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

Mortgage Overpayment UK: How It Works, Limits and How to Save (2026)

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

We have been overpaying our own mortgage since 2020 and have used both manual standing orders and apps like Sprive to stay consistent. The advice in this guide reflects what we actually do, not theory.

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.

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

Sprive sign-up bonus

If an app would help you stay consistent, our referral page always carries the latest Sprive offer and how to claim it.

Claim the current Sprive offer

Mortgage overpayment is one of the simplest ways to reduce the total interest you pay on your UK home loan. Done correctly, it can shave years off your term and save you thousands. Done badly, it can trigger fees that wipe out the benefit entirely. This is a practical, UK-specific guide to mortgage overpayment: what it is, how it works, what to check, and how to use it safely.

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Published by Stiv in Finance, Saving, Services
Tags: best mortgage rates uk, Early Repayment Charges, investing vs overpaying mortgage uk, mortgage free faster, mortgage overpayment calculator, mortgage overpayment calculator uk, mortgage overpayment uk, overpayment mortgage UK, pay off mortgage early uk, sprive app uk
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February 5, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Is Sprive Safe? UK Security, FCA Status and Your Money (2026)

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I've had Sprive connected to my Nationwide bank account and mortgage since October 2021. Everything in this guide is informed by over four years of using the app with my own money.

Connecting a new app to your bank account and mortgage feels risky. I had the same reaction the first time I looked at Sprive: "wait, you want access to my bank so you can pay off my mortgage faster?" It sounded clever but also slightly terrifying. So before trusting it with my own accounts, I did a proper deep-dive into whether Sprive is safe, covering everything from FCA regulation and Open Banking security to how your money is actually held. Here's what I found.

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. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and does not give financial advice.

Already convinced and just want the bonus?

The live Sprive sign-up offer and the claiming steps are on our referral page.

See the current Sprive offer

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

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Published by Stiv in Finance, Reviews, Saving, Services
Tags: best mortgage apps UK, How does Sprive make money, How does Sprive work, Is Sprive legit, Is Sprive safe, mortgage overpayment app, Open Banking apps UK, pay off mortgage faster, Sprive app, Sprive app review UK, Sprive cashback, Sprive FCA, sprive referral code, Sprive review, Sprive vs standing order, UK fintech review

February 2, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Lightyear review UK (2026): honest pros, cons and fees

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an independent opinion piece based on my own testing of the Lightyear app and current market research. Views expressed are my own and do not constitute professional or financial advice.

Cool Factor: 4/5 (Stone cold)

In this independent Lightyear review UK, I take a proper look at one of the most talked-about investing apps in Britain right now. Lightyear has spent the past year cutting costs hard, so UK personal accounts now get free share and ETF dealing and a flat 0.1% FX fee. As a result, it sits firmly among the cheapest platforms available to UK investors today.

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.

Want the Lightyear sign-up offer?

The current new-customer offer and full terms are always kept up to date on our Lightyear referral page.

See the latest Lightyear offer

Throughout this Lightyear review UK, I cover what Lightyear is, what you can invest in, fees, ISAs, Vaults, pros and cons, and how it compares to Freetrade, Trading 212, AJ Bell Dodl, Moneybox and Finimize. So, if you want a no-nonsense view before opening an account, read on. If you only want the sign-up offer and terms, head to our Lightyear referral page instead.

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Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Reviews, Saving, Services, UK Made
Tags: cash ISA, ETF investing, Freetrade alternative, FX fees, Investing apps UK, investing for beginners, Lightyear, lightyear review, money market funds, stocks and shares isa, Vaults
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January 2, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Last Minute Tax Return UK – How to File Fast and Avoid Fines

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.

If you're rushing to file a last minute tax return in the UK, you're far from alone. According to HMRC, 475,722 people filed on the very last day of the January 2026 deadline. Whether you've been putting it off, waiting on missing paperwork, or only just realised you need to file, this guide walks you through how to get your self assessment sorted quickly and avoid penalties that stack up fast.

Need your return filed fast?

The latest TaxFix new-customer discount is on our referral page, ready when you are.

