Queen of bargains, including how to boost your finances in 2019

You can make this year a financially healthier one if you’re clever with your cash

Get the year off to a fantastic start by getting your cash to work as hard as possible.

1 Tax-free

Make sure you use your tax-free allowances. ‘Many go unused because people simply don’t know about them,’ says Julius Lipner, Financial Planner, at Consilia Wealth Management LLP. ‘Every adult has a £20,000 ISA tax-free allowance each year, and you also have a £4,260 allowance per annum to save for each of your children through a Junior ISA.’

‘Also, you can earn up to £1,000 tax-free each year on any interest income from your savings under the “Personal Savings Allowance” too,’ he adds.

For more info, visit gov.uk/ income-tax-rates.

2 Don’t forget your pension plan

It’s easy to overlook putting away money for your retirement, but building a pension is essential.

‘Not only are you helping to secure your financial future, the government boosts whatever you save by at least 25%, and as you can’t touch it until you retire, you won’t be tempted to fritter it away,’ adds Julius.

3 What to avoid

Beware of get-rich-quick schemes. ‘Growing wealth is a slow and steady process, so if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is,’ says Julius.