POUND NOTES

Financial fact: UK households’ median average disposable income was £27,300 in the financial year 2016-17, up £600 on the previous year, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures. Charity’s Online Shop Saw Sales Surge Over Christmas: Online shoppers rushed to seek out designer clothing at Oxfam over the Christmas period, the charity has said, with sales soaring by 33%.

Vintage and designer clothes were the online shop’s top search terms, with brands such as Burberry, Barbour, Gucci, Whistles and Boden being particularly popular. First edition books, as well as cameras, blankets and throws, were also highly sought after.

More than half of people say ‘rising living costs are biggest money worry’: Two-fifths (40%) of people think 2018 will be a financially challenging year, with 12% admitting to being ‘seriously worried about their finances’ in the year ahead, a survey has found.

Just under half (49%) of people said they need to try and reduce their outgoings in 2018, GoCompare found. More than half (58%) of those surveyed from across the UK said rising living costs are their biggest financial worry of 2018.

Mortgage lender announces

cashback offer: Competition in the mortgage market has been ramped up as a lender has unveiled a new cashback offer.

Halifax has announced it is offering first-time buyers, home movers and those who re-mortgage from another lender £500 cashback on qualifying mortgages until March 18.

The cashback will be paid automatically on completion and sent to the conveyancer with the completion funds.