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November 16, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Eero Mesh WiFi Review UK: Is It Worth It?

Last updated: 24 March 2026

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

Cool Factor: 4/5 – Stone cold

I used to dread working from home whenever my partner jumped on a video call. Our old router would buckle, the bedroom WiFi would vanish, and streaming anything in 4K was a fantasy. Then I installed an eero mesh WiFi system and everything changed overnight. This eero mesh WiFi review covers exactly what happened, which model suits which household, and whether it deserves the hype in 2026.

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Published by Stiv in Android apps, Apple apps, Apps, Best of Amazon, New home, Reviews, Services, Technology lover
Tags: amazon tech, black friday deals, eero, eero mesh wifi, eero review, home tech, home wifi, mesh wifi, smart home, uk tech reviews, wifi review, wifi routers
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November 14, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

How to Start Investing UK: A Beginner’s Guide for 2026

Last updated: 5 May 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Your savings account probably gives you a forgettable return while inflation slowly chews up the value of your cash. Plenty of us know we should look at the alternatives, yet investing can feel like a locked club where you need a pinstripe suit and a secret handshake to get past the door. So this guide on how to start investing UK-side is here to demystify it.

In this post, we will walk through the difference between saving and investing, explain what a Stocks and Shares ISA actually does, share what has worked for us starting with small amounts, and look at beginner-friendly apps including Freetrade, Lightyear, Robinhood UK, Monzo Investments and J.P. Morgan Personal Investing. Let's get into it.

Important: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. All investing involves risk and your capital is at risk, which means you could get back less than you put in. Always do your own research, read the terms and conditions, and never invest more than you can afford to lose. Some links on this page are referral links. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our opinions remain independent of any affiliate relationship.

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Published by Stiv in Apps, Finance, Investing, Services
Tags: beginner investing guide uk, best investment app uk, coolcuration finance, diy investing uk, freetrade review uk, how to start investing uk, investing uk, investing vs saving uk, jp morgan personal investing, lightyear investing app, Monzo investments, personal finance uk, Robinhood UK, robinhood uk review, start investing UK, start investing with £100, stocks and shares isa, uk investing for beginners
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November 8, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Affinity by Canva Review: Is the New Free Creative App Actually That Good?

Affinity by Canva is Canva’s new all-in-one creative app that combines what used to be Affinity Photo, Designer and Publisher into a single, totally free program in this review we cover off everything from it's features to how it compares to Adobe's staples. It is aimed at people who want Adobe-level tools without paying a monthly subscription and it currently runs on Mac and Windows, with iPad on the way. Canva says this version is free forever and can export straight to Canva, which is a big shift from the old paid Affinity model.  

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Published by Stiv in Apps, Reviews, Services, UK Made
Tags: adobe alternative, affinity by canva review, affinity canva review, affinity design app, affinity photo designer publisher, affinity vs adobe, canva affinity app, canva ai tools, canva for designers, canva free design software, creative software uk, free creative apps, graphic design tools, illustrator alternative free, indesign alternative free, photoshop alternative free
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November 2, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

TrainPal Review UK: Split Tickets, PalPoints and Real Savings

Last updated: 24 March 2026

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

Cool Factor: 4/5 — Stone cold

Welcome to our honest TrainPal review, where we put the app through its paces to find out whether it genuinely saves you money on UK train travel. After months of booking tickets, testing split fares, claiming Delay Repay refunds and earning PalPoints, we're sharing everything we've learned. On top of that, you can get up to £11 off your first ticket using our invite code 57807b9c.

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Published by Stiv in Android apps, Apple apps, Apps, Discount, Reviews, Services, Travel lover
Tags: cheap train tickets, coolcuration reviews, palpoints, save money on trains, split ticketing uk, train apps uk, trainpal app, trainpal card, trainpal discount code, TrainPal referral code, trainpal review, trainpal uk, travel apps uk
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September 28, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Save Thousands on Your Mortgage UK: Practical Tips That Work

Last updated: 23 March 2026

If you want to save thousands on your mortgage in the UK, you don't need a financial planner or a lucky inheritance. You need a handful of practical, repeatable moves that chip away at the interest you're paying every single month. This guide covers the changes that actually move the numbers, from switching to a better rate to automating small overpayments, so you can keep more of your money where it belongs.

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Published by Stiv in Apps, Finance, Money saving, Personal finance, Saving, Services
Tags: best mortgage apps UK, cashback towards mortgage, mortgage comparison tools, mortgage interest savings, mortgage overpayment calculator, mortgage savings, mortgage savings UK, mortgage tips UK, overpayment mortgage UK, pay off mortgage early, save thousands on your mortgage, Sprive app
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August 24, 2024 — Comments are off for this post.

Sonos App Update: What Changed, What’s Fixed, and What’s Next

Last updated: 22 March 2026

The Sonos app update saga has been one of the most dramatic stories in consumer tech over the past two years. What started as a routine redesign in May 2024 spiralled into a full-blown crisis: broken features, a tanking share price, layoffs, and ultimately the departure of CEO Patrick Spence. Fast forward to 2026 and there's a new boss, new hardware, and yet another app overhaul on the horizon. Here's the full story of what went wrong, what's been fixed, and where things stand right now.

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Published by Stiv in Android apps, Apple apps, Apps, Audiophiles, Tech News, Technology lover
Tags: audio gear, multi-room audio, smart home, smart speakers, Sonos, Sonos Ace Headphones, Sonos app, Sonos app changes, Sonos app review, Sonos app update, Sonos Era 100, Sonos Era speaker, Sonos features, Sonos music system, Sonos news, Sonos Play, tech updates, Tom Conrad

July 3, 2024 — Comments are off for this post.

Emma App Review: Is It Worth Paying For?

Emma finance app

Last updated: 22 March 2026

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This Emma app review breaks down what the budgeting app actually delivers for UK users in 2026, from the limited free plan to the paid tiers that unlock the features most people will want. Emma connects your bank accounts, credit cards and investments into a single dashboard using Open Banking, and layers on budgeting tools, subscription tracking and spending insights. It's well-designed, genuinely useful and impressively well-connected to UK financial services. The main gripes? The pricing is steep for a budgeting app, and the constant nudges to upgrade to the Ultimate plan get old fast.

Cool Factor: 4/5

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Published by Stiv in Android apps, Apple apps, Apps, Finance, Investing, Personal finance, Reviews, Saving, Services, Uncategorized
Tags: budgeting apps, budgeting tools, debt tracking, Emma app review, Emma app UK, Emma referral code, expense tracking, financial management, money management, personal finance, subscription tracker
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