Personal finance Archives - Page 3 of 4

March 15, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Cheapest Investment App UK (2026) – FX Fees Compared

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Foreign exchange fees quietly eat into your returns whenever you buy US or European shares from the UK. So which is the cheapest investment app in 2026, and how do the headline rates actually stack up today? Because the market has moved fast this year, we have rechecked every FX fee, plan price and cash interest rate against each provider's own pricing pages.

Below, we compare the costs and the day-to-day app experience across Lightyear, Robinhood, Trading 212, Freetrade, Monzo and J.P. Morgan Personal Investing. We also share which apps we actually enjoy using.

Affiliate disclosure: 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.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. This is not financial advice, so always do your own research or consider a qualified financial adviser before investing.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Personal finance

Tags: Freetrade, FX fees, investing, investment apps, isa, Lightyear, monzo, Trading 212, uk investing

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

Biscuit Bank Account Review 2026: Is It Worth It?

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

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

Cool Factor: 4/5

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.

Thinking of opening Biscuit?

The refer-a-friend bonus has ended, but our Zopa Biscuit referral page always carries whatever offer is currently running, plus the sign-up steps.

Open a Zopa Biscuit account

This Biscuit bank account review takes a look at Zopa's free current account after months of real-world use. With 2% interest on balances, 2% cashback on bills and access to one of the UK's best regular savers at 7.10% AER, it promises a lot for a no-fee account. But does it actually deliver? We break down what works, what falls short and whether it deserves a spot on your phone in 2026.

Published by Stiv in Android apps, Apple apps, Apps, Finance, Personal finance, Reviews

Tags: biscuit bank account, biscuit bank account review, biscuit bank account review 2025, cashback account, coolcuration, current account, digital banking, fintech, FSCS, high interest savings, mobile banking, personal finance, referral bonus, regular saver, uk banking, uk money apps, zopa, zopa bank, zopa bank review

October 9, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Monzo vs Biscuit Bank Account: Which Is Best in 2026?

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

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.

Leaning towards Monzo?

New customers who join through a referral link can land a random reward of £5 to £50, and we keep the live offer details on our Monzo referral page.

See the Monzo referral offer

If you are weighing up Monzo vs Biscuit for your everyday banking in 2026, the answer depends on what you actually want from your bank account. One pays interest and cashback on a free account. The other gives you some of the best budgeting tools in UK fintech. Both are app-only, both are FSCS-protected, and both let you spend abroad without fees.

In this comparison, we break down how Monzo and Zopa's Biscuit bank account stack up across savings rates, cashback, features, travel perks, and sign-up offers, so you can decide which one deserves your direct debits.

Published by Stiv in Android apps, Apple apps, Apps, Finance, Personal finance, Reviews, Saving, Services

Tags: app review, bank comparison, biscuit bank, coolcuration, digital bank, fintech, monzo, monzo vs biscuit, personal finance, savings account, uk banking, zopa, zopa bank

October 8, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

What Is Sprive, and How Does the App Work? (UK Guide 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. This guide is based on the actual setup process and over four years of daily use.

If you're trying to figure out what Sprive is and how the Sprive app works, you're probably weighing up whether it's worth the setup effort or whether you'll download it and never open it again. This guide covers the mechanics only: what you do in the app, what happens next, and what to check so you don't accidentally trip over your lender's overpayment rules.

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 is information, not financial advice, and CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Just here for the sign-up bonus?

The current Sprive offer and the steps to claim it are always kept up to date on our referral page.

Get the Sprive sign-up bonus

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Personal finance, Saving, Services

Tags: cashback apps, cool curation, finance app, how Sprive app works, mortgage helper, mortgage overpayment, mortgage saving, Open Banking apps UK, pay off mortgage faster, personal finance uk, referral app, smart money apps, Sprive app, uk money tools

September 28, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Save Thousands on Your Mortgage UK: Practical Tips That Work (2026)

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I've had a Nationwide mortgage since 2021 and have been making regular overpayments using Sprive and manual standing orders throughout that time. These are approaches I use myself.

Disclosure: 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 financial advice. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. This article is for information only. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Consider consulting a qualified mortgage adviser before making changes to your repayment plan.

