| The way we make and manage our money has changed – and irreversibly so. Banks are quickly disappearing from our high streets and physical cash is going the way of the dodo.
Towns of 100,000 people or more could soon find themselves with no bank and branches will vanish entirely by 2032 at the current rate, Will Kirkman has discovered. As we shift online, the elderly and workers paid in cash are being left behind despite claims from banks.
Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of businesses are being set up from home. Many of those struggling under the strain of the pandemic have found new ways of generating an income.
The Covid crisis has not quashed the British entrepreneur spirit, with almost 800,000 new businesses set up in 2020. From cake baking to candlestick making, boredom during lockdown and a squeeze on wallets has created a new generation of self-starters.
Furloughed workers and the newly redundant have made the most of their misfortune by monetising their lockdown hobbies, Harry Brennan writes.
Others have turned their pets into a source of income. One online "influencer" made 20,000 last year from posting pictures of her pet pig Milo online. A single sponsored post on social media can generate as much as 25,000 for some owners.
For those in need of inspiration, here’s a look at some of the best and easiest ways to make some extra money without stepping out of your front door.
While many have been able to find new streams of income, millions have been struggling to make ends meet without their usual wages.
A record 1.8 million people missed the annual tax return deadline at the end of January – more than ever before. Those who failed to file their forms on time will now face additional interest charges. The tax office has promised late payment fines will be waived as long as returns are submitted by the end of February.
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