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Guides

The thinking behind each of our free tools: what the rules actually say, what matters, and what to ignore.

How much emergency fund do I need?

The three-to-six-months rule explained properly: what counts as essential spending, when three months is enough, and where to keep the money.

Why subscriptions pile up unnoticed, the trick of multiplying by twelve, a fifteen-minute audit method, and cancel versus negotiate.

What an extra 1% really costs your take-home after tax relief, why the employer match beats everything else, and when to hold off.

Personal allowance, income tax bands and National Insurance explained with real 2026/27 numbers, plus the 62% trap above £100,000.

Avalanche saves the most interest, snowball keeps you motivated. A worked example with real figures shows when each method wins.

Compare your mortgage rate against your savings rate after tax, check overpayment limits and ERCs, and decide which wins for you.

The 20% rule explained, the priority order that beats it, paying yourself first, and what to do when 20% is out of reach.

When a cash ISA beats an ordinary savings account: the personal savings allowance, the £20,000 limit, and why the rate matters most.

Growth on growth, why starting early beats paying in more, the rule of 72, and worked 10, 20 and 30 year examples in pounds.

What the 50/30/20 budget rule means in pounds, where it breaks (London rent, low incomes), and how to adapt the split honestly.

Why a UK student loan behaves like a tax, not a debt: write-off dates per plan, who actually clears it, and what beats overpaying.

Why a bonus is taxed at your highest rate, why the payslip looks even worse, the 60% trap, and how bonus sacrifice avoids it all.

First-time buyer stamp duty for 2026/27: nothing up to £300,000, 5% to £500,000, the relief cliff above that, and who qualifies.

Why salary sacrifice beats a normal pension contribution, what £100 in your pot really costs, and the three catches to check.