Personal finance Archives - Page 2 of 4

May 5, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Mortgage Overpayment Savings: How Much Could You Save? (2026)

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I've been using Sprive with my Nationwide mortgage since October 2021, making £100 monthly overpayments through the app. This post is based on over four years of real use and real numbers.

Most people know they should overpay their mortgage. Almost nobody knows by how much, or what it actually saves them. So we built a free mortgage overpayment calculator to find out. Then we ran our own numbers through it. The mortgage overpayment savings took us by surprise. We've since added a compare-to-savings toggle so you can see whether overpaying or saving the same money comes out ahead at your specific rates.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or mortgage advice. Mortgage products, rates, and overpayment terms vary by lender. Always check your lender's overpayment policy before making extra payments. This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

See your own overpayment savings

Our free calculator shows what your overpayments could save, and whether saving the cash instead would beat them.

Open the overpayment calculator

Published by Stiv in Finance, Money, Money saving, Personal finance, Services

Tags: money saving, mortgage overpayment, mortgage overpayment calculator, mortgage savings, mortgage tips, mortgage vs savings, pay off mortgage early, personal finance, Sprive, uk mortgage

April 29, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Sprive vs Plum vs Chip: Honest Comparison (2026)

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I've been using Sprive with my Nationwide mortgage since October 2021, making £100 monthly overpayments through the app. This comparison is based on over four years of real use alongside Chip and Plum.

Sprive vs Plum vs Chip is the question that keeps coming up whenever anyone in the UK talks about saving money automatically. All three apps promise to do the hard bit for you. But they are not the same thing, and picking the wrong one means you are either missing features you need or paying for ones you do not. Here is how they actually compare after months of using all three.

Between the team, we run all three. Sprive handles mortgage overpayments. Chip is our primary auto-saver. Plum runs alongside Chip so we can see how the two compare in real life. Each has earned its place on someone's home screen, but for very different reasons.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Some apps in this comparison offer investing features, which carry risk including the possible loss of capital. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Sprive's current sign-up offer

If Sprive ends up being your pick of the three, the latest welcome bonus is always on our referral page.

View the current Sprive bonus

Published by Stiv in Apps, Finance, Money saving, Personal finance, Saving

Tags: app comparison, auto-saving apps, Chip, Chip vs Plum, fintech UK, money apps UK, mortgage overpayment, personal finance uk, Plum, savings apps UK, Sprive, Sprive vs Chip

April 26, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Chip App Review UK 2026: 3 Years Tested, Rates, Prize Saver, Fees

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This Chip app review UK draws on three and a half years of my personal daily use, starting 3 November 2022, across auto-save, the Instant Access Saver, Prize Savings, ChipX (briefly) and a Chip Stocks and Shares ISA.

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

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Some features of Chip involve investing, which carries risk including the possible loss of capital. Savings rates can change. Always do your own research or consult a qualified financial adviser. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Fancy trying Chip yourself?

New customers can pick up a £50 cash bonus with a qualifying £5,000 deposit held for 90 days; the current code and full terms are on our Chip referral page.

Get the Chip referral bonus

Cool Factor

★★★★☆

4 out of 5 · Stone cold

My Chip app review UK is grounded in the actual ledger: £174.41 in interest earned, £180 in tax-free prize wins, £0.80 in investment returns, and three and a half years of daily use since November 2022. That is the unvarnished record of what I have personally taken out of Chip across four different account types. Below is what I kept, what I binned, what works, and the one quirk that still mildly irritates me.

Published by Stiv in Apps, Finance, Personal finance, Reviews

Tags: auto-saving, cash ISA, chip app, Chip review, ClearBank, fintech UK, personal finance, Prize Savings Account, reviews, savings apps

April 22, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Apps to Save Money UK 2026: The Ones We Actually Use

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

There are hundreds of money-saving apps in the UK app stores. Most of them are rubbish. The best apps to save money are the ones we've tested over the past few years, narrowed down and kept on our phones because they actually work. No fluff, no apps we downloaded once and forgot about. Just the ones that earned a permanent spot.

Between the team we've got about 12 money apps installed. Half of them we actually use. The other half sit there judging us. We tried about 20 apps before settling on this list. Some were too fiddly. Some had great ideas but terrible execution. A couple were brilliant but shut down. These are the survivors.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Some apps in this list offer savings and investment features. Your capital may be at risk. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Our top money-saving pick

If you only set up one, make it Chip: it is the app that has quietly saved us the most by moving money before we miss it.

Try Chip

Published by Stiv in Apps, Finance, Money saving, Personal finance, Saving

Tags: airtime rewards, auto-saving, budgeting apps, cashback apps, chip app, emma app, JamDoughnut, money saving apps, monzo, personal finance uk, Plum app, saving apps UK, Sprive, TopCashback, TrainPal

April 19, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Monzo Savings Pots Explained: Rates, FSCS Protection and How to Start (2026)

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Monzo savings pots are one of the most useful features in UK banking, and most people still are not using them properly. If you have got a Monzo account and your spare cash is just sitting in the main balance earning nothing, you are leaving money on the table. Monzo savings pots take about 30 seconds to set up and start earning interest immediately. No paperwork. No separate app. Just tap, move money in, and watch it grow.

We have got about six pots running at any given time. Bills pot, holiday pot, emergency fund, a couple of savings pots earning interest, and one labelled "don't touch" that we absolutely do touch. It is one of those features that, once you start using it, you wonder how you ever managed without it.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Savings rates are variable and change frequently, so always verify current rates directly with providers. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Not on Monzo yet?

