The Salary Calculator

Investing in financially challenging times 

by Madaline Dunn

When each day the headlines regarding the economy are worse than the last, warnings of skyrocketing energy prices, excessive food and petrol costs, and forecasts that it’s only going to get worse, you may be counting every penny. Investing is likely to be the last thing on your mind when juggling your finances in this challenging financial crisis.

That’s what the research shows, too. According to one study, 24% have stopped contributing to investments and savings because of the cost of living crisis. Meanwhile, 14.1% of British households don’t hold any investment, even though most have at least six months’ worth of “essential spending cash.”

That said, experts say that it’s perhaps not the best plan to abandon ship and that continuing to invest might actually benefit you in the long run.

At The Salary Calculator, we’ll walk you through:

• Whether not you should continue investing during the cost of living crisis
• What are the risks and how can you safeguard yourself
• How you should invest

Should you invest?

People are indeed becoming more cautious around investment, however, Becky O’Connor, head of pensions and savings at Interactive Investor says some are still making regular contributions. However, O’Connor explained that it’s “understandable” that people are more reluctant to part ways with their money and expose it to risk, “given the current outlook for household budgets” that people are “looking to make cutbacks wherever they can.”

As a result, research from Scottish Friendly reveals that investment levels have fallen to their lowest in three years in the second quarter of the year. This figure stands alongside the total value of new adult investment ISA policies, which has dropped 6%.

Explaining the reason for this decline, Simon Phillips, an independent financial adviser and partner at Devon-based Continuum, said: “Cash is not making anything due to inflation, but many people tend to think that if the economy is struggling or the stockmarket is volatile, that they should cut back on stocks and shares and keep money safe in cash.” However, Phillips argues that from a financial point of view, that approach is the “worst thing you can do” because it means you will miss out on investing at “what could be a good time from an equity standpoint.”

Sarah Coles echoes similar sentiments when discussing future savings:: “If you do cut back on saving for the future when money is tight, it’s worth considering when you’ll be able to bump contributions back up. A few months away from a pension isn’t going to make a dramatic difference to your retirement, but if it drags on and you don’t have a plan for beefing payments up again when your finances ease, then you could end up with a horrible surprise in retirement.”

According to the experts, if you have built up a robust emergency fund to ensure that you have security when the hard times come, it could be beneficial for you to explore investment.

What are the risks and how should you safeguard yourself?

One of the main barriers to people diving into the world of investment is that many don’t feel confident exploring that space. For many, there’s the misconception that investment is only for people with lots of money. This perhaps explains why 46% of people don’t feel confident when it comes to investing.

It is certainly true that investment comes with risks. After all, if the stock markets blossom, so will the value of your investment, and vice versa, if the markets crash, your investments could take a hit. Not all investments are created equal though, and some pose more risks than others. According to the experts, government bonds are considered less risky, but will return less profit, meanwhile, shares are riskier, as are trusts and cryptocurrency, the latter of which is becoming increasingly popular, but also incredibly volatile.

When it comes to minimising risk, diversification is an essential component, while Barclays recommends investing globally to get access to a range of economies. It’s also suggested that when thinking about investment, you consider the long-term implications and you only invest funds you don’t need across the next five years. It’s also important that you review your investment portfolio regularly to make sure that you’re meeting your goals and not exposing yourself to risk.

Tips for how you should invest?

When considering investing, it’s important that you put the research in, and make sure you pick the right options for you, your financial situation, and take into account the level of risk you are willing to expose yourself to.

In a cost of living crisis, some recommend that investing in defensive stocks, which include “essential goods and services,” can be a good option, as they often outperform the market, when there are financially difficult times. Likewise, dividend stocks can also generate funds quickly.

Guidance from finance experts also suggests that you should drip-feed your money into investments, which can reportedly help you benefit from pound-cost averaging. It’s also important to note that when the economy looks grim, you are also more likely to be able to buy low-priced stocks.

