Finance

The FTSE 100 closed up 0.3% at 10,497.94 on Monday 5 October 2026, while the FTSE 250 fell 0.3%, gold fell 0.1% and Brent crude fell to $100.81 a barrel.

Work out exactly when you will clear your credit card balance, how much interest you will pay, and what an extra £50 a month saves you. Free UK calculator with examples.

Bad-credit card guide: how credit-builder cards work, soft-search eligibility checks, APRs and limits compared, plus a realistic plan to rebuild your score.

Compare the best savings accounts for October 2026: 5% easy access, 5.12% one-year fixed and 8% regular savers, plus tax rules, FSCS safety and how to choose.

The FTSE 100 closed up 0.3% at 10,461.95 on Friday 2 October 2026, while the FTSE 250 rose 0.2%, gold fell 0.8% and Brent crude was little changed at $102.41 a barrel.

Billions of pounds sit unclaimed in the UK: benefits, Pension Credit, Child Trust Funds, lost bank accounts and Premium Bond prizes. Every check in this guide is free and official, with the exact place to claim.

Best survey sites UK checked 22 Oct 2026: Prolific’s £6 an hour floor, UserTesting at $10 a test, Qmee with no minimum cash out, payout thresholds, the screen out maths and honest verdicts.

Cashback stacking combines four layers of money back on the same spending: a bank switch bonus, TopCashback or Quidco, grocery receipt apps and a cashback card. Here is how to do it safely, with a worked broadband example and an honest estimate of £300 to £700 a year.

An honest UserTesting review for UK readers: what each test pays, the real 14 day PayPal wait, how to pass the practice test, the truth about screeners, realistic monthly earnings and the UK tax position.

Our UK Prolific review: enforced minimum pay of £6 an hour, a £6 PayPal cashout, the waiting list explained, realistic monthly earnings, the About You trick that unlocks more studies, and the UK tax rule most reviews miss.