Services Archives - Page 6 of 12

November 26, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

UK Energy Price Cap January 2026: What Happened and What to Do Now

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.

The energy price cap in January 2026 rose by 0.2% to £1,758 per year for a typical dual-fuel household. At the time, that small rise was enough of a nudge to make switching to a fixed tariff worthwhile. Since then, the picture has moved on considerably. Ofgem has confirmed the April 2026 cap will fall to £1,641, which changes the calculation again — though the case for switching to Octopus Energy remains strong.

Update — March 2026: The April 2026 cap has been confirmed. We have published a full breakdown of what the new figure means and whether now is the right time to switch.

Read: April 2026 energy price cap — the drop, the risk, and the £50 switch offer

Get £50 credit when you switch to Octopus Read more

Published by Stiv in Discount, Saving, Services, UK Made

Tags: energy price cap, energy switching, fixed tariff, January 2026, octopus energy, Ofgem, UK households

November 18, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Easy Vegan Christmas Guide UK: Tips, Ideas and Shortcuts

Last updated: 24 March 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.

Planning a vegan Christmas UK style doesn't have to mean hours in the kitchen or a table full of beige food. Whether you're fully plant-based or simply exploring meat-free options this festive season, this guide covers everything you need. From quick planning tips to a handy shortcut using a Grubby meal-kit box, you'll find practical advice to make your vegan Christmas feel special, stress-free and genuinely delicious.

Published by Stiv in Carbon conscious, Christmas, Discount, Foodie, Services, UK Made

Tags: easy vegan christmas, grubby vegan box, plant based christmas, uk vegan meal box, vegan christmas dinner, vegan christmas food, vegan christmas guide, vegan christmas ideas, vegan christmas uk, vegan meal kits, vegan recipes uk

November 17, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Monzo Investments Review UK 2026: Honest Verdict for Beginners

Last updated: 2 July 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). For the full lowdown on the bank itself, read our Monzo review UK after four years of daily use. The latest terms are on our referral page.

Get the Monzo current-account bonus

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

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 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.

Leaning towards TaxFix?

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

Get the TaxFix discount

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

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

Eero Mesh WiFi Review UK: Is It 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 – Stone cold

I used to dread working from home whenever my partner jumped on a video call. Our old router would buckle, the bedroom WiFi would vanish, and streaming anything in 4K was a fantasy. Then I installed an eero mesh WiFi system and everything changed overnight. This eero mesh WiFi review covers exactly what happened, which model suits which household, and whether it deserves the hype in 2026.

Published by Stiv in Android apps, Apple apps, Apps, Best of Amazon, New home, Reviews, Services, Technology lover

Tags: amazon tech, black friday deals, eero, eero mesh wifi, eero review, home tech, home wifi, mesh wifi, smart home, uk tech reviews, wifi review, wifi routers

November 14, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

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

Last updated: 10 June 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 demystify it.

In this post, 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 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 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

November 11, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Wype Review UK – Is This Wet Wipe Alternative 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 — Stone cold

If you've been thinking about ditching wet wipes but don't fancy the hassle of reusable cloths, this Wype review is for you. Wype is a UK-made gel that turns ordinary toilet paper into a moist, fresh wipe — no plastic, no fatbergs, no guilt. With a UK-wide ban on plastic wet wipes now confirmed (Wales from December 2026, England from May 2027), the timing for a switch has never been better. So is Wype actually worth it? We've been testing it to find out.

Want the latest Wype offer?

Current pricing and any starter-kit discount are kept up to date on our Wype page.

See the latest Wype offer

Published by Stiv in Carbon conscious, Discount, Self-care Champion, Services, UK Made

Tags: bathroom essentials, eco bathroom, green home, planet friendly, refillable products, sustainable living, uk startups, vegan products, wet wipe alternative, wet wipe alternatives, wype review

November 8, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Affinity by Canva Review: Is the New Free Creative App Actually That Good?

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

Affinity by Canva is Canva’s new all-in-one creative app that combines what used to be Affinity Photo, Designer and Publisher into a single, totally free program in this review we cover off everything from it's features to how it compares to Adobe's staples. It is aimed at people who want Adobe-level tools without paying a monthly subscription and it currently runs on Mac and Windows, with iPad on the way. Canva says this version is free forever and can export straight to Canva, which is a big shift from the old paid Affinity model.

Published by Stiv in Apps, Reviews, Services, UK Made

Tags: adobe alternative, affinity by canva review, affinity canva review, affinity design app, affinity photo designer publisher, affinity vs adobe, canva affinity app, canva ai tools, canva for designers, canva free design software, creative software uk, free creative apps, graphic design tools, illustrator alternative free, indesign alternative free, photoshop alternative free

November 4, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Winter Energy Saving Tips: Cut Your Heating Bills and Stay Warm

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.

When the temperature drops, energy bills tend to climb. However, a few smart moves can make a real difference. These winter energy saving tips cover everything from quick wins around the house to switching your energy supplier, so you can stay warm without spending more than you need to.

Whether you rent or own, most of these changes cost little or nothing. Some could save you hundreds of pounds over the colder months.

Want credit for switching supplier?

The current Octopus switching credit and eligibility rules are kept up to date on our referral page.

See the Octopus switch offer

Published by Stiv in Saving, Services

Tags: bills, draught-proofing, energy price cap, energy saving, heating, herschel infrared, insulation, mill heater, money saving, octopus energy, smart home, UK home, uk home hacks, winter tips

November 2, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

TrainPal Review UK: Split Tickets, PalPoints and Real Savings

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 — Stone cold

Welcome to our honest TrainPal review, where we put the app through its paces to find out whether it genuinely saves you money on UK train travel. After months of booking tickets, testing split fares, claiming Delay Repay refunds and earning PalPoints, we're sharing everything we've learned. On top of that, you can get up to £11 off your first ticket using our invite code 57807b9c.

Want up to £11 off your first ticket?

Use our TrainPal invite link with code 57807b9c, and the discount applies automatically to your first booking.

Get up to £11 off your first ticket

Published by Stiv in Android apps, Apple apps, Apps, Discount, Reviews, Services, Travel lover

Tags: cheap train tickets, coolcuration reviews, palpoints, save money on trains, split ticketing uk, train apps uk, trainpal app, trainpal card, trainpal discount code, TrainPal referral code, trainpal review, trainpal uk, travel apps uk