Saving Archives - Page 4 of 5

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 3, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Exhale Coffee Review UK – Is It Worth the Hype?

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 spotted Exhale Coffee all over Instagram and wondered whether it lives up to the hype, this Exhale coffee review has you covered. We've tested all three roasts, dug into the science behind their antioxidant claims, and brewed more cups than we can count. Here's what we really think after several months of daily use.

Published by Stiv in £25 and under, Coffee connoisseur, Reviews, Saving, UK Made

Tags: antioxidant coffee, B Corp coffee, best coffee brands UK, eco coffee, Exhale coffee review, Exhale Coffee UK, healthy coffee, organic coffee, UK coffee subscription

October 29, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Amazon UK Cashback Hack: Turn Spending Into Mortgage Savings

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

If you want to squeeze more value out of every Amazon UK order, this Amazon UK cashback method is worth knowing about. The idea is simple: instead of buying directly from Amazon, you buy Amazon gift cards through the Sprive app, earn cashback on each card, and then funnel that cashback straight into your mortgage. Over time, those small percentages quietly chip away at your balance and interest. Combine it with a spending tracker like Emma to see exactly where your money goes, and you have a system that turns routine shopping into purposeful saving.

This is not financial advice. Always check your mortgage terms before making overpayments.

Want the Sprive sign-up bonus?

The whole method runs on Sprive, so it is the one to set up first. The current welcome offer and the steps to claim it are kept up to date on our referral page.

Get the Sprive referral bonus

Published by Stiv in Cashback, Finance, Money saving, Mortgage, Saving

Tags: amazon cashback hack, amazon gift card cashback, amazon savings uk, amazon uk cashback, amazon uk discount, cashback apps UK, cashback mortgage hack, cool curation, emma app, money saving tips uk, mortgage overpayment, Sprive app, uk homeowners finance

October 9, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Monzo vs Biscuit Bank Account: Which Is Best in 2026?

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.

Leaning towards Monzo?

New customers who join through a referral link can land a random reward of £5 to £50, and we keep the live offer details on our Monzo referral page.

See the Monzo referral offer

If you are weighing up Monzo vs Biscuit for your everyday banking in 2026, the answer depends on what you actually want from your bank account. One pays interest and cashback on a free account. The other gives you some of the best budgeting tools in UK fintech. Both are app-only, both are FSCS-protected, and both let you spend abroad without fees.

In this comparison, we break down how Monzo and Zopa's Biscuit bank account stack up across savings rates, cashback, features, travel perks, and sign-up offers, so you can decide which one deserves your direct debits.

Published by Stiv in Android apps, Apple apps, Apps, Finance, Personal finance, Reviews, Saving, Services

Tags: app review, bank comparison, biscuit bank, coolcuration, digital bank, fintech, monzo, monzo vs biscuit, personal finance, savings account, uk banking, zopa, zopa bank

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

What Is Sprive, and How Does the App Work? (UK Guide 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. This guide is based on the actual setup process and over four years of daily use.

If you're trying to figure out what Sprive is and how the Sprive app works, you're probably weighing up whether it's worth the setup effort or whether you'll download it and never open it again. This guide covers the mechanics only: what you do in the app, what happens next, and what to check so you don't accidentally trip over your lender's overpayment rules.

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.

Just here for the sign-up bonus?

The current Sprive offer and the steps to claim it are always kept up to date on our referral page.

Get the Sprive sign-up bonus

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

Published by Stiv in Finance, Personal finance, Saving, Services

Tags: cashback apps, cool curation, finance app, how Sprive app works, mortgage helper, mortgage overpayment, mortgage saving, Open Banking apps UK, pay off mortgage faster, personal finance uk, referral app, smart money apps, Sprive app, uk money tools

September 28, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Save Thousands on Your Mortgage UK: Practical Tips That Work (2026)

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I've had a Nationwide mortgage since 2021 and have been making regular overpayments using Sprive and manual standing orders throughout that time. These are approaches I use myself.

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. Consider consulting a qualified mortgage adviser before making changes to your repayment plan.

Start with a sign-up bonus

If the automated overpayment route appeals, the current Sprive welcome offer and the claim steps sit on our referral page.

