Please see attached Highlight Report for January.
ENGLISH January 2026 Highlight Report pdfCategory: Finance
Martin Lewis’ credit card warning as 1p could cost ‘as much as £1,000’
Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis has issued a crucial credit card warning
Martin Lewis issued an “important warning” about credit cards(Image: Getty)
A financial expert has issued an “important warning” regarding credit cards, cautioning that disregarding this guidance could see 1p end up costing “as much as £1,000”.
Brits routinely use credit cards. These cards enable you to make purchases or withdraw cash up to a pre-set limit.
Unlike a debit card, they use borrowed funds that must be repaid at a later stage. However, most credit cards charge interest on the borrowed money if you don’t repay an agreed sum each month. Martin Lewis, the founder of Money Saving Expert (MSE), explained how this could catch out many people.
In a video shared on the MSE website, he revealed that an obscure regulation could see 1p end up costing you “as much as £1,000.”
Martin said: “This is an important warning about the way that credit cards work.” To demonstrate his point, he asked viewers to imagine spending £1,000 on a credit card and then repaying £999.99. While you might think that means you only pay interest on the outstanding 1p, that’s not how it works.
Martin added: “Imagine you’ve spent £1,000 on the credit card. If you then pay off the £1,000, so you totally clear it, there is no interest in the month.
“But if you were to pay off £999.99, so you’re just a penny short, you don’t pay interest on a penny for the month, you still pay interest on the entire £1,000.”
This could ultimately cost you considerably more than you originally expected. “This is why for years, my catchphrase has been pay off your credit card in full – the ‘in full’ is important,” he stated.
“I talk about it when it’s a credit card reward, say for getting cash back, or for cheap spending on a credit card abroad, because if you do the in full you neuter the credit card’s ability to charge you interest.”
He added: “If you miss even a penny, it can still charge you a whack.” On the MSE website, it offers further advice on credit cards.
It also warned about missing your monthly minimum payment. MSE said: “Your monthly card statement will tell you the total balance you owe, the minimum repayment you must make and the due date. Missing the minimum payment will result in a late fee and a mark on your credit file for up to six years.
“Yet only making the minimum repayment can keep you in debt for years and even decades. So, if you can, it’s always best to pay as much off as possible.”
For more information on credit cards, visit the MSE website here.
Have your say on the Council’s draft budget proposals for 2026/27 / Dweud eich dweud ar cynigion cyllideb drafft y Cyngor ar gyfer 2026/27 Date: Fri, 16 Jan
The Council’s Cabinet has now approved its draft budget proposals for 2026/27 for consultation. 
COPA News Articles
For your information, here are the latest posts on the COPA website:i. Paying for Careii Virtual reality in Care Homes
GVS Health Social Care & Wellbeing bulletin 03.10.2025
GVS News
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GVS Health Social Care & Wellbeing ebulletin 11.7.2025
GVS News
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We’d love for you to join us for this year’s GVS Annual General Meeting – it’s going to be extra special! The AGM is on Friday 7th November 2025, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at CF61 Centre, Station Road, Llantwit Major CF61 1ST. Read More
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If you are a member of GVS your organisation is entitled to nominate a candidate for election to our Board of Trustees. As stated in our governing document, at least two-thirds of the Board members are to be nominated by the GVS membership. The remainder will be recruited via open competition. Read More
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We are hosting the Big Volunteering Fayre at the Memo Arts Centre, Barry on 28th January 2026. This is a great opportunity for you to promote your opportunities and recruit volunteers to support your organisation. Read More
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