Services Archives - COOLCURATION

June 1, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Mobbin New Apps (June 2026): Lumy, Hype and AI Refreshes

Last updated: 1 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This post 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 our editorial view.

Tracking Mobbin new apps each month remains one of the quickest ways to see where real product design is actually heading, without trawling the App Store for sport. June's batch is a treat, too. Lumy turns the sunrise into something close to UI poetry, Hype drags fashion culture onto your home screen, and three of the biggest names in tech, ChatGPT, Gemini and Telegram, all turned up wearing the same new outfit.

So grab a coffee, because there is plenty worth stealing this month. If you are new to the platform, start here first: our Mobbin review.

After a Mobbin deal?

The current saving on Mobbin's paid plans always lives on our promo code page.

See the Mobbin promo code

Published by Stiv in Apps, Designers, Services

Tags: app design, ChatGPT, design inspiration, design tools, ElevenLabs, Google Gemini, Hype, iOS apps, Liquid Glass, Lumy, mobbin, Telegram, UI design, ux design, Vocabulary app

May 25, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

How Much Does Grubby Cost? UK Pricing Breakdown 2026

Last updated: 25 May 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

The number one question people ask about Grubby is simple: how much does Grubby cost? The number two question, naturally, is whether it is actually worth it. So here is the full pricing breakdown, the maths we have done on our own weekly spend, and the portion trick that quietly changes the whole value equation.

We have a referral partnership with Grubby. Our opinions and pricing analysis are independent, and we have been paying for and cooking Grubby meals for over a year.

Want money off your first Grubby box?

Before you price anything up, our Grubby discount page keeps the current welcome offer and codes up to date.

Get the Grubby discount

Published by Stiv in Foodie, Money saving, Services, vegan

Tags: food budget UK, grubby, Grubby cost, meal kit pricing, plant-based food, recipe box, vegan food delivery, vegan meal kits

May 10, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Mobbin New Apps (May 2026): Fi, Alan and Afterpay Refresh

Last updated: 10 May 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Tracking Mobbin new apps each month is one of the fastest ways to spot where real product UX is heading without scrolling app stores for sport. May's batch is a proper mix: pet-tech, regulated healthcare with a fluffy mascot, and a high-profile fintech rebrand. In other words, three completely different categories, all worth opening side by side.

If you are new to the platform, start here first: Mobbin review: is it worth it? If you already know you want it and just want the cheaper route, head straight to our Mobbin promo code page.

Published by Stiv in Apps, Designers, Services

Tags: ai ux, brand voice, design research, fintech ux, mobbin, mobbin new apps, pet tech, product design, ui patterns, ux design

May 10, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

How To Read Your Energy Bill UK: 2026 Plain English Guide

Last updated: 10 May 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.

Your energy bill arrives every month. You glance at the total, wince, and close it. Most of us have no clue whether the number is right, whether we're overpaying, or what any of the line items actually mean. So here's how to read energy bill statements properly, in about five minutes flat.

Honestly, we stared at our own bills for nearly three years before any of it clicked. The numbers looked made up. The terminology was designed by people who hate clarity. Once you understand the four or five lines that actually matter, you can immediately tell if you're overpaying, if your tariff is competitive, and whether switching would save you money. This is the guide we wish we'd had back then.

Energy prices, tariffs, and government support schemes change regularly. All figures in this post are verified as of May 2026. Always check your supplier's website or Ofgem for the latest information.

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

Tags: energy bills, energy price cap, how to read energy bill, octopus energy, Ofgem, save money on bills, smart meters, standing charge, switching energy

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 21, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Refurbished Laptops UK 2026: Top Picks and Where to Buy

Last updated: 21 April 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

A brand new MacBook Air costs over £1,000. A refurbished laptop with the same specs, a 12-month warranty, and a 30-day returns policy costs under £750. Same laptop. Same performance. Just without the new-box smell. If you have been wondering whether refurbished laptops UK buyers can actually rely on are any good, the answer is yes. We know because we buy them. Here is how to buy refurbished laptops in the UK without getting burned.

