Al Baker
New York
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New York Police Department, Exec. Director, Media Relations. Thirty year journalist: Philadelphia Inquirer, New York Daily News, Newsday, The New York Times.
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Articles by Al Baker
Behind on your water bill? How to get help with water arrears
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 2nd of November 2026 If a missed water payment has pushed up next month’s instalment, it’s worth asking your supplier to look at two figures. One is what you’re being charged for water and sewerage now. The other is the amount you’re paying towards the bill you fell behind on. In England and Wales, a cheaper tariff can help with the first, while some water companies will also put money towards the second.
Could your Mamia receipt win you a £100 Aldi shopping voucher?
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 2nd of November 2026 If you’ve bought a pack of Mamia nappies or wipes at Aldi in the past seven days, have a look for the receipt. A photo of it could be your entry to the Aldi Mamia New Parent Fund, which gives one shopper a £100 Aldi voucher each week. The bit I’d watch is the entry limit. Aldi picks a winner every seven days, but you only get one entry over the whole promotion.
How Making Tax Digital quarterly updates work for sole traders and landlords
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 2nd of November 2026 Making Tax Digital for Income Tax changes what you do with the records you already keep as a sole trader or landlord. If the rules apply to you, you record your income and expenses digitally and send HMRC a summary through compatible software four times a year. You still file one annual Self Assessment return, and sending a quarterly update doesn’t give you a new tax bill to pay.
Morrisons The Best event takes 25% off with a More Card
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: 2nd of November 2026 Morrisons is taking 25% off hundreds of foods in its The Best and The Best Signature Collection ranges from Monday 2nd to Sunday 8th November 2026. You’ll need a More Card to get the lower prices in store or online. Two sirloin steaks and a pack of beef dripping chips come to £13.95, but some of the more useful buys for a weekly shop are the £3 sausages and the 500ml bottle of olive oil at £5.25 .
Talk Money Week and the Cost of Unused Subscriptions
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 30th of October 2026 A streaming service you signed up to for one programme can still be taking money months after you stopped watching. A new YouGov survey for the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) found that 31% of UK adults have paid for a subscription or service they no longer use.
Energy Debt Relief Scheme Explained and Who Could Get Help
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 30th of October 2026 If you’re still paying off energy bills from the price rises of a few years ago, keeping up with this winter’s bills can feel like running to stand still. Ofgem has announced plans for an Energy Debt Relief Scheme aimed at households with little realistic prospect of clearing that older debt.
Parcel Delivery Complaints Put Evri and Yodel Bottom of Ofcom Rankings
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 30th of October 2026 Waiting for a delivery is frustrating enough without having to chase a missing parcel through an unhelpful complaints system. New Ofcom research puts Evri and Yodel at the bottom of its parcel delivery complaints and contact-satisfaction rankings for the fourth consecutive year.
Do You Need to Tell HMRC About Your Side Hustle Earnings?
By Al Baker | Updated on the 28th of October 2026 A few delivery shifts, selling things you’ve made or doing some gardening at the weekend can help pay for the food shop or cover a bill. But when do those extra earnings need to be reported to HMRC, and does telling the tax office mean you’ll have a bill to pay? Understanding the trading allowance can help you work out what you need to do before worries about tax put you off earning extra money.
Free School Breakfast Clubs: Is Your Child’s School Taking Part?
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 26th of October 2026 Getting children to school and yourself to work can involve a lot of juggling, especially when your working day starts before the school gates open. Paying for a breakfast club or childminder can solve the timing problem, but it adds another regular expense. For some families, being able to drop a child off half an hour earlier without paying could remove part of that bill.
Demand Flexibility Service: Get Rewarded for Changing When You Use Electricity
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 26th of October 2026 Putting the washing machine on when you get home might be part of your usual evening routine. If you could do that wash a little earlier or later, there are energy schemes that may reward you for moving it. You still get the washing done, but the electricity is used at a time that helps take pressure off the network.
The Early Church Fathers on Prayers for Government Rulers
How Early Christian Writers Followed the Apostolic Mandates In the first article of this series we looked at the texts in the NT giving Christians directives to pray for their government leaders and to refrain from speaking against them. It seems that the NT writers wanted the Church to be “at peace” with the government. In this article we are going to look at the expectations of leaders in the second and third centuries: How Christians should respond to their governmental leaders.
Sainsbury’s Healthy Start Top-Up: Get Up to £18
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 21st of October 2026 Fruit for snacks, vegetables for dinner and a few tins of beans or lentils are regular additions to plenty of family shopping baskets. If you already use a Healthy Start card at Sainsbury’s, you may be able to get some extra help paying for them before Christmas. The supermarket’s Healthy Start top-up offers eligible customers £3 a week for six weeks, worth up to £18 altogether.
