Finance Archives - Page 2 of 6

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 11, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Chip Prize Saver vs Premium Bonds UK 2026: Which Is Actually Better?

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Over 24 million people in the UK hold Premium Bonds, which makes them the nation's most popular savings product. Yet most holders have never weighed up Chip Prize Saver vs Premium Bonds side by side, and the numbers reward a closer look. Around 62% of Premium Bonds holders have never won a single prize, according to AJ Bell. The prize fund rate sits at 3.30% for the June 2026 draw, with each £1 bond facing odds of 23,000 to 1. From the July 2026 draw, however, NS&I lifts the rate to 3.80% and shortens those odds to 22,000 to 1.

Meanwhile, Chip's Prize Savings Account offers an alternative: a prize-draw savings account that claims roughly 3.5 times better odds than Premium Bonds, plus quarterly big prizes reaching £250,000. We are not saying Premium Bonds are bad. Indeed, they are backed by the Treasury and pay tax-free prizes, which is a real advantage. However, if you have not compared them to anything in years, this is worth ten minutes of your time.

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 try the Chip Prize Saver?

Our Chip referral page carries the current new-customer bonus and the sign-up steps, kept up to date.

Open Chip via our referral

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. It is not a recommendation to open, close, or switch any savings or investment product. Always do your own research or consider a qualified financial adviser before making financial decisions. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change. All product details were verified at the time of writing but may change, so always check the provider's website for current terms.

Published by Stiv in Apps, Finance, Money, Money saving, Saving, UK Made

Tags: Chip, Chip Prize Saver, FSCS, NS&I, Premium Bonds, prize draw savings, savings, savings comparison, tax-free savings, UK savings

April 8, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

What Is Investment Risk? A Beginner’s Guide for 2026

What is investment risk UK? Learn the types of risk, how to manage them, and where to start investing with confidence. Beginner-friendly guide.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Money

Tags: beginner investing, investing, investment platforms, investment risk, personal finance, risk management, stocks and shares isa, uk investing

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

Best Mortgage Overpayment Apps UK: Tested and Compared (2026)

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I have a Nationwide mortgage and have been testing mortgage overpayment tools since 2021, including Sprive alongside manual standing orders and savings apps.

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.

After the Sprive bonus?

Sprive leads the comparison below, and the sign-up offer it currently runs is covered on our referral page.

Grab the Sprive offer

Looking for the best mortgage overpayment apps in the UK? Whether you want an app that automates everything, a savings tool that builds your overpayment pot, or a budgeting app that finds spare cash you didn't know you had, there are more options in 2026 than ever. I've tested and compared the main contenders so you can find the right one for how you actually manage money.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Mortgage, Saving, Services

Tags: best mortgage apps UK, cashback apps UK, Chip, chip app, Emma, mortgage apps UK, mortgage overpayment, mortgage overpayment apps UK, mortgage overpayments, Open Banking, pay off mortgage faster, personal finance uk, Plum, Plum app, savings apps, Sprive, Sprive app

March 31, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Dividend Tax Rise 2026 UK: New Rates, Who Pays More and How to Shelter

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or tax advice. Tax rules can change and their effects vary based on individual circumstances. Always do your own research or speak to a qualified tax adviser or accountant before making 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.

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.

From 6 April 2026, UK dividend tax rates are rising by 2 percentage points at the basic and higher rates. If you receive dividends on shares or funds held outside an ISA or pension, your tax bill is going up. Here is what has changed, who is affected, and what you can do about it.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing

Tags: dividend allowance, dividend tax rise 2026, dividend tax UK, investing, stocks and shares isa, tax planning, uk finance

March 30, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Tax Year End Checklist UK: 7 Things to Do Before 5 April 2026

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This checklist covered the 2025/26 tax year, which ended at midnight on 5 April 2026. The deadlines and allowances described below applied to that tax year.

CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or tax advice. Tax rules can change and their effects vary based on individual circumstances. Always do your own research or consult a qualified financial adviser or accountant before making 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.

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.

The 2025/26 tax year ends at midnight on 5 April 2026. Once it does, several valuable allowances and reliefs disappear for good. Whether you are an investor, a saver, a homeowner, or self-employed, there are practical steps worth ticking off before the deadline. This tax year end checklist covers the seven most important ones.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing

Tags: capital gains allowance, ISA deadline, pension tax relief, tax planning, tax year end checklist, tax year end UK, uk finance

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

March 27, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Lightyear Vaults explained: rates, risks and how they work (2026)

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Not financial advice. This article is for information only and does not constitute financial advice. It also 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 have been looking at Lightyear and wondering what Lightyear Vaults actually are, you are not alone. Vaults are one of the platform's standout features, yet the name does not immediately explain what they do. In short, Lightyear Vaults let you earn interest on cash through low-risk money market funds. So, here is a clear guide to how they work, the current rates by currency, the fees, the risks, and how they compare to a savings account.

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 Finance, Investing, Personal finance, Services

Tags: BlackRock MMF, cash ISA, interest on cash, Investing apps UK, Lightyear, Lightyear Vaults, money market funds, savings vs investing

March 27, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

How to Cut Household Bills in the UK: 7 Realistic Ways to Save

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.

The average UK household now spends well over £2,800 a month on bills and living costs. Energy alone accounts for £1,641 a year from April 2026 under the new Ofgem price cap, and that is after a 7% reduction. Council tax is rising again. Broadband providers are quietly adding £3–4 a month to existing contracts. It all adds up fast.

So how do you actually cut household bills in the UK without making your life miserable? This guide covers seven realistic ways to reduce what you pay each month across energy, your mortgage, food shopping, broadband, mobile and more. Every suggestion links to a deeper guide or a tried-and-tested deal on this site, so you can act on each one straight away.

Published by Stiv in Discount, Finance, Guides, Saving

Tags: bills, broadband, energy bills, energy saving, grubby, household bills, meal kits, mobile, money saving, mortgage, octopus energy, Ofgem price cap, referral offers, save money UK, Sprive, UK household

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

Easiest Mortgage Broker UK: 4 Brokers Compared (2026)

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

For context: I hold a Nationwide mortgage myself and have put £100 a month through Sprive since October 2021, so the broker notes below sit on more than four years of hands-on mortgage admin.

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 the Better.co.uk voucher offer?

The £100 Amazon voucher offer from Better.co.uk featured below, and the steps to claim it, live on our refer-a-friend page.

Get the Better.co.uk offer

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

CoolCuration is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and does not provide financial advice. The information below is for general informational purposes only. Always seek advice from an FCA-regulated broker or adviser before making mortgage decisions.

Trying to find the easiest mortgage broker in the UK? I used four different brokers for quotes on the same remortgage and compared them purely on how painless the process was. Spoiler: the rates that came back were almost identical. So if the deals are basically the same, the only thing that really matters is how much of your life gets eaten up by the process. That's even more true right now, as UK mortgage rates have climbed sharply following the Middle East conflict and lenders are repricing fast.

Here's how Habito, Better.co.uk, Sprive and Charles Cameron & Associates stacked up, ranked from smoothest to most old-school.

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

Tags: Better.co.uk, Charles Cameron, ease of use, first-time buyer, Habito, mortgage, mortgage broker, remortgage, Sprive