does Virgin's…

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Young woman holding credit card for online shopping at home
Personal Finance

How can I get 5% cashback on my spending?

| Karl Talbot

Did you know that some credit cards offer a way of earning up to 5% cashback on your normal spending?…

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Old empty wallet in hands.
Personal Finance

Energy price cap increase: what does it mean for your bills?

| Karl Talbot

Following a price cap increase, energy prices are expected to rise next month. So what will it mean for your…

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Sixed group of millennial aged friends discuss investing
Personal Finance

Tax on share dividends to increase by 1.25%. Here’s what it means for investors

| Karl Talbot

The government has announced a dividends tax shakeup. So if you're an investor, what does it mean for you? Karl…

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Cropped shot of a senior woman looking upset after an argument with her husband
Personal Finance

Pensions triple lock to be suspended

| Karl Talbot

The triple lock is considered a lifeline for pensioners keen to protect their income. But is that about to change?…

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Sold sign displayed outside a terraced house
Personal Finance

September 2021: what’s the current house price forecast?

| Karl Talbot

House prices have boomed in 2021. But will this trend continue? Or are prices set to fall? Let's take a…

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Man drinking coffee and working on laptop
Personal Finance

Collect Nectar points? Here’s how to grab a 20,000 bonus

| Karl Talbot

If you're a collector of Nectar points, it's worth knowing all possible ways to boost your balance. Right now, you…

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Twenty pound notes in back pocket of jeans
Personal Finance

Nationwide launches £125 bank switch bonus. Here’s how to get it

| Karl Talbot

Nationwide is offering up to £125 if you switch your bank account to the building society. Here's what you need…

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Hedge shaped as the pound symbol inside a glass piggy bank
Personal Finance

What might the future hold for renewable energy stocks?

| Karl Talbot

Interest in renewable energy stocks is growing. So what does green investing involve? And what does the future hold for…

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globe with a mask and text coronavirus
Uncategorized

24% of Brits would prefer travelling to places with good vaccination rates

| Karl Talbot

New research shows that Brits are using Covid-19 vaccination rates to help them decide where to go on holiday. Let's…

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