Katie Binns
Katie is staff writer at The Money Edit. She was the former staff writer at The Times and The Sunday Times. Her experience includes writing about personal finance, culture, travel and interviews celebrities. Her investigative work on financial abuse resulted in a number of mortgage prisoners being set free - and a nomination for the Best Personal Finance Story of the Year in the Headlinemoney awards 2021.
Latest articles by Katie Binns
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How to turn your unwanted clothes into cash
Here’s how to make money from your unwanted clothes - and save it to buy going second hand, just like this year’s Love Island contestants
By Katie Binns Last updated
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Klarna to start charging late payment fees – we explain what you need to know
Klarna is the latest buy now, pay later provider to introduce late fees. We explain how the new fees will work and how to avoid them
By Katie Binns Published
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Switching bank accounts: “Can I switch while I raise issues with my current bank?”
“Can I switch bank accounts while I raise issues with my bank?” Money Edit reader Sheila wants to know if she can switch and sort out mystery outgoing payments at the same time. We help her find out
By Katie Binns Published
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Pre-state pension income gap means you need an extra £85,000 if you want to retire at 63 - can you afford to retire early?
The ‘pre-state pension gap’ is the amount of money you need to retire earlier than the state pension age of 68 - and the amounts are significant. We explain everything you need to know
By Katie Binns Published
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Women to save £205 a year on HRT from April
A new scheme saving menopausal women up to £205 a year on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) will come into effect on 1 April. We explain everything you need to know
By Katie Binns Published
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Seven changes to workers’ rights in 2023 – including flexible working, maternity pay and an extra bank holiday
Workers will see a number of rule changes this year, including a potential pay rise and improvements to family leave and pay. We run through how the changes could affect you
By Katie Binns Published
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Average price paid for home insurance ‘at lowest levels in at least a decade’
The average cost of home insurance in 2022 was £300 - how does your premium compare?
By Katie Binns Published
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Millions of households could switch their energy supplier from July - will you?
After getting used to the idea that there was no point in shopping around for a better deal, households could see the return of competitive fixed-price energy tariffs from July
By Katie Binns Published
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Leisure passport cards going unclaimed - here’s how to get free and discounted days from your local authority
Parents may be missing out on leisure passport discounts for local sports, theatres, museums and cinemas this half-term. We explain how to find out what you are eligible for
By Katie Binns Published
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Bereavement Support Payment - what it is and how it works
The death of a spouse or civil partner is devastating. Bereavement support payment is in place to help those going through this fraught time financially
By Katie Binns Published
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Premium Bonds prize fund rate to rise to 3.30% from March 2023 draw - are they worth it?
NS&I has increased the prize rate from 3.15% to 3.30%, meaning there are hundreds of extra prizes in every draw. It has also hiked the interest rates on its Direct Saver and Income Bond to 2.85%
By Katie Binns Published
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Buy now, pay later firms face new, stricter rules – what it means for shoppers
The government has laid out further plans to tighten up rules on buy now, pay later to protect up to 10 million shoppers from being "exposed to financial harm"
By Katie Binns Published
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Octopus Energy to offer heat pumps as cheap as gas boilers - costing you as little as £2,500 to decarbonise your home
Octopus Energy is launching a heat pump that will cost households the same or cheaper than a gas boiler. We look at the costs involved
By Katie Binns Published
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Will there be a digital pound in use by the end of the decade?
The workings of a digital pound are being weighed up by the Bank of England and Treasury. We explain what that would look like for you
By Katie Binns Last updated
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New NS&I Green Savings Bonds three-year fixed-rate of 4.20% - is it worth it?
Eco-friendly savers can get more now that NS&I has increased the interest rate paid by its flagship green savings bond
By Katie Binns Published
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Council tax break for millions in February and March - but rises from April are expected for many
Council tax is typically paid over 10 months - meaning millions of us won’t pay it in February and March
By Katie Binns Published
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Average easy access ISA pays seven times the typical rate offered a year ago
Savers rejoice! The average cash ISA now pays around seven times the interest rate offered a year ago - while top one-year fixed ISAs now pay more than four times respectively
By Katie Binns Published
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What is Google Wallet?
Google Wallet is a service that allows Android users to buy goods with their mobile phone - and it’s not to be confused with Google Pay
By Katie Binns Published
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Return train tickets to be scrapped - could it mean more expensive train travel?
Return train tickets will be replaced by a new system called “single-leg pricing - but it may cost us more to travel
By Katie Binns Published
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Surge in people searching for debt consolidation loans - could it help you?
Data shows people have started the new year with debt consolidation loans on their mind and are looking for ways to make repayments more affordable
By Katie Binns Published
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NS&I brings back one-year 4% fixed rate Bonds - its highest rate since 2010
NS&I brings back one-year fixed bonds that pay 4% - and there’s potential rates rises for half a million savers too
By Katie Binns Published
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Nine new shared banking hubs announced
As more branches close, locations for nine new banking hubs have been revealed to help improve access to cash. We explain who can use them and if there’s one near you
By Katie Binns Last updated
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Is now a good time to buy a house?
As house prices fall in November you may wonder if it’s a good time to buy a house. We explain what to consider
By Katie Binns Last updated
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Reforms to child maintenance to support domestic abuse victims
Mothers will be protected from having direct contact with abusive ex-partners when claiming child maintenance payments under new reforms
By Katie Binns Published