Why money feels harder at the Bar (and why it isn’t your fault)
The barristers I work with are capable, intelligent people who were simply never taught how to manage income that arrives months after it’s been earned, often in lumps, with normal outgoings that still go out every month. If money at the Bar feels harder than it should, you may recognise the feeling, because you bill […]
Your child doesn’t start nursery until 2027. So why does this tax year already matter?
If your child is starting nursery in summer term 2027, you might be thinking: I’ve got plenty of time, I’ll worry about childcare funding next year. But here’s what catches a lot of parents out — when you apply for funded hours in February 2027, HMRC checks your Net Adjusted Income for the 2026/27 tax […]
Why a March bonus may cost you Summer term funding – beware the funded childcare hours cliff edge
Most parents right now are focused on getting their application in for funded childcare hours before the summer term starts on 1 April 2026. But I’ve had so many confused messages about this recently: If your net adjusted income tips over £100,000 at any point in the 2025/26 tax year, your eligibility for funded hours […]
How to pay yourself as a Director without paying more tax than you need to
One of the big questions I get from business owners is: “What’s the best way to pay myself?” There isn’t a single answer, but there are a few common routes. Each has its pros, cons, and things to watch for.If you understand the options, you can make better decisions for your situation (with your accountant’s […]
Keeping money inside your business will not build your personal wealth
How I paid into my SIPP as a business expense and why most small business owners don’t know they can This week I moved money from my business account into my Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) as an employer contribution.It counts as a business expense, which means it reduces my corporation tax bill.And that money is […]
How a simple spreadsheet helped one parent stay under the £100k threshold, and save thousands in childcare costs
If you’re hoping to access the government’s funded childcare hours, there’s one number that matters more than most: £100,000 net adjusted income. Go even slightly over, and you lose the support entirely. That’s the situation one parent found herself in. Her base salary was under the threshold, but once her bonus and RSUs (restricted stock […]
Funded childcare and pension contributions – what’s best for your family?
From September 2025, many working parents will be eligible for up to 30 hours of funded childcare per week, starting from the term after their child is just 9 months old. It’s a huge support but it’s not guaranteed. To qualify, both parents must: That £100k limit is where things often get tricky especially for […]
From guilt to growth: the art of conscious lifestyle upgrades
I talk a lot about lifestyle creep – that sneaky way our spending grows without us noticing, quietly sabotaging our savings goals. But there’s another side to this conversation that deserves equal attention: conscious lifestyle upgrades. The difference between lifestyle creep and conscious upgrades isn’t the spending itself, it’s the intentionality behind it. What makes […]
Should you overpay your mortgage or invest? Here’s how to decide
Unsure whether to invest or overpay your mortgage? Discover the real factors that matter — beyond just the numbers.