Two of us are typing this on refurbished MacBooks right now. One came from Back Market, the other from the Apple Refurbished Store. Both arrived looking and performing like new. The Back Market one was about 30% cheaper than buying new.

This post contains referral links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the site. As always, our recommendations are based on genuine experience, not commissions.

Published by Stiv in Money saving, Services, Smart Home, Sustainable Living, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: Back Market, laptop buying guide, MacBook Air, refurbished laptops, refurbished MacBook, refurbished tech, sustainable tech, ThinkPad

April 17, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Pet Insurance UK 2026 – Honest Comparison From Real Pet Owners

Last updated: 10 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.

This article is for information only and does not constitute financial advice. Always check the policy terms with the provider before buying.

Finding the best pet insurance UK providers offer is one of those jobs that feels boring right up until your dog swallows a sock and you're staring at a £3,000 surgery bill. We've been there. Between the CoolCuration team, we own cats, dogs, and a collective sense of dread every time one of them does something stupid near a staircase. So we put together this honest comparison of the top UK pet insurance providers for 2026, covering what they actually cost, how claims really work, and which one suits different types of pet owner.

Pet insurance feels like a waste of money right up until the moment you need it. Then it feels like the smartest £30 a month you've ever spent.

The pet insurer we use most

Of the providers here, ManyPets is the one most of the team have ended up with, mainly for the once-a-year excess and quick claims. Check it suits your pet and budget before you buy.

See ManyPets deals

Published by Stiv in Cat Lovers, Dog Lovers, Pets, Services

Tags: best pet insurance uk, cat insurance, Direct Line, dog insurance, lifetime pet insurance, ManyPets, pet insurance, pet insurance comparison, Petplan, Waggel

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

How Does Sprive Make Money? The Business Model Explained (2026)

Last updated: 8 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I have a Nationwide mortgage and have used Sprive to make overpayments since October 2021, over four years of regular use.

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.

Want the sign-up offer?

Should you fancy trying the app while you read, the current welcome bonus and how to claim it are set out on our referral page.

View the Sprive referral offer

If Sprive is completely free to use, how does Sprive make money? It's a fair question, and one worth asking before trusting an app with your bank account and mortgage details. The short answer: Sprive earns from remortgage commissions and a share of gift card cashback revenue. The longer answer is worth reading, because understanding the business model helps you judge whether the app's incentives actually line up with yours.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Mortgage, Services, UK Made

Tags: fintech UK, how apps make money, How does Sprive make money, mortgage overpayment app, Open Banking, personal finance uk, Sprive, Sprive app, Sprive business model, Sprive cashback, Sprive remortgage, Sprive review

April 13, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

How to Get Cashback on Groceries UK: Save £100+ a Year (2026)

Last updated: 8 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.

This article is for information only and does not constitute financial advice. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Rates and terms can change; always check the provider's current terms before acting.

If you want cashback on groceries UK, there are a handful of apps that deliver results. We have been using JamDoughnut, TopCashback, and Sprive for our own weekly food shops for months, and the savings quietly stack up. This is not couponing. This is not switching to own-brand everything. It is simply routing your existing spending through an app that gives you a percentage back.

We ran the numbers on a typical £80 weekly Tesco shop using JamDoughnut and, at a standard rate of around 2%, that works out at roughly £83 back over a year. When rates get "pumped up" (more on that below), it could be closer to £125 or more. For cashback beyond groceries, see our full cashback apps roundup.

Our pick for grocery cashback

Of the three we use, JamDoughnut is the one I like best for the weekly shop, thanks to the widest supermarket list and instant payouts.

Get started with JamDoughnut

Published by Stiv in Apps, Discount, Money, Services

Tags: Aldi, Asda, cashback, gift card cashback, groceries, grocery shopping, JamDoughnut, money saving, mortgage cashback, Sainsbury’s, Sprive, supermarket cashback, Tesco, TopCashback

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