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Marcus Elliot

Portrait of Marcus Elliot

Facts Deck author

Marcus Elliot

Debt & Lending Writer

Always read the total cost, not the monthly payment.

Debt payoff
Personal loans
Side-hustle tax
Borrowing costs

Articles

8

Total reads

42

Topics

5

Writing since

Sep 2026

Profile

About Marcus

Marcus writes for people who want a clear way out of debt: snowball versus avalanche, which payoff tools are worth using, and where free debt advice is available.

He also covers personal loans and the tax side of side hustles, always showing the total cost rather than just the monthly payment.

Start here

Start here · Marcus’s most-read

How Much Does a £10,000 Loan Actually Cost You? (The Real Number)

£192.86 a month and £237.90 a month look close. On a £10,000 loan, one of them costs £2,702 more overall. We calculated the real total repayable across best, average, and poor-credit rates — the monthly payment isn't the number that matters.

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Articles by Marcus

8 articles · latest September 18, 2026

Personal Finance
How Much Does a £10,000 Loan Actually Cost You? (The Real Number)
£192.86 a month and £237.90 a month look close. On a £10,000 loan, one of them costs £2,702 more overall. We calculated the real total repayable across best, average, and poor-credit rates — the monthly payment isn't the number that matters.
September 18, 2026 · 6 min read
Personal Finance
Best Personal Loans in the UK for 2026 (Compared)
The advertised APR on a personal loan only has to apply to 51% of approved applicants — up to 49% can legally be offered a worse rate. Here's how Tesco Bank, Zopa, Sainsbury's Bank, and M&S Bank actually compare, and how to check your real rate safely.
September 18, 2026 · 7 min read
Personal Finance
Debt Consolidation Loans Explained: Are They Worth It in 2026?
The average UK credit card charges 24.66% APR, the highest in 30+ years. The average consolidation loan charges roughly a third of that. Here's the real, calculated saving — and the secured-loan risk that makes it not automatically the right choice.
September 17, 2026 · 8 min read
Personal Finance
Best Debt Payoff Apps and Calculators in 2026
A debt payoff app's real job is turning "get out of debt" into a specific plan with an actual date attached. Here's how TrySnowball, Undebt.it, and Debt Payoff Planner compare — and when to call a free debt charity instead.
September 16, 2026 · 6 min read
Personal Finance
Snowball vs Avalanche: Which Debt Payoff Method Actually Saves You More?
Same three debts, same £250/month extra, two different orders. We ran the actual month-by-month numbers — avalanche saved £240.69 in interest, snowball finished just one month slower. Here's when each one is actually the right choice.
September 16, 2026 · 7 min read
Personal Finance
Side Hustle Tax Guide UK 2026: What HMRC Actually Wants You to Know
Vinted, eBay, and Airbnb have reported seller data to HMRC since 2024 — but being reported and owing tax are two different things. Here's the actual £1,000 trading allowance rule, when to register, and the Making Tax Digital change arriving in April 2026.
September 14, 2026 · 8 min read
Investing
Investment Calculator: Grow Your Wealth Faster
Most people underestimate both what they need to retire and how powerfully consistent investing can get them there. This guide shows you how to use an investment calculator to make compounding visible — and use it to your advantage.
September 7, 2026 · 6 min read
Personal Finance
Loan Calculator Guide: Avoid Overpaying
Most borrowers focus on monthly payments and end up paying thousands more than they should. This guide shows you how to use a loan calculator to see the full cost of any loan — and what to do about it.
September 7, 2026 · 6 min read

Coverage

Beat map

Where Marcus’s articles land, by category.

Personal Finance8
Comparison3
Decision Making3
Guides3
Investing1

Editorial standards

How we write

1ResearchedWe lean on primary sources wherever we can: official rules, published rates and government data.
2Drafted with AI assistanceWe use AI tools to help research and draft articles. They speed us up. They don’t get the final say.
3Checked and editedThe Facts Deck team fact-checks and edits every article before it’s published.

Author profiles describe each writer’s coverage area. Spotted an error? Tell us and we’ll review it. Facts Deck is for education, not personal financial advice. Read the disclaimer.

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