Charlie Weston
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charlieweston.bsky.social
Charlie Weston
@charlieweston.bsky.social
490 followers 27 following 560 posts
Irish Independent personal finance editor. Regular on TodayFM’s ‘The Last Word'. Campaigning journalist of the year for breaking tracker mortgage scandal story.
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charlieweston.bsky.social
Your money questions – I work on a contract basis. What can we do to stop mortgage lender rejections?
m.independent.ie/business/mon...
Your money questions – I work on a contract basis. What can we do to stop mortgage lender rejections?
Q I am struggling to get a mortgage to buy my first home. I work in IT on a contract basis, earning a steady income for the past seven or eight years.
m.independent.ie
December 6, 2025 at 8:30 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Remote working still a key consideration for first-time buyers
m.independent.ie/business/per...
Remote working still a key consideration for first-time buyers
Remote working continues to be a big factor for new buyers of homes, despite a clampdown by a number of companies trying to force employees to attend offices more often.
m.independent.ie
December 4, 2025 at 7:41 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Government scrapped energy credits despite officials warning of spike in arrears as bills soared
Officials warned that without supports households would be hit by an extra €321 in electricity costs
m.independent.ie/irish-news/g...
Government scrapped energy credits despite officials warning of spike in arrears as bills soared
There was a strong case for paying energy credits in Budget 2026 because electricity and gas prices were rising for the first time in years, officials in the Department of Energy argued.
m.independent.ie
December 3, 2025 at 6:56 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
One in four have yet to spend vouchers from last Christmas
m.independent.ie/business/mon...
One in four have yet to spend vouchers from last Christmas
Almost one in four consumers have yet to spend gift vouchers that they got last Christmas.
m.independent.ie
December 2, 2025 at 5:03 PM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Government to exempt itself from having to sign up its own low-paid staff to auto-enrolment pension plan
Workers with defined benefit (DB) pensions will be treated separately under My Future Fund scheme
m.independent.ie/business/mon...
Government to exempt itself from having to sign up its own low-paid staff to auto-enrolment pension plan
The Government will avoid the embarrassment of having to sign up thousands of its own staff to the new auto-enrolment pension scheme.
m.independent.ie
December 2, 2025 at 6:56 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
More people taking out health insurance despite recent rises
Cost of an average premium up by €56 since just the second quarter
m.independent.ie/irish-news/m...
More people taking out health insurance despite recent rises
There has been a rise in the number of people with health insurance cover despite a raft of price rises.
m.independent.ie
December 2, 2025 at 6:54 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Inflation shoots above 3pc for the first time since 2023
www.independent.ie/business/mon...
Inflation shoots above 3pc for the first time since 2023
The annual rate of inflation has spiked above 3pc in Ireland for the first time in two years.
www.independent.ie
December 1, 2025 at 11:35 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Carbon tax blamed as petrol and diesel prices rise again at the pumps
m.independent.ie/business/mon...
Carbon tax blamed as petrol and diesel prices rise again at the pumps
Petrol and diesel prices have gone up again, with the imposition of carbon tax in October’s budget being blamed for the rise.
m.independent.ie
December 1, 2025 at 6:59 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Analysis: Why health insurer’s levy complaint could have huge implications for older people
m.independent.ie/irish-news/c...
Charlie Weston: Why health insurer’s levy complaint could have huge implications for older people
A move by new insurance provider Level Health to challenge a key rule around health insurance provision could have huge implications for older people and those with complex health conditions.
m.independent.ie
November 29, 2025 at 8:19 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Breaking | New blow for health insurance customers as Irish Life to again hike premiums
www.independent.ie/business/mon...
New blow for health insurance customers as Irish Life to again hike premiums
Health insurance customers are being hit with a new price rise at a time when more than one million policyholders are about to renew their cover.
www.independent.ie
November 28, 2025 at 11:04 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Online fraud alert after man loses thousands of euro in scam by ‘ghost’ travel agent
m.independent.ie/irish-news/o...
Online fraud alert after man loses thousands of euro in scam by ‘ghost’ travel agent
A man lost €11,000 when he booked a holiday to France via a ghost travel agency that disappeared days after he made the payment.
m.independent.ie
November 28, 2025 at 8:44 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Cost-of-living pressures forcing families to take out loans this Christmas, while others are cutting back on spend
The Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index shows almost 10pc will borrow money this year to fund festivities
m.independent.ie/business/mon...
Cost-of-living pressures forcing families to take out loans this Christmas, while others are cutting back on spend
A majority of consumers expect to have less money to spend this Christmas and half plan to cut back on gifts and entertainment.
m.independent.ie
November 28, 2025 at 6:55 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Bank of Ireland’s new ‘Trading Down’ loan will encourage older people to move to smaller homes
m.independent.ie/business/mon...