Tesco Clubcard Points Partners: Earn Rewards at More Than 500 Brands
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 20th of October 2026 If you're already buying trainers, Christmas presents or tickets for a day out, earning something back on those purchases is a welcome bonus. You might normally turn to a cashback website, where you visit a retailer through its link and receive money back on an eligible order. Tesco has now added another option, letting you collect Clubcard points when you shop online with more than 500 brands.
Asda's 7 for £10 Party Food Deal Is Back: Get 84 Pigs in Blankets for £10
Christmas party food is one of those things that's easy to keep adding to the trolley. A box of sausage rolls, some mozzarella sticks and a few mini pizzas don't seem like much individually, but buying enough for a buffet can soon become expensive. If you've got family or friends coming over, a mix-and-match offer can help you put out a decent selection without spending quite so much. Asda's seven-for-£10 frozen party food offer is back, with 37 products to choose from.
Selling Online or Going Self-Employed? When to Register for VAT
This article has been published as part of an advertising collaboration. You might start selling handmade gifts online or taking on freelance work to bring in some extra money, then find the orders growing into a business. That doesn't mean you automatically need to register for VAT, but a UK-established business generally must register when its VAT-taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 over the previous 12 months.
Real Living Wage Rises to £14.10: Could Your Pay Increase?
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 17th of October 2026 An extra 65p an hour might not sound like much when you're looking at the cost of a food shop, but across a working week it can make a useful difference. For someone paid for 37.5 hours a week, it adds up to £24.38 before deductions, or £1,267.50 over a full year.
Christmas Seasonal Jobs 2026: Where to Apply and What You Could Earn
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 17th of October 2026 If you're looking at the cost of Christmas and wondering where the extra money is going to come from, a few weeks of paid work could help cover the food shop, presents or the bills waiting in January. Seasonal recruitment is already under way at M&S, Sainsbury's and Argos.
EDF Customer Support Fund: What Help Can You Get This Winter?
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 15th of October 2026 When you’re already behind on your energy bill, turning the heating on more often can make it harder to see how you’ll catch up. If EDF supplies your home, its Customer Support Fund may be able to help with that existing debt, alongside practical support with essential appliances.
How The UK Tax-Free Childcare System Works
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 15th of October 2026 Booking a holiday club can solve the problem of who’ll look after the children while you’re working, but paying for several days soon adds up. If you qualify for Tax-Free Childcare, a £100 childcare bill could cost you £80, with the government adding the other £20 through your online childcare account. It can help with approved holiday clubs and after-school care as well as nursery bills.
How to Get a £50 Bonus When You Open a Chip Savings Account
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 15th of October 2026 Disclosure: If you join using our link or code and complete the qualifying steps, you can receive a £50 bonus, and The Penny Pincher will also receive a financial reward. If you’ve got £1,000 saved elsewhere and won’t need it for at least 90 days, moving it to another savings account could earn you a little more.
Morrisons Free Kellogg’s Breakfast During School Holidays In 2026
Morrisons has confirmed that families will be able to enjoy a free Kellogg’s breakfast in its cafés during every school holiday in 2026. The nationwide initiative, launched in partnership with Kellogg’s, is designed to support households during school breaks, when food costs often rise, and regular routines disappear.
Amazon Locker Discount: Could Collecting Save You Money?
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 10th of October 2026 Waiting for a parcel can be awkward when you’re at work, doing the school run or simply out when the driver arrives. Having it delivered somewhere you can collect it on your way home could be more convenient, and an Amazon Locker discount might make it cheaper too.
Struggling With Bills and Credit Card Payments? Where to Get Free Help
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 9th of October 2026 Payday arrives, the rent or mortgage goes out, and by the time you’ve covered food, energy and the credit card payment, there’s barely anything left. If you’re struggling with bills, putting another supermarket shop on the card might get you through this week, but it also leaves more to repay next month.
Awaab’s Law for Private Renters: What Could Change in England?
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: The 9th of October 2026 You notice a dark patch spreading around the bedroom window, photograph it and email your landlord, but days turn into weeks without a proper inspection. Private landlords in England already have legal duties to keep homes safe and deal with many repair problems, yet private renters don't currently have the same fixed Awaab’s Law deadlines that apply in social housing.
Carefree Breaks: Hotel Stays for Unpaid Carers for a £38 Fee
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 8th of October 2026 When you spend your days helping someone else with meals, appointments or getting through the night, finding time for yourself can be difficult enough without adding a hotel bill. Carefree breaks can help with that cost, giving eligible unpaid carers access to donated hotel stays for a £38 admin fee.
