Money & Sense
-
A Calm Christmas Money Plan (UK): A Simple December Checklist
By the time the advent calendars are open and the fairy lights are up, something slightly less magical has usually happened in the background: The food shop has crept up.The social diary has filled itself.And your bank app is quietly blinking at you from the corner of the screen. This post contains general information only and is not financial advice. It may also include affiliate links, which means Danbury & Lovejoy could earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the site. This is the moment for a calm Christmas money plan – nothing hair-shirt, nothing joy-killing, just a…
-
The Month We Tried to Halve Our Bin (Without Becoming Insufferable)
By the time the council changed our bin day again, I realised the problem wasn’t the schedule – it was us. For months, the wheelie bin outside Danbury & Lovejoy HQ (also known as our slightly scuffed Sussex semi) had been groaning by Tuesday. Cardboard leaning out like a drunk uncle, carrier bags crammed with “I’ll deal with that later” clamshells and rogue yoghurt pots. It wasn’t very D&L. It wasn’t very anything, really – just chaotic. So we set ourselves a small, slightly ridiculous challenge: Could we halve our landfill bin in one month – without becoming insufferable? No spreadsheets, no guilt-ridden manifestos. Just a quiet experiment in the…
-
21 Simple Ways to Cut Your Household Bills in the UK (Without Feeling Miserable)
Disclaimer: This guide is for general information only and doesn’t replace personalised financial advice. It also contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and through other partners, Danbury & Lovejoy may earn a small commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the site. If you feel as though your household bills have quietly started their own Everest expedition, you are not alone. Across the UK, costs have crept up on everything from baked beans to broadband. The good news? You don’t need to live by candlelight and cold baths to make a difference. A handful of simple, sustainable…
-
The Dividend Aristocrats: British Shares That Still Pay Like Clockwork
Many British investors look for stability and regular income. Dividend Aristocrats — companies that have paid and, in many cases, increased their dividends for years on end — can provide exactly that. The UK doesn’t have as long a tradition of 25 year dividend increases as the US, but a handful of stalwarts come close. Think of companies such as Unilever, Diageo, British American Tobacco or Legal & General, which have paid dividends through recessions, wars and pandemics. Their consistency is a sign of resilient cash generation and management discipline, not a promise of perpetual growth. What is a Dividend Aristocrat? In the US, a dividend aristocrat is a company that has increased its…
-
Beginner UK Budgeting: Simple Plan, First £1,000
If you’ve ever tried to get your finances in order, you’ve probably come across the 50/30/20 budget. It’s a simple rule of thumb: put half of your take-home pay toward needs, 30% toward wants and lifestyle, and 20% toward savings and debt repayment. But life isn’t always that tidy. Rent prices climb, energy bills spike, you might have childcare costs or student loans that don’t fit neatly into generic percentages. That’s where our 50/30/20‑ish approach comes in — it’s a flexible framework you can tailor to your real‑life numbers. In this guide, we’ll explain the traditional 50/30/20 model, show you how to adjust it based on your own circumstances, and…
-
The £1,000 Rainy-Day Fund: An 8-Week Plan for Peace of Mind
Building a rainy-day fund is one of the most important financial steps you can take. Life has a way of throwing surprise expenses at us—whether it’s a sudden car repair, a dental bill, or an appliance giving up the ghost. Having at least £1,000 set aside means you can breathe easier and avoid putting emergencies on a credit card. Over the next eight weeks, we’ll walk you through a straightforward plan to build your fund without feeling deprived. It’s not about skipping every treat; it’s about making a plan, trimming what doesn’t matter, and watching your savings grow. This article includes a printable 8-week checklist to track your progress. Let’s…