Start with a sign-up bonus

If the automated overpayment route appeals, the current Sprive welcome offer and the claim steps sit on our referral page.

Get the Sprive bonus

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.

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

September 21, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Taxfix Review UK: Is It Worth It for Self Assessment?

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

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.

If you are looking for an honest Taxfix review UK, you are in the right place. Taxfix (formerly TaxScouts) is an online tax service that pairs you with an accredited accountant to file your Self Assessment. No jargon, no HMRC rabbit holes, no trips to an office. You answer a handful of questions, upload your documents and let someone qualified handle the rest.

We have used the service ourselves and followed its evolution from TaxScouts to Taxfix. Below is our full verdict, including what works, what could be better and whether the price is justified.

Cool Factor: 4/5

Thinking of trying Taxfix?

The latest new-customer offer and how to claim it are kept up to date on our referral page.

See the latest Taxfix offer

Published by Stiv in Discount, Finance, Personal finance, Services

Tags: online tax return UK, self assessment uk, tax filing service UK, TaxFix coupon code, TaxFix discount code, TaxFix promo code, TaxFix referral code, taxfix review, TaxFix review UK, TaxFix self assessment UK, TaxFix Trustpilot reviews, Taxfix UK, Taxfix worth it, TaxScouts review, UK tax filing service

September 3, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Savings Account UK 2026: Top Picks Compared

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Affiliate disclosure: 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 savings account UK savers can open right now is harder than it sounds. Rates have settled after the highs of 2024, but with the Bank of England base rate sitting at 3.75% (held 30 April 2026; next decision 18 June 2026), there are still rewarding options out there if you know where to look. The trick is matching the right account type to how you actually save.

Below, we compare the top easy-access accounts, regular savers and fixed-rate bonds available in June 2026, highlight the referral bonuses that can sweeten the deal, and explain what to watch out for before you move your money.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Personal finance, Saving, Services

Tags: 2025 savings rates, best savings account uk, cash ISA, Chase saver, chip app, chip savings, easy access savings, FSCS, instant access saver, prize saver, regular saver, savings rates 2026, uk savings accounts, Zopa Biscuit

June 4, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Stock Events App Review: A Portfolio Tracker Worth Your Time?

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

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

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

This Stock Events app review covers everything we like (and a few things we do not) about one of the highest-rated portfolio trackers on both app stores. Stock Events promises a clean, ad-free way to monitor your stocks, dividends, earnings, and more from a single screen. After spending time with it, here is our honest take on whether it delivers.

Cool Factor: 4/5

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Personal finance, Reviews, Services

Tags: app review, best portfolio tracker app, chip app review, dividend tracker, dividend tracking app, Freetrade review, Investing apps UK, investment apps, lightyear review, nutmeg review, portfolio management apps, portfolio tracker, Stock Events, stock events app review, stock events review, stock market, stock watchlist app

January 1, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

How to Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster (UK): 7 Moves That Save Thousands

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is the strategy I follow myself. I've been overpaying my Nationwide mortgage since October 2021, using a combination of Sprive's auto-save feature and tracking the impact over time. This is based on over four years of real use.

If you want to pay off your mortgage faster in the UK, you don't need extreme budgeting or a "one weird trick". You need a clear plan that focuses on the biggest levers: interest rate, consistency, and avoiding fees. This page is the master strategy guide. It shows you what to do, in what order, and what to check so you don't accidentally trigger Early Repayment Charges.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

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 is information, not financial advice, and CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Grab the Sprive welcome bonus

If Sprive ends up being part of your plan, the latest sign-up offer and how to claim it live on our referral page.

See the current Sprive offer

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

Tags: cashback apps UK, compound interest savings, home finance UK, how to pay off mortgage faster, mortgage calculator, mortgage overpayments, mortgage repayment, pay off mortgage faster, Sprive app, Sprive review, UK mortgage tips

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

Emma App Review: Is It Worth Paying For?

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

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.

Want to test Emma properly?

Our referral link stretches the standard 7-day trial to a full 30 days on any premium plan.

Start a 30-day Emma trial

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 is well-designed, 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

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