Chris Lilly is a personal finance expert and specialises in helping UK consumers untangle the features and costs of a range of financial products. Having started out with the Press Association, Chris initially joined Finder to focus on credit cards and personal loans.
Expertise
- Loans & credit cards
- Building credit
- Financial health
Experience
- Author of over 500 articles on personal and business finance
- Featured in leading publications including the Metro and Express
- Interviewed key stakeholders in the lending industry, including Klarna’s senior commercial director, Russ Carroll, and Julia McColl, commercial director at Chetwood Financial
Education
- Drawing & Applied Arts | University of the West of England
- Foundation Diploma in Art & Design | Falmouth College of Arts
Featured publications
Industry insights from Chris Lilly
We asked Chris to share some insights on what’s shaking up the world of personal finance.
Are Brits getting savvier about their credit records?
It’s becoming more common to take control of your credit – getting to know what’s in your credit file and tracking your score from month to month. Consumers don’t expect to have to pay for this privilege, and thankfully they don’t have to.
How is Open Banking reshaping consumer lending?
Open Banking means borrowers can connect their bank accounts to finance apps, which can make it easier to demonstrate that they’re responsible with their money and would be able to afford credit. It’s also allowed innovative lenders to proactively suggest cheaper lines of credit which would save consumers money compared with expensive alternatives like overdrafts.
What is the new face of short-term borrowing?
While Wonga and many of its peers were biting the dust, some innovative fintechs started exploring new ways to help consumers bridge financial shortfalls, without it costing an arm and a leg. Salary advance services like Neyber and Salary Finance are looking at unlocking earned wages (so you don’t always have to wait until the end of the month), buy now, pay later services are letting shoppers spread payments, and innovative credit line services like Creditspring help consumers prepare for a rainy day with a more insurance-like approach.
Featured videos
Latest articles by Chris Lilly
617 articles written by this author
Student living costs calculator: Compare cities in the UK
Compare different uni towns and cities with your home town and see the cost of living in each area.
![Student living costs calculator: Compare cities in the UK](https://dvh1deh6tagwk.cloudfront.net/finder-us/wp-uploads/sites/3/2024/08/CreditCardMinimumRepaymentCalculator_Finder_450x250.png)
Credit card minimum repayment calculator
Use our calculator to find out how long it would take to clear your credit card balance by making the minimum required payments vs paying a fixed amount each month.
![Credit card minimum repayment calculator](https://dvh1deh6tagwk.cloudfront.net/finder-us/wp-uploads/sites/3/2024/08/CreditCardMinimumRepaymentCalculator_Finder_450x250.png)
Fixed-rate ISA calculator: Should you switch to a better rate?
Our fixed-rate ISA calculator estimates whether paying the get-out penalty on your ISA is worth it to open a new one at a better rate.
![Fixed-rate ISA calculator: Should you switch to a better rate?](https://www.finder.com/finder-au/wp-uploads/2019/06/article-default_450x250.png)
Pension contribution tax relief calculator
You can use this calculator to find out how much tax on pension contributions you may be able to reclaim from HMRC if your pension scheme uses 'relief at source'.
![Pension contribution tax relief calculator](https://dvh1deh6tagwk.cloudfront.net/finder-us/wp-uploads/sites/3/2024/07/pensioncalculator_Supplied_Pixabay_450x250.png)
American Express interest calculator
Work out how much your Amex is costing you in interest and how long it would take to clear your balance.
![American Express interest calculator](https://www.finder.com/finder-au/wp-uploads/2019/06/article-default_450x250.png)
Best credit cards to use abroad in 2024
Pick a card with 0% foreign fees and save big. We've rated 20+ cards for spending abroad and listed our top 5.
![Best credit cards to use abroad in 2024](https://dvh1deh6tagwk.cloudfront.net/finder-us/wp-uploads/sites/3/2024/05/Best-credit-cards-to-use-abroad-content-feed-image-450x250-1.png)
Cost of living in the UK: Calculator to compare cities
Compare the cost of living in cities around the UK and discover the salary you would need to rent a 1-bedroom flat in each location.
![Cost of living in the UK: Calculator to compare cities](https://www.finder.com/finder-au/wp-uploads/2019/06/article-default_450x250.png)
Tax on savings interest calculator UK
Our personal savings allowance calculator will show you whether you need to pay tax on your savings - and how much.
![Tax on savings interest calculator UK](https://www.finder.com/finder-au/wp-uploads/2019/06/article-default_450x250.png)
Mortgage rate change calculator: How much will my mortgage go up?
Use our mortgage rate change calculator to work out how much your mortgage payments will go up if the interest rate changes.
![Mortgage rate change calculator: How much will my mortgage go up?](https://dvh1deh6tagwk.cloudfront.net/finder-us/wp-uploads/sites/3/2024/04/Mortgage-rate-change-calculator-1.png)
Working from home and hybrid working statistics
Our research found that 38% of Brits work from home at least some of the time. We look at who is working from home and how working from home affects productivity.
![Working from home and hybrid working statistics](https://dvh1deh6tagwk.cloudfront.net/finder-us/wp-uploads/sites/3/2023/07/wfh-statistics-450x250-1.png)