Get the TaxFix offer

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Published by Stiv in Finance, Saving, Services, UK Made
Tags: file online tax return uk, file tax return online UK, HMRC tax deadline, hmrc tax return help, last minute tax filing, last minute tax return, self assessment uk, tax deadline uk, tax return penalties, TaxFix referral, taxfix review
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December 7, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Farewill Review 2026: Best Online Will Writing Service UK?

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.

Cool Factor: 4/5 — Stone cold

If you're reading this Farewill review, you've probably hit that stage of adulting where you've accepted two awkward truths. First, you are — unfortunately — mortal. Second, you'd quite like to decide who gets your things instead of leaving it up to chance or your cousin who still owes you £40.

Farewill is the UK's biggest online will writer, with over 20,000 Trustpilot reviews and a 4.9-star rating. So let's dig into whether it lives up to the hype, whether it's genuinely legit, and whether you should use it over a solicitor.

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Published by Stiv in Discount, Finance, Reviews, Self-care Champion, Services, UK Made
Tags: best online wills UK, end of life planning, Farewill discount, Farewill review, Farewill vs solicitors, is Farewill legit, online will writing UK, probate services UK, will writing services
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December 3, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

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.

Filing your end of year tax return in the UK can feel overwhelming, but getting it done early saves you stress, money, and a potential run-in with HMRC. Whether you need to report self-employment income, a side hustle, rental earnings, or investment gains, this guide walks you through every deadline, explains how to file, and shows you how to save 35% on your return with TaxFix.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial or tax advice. Always check official guidance on GOV.UK or speak to a qualified accountant.

Filing this year's return with TaxFix?

Our referral page always carries the current new-customer saving and the steps to use it.

Claim the TaxFix saving

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Published by Stiv in Finance, Services
Tags: coolcuration, end of year tax return, fast tax return, hmrc tax deadlines, january tax deadline, online tax filing, self assessment uk, tax tips uk, taxfix, taxfix review, uk tax return
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November 26, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

UK Budget 2025 Explained: What It Means for Your Money

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a qualified financial adviser before making any 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.

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 UK Budget 2025 landed on 26 November, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves announcing a package of measures that quietly raise the tax burden on millions of households. So while headline Income Tax and VAT rates stay put, the Autumn Budget 2025 freezes thresholds, cuts the cash ISA allowance and raises taxes on dividend and savings income — hitting earners, savers and investors in ways that are easy to miss at first glance.

Here is what changed, when it takes effect, and what it could mean for your finances.

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Published by Stiv in Finance, UK Made
Tags: Cost of Living, isa, Pension, personal finance, Taxes, UK Budget 2025
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November 17, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Monzo Investments Review UK 2026: Honest Verdict for Beginners

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is my own experience. I've invested in Monzo's Adventurous fund since November 2025, paying in £50 a month, with round-ups and my savings interest topping it up on the side.

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are my own and do not constitute professional advice.

Cool Factor: 4/5 Stone cold

This Monzo Investments review is based on real money I've had invested since late 2025, not a quick five-minute demo. I wanted to invest without downloading five apps, reading 19 Reddit threads, and accidentally becoming a part-time day trader. Monzo Investments keeps things simple on purpose. You pick a risk level, deposit from as little as £1, and let BlackRock-managed funds do the heavy lifting. No stock picking. No fiddling. No "should I buy Nvidia" spiral at 1am. And with the recent launch of Build Your Own portfolios, there's now more choice than ever without losing that trademark Monzo simplicity.

Before you read on: 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 not financial advice.

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.

Want the Monzo current-account bonus?

There's no live Monzo Investments referral, but you need a current account to invest anyway, and that one does have a working offer (randomly £5 to £50, most people around £10). The latest terms are on our referral page.

Get the Monzo current-account bonus

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Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Reviews, Services, UK Made
Tags: app investing UK, beginner investing UK, Cool Curation finance, Monzo investing, Monzo investments, Monzo referral, Monzo review, personal finance uk, stocks and shares isa, uk investing
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