Glossary


Browse the glossary using this index

Special | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | ALL

A

Annual income

Annual income is the total amount of money earned by an individual or business over a period of 12 months, typically a calendar year. 


Application form

An application form is a document, either physical or digital, used to collect information from you. For example, opening a bank account, seeking a job or a place on a course.


B

Bank

Banks enable households and businesses to borrow and lend money.


Bank account

A bank account is a place for you to put in and take out money, make payments, transfer money to another person or organisation, and pay bills.


Bank of England

The Bank of England is tasked with maintaining monetary and financial stability. Its core functions include issuing banknotes, regulating banks, and managing monetary policy to keep inflation low and stable. 


Branch office

A branch office is a location, other than the main head office, where business takes place. Typically, this could be a bank on the main street of a town.


Budgeting

A budget is a spending plan for your money. It helps to keep you out of debt to make sure you have enough money to pay bills and living costs.


Building societies

A building society is a financial institution owned by its members, not by external shareholders like banks. This means that anyone who has a savings account with a building society is a member and has certain rights. Building societies focus on serving their members' interests rather than maximising profits. 


C

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice give people the knowledge and confidence they need to find their way forward - whoever they are, and whatever their problem. They are there to help everyone who needs it with practical advice you can really trust, for free.


Clean energy

Clean energy refers to energy sources that produce little to no greenhouse gas emissions or other pollutants during their production and use.


D

Debit card

A debit card is linked to your bank account. When you use your debit card to make purchases, you are spending the money you have in your bank account.


E

Economy

An economy is a complex set of interactions between households, businesses, the Government, banks and other financial institutions.


F

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

The FCCA enables a fair and thriving financial services market, for the good of consumers and the economy.


Financial Ombudsman

The Financial Ombudsman Service is a free and easy-to-use service that settles complaints between consumers and businesses that provide financial services. They resolve disputes fairly and impartially, and have the power to put things right.


Financial fraud

Fraudsters use a variety of tactics to deceive people and steal their identity and money. Tactics used by fraudsters include cash point fraud, cryptocurrency fraud and QR codes for example.


Financial planning

Financial planning is the process of assessing the current financial situation of an individual to identify future financial goals and how to achieve them.


Fossil fuels

Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals over millions of years. They include coal, oil (petroleum), and natural gas. When burned, they release energy and carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change.


G

Goods

Goods are things like mobile phones or ice creams.


H

HMRC

His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. HMRC is responsible for collecting taxes and National Insurance contributions from individuals and businesses.


I

ISA

Individual Savings Account. The key benefit of these accounts is that you do not have to pay tax on the income that you earn on your savings.


Income tax

Income tax is the tax you pay on your income. You may obtain your income from your employment, from letting a property or from self-employment.


Inflation

Inflation measures the changes in the prices of goods and services over time. For most goods and services, prices tend to increase with time.


Interest compounding

When you save money in a savings account, you earn interest on the money you originally deposited and also on the interest that you earn.


Interest rates

The interest rate can also be considered as a price. When taking out a loan, the interest rate is the price of borrowing money. When depositing money into a savings account, the interest rate is the benefit provided by your savings.


Investments

An investment is an asset acquired to generate income or gain value over time.

J

Junior ISA

An Individual Savings Account for those who are under 18. The key benefit of these accounts is that you do not have to pay tax on the income that you earn on your savings.


M

Median

The median is the middle value in a set of numbers that have been arranged in ascending order.


N

National Insurance

You pay National Insurance if you are 16 years or older and you are employed or if you are self-employed. By making National Insurance contributions you qualify for benefits such as the national state pension when you retire.


O

Occupation

A person's regular work or profession, job or any principal activity on which time is spent by a person.


Overdraft

An overdraft allows you to make small purchases when you do not have enough money in your account.


P

Purchasing power

If interest rates are lower than the inflation rate, then over time your money in a savings account will lose value. This happens because, even though your savings will earn interest, the prices of goods and services will increase by a higher amount than the money that you will earn on your savings.


S

Savings account

A savings account is a type of bank account designed for storing money while earning interest. It's a safe place to keep your savings and build up a pot of money over time, separate from your everyday spending.


Services

Services are things like holidays, gym memberships or mobile phone contracts. 


Shopping vouchers

Shopping vouchers, either physical or digital, can be exchanged for goods or services at specific shops or across a range of stores.


Stock market

The stock market is like a giant store where people buy and sell tiny pieces of companies, called "stocks". When you buy a stock, you own a small part of that company. If the company does well, the value of your stock can go up, and you might make money. If it does poorly, the value can go down. People trade stocks to try to earn profits. Prices change based on news, company performance, and investor emotions. It’s a mix of business, economics, and psychology, and it helps companies raise money and investors grow their wealth over time.


Stocks and Shares Junior ISA

The money held in a Stocks and Shares Junior ISA can be invested in a variety of different assets, such as shares of companies like Marks & Spencer or bonds issued by the UK Government.