
The column tackles three personal finance dilemmas: why cash‑back rewards aren’t free money, how to split rent fairly when one partner supports a dependent, and whether beneficiaries can be added or changed without informing them. It explains that interchange fees of roughly 2 % fund rewards, pushing costs onto merchants and ultimately consumers. It advises a rent split that reflects income disparity and caregiving responsibilities rather than a strict 50/50 split. Finally, it confirms that beneficiary designations are private and can be updated at any time.

The column addresses three family dilemmas involving adult children who remain dependent on their parents: a 28‑year‑old son with anxiety and erratic employment, a son whose remarriage introduced disruptive step‑children, and a son who has cut off his mother over...

Francis Spufford’s new novel *Nonesuch* reimagines World War II by introducing time‑travel magic into the heart of London’s Blitz. The story follows Iris Hawkins, a lower‑middle‑class secretary, who clashes with aristocratic fascist sympathiser Lady Lalage “Lall” Cunningham, whose scheme aims to...

Romance readers on BookTok are increasingly demanding first‑person narratives, shunning third‑person perspectives. This preference has driven authors to rewrite upcoming titles in first‑person, contributing to a sales boom that has doubled romance revenue since 2020. The trend traces its roots...