Bank of Ireland’s new ‘Trading Down’ loan will encourage older people to move to smaller homes
Bank of Ireland (BoI) will pilot a new loan product allowing people to trade down to a smaller home.
m.independent.ie
November 27, 2025 at 6:56 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Mortgage demand drives credit union lending to a record high
Sector has seen a 28pc surge in mortgage lending
m.independent.ie/business/mon...
Mortgage demand drives credit union lending to a record high
Demand for mortgages has pushed overall lending at the State’s credit unions to a record level. The sector has seen a 28pc surge in mortgage lending in the year to September when compared with last ye...
m.independent.ie
November 26, 2025 at 6:53 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
New plan to allow customers to cancel mobile and broadband contracts penalty free if providers hike prices
m.independent.ie/irish-news/n...
New plan to allow customers to cancel mobile and broadband contracts penalty free if providers hike prices
Automatic broadband, mobile or TV price hikes may become a thing of the past as the Government gets ready to introduce a law that would allow people to cancel their contracts if prices go up.
m.independent.ie
November 25, 2025 at 6:55 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Woman who claimed PTSD after car rear-ended in ‘relatively minor’ incident is awarded €90,000
www.independent.ie/irish-news/c...
Woman who claimed PTSD after car rear-ended in ‘relatively minor’ incident is awarded €90,000
A woman who claimed she suffered post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of a rear-ending car collision has been awarded €90,000 by the High Court.
www.independent.ie
November 24, 2025 at 5:08 PM
charlieweston.bsky.social
New ‘access to cash’ law means banks must put ATMs within 10km of most homes and businesses
www.independent.ie/business/mon...
New ‘access to cash’ law means banks must put ATMs within 10km of most homes and businesses
Banks will be forced to ensure the majority of homes and businesses have an ATM machine located close to them under a new law that is to come into force this week.
www.independent.ie
November 24, 2025 at 10:56 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Thousands overcharged on Ulster Bank mortgages yet to receive refunds
m.independent.ie/business/per...
Thousands overcharged on Ulster Bank mortgages yet to receive refunds
Thousands of people who were overcharged when their mortgages were with Ulster Bank have yet to receive refunds.
m.independent.ie
November 24, 2025 at 6:57 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Home-heating oil prices shoot up just as cold snap hits the country
m.independent.ie/business/mon...
Home-heating oil prices shoot up just as cold snap hits the country
The cost of home-heating oil has spiked just as the country is being hit by a cold snap.
m.independent.ie
November 24, 2025 at 6:56 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Your money questions – ‘Is there a tax-free way I can fund my grandson’s fees for attending a private school?’
Plus, what’s the best way to invest €100,000
m.independent.ie/business/mon...
Your money questions – ‘Is there a tax-free way I can fund my grandson’s fees for attending a private school?’
Q My grandson is starting private secondary school in September 2026. I would like to finance his fees. I am in my late 70s and would like to put monies in a fund for him. Is there a tax-free way of d...
m.independent.ie
November 22, 2025 at 10:01 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Online shoppers warned about taxes and duties if buying from outside EU for Black Friday
m.independent.ie/business/mon...
Online shoppers warned about taxes and duties if buying from outside EU for Black Friday
Revenue has warned online shoppers ahead of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales to check that the price of goods they are planning to buy includes taxes and duties.
m.independent.ie
November 21, 2025 at 10:08 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Slight rise in number of single people getting a mortgage, banks confirm
However, sole borrower levels are well below those seen during mid-2000s
m.independent.ie/business/mon...
Slight rise in number of single people getting a mortgage, banks confirm
Sole borrowers now account for one in 10 mortgage drawdowns by first-time buyers.
m.independent.ie
November 21, 2025 at 6:55 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Rush to clamp down on firms attempting to undermine My Future Fund auto-enrolment pension
Some companies trying to force staff to join subpar in-house pension schemes
m.independent.ie/irish-news/r...
Rush to clamp down on firms attempting to undermine My Future Fund auto-enrolment pension
The Government is being forced to bring in emergency regulations to stop companies attempting to subvert the new auto-enrolment pension.
m.independent.ie
November 20, 2025 at 6:59 AM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Spike in number of households in long-term energy arrears
www.independent.ie/business/mon...
Spike in number of households in long-term energy arrears
There has been a jump in the numbers of households who are more than three months behind on their electricity and gas bills.
www.independent.ie
November 19, 2025 at 2:38 PM
charlieweston.bsky.social
Property prices surge another 7.6pc, putting huge pressure on buyers
www.independent.ie/business/mon...
Property prices surge another 7.6pc, putting huge pressure on buyers
Property prices have continued to surge, locking more buyers out of the market.
www.independent.ie
November 19, 2025 at 11:26 AM