Sign up through our referral link and a random reward of £5 to £50 arrives once you make your first card payment.

Join Monzo with a bonus

Published by Stiv in Banking, Personal finance, Saving

Tags: cash ISA, FSCS, Instant Access, interest rates, monzo, Monzo Perks, personal finance, savings accounts, Savings pots, Select Access

April 18, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Savings Options for the New Tax Year UK 2026/27

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Every April, we go through the same routine. The ISA allowance resets, savings rates shift, and there is a brief window where everyone actually pays attention to where their money is sitting. The best savings options for the new tax year are worth sorting now, before the motivation fades and another 12 months slip by. Here is what the CoolCuration team is doing with ours this year, along with a look at the platforms and accounts worth considering right now.

This year there is an added urgency. The 2026/27 tax year is the last year under-65s can put the full £20,000 into a cash ISA. From April 2027, cash ISA contributions will be capped at £12,000 for anyone under 65, with the remaining £8,000 needing to go into stocks and shares or other ISA types. So if you have been meaning to top up your cash ISA, this is the final window at the current limit.

Important: this is not financial advice. This article is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this post constitutes a recommendation to open any particular account, invest in any product, or take any specific financial action. Savings rates, ISA rules, and tax treatment can change at any time. CoolCuration is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and cannot advise you on what is right for your circumstances. Always do your own research or speak to a qualified, independent financial adviser before making financial decisions. This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Published by Stiv in ISA, ISAs, Money, Personal finance, Saving

Tags: 2026, cash ISA, chase, Chip, investment ISA, isa, monzo, new tax year, personal savings allowance, Premium Bonds, savings, savings accounts, Trading 212, zopa

April 16, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

When Should You Remortgage UK? Timing, Tips and What to Watch For (2026)

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I've been remortgaging and overpaying my own Nationwide mortgage since October 2021, using Sprive to make £100 monthly overpayments. This guide draws on that real experience alongside verified market data.

Knowing when to remortgage UK is one of the most valuable financial moves you can make as a homeowner. Get it right and you could save thousands over the life of your deal. Get it wrong and you risk haemorrhaging money to your lender's standard variable rate while you scramble to sort a new deal. A surprising number of homeowners either leave it too late or jump too early and pay penalties they did not need to. Several of us on the CoolCuration team have remortgaged in the last couple of years, so this guide draws on real experience alongside verified market data.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Important: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or mortgage advice. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and does not provide regulated mortgage advice. Always consult a qualified mortgage adviser before making decisions about your mortgage. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Sprive welcome offer

Once the new deal is sorted and you turn to overpaying, the latest sign-up bonus is kept up to date on our referral page.

Check the current Sprive bonus

Published by Stiv in Money, Money saving, Mortgage, Personal finance

Tags: fixed rate, homeowner tips, mortgage, mortgage broker, overpayments, personal finance, remortgage, Sprive, SVR, uk finance

April 12, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Monzo vs Starling 2026: Which UK Challenger Bank Is Better?

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

The Monzo vs Starling debate is the one that never dies in UK personal finance. Both are app-first, both are FSCS-protected, and both let you spend abroad without sneaky fees. On paper, they look almost identical. But after using both across our team for years, the differences show up in the daily details. This is not a spec sheet comparison. It is what actually matters when you open both apps every day.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and does not provide personalised financial guidance. This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view. We have no commercial relationship with Starling Bank.

Picking Monzo? Grab the sign-up reward

Join through a referral link and make a card payment within 30 days, and a random £5 to £50 lands in your account; the steps are on our Monzo page.

Get the Monzo mystery reward

Published by Stiv in Apps, Finance, Money, Personal finance, Services

Tags: bank comparison, challenger banks, digital banking, free bank account, monzo, Monzo vs Starling, Starling, uk banking

April 5, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Banking App UK 2026: Which One Should You Use?

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This article is for information only and does not constitute financial advice. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Always check the latest details directly with each provider before opening an account or making any financial decision. If you are unsure, consider speaking to an independent financial adviser.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Finding the best banking app UK in 2026 is genuinely difficult. Every challenger bank promises slick budgeting tools, market-leading rates and cashback on everything. Meanwhile, the traditional banks have finally woken up and started building apps that actually work. So which ones are worth your time, and which are all sizzle and no steak?

We use all five of the banks in this guide as part of a multi-account setup that has evolved over several years of hands-on testing. This is not a surface-level comparison based on press releases. It is a practical breakdown of what each app actually does well, where it falls short and how to combine them for maximum benefit.

Published by Stiv in Banking, Comparison, Comparisons, Personal finance, Services

Tags: banking app UK, best banking app, challenger bank, chase, digital banking, FSCS, Lloyds, mobile banking, monzo, personal finance, UK current account, Zopa Biscuit

March 28, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Monzo Sign Up Bonus: The £100 Boost Has Ended (Now Up to £50)

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

The £100 Monzo sign up bonus boost has ended. During that limited promotion, new customers could land a mystery reward of up to £100, but the offer has now returned to its standard level: a randomly selected reward of up to £50 when you join through a referral link and make your first card payment. Smaller amounts are more common than the £50 top end, so it pays to know what to expect before you sign up.

This article is general information, not financial advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Head to our Monzo referral page for the current live link and full step-by-step instructions.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Personal finance, Services

Tags: bank referral UK, digital banking, free money UK, monzo, Monzo referral, Monzo sign up bonus, personal finance uk