A UK publication about ordinary money
Money stories based on common UK financial circumstances.
Featured illustrative story
Saving
James rents a two-bed flat with a friend, teaches Year 5 and moves £600 out of his current account the day he is paid. He explains how the numbers work, and what he quietly stopped spending on.
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Photo by Christopher Campbell.
Illustrative storyBudgeting
Lena, a nineteen-year-old design student in Leeds, balances a £8,900 annual income against the daily realities of university life. When an unexpected repair bill threatens her weekly budget, she navigates the friction between academic requirements and social expectations, searching for a way to complete her term without sinking into an overdraft.
2 min read
Read storyPhoto by nrd.
Illustrative storyCareer and income
Hamza is a twenty-three-year-old electrician living in Birmingham with an annual income of £24,600. As he builds his career, he balances his contribution to the family household with the need to invest in professional gear, all while resisting the lure of vehicle finance that could derail his plans for independence.
2 min read
Read storyPhoto by Jimmy Fermin.
Illustrative storyCareer and income
Megan is a twenty-seven-year-old nurse in Cardiff earning £34,800 annually. Living with her partner, she manages a monthly rent of £620 while navigating the physical and financial toll of a demanding hospital rota, forcing her to choose between the allure of extra pay and the necessity of personal time.
2 min read
Read storyPhoto by rayul.
Illustrative storyMortgages
Ellis, a thirty-one-year-old software developer in Bristol, earns £62,500 a year but lives with the growing uncertainty of a potential redundancy. Faced with a £980 monthly mortgage and limited savings, he re-evaluates his approach to debt, insurance, and the necessity of keeping his professional edge sharp.
2 min read
Read storyPhoto by Annie Spratt.
Illustrative storyFamily finances
Ruth, a thirty-six-year-old office administrator and divorced mother in Liverpool, earns £26,700 annually. As she manages a £690 monthly rent and existing credit-card debts, she struggles to reconcile the predictable costs of her nine-year-old's school life with the unpredictable pressures of single-parent budgeting.
2 min read
Read storyPhoto by Caroline Badran.
Illustrative storyHousehold finances
Joel, a 42-year-old chef living in Glasgow, reflects on the financial aftermath of his recent wedding. With his annual income of £39,200, he and his spouse are navigating the reality of modest savings as they attempt to rebuild their property deposit for a future home purchase.
2 min read
Read storyDesk 01
Standing orders, spending limits and the small refusals that add up.
More on savingPhoto by Christopher Campbell.
Illustrative storyBudgeting
Lena, a nineteen-year-old design student in Leeds, balances a £8,900 annual income against the daily realities of university life. When an unexpected repair bill threatens her weekly budget, she navigates the friction between academic requirements and social expectations, searching for a way to complete her term without sinking into an overdraft.
2 min read
Read storyIllustrative storyCareer and income
2 min read
Read storyDesk 02
Deposits, fixed rates, roofs and boilers: what keeping a roof over your head really costs.
More on home ownershipPhoto by rayul.
Illustrative storyMortgages
Ellis, a thirty-one-year-old software developer in Bristol, earns £62,500 a year but lives with the growing uncertainty of a potential redundancy. Faced with a £980 monthly mortgage and limited savings, he re-evaluates his approach to debt, insurance, and the necessity of keeping his professional edge sharp.
2 min read
Read storyPhoto by LOGAN WEAVER | @LGNWVR.
Illustrative storyMortgages
Gareth, a 54-year-old driver living in Newcastle, is evaluating the sustainability of his workload. With an annual income of £31,900, he must navigate the impact of reduced driving hours on his mortgage commitments and his desire to pause recent home improvements while managing a repair reserve of £2,200.
2 min read
Read storyPhoto by Vince Fleming.
Illustrative storyFamily finances
Marcus, a 39-year-old solicitor based in London, earns £118,000 annually but finds himself time-poor and stretched. Balancing a £2,150 monthly mortgage contribution and £160 for cleaning help, he struggles with the trade-offs of his high-pressure career, questioning if the cost of convenience is eroding the very life he is working for.
2 min read
Read storyDesk 03
The long game, told by people at both ends of it. No tips, no promised returns.
More on pensionsPhoto by Centre for Ageing Better.
Illustrative storyFamily finances
Samira, a 48-year-old engineer in Sheffield, manages the complexities of a £71,800 annual income while balancing multiple family financial responsibilities. As she navigates the pressures of mortgage repayments and consistent support for her elderly parent, she struggles to maintain a sense of her own personal financial independence.
2 min read
Read storyPhoto by Andrey K.
Illustrative storyRetirement
Nisha, a 54-year-old accountant in Leicester, is using her time before retirement to road-test her future lifestyle. With an annual income of £58,600 and a mortgage-free home, she is experimenting with a restricted household budget to better understand her transition from the payroll to permanent retirement.
2 min read
Read storyDesk 04
Pay rises, self-employment, shift work and what a salary actually buys.
Browse all storiesBeing an electrician is about the work I do, not the debt I take on to look like a senior tradesman.
Illustrative storyCareer and income
2 min read
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James, 29 · Teacher · £31,500
Priya, 34 · Project Manager · £52,000
Margaret, 63 · Retired · £24,800
Tom, 41 · Electrician · £47,300
Aisha, 23 · Nurse · £28,400