March 15, 2026Comments 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.

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I write this with skin in the game: a Nationwide mortgage of my own, plus £100 a month in overpayments running through Sprive since October 2021, so I have watched these rate swings over four-plus years as a borrower, not just a blogger.

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.

Overpaying as your hedge?

If overpaying is your answer to all of this, we keep the current Sprive welcome offer and claim steps up to date on our referral page.

Get the latest Sprive offer

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.

Read more

February 17, 2026Comments 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 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. 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).

Read more

Follow us: Instagram

Contact us

Copyright 2026 CoolCuration | Privacy Policy Cookie Policy | Affiliate Disclosure | Cool Factor

-----------

 

We are proud supporters of a safer more private internet via encouraging people to use Brave browser and are actively taking on Spammers as part of ProjectHoneypot. This site is hosted on servers that run on 100% renewable energy in the UK thanks to GreenWebHosting.

This site contains affiliate links, including to Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase or sign up for a service via these links, at no extra cost to you. All offers and promotions are accurate at the time of publication but are subject to change or withdrawal by the businesses featured. We cannot guarantee their continued availability. Read our full affiliate disclosure.

Reviews and opinions on CoolCuration reflect the personal experience of our writers at the time of publication. They are not professional endorsements and your experience may differ. Scores use our Cool Factor rating system and are given independently of any commercial relationship.

All content on CoolCuration is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, investment recommendations or an endorsement of any product or service. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and do not offer personalised financial guidance. You should always do your own research or consult a qualified financial advisor before making any financial decisions.