Preparing Your Child for Financial Independence Before They Leave Home
The gap between living at home with parents managing most financial logistics, and genuine independent adult life, is often bigger than either parents or…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
October 11th 2026
Apprenticeships vs University: The Real Financial Comparison for Families
For families planning ahead, the financial gap between an apprenticeship and university is considerably larger and more nuanced than 'university costs…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
October 9th 2026
The Best Way to Save for a Child's University Costs
We've covered the actual student finance gap parents often need to fill in our Saving series - this article looks specifically at which account is the best…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
October 7th 2026
Saving for a Child's First Car: A Realistic Plan
A first car is often one of the largest single purchases a young person (or their parents, contributing) makes before university or full independent living…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
October 5th 2026
Premium Bonds for Children: How Grandparents Can Buy Them and What They're Worth
Premium Bonds are consistently one of the most popular gifts for a child in the UK - simple to buy, fully backed by the government, and with the appealing…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
October 3rd 2026
Godparents and Money Gifts: Tax-Efficient Ways to Give
Godparents (or any close family friend wanting to make a meaningful financial gift to a child) have essentially the same options available as grandparents,…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
October 1st 2026
Grandparents and Saving for Grandchildren: Tax-Efficient Ways to Help
Grandparents are often keen to help financially, but the most tax-efficient way to do it depends on whether the priority is minimising your own Inheritance…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 29th 2026
What Happens to a Junior ISA or Junior SIPP When Your Child Turns 18?
Both a Junior ISA and a Junior SIPP undergo a specific transition when a child turns 18 - but the two accounts behave very differently, and understanding…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 27th 2026
Setting Up a Junior SIPP: Why Starting at Birth Makes Such a Big Difference
We've covered the mechanics of Junior SIPPs in detail in our Pensions series - this article focuses specifically on why the timing of when you start…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 25th 2026
Junior ISA vs Junior SIPP: Which Should You Prioritise for Your Child?
We've covered Junior ISAs and Junior SIPPs separately elsewhere in this content library - this article looks directly at which one deserves priority if you…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 23rd 2026
Child Trust Funds: What to Do If Your Child Still Has One
If your child was born between September 2002 and January 2011, they may well have a Child Trust Fund - a now-discontinued account type that's often…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 21st 2026
The Sure Start Maternity Grant and Other Financial Help for New Parents
New parents are often so consumed by the immediate demands of a new baby that available financial support goes unclaimed simply because nobody had time to…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 19th 2026
Child Benefit Explained: Rates, the High Income Charge, and Why You Should Still Claim It
Some higher-earning families don't bother claiming Child Benefit at all, assuming they'll simply have to pay it all back. This is one of the most costly…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 17th 2026
First Jobs and Payslips: What Teenagers (and Parents) Need to Know About Tax
A first payslip is often a teenager's first genuine encounter with the gap between what they've earned and what actually lands in their bank account - and…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 15th 2026
Teaching Teenagers About Credit, Debt and Their First Bank Card
A teenager's first bank card is often their first genuine exposure to spending money that isn't physically in their hand - and the concepts of credit,…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 13th 2026
Teaching Kids About Money: Age-by-Age Practical Ideas That Actually Work
Financial habits and attitudes form earlier than most parents expect - research consistently suggests many core money habits are established by around age…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 11th 2026
Should You Give Your Child an Allowance Tied to Chores? The Pros and Cons
One of the most debated questions in family financial education: should pocket money be unconditional, or earned through specific chores? Both approaches…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 9th 2026
Pocket Money in the UK: What's 'Normal' and How to Structure It
There's no official rule for how much pocket money a UK child should get, but current survey data gives a genuinely useful benchmark - and how you…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 7th 2026
Children's Bank Accounts Explained: Which Type Suits Which Age
UK children's bank accounts vary considerably by age range and level of independence offered - understanding which type actually suits your child's age and…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 5th 2026
How Much Does It Cost to Raise a Child to 18 in the UK?
The headline figures for raising a child in the UK vary considerably depending on which study and methodology you look at - from around £150,000 to well…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 3rd 2026