Get the Sprive bonus

If you want to save thousands on your mortgage in the UK, you don't need a financial planner or a lucky inheritance. You need a handful of practical, repeatable moves that chip away at the interest you're paying every single month. This guide covers the changes that actually move the numbers, from switching to a better rate to automating small overpayments, so you can keep more of your money where it belongs.

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

Tags: best mortgage apps UK, cashback towards mortgage, mortgage comparison tools, mortgage interest savings, mortgage overpayment calculator, mortgage savings, mortgage savings UK, mortgage tips UK, overpayment mortgage UK, pay off mortgage early, save thousands on your mortgage, Sprive app

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

SMARTY Review UK: Is It Worth Switching in 2026?

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

If you have been hunting for a cheap, flexible SIM-only deal in the UK, chances are SMARTY has popped up on your radar. In this SMARTY review we put the network through its paces, covering plans, pricing, coverage, the referral scheme and everything in between, to help you decide whether it is genuinely worth the switch in 2026.

Want the SMARTY referral reward?

Both you and your friend can earn up to £20 each, and the current refer-a-friend terms are kept up to date on our referral page.

Get the SMARTY referral reward

Published by Stiv in Money saving, Reviews, Saving, Services, Technology lover, UK Made

Tags: budget mobile network, SIM only deals UK, SMARTY mobile, smarty mobile reviews, smarty network coverage, SMARTY plans, smarty pros and cons, smarty reddit, SMARTY review, smarty reviews, smarty sim review, smarty trustpilot, smarty uk mobile, Three network MVNO

September 3, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Savings Account UK 2026: Top Picks Compared

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

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.

Finding the best savings account UK savers can open right now is harder than it sounds. Rates have settled after the highs of 2024, but with the Bank of England base rate sitting at 3.75% (held 30 April 2026; next decision 18 June 2026), there are still rewarding options out there if you know where to look. The trick is matching the right account type to how you actually save.

Below, we compare the top easy-access accounts, regular savers and fixed-rate bonds available in June 2026, highlight the referral bonuses that can sweeten the deal, and explain what to watch out for before you move your money.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Personal finance, Saving, Services

Tags: 2025 savings rates, best savings account uk, cash ISA, Chase saver, chip app, chip savings, easy access savings, FSCS, instant access saver, prize saver, regular saver, savings rates 2026, uk savings accounts, Zopa Biscuit

March 20, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

ISA Allowance Deadline: Use Your £20,000 Before April 5th

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This post covered the 2025/26 ISA allowance deadline of 5 April 2026, which has now passed. The information below applied to that tax year.

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. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Investing involves risk and you can lose money. Tax rules can change and their effects vary based on individual circumstances. Always do your own research or speak to a qualified financial adviser before making decisions about your money.

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 ISA allowance deadline falls on 5 April every year, and once it passes, any unused portion of your £20,000 tax-free allowance is gone for good. Whether you are looking at a Stocks and Shares ISA, a Cash ISA, or a personal pension, the clock is ticking on the 2025/26 tax year.

This year, there are extra reasons to pay attention. Dividend tax rates are rising from 6 April 2026, and the Cash ISA allowance is being cut from 2027. Here is how to make the most of your allowance before the reset.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Saving, Services

January 1, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

How to Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster (UK): 7 Moves That Save Thousands

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is the strategy I follow myself. I've been overpaying my Nationwide mortgage since October 2021, using a combination of Sprive's auto-save feature and tracking the impact over time. This is based on over four years of real use.

If you want to pay off your mortgage faster in the UK, you don't need extreme budgeting or a "one weird trick". You need a clear plan that focuses on the biggest levers: interest rate, consistency, and avoiding fees. This page is the master strategy guide. It shows you what to do, in what order, and what to check so you don't accidentally trigger Early Repayment Charges.

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

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.

Grab the Sprive welcome bonus

If Sprive ends up being part of your plan, the latest sign-up offer and how to claim it live on our referral page.

See the current Sprive offer

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

Tags: cashback apps UK, compound interest savings, home finance UK, how to pay off mortgage faster, mortgage calculator, mortgage overpayments, mortgage repayment, pay off mortgage faster, Sprive app, Sprive review, UK mortgage tips