Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
![Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express logo](https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/logo/dr/logo.png)
Sebastian Murphy-Bates
Personal Finance Editor
Sebastian Murphy-Bates is Personal Finance Editor at Express.co.uk.
He previously worked as assistant editor at the Daily Star Online and as a reporter at the MailOnline. Prior to this he was a reporter on the Barking and Dagenham Post in East London. If you think you have a story, you can email him at:
Want to know more about Express.co.uk? Read more About Us.
![gdp live growth economy figures latest gdp live growth economy figures latest](https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/590x/1844825_1.jpg)
GDP: 'Usual suspects' blaming Brexit mocked as France and Germany contract
![dwp payment cost of living new year dwp payment cost of living new year](https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/590x/1844539_1.jpg)
DWP payment of £299 to help millions with cost of living in New Year confirmed
![bitcoin plunge cryptocurrency bull market strong bitcoin plunge cryptocurrency bull market strong](https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/590x/1844632_1.jpg)
Bitcoin plunge barely dents cryptocurrency's bull market as optimism remains strong
![christmas warning tips insurance claims thieves christmas warning tips insurance claims thieves](https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/590x/1844225_1.jpg)
Christmas shoppers warned to follow these tips as insurance claims surged last year
![vodafone ee three o2 loyalty penalties vodafone ee three o2 loyalty penalties](https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/590x/1843066_1.jpg)
Vodafone, EE, Three and O2 face £3bn class action claim over 'loyalty penalties'
![tv licence fee increase confirmed bbc tv licence fee increase confirmed bbc](https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/590x/1841115_1.jpg)
TV licence fee will rise by £10.50 as Lucy Frazer confirms BBC hike next year
![fca financial conduct authority new rules cash atm banks fca financial conduct authority new rules cash atm banks](https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/590x/1842978_1.jpg)
Onslaught of vanishing cash machines and bank closures sparks new FCA demand
![towns villages no bank branches new year list towns villages no bank branches new year list](https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/590x/1842614_1.jpg)
These 30 towns and villages could have no banks in 2024 - see if yours is on list
![mortgage repayments exceeding 35 years record high mortgage repayments exceeding 35 years record high](https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/590x/1842583_1.jpg)
Mortgage sign-ups for repayment plans exceeding 35 years hit record high
![dwp assessment warning pip claimants dwp assessment warning pip claimants](https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/590x/1842515_1.jpg)
DWP assessment warning for PIP claimants and those coming to end of award
![jeremy hunt tax rules simplify demands self employed jeremy hunt tax rules simplify demands self employed](https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/590x/1842505_1.jpg)
Jeremy Hunt urged to simplify tax rules for self-employed as 25% consider going it alone
![british gas free credit energy bills british gas free credit energy bills](https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/590x/1833578_1.jpg)
British Gas offers £1,500 lifeline if you’re struggling to pay soaring energy bills
![christmas spending black friday retail sales christmas spending black friday retail sales](https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/590x/1841843_1.jpg)
Christmas spending slump as even Black Friday only boosts retail sales by 2.7%
![ebay cardboard polystyrene insulate home energy bills ebay cardboard polystyrene insulate home energy bills](https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/590x/1842130_1.jpg)
'I used £1 eBay cardboard and polystyrene to insulate home ahead of energy bills rise'
![service sector grows pub marstons christmas service sector grows pub marstons christmas](https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/590x/1842207_1.jpg)