If you’ve looked into ABLE accounts before and found you didn’t qualify, it may be time for another look. A change to the eligibility rules means over a million more veterans can now open one. This Veterans Day, we’re looking at how these accounts work alongside your benefits to give you more options for your money.
Money tips
A few extra presents might ease your worries before Christmas, but leave you regretting the cost in January. In this edition of Ruth's Two Cents, Ruth looks at why we spend more than we planned and how to call time on Christmas shopping without feeling guilty.
Money tips
There’s plenty of talk about buying investment property. There’s usually less about the paperwork. If you’re considering a rental, accountant Sam Harith covers the questions worth asking before you buy, from whose name goes on the title to which expenses you’ll need to track.
Money tips
Friends can have very different ideas about what counts as an affordable gift or trip, and speaking up about your budget isn't always easy. In this edition of Ruth's Two Cents, Ruth shares how to set boundaries around shared spending so keeping up with friends doesn't leave you stretched.
Money tips
Starting in 2026, millions of people who were previously shut out of ABLE accounts will finally be allowed in, thanks to a long-delayed change in the age-of-onset rules. It won't magically fix asset limits, discrimination, or every broken rule you're dealing with, but it can make it easier to save, cover housing and other big needs, and keep vital benefits like SSI and Medicaid.
Money tips
Looking for money podcasts for every stage of life? There seriously is a podcast for everything, especially in the finance space. So, to celebrate International Podcast Day, we have matched some of our favourite money podcasts for 2026 to different eras of your financial life.
Money tips
Want to improve the financial admin of your side hustle? Opening a business-specific account with your bank could help you do just that. Emma explores the option of a business bank account for your side hustle and freelancing activities, and whether it might be the right choice for you.
Money tips
Money touches almost every part of life, yet talking about it can still feel strangely off-limits. In this edition of Ruth's Two Cents, Ruth shares how to start useful money conversations with curiosity and care, without making things awkward or potentially overstepping.
Money tips
With their substantial power and capital, even choices like who we bank with can have a social and environmental impact — positive or negative, depending on who you choose. Here's how you can look for a banking institution that aligns your personal values with your financial ones.
Money tips
A financial windfall can be life-changing, but suddenly having more money to manage can bring plenty of pressure with it. In this edition of Ruth’s Two Cents, Ruth explains how to assess where you stand, make a plan and put a financial windfall to thoughtful use.
Money tips
Mixing business and personal money in one account can feel simpler when you're self-employed. But that convenience can quickly make it harder to track expenses, understand what you're earning and prepare for tax time. Here's why separating the two is usually worth it.
Money tips
Managing your money in the UK has become more complicated in recent years. Thankfully, there are plenty of trusted UK organisations providing free, impartial support. Emma shares the top resources — from debt charities to budgeting tools and educational courses that won't cost you a penny.
Money tips
With the fees-free scheme coming to an end, many New Zealand families are suddenly facing a bigger university bill than expected. In this edition of Ruth's Two Cents, Ruth looks at how to talk honestly with your teen about the real cost of study and make a plan that keeps their options open.
Money tips
A pay rise should feel like progress, not a disappearing act when that extra income vanishes before it has a job to do. In this edition of Ruth's Two Cents, Ruth shares how to enjoy earning more while keeping lifestyle creep from eating into your future plans.
Money tips
As a keen traveller or an adventurous expat, you probably have more bank accounts than you can count! Finding them hard to juggle? Here's the PocketSmith guide to managing bank accounts in multiple currencies, brought to you by Brit living down under, Emma Edwards.
Money tips
Getting a mortgage is a big enough milestone. Getting one while self-employed can add a few extra hurdles. Accountant Sam Harith shows how, with the right records and a bit of planning, you can make your case without turning your finances into a full-time admin job.
Money tips
As Jim Rohn once said, "Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time." Want to learn how to reclaim more of your time to spend with your family? This new book from Andy Hill can teach you how to set up your financial life to reach these goals.
Money tips
Money avoidance is more common than we admit, but it doesn’t have to run the show. In this edition of Ruth's Two Cents, Ruth reminds us that we should look first, fix later, and start rebuilding confidence one small money moment at a time.
Money tips
Remote work has made it easier than ever to explore the world without pausing your career. But with this freedom comes the challenge of balancing the excitement of frequent travel with the need to stay financially and environmentally sustainable. Here's how to stay sustainable while making the most of the journey.
Money tips
When you’re building a blended family, money can get complicated fast. In this edition of Ruth’s Two Cents, Ruth explores how to set up a financial system that helps you work as a team without pretending every expense, obligation or family dynamic will look the same.
Money tips
Freelancing swings between feast and famine — one month overflowing with work, the next eerily quiet. While some ebb and flow is normal, others signal it's time to adapt. With AI and new tech reshaping industries, some freelancers and small business owners need to stay agile and ready to pivot before opportunities pass them by.
Money tips
Comparing your financial life to other people’s can feel almost impossible to avoid. In this edition of Ruth’s Two Cents, Ruth explores why comparison hits so hard, how curated glimpses of other people’s lives can distort your perspective, and why reconnecting with your own progress is one of the best ways to feel clearer and more content with the path you’re on.
Money tips
When you're self-employed, your finances do double duty. You need proper reporting for your business and clear visibility for your household. Accounting software covers the compliance side. PocketSmith helps you plan, forecast and stay in control of real life. Used together, they make a powerful pair.
Money tips
Your feed is full of things to buy — deinfluencing is the trend that tells you it's okay not to. By questioning what you're sold online, you can cut back on impulse spending and keep more of your money for what genuinely matters to you.
