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March 15, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

UK Mortgage Rates Rising: What the Middle East Conflict Means for Your Bills

Originally published: 15 March 2026. Reviewed for accuracy: 10 June 2026. This is a dated news post tied to specific events in early 2026; it is not intended as evergreen advice.

Update, 17 September 2026. Bank Rate is still 3.75%, but three of the nine members of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee now want it raised to 4%, and fixed mortgage rates rose again in September. The current position, updated after every decision, is on my Bank of England base rate page.

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I write this with skin in the game: a mortgage of my own, Nationwide until June 2026 and Halifax since, plus monthly overpayments running through Sprive since October 2021, so I have watched these rate swings as a borrower, not just a blogger.

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.

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

CoolCuration is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and does not provide financial advice. The information below is for general informational purposes only. Always seek advice from an FCA-regulated broker or adviser before making mortgage decisions.

If you've been watching the news this year, you'll know the Middle East conflict has thrown a spanner into the UK's financial outlook. UK mortgage rates climbed again after weeks of improvement, lenders pulled deals, and energy prices headed in the wrong direction. Whether you're on a fixed-rate mortgage nearing renewal or simply trying to keep your gas bill under control, the events of early 2026 have had lasting consequences. Here's what happened, what it means for your money, and what you can actually do about it.

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Published by Stiv in Money, Personal finance
Tags: 2026, Bank of England, energy prices, Middle East conflict, mortgage rates, Ofgem price cap, remortgage, UK personal finance
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February 17, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Monzo investment fees cut: what it means and whether it’s worth it

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Quick take: Monzo investment fees were cut in February 2026 from 0.45% to 0.25% a year (or from 0.35% to 0.20% on certain paid plans). If you're a smaller-balance, set-and-forget investor, Monzo just got a lot more competitive. If you're fee-optimising at higher balances, fund costs and fee caps still matter.

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. This is not financial advice.

Monzo has made a change that actually matters: the platform fee for Monzo Investments is now 0.25% per year (and 0.20% if you're on eligible paid plans), down from 0.45% (or 0.35% for Plus and Premium customers) before the February 2026 fee cut. Fees accrue daily and get collected monthly from your investment account. That's the "Monzo fee" bit, not the fund manager's own fee (more on that below).

Want the rest of the Monzo investing picture? My Monzo guides hub has the full Monzo Investments review, the paid plans and the savings pots.

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Published by Stiv in Apps, Finance, Investing, Services
Tags: Fees, investing, monzo, Platforms, stocks and shares isa, UK personal finance

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