A fund for retirement cash, from wages kept or paid in.
A series of articles from The Independent and The Guardian examine budgeting, FIRE concepts, and student money management. They emphasize early saving, employer pension matching, and practical tips for students navigating debt, budgeting, and part-time income.
Leaders of the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin have signed a memorandum in Cardiff calling on the UK government to prepare, plan and facilitate constitutional change. They have committed to cooperate on energy, the economy and relations with Europe and to press for referendums where domestic politics allow; Westminster has reiterated a referendum is off limits for now.
The triple lock has raised costs and sparked calls for reform. Governments and thinktanks say the system is expensive and unsustainable; opponents urge targeted support for pensioners, while some advocate linking uplifts to inflation only. The debate centers on funding, fairness, and youth opportunities as the policy’s future comes under review.
A run of fresh data shows the UK labour market remains resilient despite signs of cooling. Payrolls edge down; unemployment holds at 4.9%; wage growth remains mixed across private and public sectors, with vacancies at a post-pandemic low.
The TUC has called for a levy on bank profits to fund a social tariff aimed at cutting energy bills. The union movement argues ministers should move faster on cost-of-living relief as households face high energy costs and inflation.
Inflation has moved to a five‑month high of 3.1% as fuel prices and airfares climb, driven by Middle East conflict. The government has announced relief measures while stressing fiscal prudence. The Budget is six weeks away, and markets face higher borrowing costs amid a fragile headroom.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that the state pension will keep its annual rise until April 2030, but from 2030 will no longer automatically rise with yearly average earnings. The government says the change will free savings to help fund a National Care Service; analysts say initial savings will be small and political opposition is already forming.
Opposition lawmakers have failed to muster enough votes to topple the government as debates over a 2027 budget deficit of 386 billion koruna continue. Economists say the deficit would be the second-largest in Czech history, while the government defends spending as necessary for health, pensions, and public salaries.
The government has maintained income tax thresholds at 2021 levels, creating fiscal drag as wages rise. The freeze is projected to lift the tax take by 2030, with adjustments forecast by the IFS. Banks and gambling machines are among options being considered to raise revenue.