Fuel Finder: You Can Now Compare Petrol Prices on Google Maps
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 8th of October 2026 Filling up at your usual petrol station is an easy habit to fall into, especially when it’s on the school run or the route to work. But finding a cheaper forecourt a few streets away could leave you with more money for the rest of the week, and Fuel Finder now makes that comparison easier through Google Maps.
Energy Credit Refund: Should You Ask for Your Money Back?
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 7th of October 2026 When you’re watching what leaves your bank account each month, finding a few hundred pounds sitting with your energy supplier can be frustrating. An energy credit refund could put some of that money back in your pocket, but first you need to know whether it’s genuinely more than your account needs.
Making Tax Digital: Will the £30,000 Rule Affect You?
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 6th of October 2026 If you run a small business or rent out a property, you may be used to gathering your figures for one annual Self Assessment tax return. From the 6th of April 2027, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax will bring more sole traders and landlords into a system of digital records and quarterly updates.
Aldi on Deliveroo: Is Grocery Delivery Worth the Extra Cost?
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 6th of October 2026 Running out of milk or discovering you’re missing something for dinner can mean another supermarket trip when you’ve already got plenty to do. Aldi’s new Deliveroo service gives shoppers near eight trial stores another option, with groceries picked up and brought to the door.
Clear! App Review: Is This Receipt Scanning App Worth Using?
Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 6th of October 2026 Once you’ve unpacked the shopping, that till receipt can seem like one more bit of paper to throw away. I keep mine a little longer because uploading it to Clear! earns me a small reward, without having to buy anything extra. It won’t cover the weekly shop, but those few pence can help towards a £5 gift card, especially when you add the app’s surveys and other rewards.
New Wonka Sweets at Tesco: Clubcard Prices and Gift Ideas
By Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated 1st October 2026 This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I spotted the new Wonka sweets and chocolates in Tesco on the 1st of October, and they immediately got me thinking about Christmas gifts.
UK Plans to Scrap Airline Family Seating Fees: What It Means for You
By Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated 2nd October 2026 Published: the 2nd of October 2026. Sources checked: the 1st of October 2026. The announcement has been made, but the start date for the new rights still needs clarification You’ve found flights that fit the family budget, entered everyone’s details and reached the seat map, only to wonder whether you need to pay more to sit beside your child.
Christmas Delivery Slots: Tesco, Morrisons and Waitrose
Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated October 1st 2026 Trying to squeeze a trolley full of Christmas food through a busy supermarket isn’t everyone’s idea of festive fun. Having the turkey, vegetables and party food brought to your door can take one job off your list, but the booking dates arrive long before you’re ready to write the shopping list. If you have a particular day in mind, it’s worth checking now rather than leaving it until December.
Your First Home Scheme: What a 2.5% Deposit Could Mean
By Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last checked: 30th of September 2026. Saving a deposit can be one of the hardest parts of buying your first home, especially when rent and everyday bills leave little spare money each month. The announced Your First Home scheme could reduce the deposit needed by eligible buyers in England to 2.5% of the property price.
You Spot Property: Could That Empty House Earn You £20?
You might walk past the same empty house on the school run or while taking the dog out, wondering why nobody’s done anything with it. Perhaps the garden has grown over the path, the windows are boarded up and the place looks as though it hasn’t been lived in for years. Through You Spot Property, reporting a suitable home could earn you a £20 gift voucher, with a possible larger payment if the company buys it.
Help to Save: How the 50% Government Bonus Really Works
By Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last checked: 30th of September 2026 This guide provides general information, rather than advice about your individual finances or benefit entitlement. Putting money aside isn't easy when the food shop, rent and energy bills have already taken most of your wages. You might manage a tenner one month, only to need it back when the washing machine packs up.
Morrisons New Meal Deal: What’s Included for £3.65?
By Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last checked: the 30th of September 2026. A supermarket meal deal is a familiar lunch option when you want to grab something quickly without spending a fortune. Pick a sandwich or wrap, add a side such as crisps or fruit, choose a drink, and you’ve got lunch sorted for one set price.
Royal Mail Parcel Prices Are Rising: Could You Pay Less Online?
By Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last checked: the 30th of September 2026. Royal Mail parcel prices are going up on the 5th of October, but the amount you pay will still depend on which service you choose and where you buy your postage. For example, sending a small parcel by 2nd Class will cost £4.60 at a Post Office branch, while buying Tracked 48 online will cost £3.75 before collection or any other checkout charges.
Supermarket Loyalty Prices: Are You Actually Saving Money?
By Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last checked: the 30th of September 2026. Supermarket loyalty prices have become a normal part of grocery shopping. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Co-op, Waitrose and other supermarkets now offer selected products at a lower price when you use the relevant loyalty card or account. That has also created plenty of debate about whether those discounts are really as good as they look.
Free Wills Month: How to Get Your Will Written for Free
By Al Baker - Last checked: the 30th of September 2026. Free Wills Month can help you write or update a simple will without paying the usual solicitor’s fee, which is useful if the cost has been putting you off. The campaign is for people aged 55 and over, but you don’t have to wait until that age to look for help, as some charity services are available to younger adults throughout the year.
Uniform tax rebate: could washing your work uniform get you tax back?
Written by Al Baker. Last checked: 29th September 2026. This article provides general information rather than personal financial advice. Rules, rates and eligibility can change, so check the linked official guidance before making a claim. If you have to wear a uniform for work and pay to wash it yourself, you may be able to claim a uniform tax rebate. This is tax relief from HM Revenue & Customs, usually known as HMRC, which collects UK taxes.
Six October Money Dates That Could Affect Your Budget
October is unusually busy for household finances, with changes to energy bills, a tax registration deadline, supermarket promotions and Christmas savings deadlines all landing in the same month. None of these dates means you should spend money simply because a deadline exists, but missing the right one could mean paying more or losing an entitlement you intended to use. This article gives general information rather than personal financial or tax advice.
Is That Sale Really Saving You Money? How To Check An RRP
Seeing a big discount against the recommended retail price, or RRP, in a shop or online can easily make you think you’ve found an absolute bargain, but the RRP is simply the price the manufacturer suggests, and shops don’t have to charge it. In fact, the shop advertising the discount might never have sold the item at that price in the first place.
Tesco, Asda Or Iceland: Which Christmas Saver Gives You More?
Supermarket Christmas savings schemes can add a useful bonus to money you already plan to spend on festive food and household shopping, but the schemes are not interchangeable. Tesco uses Clubcard Christmas Savers, Asda has both a Rewards Christmas Cashpot and a separate Christmas Savings Card, while Iceland’s Bonus Club lets you preload spending money throughout the year.
Out Of Contract? Your Broadband Could Cost £100+ Too Much
Once your broadband contract ends, your bill may increase because your introductory discount has expired. If you don’t notice the change, you could spend months paying more for the same service before realising how much extra it’s costing you. When household budgets are already stretched, that’s money you could put towards other bills.
Could You Miss Up To £300? Winter Fuel Payment Claims Are Open
Winter Fuel Payment is an annual payment that helps older people with winter heating costs, and most eligible people receive it automatically. If you were born on or before the 27th of June 1960 and usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you may qualify for between £100 and £300 this winter. Some people still need to make a Winter Fuel Payment claim, and postal applications are now open, with phone claims starting on the 19th of October. Who can get the Winter Fuel Payment?
Tesco Cadbury Deal: Chocolate From 95p With Clubcard
Tesco has cut selected 100g Cadbury sharing bags from £1.95 to just 95p for Clubcard members, knocking £1 off each bag and taking the price down to better than half price. The Tesco Cadbury deal comes just a week after rival supermarket Sainsbury’s launched its own Cadbury price promotion, reducing a large selection of Cadbury products to 97p, including several of the popular sharing bags alongside other chocolate offers.
Asda Rewards 5p Off Fuel Offer: How to Get the Discount
Asda has brought back its 5p-per-litre fuel offer for Asda Rewards users, meaning you can save money on a fill-up after completing a qualifying grocery shop. Spend £40 or more in one in-store transaction between the 23rd of September and the 14th of October and a 5p-per-litre fuel coupon will be added to your Asda Rewards app. You can then use that coupon once at a participating Asda or Asda Express fuel site until the 31st of October.
TopCashback Review: I’ve Earned £2,738. Here’s My Honest Take
I’ve been using TopCashback since 2018, and my account has now generated £2,738.48 in confirmed cashback across 945 successful transactions. That isn’t an estimate or a figure TopCashback supplied to me. It’s the money recorded in my own account from years of checking for cashback before buying things I was going to buy anyway. It hasn’t all worked perfectly. I’ve also had £350.72 declined across 48 transactions, and that matters because cashback isn’t guaranteed.
McDonald’s Fun Football: Free Football for Kids Aged 5-11
Last updated 10th September 2026 McDonald’s Fun Football: Free Football for Kids Aged 5-11 McDonald’s Fun Football gives children aged 5 to 11 free football coaching sessions across the UK. The current autumn programme is running at more than 400 locations on selected dates until the 25th of October, with one-hour sessions led by qualified coaches. You don’t need to buy anything from McDonald’s to take part, but your child does need a booked place.
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