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FTSE 100 tobacco stocks have long been attractive picks for UK share investors. The addictive nature of their products meant that they could bank on resilient revenue generation year after year, whatever the weather. This, allied with their high levels of cash generation, make them generous and reliable dividend payers.

British American Tobacco (LSE: BATS) illustrated this robustness during Covid-19. While total dividends from UK shares fell 44% year-on-year, according to Link Group, this FTSE 100 stock raised the annual payout again. Dividends here have grown at a compound annual growth rate of 7% during the past 10 years.

Pleasingly, City analysts think British American Tobacco will continue to lift shareholder payments, too. They are anticipating rewards of 218.4p and 229.4p per share in 2021 and 2022 respectively. At its current share price of £25.35 per share this means British American Tobacco’s yield sits at a whopping 8.6% for this … Read more

It’s been a dramatic few weeks for THG (LSE: THG), also known as The Hut Group. The share price has slid dramatically, losing almost three quarters of the price at which it floated earlier this year (at the time of writing this article yesterday).

This type of situation can sometimes present a buying opportunity. Below I consider whether the collapse in the THG share price makes this an attractive time to add it to my portfolio.

THG and its problems

There have been several drivers for the falling THG share price. Things basically started with City concerns about the group’s corporate governance structure. The company moved to reassure investors and made some changes, but it seemed the remedy was worse than the illness in some ways. An investor relations presentation perceived as tone deaf was badly received, further hurting sentiment about the shares. On top of that, it … Read more

Christmas is around the corner and I’m on the lookout for some swoon-worthy adult advent calendars. Gone are the days when I had to take it in turns with my brother to eat a chocolate snowman!

These days, advent calendars have upped their game, and I’m on the hunt for the 10 best seriously luxurious adult advent calendars. I’ve picked from of the most gorgeous, beautiful and treat-tastic advent calendars designed for adults.

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On a budget!

I’m a frugal girl at heart. If you’re on a tight budget, then there are still some amazing adult advent calendars to choose from.

• T2 Tea World of Tea (£20) – For tea lovers, this one is fantastic. It contains 24 different teas from around the world including luscious blends like Christmas breakfast tea, green rose and eggnog. 
• Joules Merry and Bright Village Advent Calendar (£35) – If you’re feeling crafty

You probably heard that rent prices in London dropped by as much as 28% in some postcodes earlier this year. The government-enacted coronavirus restrictions were a large factor in this. Still, we were all astonished by the idea of a Covid rental exodus, especially when a series of surveys came out confirming that many city dwellers have either moved out or are planning to do so in the near future. 

What stood out the most during this time of Covid-induced turbulence was that many of the people who were viewing London as less desirable to live in were those aged between 23-29, according to data from Spareroom. The flat-sharing service found that almost a quarter of 23-29 year olds left their rented accommodation during the height of the pandemic to save money after losing their jobs, with most moving back into their family homes. The survey found that a third … Read more

Does the National Living Wage live up to its name?

In the Autumn Budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak increased the UK’s National Living Wage to £9.50 per hour. This is in line with the rate recommended by the Living Wage Foundation for last year. Workers under 23 years of age will be entitled to less.

So, is £9.50 an hour enough to pay your rent? 

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What does the National Living Wage cover?

According to the Living Wage Foundation, the ‘Real Living Wage’ for 2020/2021 was £9.50 per hour and £10.85 in London. It covers everyday needs like the weekly shop or a surprise trip to the dentist. It’s a subsistence wage, meaning that it’s only enough to provide the bare necessities of life. 

The Resolution Foundation calculates these rates annually by looking at living standards and cost of living data. A Minimum Income Standard is set by pricing up a … Read more