Rebecca Goodman
Rebecca Goodman is a freelance journalist who has spent the past 10 years working across personal finance publications. Regularly writing for The Guardian, The Sun, The Telegraph, and The Independent.
Articles by Rebecca Goodman:
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Can You Get a Mortgage with Bad Credit?
You can get a mortgage with bad credit but the deals on offer may be limited and more expensive. Find out how bad credit mortgages work and whether it’s worth applying for one.
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Can I get a loan for a wedding?
Taking out a wedding loan is just one way you can fund your big day if you don’t have the money to pay for it all yourself.
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How to repay a personal loan early
Paying off a loan early can be a huge weight lifted from your shoulders, but there may be penalty fees and interest charges to pay.
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What are joint loans and how do they work?
Joint loans can be taken out for several reasons, from mortgages to overdrafts and each person is fully liable for the debt being repaid.
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How Do Costs of The UK's Most Popular Cars Stack Up Against Leading Electric Vehicles?
Our NerdWallet research has discovered the cheapest car to run, that you could make savings of up to £76,420 over five years by switching to electric vehicles, and that fossil fuel cars lose their value much quicker than electric cars. Learn how popular cars stack up against electric vehicles.
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How to Apply for a Credit Card in 6 Easy Steps
Applying for a credit card is pretty straightforward when you know what to expect. These tips will help you get application-ready and understand the process that follows.
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Contactless Payments and Limits Explained
Contactless payments make daily transactions easier by allowing you to hover your card or device over the payment terminal. Here, we look at what a contact payment is, how contactless payments work, the current contactless payment limit, and the pros and cons of contactless payments.
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Cloned Number Plates: What is Car Cloning?
Car cloning, or vehicle identity theft as it’s also known, is an illegal practice whereby a car is given new number plates to replicate a similar car, of the same make, model and colour. Here, we discuss what car cloning is and what to do if you have been a victim of vehicle identity theft.
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Car-Buying Scams: What To Look Out For
Car-buying scams are constantly changing, with new scams being created by criminals all the time. Find out about the latest car-buying scams, what to look out for so you can protect yourself, and what to do if you have been a victim of a car scam.
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Tips For Buying a Used Car: What You Should Check
To protect yourself when buying a used car there are a number of checks that you need to do before buying. Read on to learn how to spot car scams, what physical checks you should do, and what your rights are when buying a used car.
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How to register a vehicle
Once you have bought a car, you need to register it with the DVLA straightaway. Read on to learn how car registration works, how to register your car and what documents you need for the registration.
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Can you get a mortgage with a CCJ?
A county court judgment (CCJ) is issued if you’ve been unable to pay a debt back and while it can make it harder to take out loans in the future, it’s not impossible to get a mortgage with a CCJ.
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What is a mortgage default and how does it affect your mortgage?
Mortgage defaults occur when you fail to make a series of repayments on your mortgage. Not only can this have a severe impact on your credit rating and limit your potential to borrow in the future, but, in a worst-case scenario, it could cost you your home.
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Can you get a mortgage with an IVA, DMP or bankruptcy?
It’s possible but difficult. Your mortgage options will be limited after an Individual Voluntary Arrangement, debt management plan or bankruptcy.
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Is car finance worth it?
Car finance is a popular way to pay for a new motor, but how do you decide if it is the right decision for you? We look at some points to help you work out if car finance is really worth it, or if an alternative might be better.
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Should I use car finance or a loan to buy a car?
There are lots of ways to pay for a new car and they all work slightly differently. It can be confusing trying to decide which is best for you, so here we will look at the difference between buying with car finance or a bank loan.
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Should I lease or buy a car?
Leasing a car can be a flexible way to drive a car and upgrade to different models every few years. However, you won’t ever be the owner of the car, unlike if you buy it outright. Read on to see if leasing or buying a car is most suitable for you.
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What is the best way to buy a car?
You can buy a car outright, use finance to pay for it, take out a loan, or even lease one, but the best way to pay for your new set of wheels will depend on how much you can afford and the type of model you’re after.
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Can I use a personal loan to finance an expensive purchase?
Personal loans are often used for big ticket expenses such as a new car and can be one of the cheapest ways to borrow money.
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How to use a personal loan to buy a new car
If you want a new car but don’t have the cash to buy it outright, a personal loan is one way to pay for it.
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Should you take out a loan to pay for your next holiday?
Dreaming of a holiday in the sun? A personal loan could be one way to pay for your next trip.
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How to apply for a child benefit loan
If you receive child benefit, you may be able to apply for a loan to pay for a one-off cost or something unexpected.
