This guest blog was written by Chris Budd who wrote the original Financial Wellbeing Book, and also the Four Cornerstones of Financial Wellbeing. He founded the Institute for Financial Wellbeing, and has written more than 100 episodes of the Financial Wellbeing Podcast. Financial wellbeing is a subject that looks at all aspects of the relationship between money and happiness. This is a very broad subject, covering research and thinking from disciplines such as psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, theology, and academia. It is such a broad subject that it can, at times, feel a little overwhelming. So, I’d like to try and summarise all this knowledge into a simple equation that shows you how you can ensure that money is a tool... Read More

Getting older unfortunately might mean getting used to new limitations. However, making healthy lifestyle changes can improve your quality of life no matter what age you start at. So, instead of staying stuck in your ways, read on to discover five easy steps you can take to improve your health later in life. 1. Improve your sleep hygiene Adults should have between seven and nine hours of sleep every night. If you’re lacking in this department – whether you are sleeping too much, too little, or are struggling with poor quality sleep – then you are at higher risk of problems like obesity and heart disease. Thankfully, it may be possible to improve your sleep hygiene in a few steps.... Read More

A cashflow model is a valuable tool that lets you understand how the value of your estate and individual assets might change in the future. But, to get the most out of it, you need to look beyond the numbers.  A cashflow model provides a graphical representation of all your assets, such as investments, property and pension, as well as income, expenditures and debt. It forecasts how each of these will change over time. To start, you’ll need to input information into a cashflow model, such as the value of your assets now, your household spending, or how much you’re contributing to your pension. To calculate long-term changes, you may need to make certain assumptions too. You might factor in... Read More

While you might intend to make your financial decisions based on facts, emotions creeping in from time to time is normal. Recognising when emotions might be influencing your judgement could mean you’re better able to evaluate what’s right for you. Last month, you read about how past experiences could affect your decisions. Now, read on to find out how emotions could do the same.  Your emotions may affect how you respond to different situations   Your emotional state can often affect how you feel about different situations.  This, in turn, can change how you respond to financial decisions.  In some cases, your emotions might mean your choices don’t align with your long-term goals. For example, if you’re fearful that you’ll lose... Read More

If you want to improve your health in 2025, you might be considering changing your diet or joining your local gym. However, your gut health has a bigger impact on your body than you might think. From your immune system to your mood, the link between your gut and your brain can affect every corner of your physical and mental health. Read on to learn more about gut health and the foods you may incorporate into your diet to improve it. Your gut microbiome includes trillions of microorganisms Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria, viruses, yeasts, and other microorganisms, which are collectively known as your “gut microbiome”. This balance between “good” and “bad” bacteria can be affected by... Read More