cash ISA Archives - COOLCURATION

April 26, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Chip App Review UK 2026: 3 Years Tested, Rates, Prize Saver, Fees

Last updated: 26 April 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This Chip app review UK draws on three and a half years of my personal daily use, starting 3 November 2022, across auto-save, the Instant Access Saver, Prize Savings, ChipX (briefly) and a Chip Stocks and Shares ISA.

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

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Some features of Chip involve investing, which carries risk including the possible loss of capital. Savings rates can change. Always do your own research or consult a qualified financial adviser. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Cool Factor

★★★★☆

4 out of 5 · Stone cold

My Chip app review UK is grounded in the actual ledger: £174.41 in interest earned, £180 in tax-free prize wins, £0.80 in investment returns, and three and a half years of daily use since November 2022. That is the unvarnished record of what I have personally taken out of Chip across four different account types. Below is what I kept, what I binned, what genuinely works, and the one quirk that still mildly irritates me.

Published by Stiv in Apps, Finance, Personal finance, Reviews

Tags: auto-saving, cash ISA, chip app, Chip review, ClearBank, fintech UK, personal finance, Prize Savings Account, reviews, savings apps

April 19, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Monzo Savings Pots Explained: Rates, FSCS Protection and How to Start (2026)

Last updated: 3 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Monzo savings pots are one of the most useful features in UK banking, and most people still are not using them properly. If you have got a Monzo account and your spare cash is just sitting in the main balance earning nothing, you are leaving money on the table. Monzo savings pots take about 30 seconds to set up and start earning interest immediately. No paperwork. No separate app. Just tap, move money in, and watch it grow.

We have got about six pots running at any given time. Bills pot, holiday pot, emergency fund, a couple of savings pots earning interest, and one labelled "don't touch" that we absolutely do touch. It is one of those features that, once you start using it, you wonder how you ever managed without it.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Savings rates are variable and change frequently, so always verify current rates directly with providers. 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.

Published by Tristan in Banking, Personal finance, Saving

Tags: cash ISA, FSCS, Instant Access, interest rates, monzo, Monzo Perks, personal finance, savings accounts, Savings pots, Select Access

April 18, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Savings Options for the New Tax Year UK 2026/27

Last updated 7 April 2026

Every April, we go through the same routine. The ISA allowance resets, savings rates shift, and there is a brief window where everyone actually pays attention to where their money is sitting. The best savings options for the new tax year are worth sorting now, before the motivation fades and another 12 months slip by. Here is what the CoolCuration team is doing with ours this year, along with a look at the platforms and accounts worth considering right now.

This year there is an added urgency. The 2026/27 tax year is the last year under-65s can put the full £20,000 into a cash ISA. From April 2027, cash ISA contributions will be capped at £12,000 for anyone under 65, with the remaining £8,000 needing to go into stocks and shares or other ISA types. So if you have been meaning to top up your cash ISA, this is genuinely the final window at the current limit.

Important: this is not financial advice. This article is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this post constitutes a recommendation to open any particular account, invest in any product, or take any specific financial action. Savings rates, ISA rules, and tax treatment can change at any time. CoolCuration is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and cannot advise you on what is right for your circumstances. Always do your own research or speak to a qualified, independent financial adviser before making financial decisions. Some links in this article are referral links. Using them costs you nothing and helps support CoolCuration.

Published by Stiv in ISA, ISAs, Money, Personal finance, Saving

Tags: 2026, cash ISA, chase, Chip, investment ISA, isa, monzo, new tax year, personal savings allowance, Premium Bonds, savings, savings accounts, Trading 212, zopa

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

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

Last updated: 27 March 2026

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, but the name does not immediately explain what they do. In short, Vaults let you earn interest on uninvested cash through low-risk Money Market Funds. Here is everything you need to know, including how they work, current rates, risks and how they compare to a savings account.

Published by Tristan 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

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

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

Last updated: 27 March 2026

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

Cool Factor: 4/5

In this independent Lightyear review, we take a proper look at one of the most talked-about investing apps in the UK. Lightyear recently slashed its fees, dropping FX charges to 0.10% and making all stock and ETF trading completely free. That puts it firmly among the cheapest platforms available to UK investors right now.

We cover what Lightyear is, what you can invest in, fees, ISAs, Vaults, pros, cons, and how it compares to Freetrade, AJ Bell Dodl, Sidekick, Moneybox and Finimize. If you want a no-nonsense view before opening an account, this is for you.

Looking for the referral link and sign-up bonus details? Head to the Lightyear referral page instead.

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

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

Best Savings Account UK 2026: Top Picks Compared

Last updated: 22 March 2026

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%, there are still genuinely 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 March 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