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

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

Last updated: 7 October 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 and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

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 and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

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 and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

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 and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

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.

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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: 20 October 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 and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

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.

Update, 20 October 2026. The next Budget is on Wednesday 28 October 2026, the first from Chancellor John Healey. My Autumn Budget predictions cover every rumour so far and which of the 2025 changes below are already law.

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: 7 October 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 and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them. 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 (rewards from £5, up to £50, sometimes up to £100). For the full lowdown on the bank itself, read my Monzo review UK after four years of daily use. The latest terms are on my referral page.

Get the Monzo current-account bonus

New to Monzo as well as to investing? My Monzo guides hub covers the bank account, the paid plans and the savings pots alongside the investing side.

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

TaxFix vs GoSimpleTax UK 2026: Which Tax Tool Wins?

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

If you need to file a Self Assessment tax return in the UK, the TaxFix vs GoSimpleTax question keeps coming up. Both promise to make tax season less painful, yet they work in completely different ways. One hands everything to a qualified accountant. The other gives you smart software and lets you do it yourself. So which one actually deserves your money? We have broken both down side by side to help you decide.

This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

Leaning towards TaxFix?

Our referral page tracks the current new-customer discount and exactly how to claim it.

Get the TaxFix discount

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Published by Stiv in Finance, Reviews, Services
Tags: best tax app UK, digital tax software UK, filing self assessment online, GoSimpleTax discount, GoSimpleTax review, HMRC approved tax apps, money saving guides UK, MTD compatible apps, self assessment tools UK, tax return software UK, tax return tips UK, TaxFix discount, taxfix review, TaxFix vs GoSimpleTax, UK finance tools, UK tax return apps
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November 14, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

How to Start Investing UK: A Beginner’s Guide for 2026

Last updated: 7 October 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Your savings account probably gives you a forgettable return while inflation slowly chews up the value of your cash. Plenty of us know we should look at the alternatives, yet investing can feel like a locked club where you need a pinstripe suit and a secret handshake to get past the door. So, this guide on how to start investing UK-side is here to open the door.

We will walk through the difference between saving and investing, explain what a Stocks and Shares ISA actually does, share what has worked for us starting with small amounts, and look at beginner-friendly apps including Freetrade, Lightyear, Robinhood UK, Monzo Investments and J.P. Morgan Personal Investing. So, let us get into it.

Important: This article is for information only and does not constitute financial advice or a personal recommendation. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

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.

Read more
Published by Stiv in Apps, Finance, Investing, Services
Tags: beginner investing guide uk, best investment app uk, coolcuration finance, diy investing uk, freetrade review uk, how to start investing uk, investing uk, investing vs saving uk, jp morgan personal investing, lightyear investing app, Monzo investments, personal finance uk, Robinhood UK, robinhood uk review, start investing UK, start investing with £100, stocks and shares isa, uk investing for beginners
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