The Open University

Ten ways to master your money

1 August 2024

Open University economist and Senior Lecturer Jonquil Lowe is something of a financial guru. She specialises in personal finance and is one of the authors behind the free OpenLearn course Managing My Money. Here she gives the young and old tips on how to master your money. [This story was updated on 1 August 2024 […]

New research finds the biggest predictors of future wealth

11 January 2023

Are you a saver or a spender? Do you plan financially for the future? According to new research, your planning capabilities and attitude towards money are two big drivers when it comes to accumulating wealth. Drawing on data from more than 90,000 UK adults, the paper titled Money attitudes, financial capabilities, and impulsiveness as predictors […]

Honorary degree for David Harrison as first digital Harrison Centre opens

24 October 2022

The graduation ceremony took place at the Harrogate Convention Centre in Yorkshire where MBA alumnus David Harrison received his award. He was nominated for the ‘exceptional contribution’ he has made to highlighting the need to improve public understanding of personal finance – an area of work that is of special educational concern to the OU […]

OU/BBC: The Big Green Money Show returns

12 October 2022

Eco-friendly podcast The Big Green Money Show is back, examining the way some businesses are becoming greener. Presented by Dragons’ Den’s Deborah Meaden, the 11-part OU/BBC series will be tackling questions such as, ‘can capitalism ever be green’ and ‘how to have a greener funeral’ amongst many others. The programme airs weekly on Radio 5 […]

Cost-of-living boost for OU students with chance to win £500 from Santander Universities

3 October 2022

Back for a second year running, the OU is teaming up with Santander Universities to offer 20 lucky students the chance to win £500 cash in a free draw. To enter, students need to be currently enrolled, be based in the UK, and then sign up via Santander’s Becas platform here. Enrolment is open now […]

Five top tips for managing your personal finances during coronavirus

30 July 2020

Jonquil Lowe, Senior Lecturer in Economics and Personal Finance at The Open University, offers advice on how to manage your money through the coronavirus pandemic. When it comes to money, coronavirus has split the nation. Financial stress dominates for many of the 9.5 million employees on furlough, potentially facing unemployment as the scheme unwinds, and […]

Depressed man sitting on bridge in a smart shirt

Stock market crashes linked to higher rates of suicide – new research

17 September 2018

Writing in the wake of the 1929 stock market crash, New York Times columnist Will Rodgers commented that the level of panic was such that it induced a spate of suicide among traders. Although stories of increased rates of suicide in the aftermath of a financial meltdown are deeply ingrained in the folklore of finance, […]

Are you a spender or a saver? Take our quiz to find out

13 September 2018

The 15th of September is Pensions Awareness Day (PAD). This annual event was launched in 2014 by PensionGeeks, an innovative communications company that aims to put fun into pensions – yes, really! As PAD’s double decker bus hits the road to spread the word, Jonquil Lowe, Senior Lecturer in Economics and Personal Finance at the […]

9 ways to avoid a New Year financial hangover

15 December 2017

Top tips from our financial expert, Martin Upton, on how to ensure that after the excess of Christmas spending we start the New Year on a firm financial footing. Tips to turn Christmas into a financial success rather than financial excess! With the festive season now in full swing, and the customary over indulging in food and […]

Why a blockchain startup called Govcoin wants to ‘disrupt’ the UK’s welfare state

27 November 2017

The UK chancellor’s recent Budget reminded us that systemic problems continue to plague the government’s delayed roll-out of universal credit – a single monthly welfare payment that will replace six separate benefits. Philip Hammond also spoke of the UK government’s commitment to innovation, with the chancellor calling for a new tech startup to be founded […]

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