Reviews Archives - Page 14 of 14

June 30, 2024 — Comments are off for this post.

Sonos Ace Review UK: Premium Design, But Is the Sound Worth It?

Last updated: 22 March 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.

This Sonos Ace review covers Sonos's first ever pair of over-ear headphones, a product that launched with sky-high expectations and a price tag to match. At £449 RRP, the Ace dropped into one of the most competitive categories in consumer tech, going head-to-head with the Sony WH-1000XM5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, and Apple AirPods Max. After spending extended time with them, we can say with confidence that the Ace nails some things brilliantly and fumbles others. Here's where they land.

Cool Factor: 3/5

Published by Stiv in Audiophiles, Commuter, Designers, Reviews, Technology lover, Uncategorized

April 4, 2024 — Comments are off for this post.

Is Sprive Any Good? Honest UK Verdict for Homeowners

Last updated: 19 July 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Quick context before the verdict: I pay a Nationwide mortgage myself and have put £100 a month through Sprive since October 2021, so this opinion rests on over four years of actual overpayments rather than a quick trial.

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 and this is not financial advice.

Thinking of trying Sprive?

If you decide to give the app a go, the current sign-up bonus and the steps to claim it are kept up to date on our referral page.

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Is Sprive any good? That is the question most UK homeowners land on after hearing about the mortgage overpayment app for the first time. You have probably seen it on Dragons' Den, spotted it on Trustpilot, or had a friend mention it over a pint. In my experience, for many people with a mortgage who want to overpay but struggle to stay consistent, Sprive does the job well, though whether it suits you depends on your lender support and your habits. It is not magic, it is not going to halve your mortgage overnight, and it is not for everyone. But after using it since October 2021 with my Nationwide mortgage, making regular monthly overpayments, I think it earns its place on your phone. Here is why.

Weighing Sprive up? This is the short verdict. For the full review, the comparisons and every other guide in one place, see our Sprive guides hub.

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

Tags: budgeting, cashback mortgage app, is Sprive worth it, mortgage app UK, mortgage overpayment app, mortgage overpayments, Open Banking, pay off mortgage faster, personal finance apps, Sprive, Sprive review, uk fintech, UK mortgages

December 23, 2020 — Comments are off for this post.

ESG Investing With JPMorgan Personal Investing

Last updated: 10 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: 3/5

ESG investing with JPMorgan Personal Investing gives UK investors a managed, hands-off way to back companies with stronger environmental, social, and governance credentials. I hold several pots on the platform myself, all set to the socially responsible investing (SRI) style at the maximum risk level, so this is a view from real use. The portfolios are transparent and backed by MSCI analytics. But when the platform sits under JPMorgan Chase, named the world's largest financier of fossil fuels, the contradiction is hard to ignore. Here is my take.

This ESG investing JPMorgan review is based on my own pots in the SRI style, plus a close look at the methodology and the wider context, rather than on marketing copy.

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.

Published by Stiv in Android apps, Apple apps, Carbon conscious, Finance, Investing, Personal finance, Reviews, Services, Technology lover

December 15, 2020 — Comments are off for this post.

Airtime Rewards Review UK: Is It Worth It?

Last updated: 10 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.

This Airtime Rewards review covers everything we think you need to know about one of the UK's most effortless cashback apps. Link a card, spend as normal, and watch credit build up towards your phone bill. It sounds almost too simple to be true, but after using it for years we can confirm: it actually works. We also have a referral code that gets you up to a £5 bonus when you join and spend £5 within 7 days.

Cool Factor: 4/5 — Stone cold

Want the Airtime Rewards bonus?

Our referral page has the current code and the steps to claim up to a £5 bonus when you join and spend £5 within 7 days.

Get the Airtime Rewards bonus

Published by Stiv in Android apps, Apple apps, Apps, Reviews, Saving, Student

Tags: airtime rewards, airtime rewards review, android, app, apple, apps, cashback, cashback app, discount, phone bill, referral, saving, savings

December 13, 2020 — Comments are off for this post.

LastSwab Review: Is This Reusable Cotton Bud Worth It?

Last updated: 24 March 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.

Cool Factor: 4/5

This LastSwab review has been a long time coming. At CoolCuration we're big fans of anything that shrinks our carbon footprint, and a reusable cotton bud that replaces up to 1,000 disposable swabs sounded almost too good to be true. Spoiler: it's not. The LastSwab by Danish brand LastObject is one of those quietly brilliant inventions that makes you wonder why we ever settled for the single-use version. Here's how it holds up after extended use.

Published by Stiv in Carbon conscious, Designers, Fashionista, Gift Guide, Green Living, Reviews, Self-care Champion, Travel lover

Tags: design, designer, eco swab, gift, LastObject, LastSwab, LastSwab review, lifestyle, plastic-free bathroom, product, qtip, reusable cotton bud, review, sustainability, sustainable, sustainable bathroom, travel, zero waste