Financial literacy in the UK is almost non-existent. We’re still taught Pythagoras’ theorem over the money lessons that actually shape our lives.
Up the Gains is here to change that. It’s a safe place to learn about money in plain English, so you can find the ways that work for you and get your finances in order without it feeling like a battle.
My story
I’m Sammie Ellard-King, founder of Up the Gains. In my twenties I built up £24,000 of debt. Clearing it is what got me learning about money, and I realised how little any of us are taught.
During the pandemic, lots of people started wanting to understand their own finances. That’s when Up the Gains was born, around 2020. It grew from there, and in October 2022 I went full-time on it. My background is in business and marketing, which helps when the job is making money easy to understand.
“I want to change the money conversation and empower people to take control of their wallets.”
What Up the Gains does
- 300+ free money guides on this site, covering investing, saving, making money, buying a house, salaries and tax.
- The Money Gains Podcast, with a new episode every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
- Over 1 billion views in 2025 across Up the Gains videos and social channels.
- A weekly newsletter read by 39,843 people, with a 52.4% open rate.
- The Gains App, a UK app for budgeting, seeing all your accounts in one place and earning cashback.
I was also named Best Money Saving Creator of the Year 2026.
Our approach
We talk about money in a candid, accessible way, so you know what you’re reading is honest and actually works. No jargon, no waffle, just the facts.
Nothing on this site is financial advice. Our content is for education, and we encourage you to read widely and take professional advice where you need it.
How this site makes money
The guides are free to read. Some links on the site are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you sign up through them, at no extra cost to you. You can read exactly how we make money and how we keep our writing independent in our editorial policy.
As featured in
- Sky News: Seven tips to make money on Vinted from a finance influencer
- Business Insider: A financial educator shares 3 pieces of advice for investors
- Mirror: I was £24,000 in debt, now I’m a successful business owner after turning my life around
- The Sun: I stashed away £1k for Christmas without noticing thanks to three clever savings tricks
- Metro: How to make the most of your money through savings and investments
- The Times: How to save money using leftover food
- Express: You could save £700 on your energy bills
- Newsweek: Saving money tips
- GoBankingRates: 6 best side hustles for active people
- Daily Mail: Beat the squeeze
- The Stock Dork: Is it time to buy the dip?
- Quidco: Back to school money saving tips
The team
Sammie Ellard-King, Founder and CEO
I lead everything at Up the Gains, from the guides to the podcast. You can connect with me on LinkedIn.
Chris Barnes, Operations
Chris likes riding bikes and smashing Monster cans for fun. He’s the man behind the scenes making the business tick.
Get in touch
If you have a question or a query, we’re always happy to help. Contact us here, or head to the homepage and type your question into the search bar for faster answers.
Up the Gains is a registered company in the UK, company number 13881251.