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May 5, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Mortgage Overpayment Savings: How Much Could You Save? (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, making £100 monthly overpayments through the app. This post is based on over four years of real use and real numbers.

Most people know they should overpay their mortgage. Almost nobody knows by how much, or what it actually saves them. So we built a free mortgage overpayment calculator to find out. Then we ran our own numbers through it. The mortgage overpayment savings took us by surprise. We've since added a compare-to-savings toggle so you can see whether overpaying or saving the same money comes out ahead at your specific rates.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or mortgage advice. Mortgage products, rates, and overpayment terms vary by lender. Always check your lender's overpayment policy before making extra payments. 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. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

See your own overpayment savings

Our free calculator shows what your overpayments could save, and whether saving the cash instead would beat them.

Open the overpayment calculator

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Published by Stiv in Finance, Money, Money saving, Personal finance, Services
Tags: money saving, mortgage overpayment, mortgage overpayment calculator, mortgage savings, mortgage tips, mortgage vs savings, pay off mortgage early, personal finance, Sprive, uk mortgage
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April 19, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

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

Last updated: 10 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.

Not on Monzo yet?

Sign up through our referral link and a random reward of £5 to £50 arrives once you make your first card payment.

Join Monzo with a bonus

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Published by Stiv in Banking, Personal finance, Saving
Tags: cash ISA, FSCS, Instant Access, interest rates, monzo, Monzo Perks, personal finance, savings accounts, Savings pots, Select Access
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April 16, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

When Should You Remortgage UK? Timing, Tips and What to Watch For (2026)

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I've been remortgaging and overpaying my own Nationwide mortgage since October 2021, using Sprive to make £100 monthly overpayments. This guide draws on that real experience alongside verified market data.

Knowing when to remortgage UK is one of the most valuable financial moves you can make as a homeowner. Get it right and you could save thousands over the life of your deal. Get it wrong and you risk haemorrhaging money to your lender's standard variable rate while you scramble to sort a new deal. A surprising number of homeowners either leave it too late or jump too early and pay penalties they did not need to. Several of us on the CoolCuration team have remortgaged in the last couple of years, so this guide draws on real experience alongside verified market data.

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.

Important: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or mortgage advice. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and does not provide regulated mortgage advice. Always consult a qualified mortgage adviser before making decisions about your mortgage. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Sprive welcome offer

Once the new deal is sorted and you turn to overpaying, the latest sign-up bonus is kept up to date on our referral page.

Check the current Sprive bonus

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Published by Stiv in Money, Money saving, Mortgage, Personal finance
Tags: fixed rate, homeowner tips, mortgage, mortgage broker, overpayments, personal finance, remortgage, Sprive, SVR, uk finance
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April 8, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

What Is Investment Risk? A Beginner’s Guide for 2026

What is investment risk UK? Learn the types of risk, how to manage them, and where to start investing with confidence. Beginner-friendly guide.

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Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Money
Tags: beginner investing, investing, investment platforms, investment risk, personal finance, risk management, stocks and shares isa, uk investing
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March 28, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Cashback Apps UK 2026: TopCashback, Sprive & Airtime

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

If you're still paying full price for your groceries, energy bills and online shopping in 2026, you're leaving hundreds of pounds on the table. The best cashback apps UK shoppers use have evolved far beyond basic reward schemes, with some offering instant payouts while others help you pay off your mortgage faster. We tested the UK's most popular cashback platforms to find out which ones actually deliver.

Whether you want passive earnings through card-linked tracking, instant supermarket discounts or mortgage overpayment bonuses, there's a cashback strategy that fits your spending habits. Here's everything you need to know about the best cashback apps UK shoppers are using in 2026.

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.

Our top cashback pick

If you only set one app up, TopCashback is the one I reach for first. It covers the most retailers and pays out from just £1.

Get started with TopCashback

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Published by Stiv in Money, Personal finance, UK Deals
Tags: airtime rewards, cashback apps, money saving apps, personal finance, Sprive cashback, TopCashback, UK money saving
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March 21, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Monzo vs Chase UK: Which Bank Account Is Better? (2026)

Last updated: 9 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.

After the bigger sign-up bonus?

Chase's refer-a-friend offer pays £50 when you join and deposit £1,000 within 30 days; our referral page walks you through it.

Claim the Chase £50 offer

If you're weighing up Monzo vs Chase in 2026, you're in good company. Both are app-only banks, both are free to open, and both promise to make managing your money less painful. However, once you dig past the slick onboarding screens, the two take noticeably different approaches to savings, cashback and everyday features.

Chase (a trading name of J.P. Morgan Europe Limited) lures new customers with a boosted saver rate and 2% cashback on everyday spending. Monzo, the UK's original fintech darling, counters with powerful budgeting tools, paid plan perks like a free Railcard, and one of the most feature-rich banking apps on the market.

Below, we break down every meaningful difference so you can pick the one that actually fits your life. We also link to both referral offers if you want a bonus for signing up.

Read more
Published by Stiv in Apps, Banking, Comparisons, Finance, Investing, Personal finance, Reviews, Saving, Services
Tags: app review, bank comparison, cashback, chase, chase uk, digital bank, fintech, monzo, monzo vs chase, personal finance, savings, uk banking
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March 12, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Sprive Cashback Explained: Gift Cards, Rates and Real-World Tips (2026)

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I have used Shop with Sprive for my weekly shops since October 2021, alongside £100 monthly overpayments on my Nationwide mortgage, so everything below comes from over four years of buying gift cards at real checkouts.

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 this is not financial advice.

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

Get the Sprive bonus first

Before we get into the mechanics, the current welcome offer and how to claim it are detailed on our referral page.

Claim the Sprive bonus

"Cashback towards your mortgage" sounds brilliant, until you hit the fine print: gift cards, checkout friction, and that one purchase that never tracked. This Sprive cashback explained guide covers how Shop with Sprive actually works in practice, which retailers are worth the effort, and a simple test for whether it's a genuine time-saver or just another app you'll forget about.

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Published by Stiv in Cashback, Saving, Services, UK Made
Tags: cashback, cashback apps UK, cashback towards mortgage, gift card cashback, gift cards, mortgage overpayments, Open Banking, personal finance, personal finance uk, Shop with Sprive, Sprive, Sprive app, Sprive cashback, UK mortgages
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March 5, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Sprive vs Manual Overpaying: Which Method Pays Your Mortgage Off Faster?

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I have been overpaying my Nationwide mortgage since October 2021, using Sprive's auto-save alongside manual payments, so this comparison is based on living with both approaches over four years.

If you are trying to pay your mortgage off faster, you have got two realistic routes: use an app like Sprive to automate overpayments, or just do it yourself with a standing order. This guide compares Sprive vs manual overpaying honestly. It is not here to sell you on either option. It is here to help you pick the approach you will actually stick with, because consistency is what moves the numbers.

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.

Trying Sprive anyway?

If the app route wins you over, the live sign-up offer and the claim steps are listed on our referral page.

See the Sprive sign-up offer

Read more
Published by Stiv in Reviews, Saving, Services, UK Made
Tags: mortgage overpayments, mortgage savings, Open Banking, pay off mortgage faster, personal finance, personal finance uk, remortgaging, Sprive, Sprive app, Sprive vs manual overpaying, UK mortgages
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