Tags: cost of living crisis, Economy, investments, savings

How to navigate holiday flights and travel this summer

by Madaline Dunn

As millions of people prepare to jet off for their summer holidays – for some, for the first time in three years- many are troubled by travel anxiety. Strike action at UK airports has been ongoing for some time now, over pay, working conditions and long hours. For these reasons, there has also been an exodus from the sector, leading to staff shortages. On top of these issues, the recent heatwave has added to disruptions, with all-time-high temperatures causing surface defects on runways.

Projections from experts such as Professor Cloke, a Government scientific advisor are also warning that there could be a further heatwave in August, and so it’s wise to prepare for this eventuality when booking upcoming flights. Likewise, while British Airways staff recently announced they had called off their strike after reaching a pay deal, Ryanair staff are set to continue with strike action, as are staff from other airlines.

It can be difficult to know where you stand with regard to compensation and insurance, which can result in a lot of unnecessary stress.

At The Salary Calculator, we’ll walk you through:

• Whether the situation has changed since the UK left the EU
• What happens if your flight is cancelled due to strike action
• Whether or not you’re entitled to compensation if your flight is delayed or cancelled
• Whether you’ll be covered by travel insurance
• What will happen if your flight is cancelled due to the heatwave

Is the situation any different now that the UK has left the European Union?

Prior to Brexit, EU 261/2004 protected the rights of air passengers, and it meant that people could claim compensation for a delayed or a cancelled flight. While the UK is no longer part of the EU, that protection was incorporated into UK law at the end of the Brexit transition period.

This is good news because it means that you’re still protected with regard to flight compensation claims, but now you’ll be paid in UK Pounds rather than Euros.

What happens if your flight is cancelled due to strike action?

Flight cancellations are usually a nightmare to navigate and the last thing you want to encounter when envisioning the expanse of blue sea that awaits you at your holiday destination. However, the good news is that if your flight is cancelled as a result of strike action, legally, your airline is responsible for rerouting you, which could even be with another airline if the airline you booked with is unable to accommodate you. The airline will refund you for the flight cancellation if this option is also not possible.

It’s also important to note that in situations where your cancelled flight is part of a holiday package, you’ll be covered by ATOL. This is a government-backed financial protection scheme that applies to the majority of package holidays. As part of this coverage, if your flight cancellation means you have to locate alternative accommodation, you’ll be covered for this too.

Will you receive compensation?

Under UK law, if you’re due to fly and your flight is cancelled and the airline company you booked with fails to inform you of the cancellation less than 14 days from the date you’re due to fly, you will be entitled to compensation, if the cancellation is the airline’s fault.

That said, if the strike is announced more than two weeks from the date of your holiday and you’re offered an acceptable alternative that doesn’t detract too much from your original flying plans, your entitlement to compensation no longer remains. Adding to this, Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “Equally, if you decide not to travel because you are concerned by strikes, you won’t be covered in this instance either.”

Are you covered by insurance?

Unfortunately, a significant number of insurance policies don’t offer protection in cases of strike action. According to a recent investigation by Which?, four in 10 policies don’t. So, considering the very turbulent nature of travel at the moment, when deciding which insurance provider to choose, it’s important to ensure that they provide as robust coverage as possible.

Likewise, be aware that if, following the news of upcoming strikes, you book travel insurance, you might find that it’s invalidated.

Speaking about this to This is Money, Ceri McMillan, travel expert at GoCompare, ​​said: “It’s so important that you read your policy, so you know what you’re covered for and likewise, buy your policy as soon as you book your holiday as you are more likely to be covered the earlier you bought it.”

What happens if your flight is cancelled due to the heatwave?

Due to the Civil Aviation Authority declaring that the heatwave lies within the category of ‘extraordinary circumstances,’ if a flight is cancelled or delayed due to soaring temperatures, passengers will not be eligible for compensation, which typically works out as up to £500 per person.

Extraordinary circumstances cover situations that airlines deem to be out of their control, and unforseen. Other examples of situations in this category, include: political and civil unrest, security threats, medical emergencies, strikes of airport staff or suppliers, and bird strikes.

Tags: compensation, holiday travel, strikes, Travel insurance