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How to get a loan if you are receiving disability benefits
Disability benefits are classed as income and like salary, so you will need to show a steady history and forthcoming payments, along with any other income you receive.
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Can I get car finance on benefits?
If you’re receiving benefits, this shouldn’t mean you’re not able to access car finance. Lenders will look at your overall income and individual situation to decide whether you can afford the car finance payments.
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Can I get car finance with a CCJ?
If you have a CCJ, car finance will be harder to find. However, lenders will look at your overall affordability, not just your credit score, and there are specialist options that could help you get finance to buy a car.
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Can I get car finance with an IVA?
An IVA affects your credit score, so it can make it more difficult to get approved for car finance. Find out what impact an IVA could have on your car finance application and what you can do to improve your chances of approval.
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Can I get car finance with bad credit?
Bad credit car finance can help those with poorer credit scores buy a car if they can’t pay for it upfront. Learn more about how to improve your chances of getting approved for car finance if you have a bad credit history.
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How to get a loan when you’re on benefits
If you need money to pay for something, or you’re struggling to pay for living costs, you may be able to get an interest-free loan from the government.
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What to know about budgeting loans and budgeting advances
Budgeting loans and advances are available if you’re receiving benefits and in need of some extra cash.
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How to reclaim a guarantor loan
You may be due a guarantor loan refund if you were approved for one and a provider didn’t check your finances properly.
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What To Do if You Are Turned Down for a Personal Loan
While there are many reasons why you may not get a loan, it’s important to understand why you’re being turned down before you make any other credit applications.
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How to refinance a personal loan
By choosing to refinance a loan, you could lower your interest payments and the length of the loan.
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How fixed interest rate borrowing works
A fixed interest rate is an interest rate that doesn’t change, making payments predictable.
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What is Universal Credit and How Can I Apply?
Universal credit is a means-tested benefit for people without an income or for those on a low income. Read on to learn who is eligible for the benefit, how much the payment will be and how to apply.
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How to Get Help Filing Your Tax Return
If you’re having problems with your tax return it can be very stressful. Read on to learn who can help if you’re having tax return issues, what the most common tax problems are, how to appeal a tax decision and what to do if you can’t pay your tax.
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Tax services: what you need to know about filing your taxes
If you are self-employed, earn income from an additional revenue stream or claim some benefits, then you may need to file your taxes. Read on to understand when the tax season is, how to prepare your taxes and how long it could take to complete them.
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Using a Tax Adviser or Accountant For Your Tax Return
A tax adviser or accountant can file your tax return for you, taking a lot of stress out of the process, but using them can come at a price. Learn the benefits and cost of using one.
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How Do Credit Cards Work? All You Need to Know
A credit card can be a flexible and cost-effective way to borrow money but, before applying for one, it’s important to understand exactly how they work and what costs you could face.
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How to Make a Cash ISA Transfer
A cash ISA transfer lets you move your tax-free savings into a new account. You can transfer your money from one cash ISA into another, or into a stocks and shares ISA, but there are some rules to know before going ahead.
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Is a Regular Saver ISA the Best Type of Savings Account for You?
A regular saver ISA lets you put away money each month, up to a limit, and earn tax-free interest on the cash.
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What You Need to Know About Fixed Rate Cash ISAs
A fixed rate cash ISA is a tax-free savings account where you are paid a set rate of interest for locking your money away over a fixed period.
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What is an Easy Access ISA?
An easy access cash ISA lets you earn interest without paying any tax and you can withdraw the money whenever you need to without penalty.
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Leaving a Job or Starting a New One? Make Sure You Understand the P45 Form
When you leave a job you will be given a P45 form which shows how much you have earned and how much tax and national insurance you have paid.
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What Self-Employed Taxpayers Should Know About the SA100 Self Assessment Tax Form
The SA100 form is filled in by those who are self-employed or have more complex finances and need to report their income to HMRC and calculate their tax bill. You may more commonly hear form SA100 referred to as a tax return or self-assessment form.
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What is a P60 Form and How do I Get One?
One of the most common tax forms is a P60 and it shows how much you have earned and how much tax you have paid in the previous year.
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Everything You Need to Know About Tax Forms
To pay income tax in the UK you may need to fill out a tax form, either online, by post, or in person.
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CHAPS Payments: How They Work
CHAPS is the UK payment system used for transferring large sums of money which are cleared on the same day. We explain how it works and when to use the service.
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International money transfer: how to quickly send money abroad
There are several different ways you can send money to a person or business overseas including using your high street bank, a foreign exchange broker, or a money transfer firm.
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