Plain English · no sales pitch
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.
Subscription creep: why you pay for things you forgot
Why subscriptions pile up unnoticed, the trick of multiplying by twelve, a fifteen-minute audit method, and cancel versus negotiate.
Is paying more into my pension worth it?
What an extra 1% really costs your take-home after tax relief, why the employer match beats everything else, and when to hold off.
How is my salary actually taxed in the UK?
Personal allowance, income tax bands and National Insurance explained with real 2026/27 numbers, plus the 62% trap above £100,000.
Avalanche vs snowball: which debt do I pay off first?
Avalanche saves the most interest, snowball keeps you motivated. A worked example with real figures shows when each method wins.
Should I overpay my mortgage or save instead?
Compare your mortgage rate against your savings rate after tax, check overpayment limits and ERCs, and decide which wins for you.
How much should I save each month?
The 20% rule explained, the priority order that beats it, paying yourself first, and what to do when 20% is out of reach.
Cash ISA vs savings account: which pays more?
When a cash ISA beats an ordinary savings account: the personal savings allowance, the £20,000 limit, and why the rate matters most.
How compound interest actually works
Growth on growth, why starting early beats paying in more, the rule of 72, and worked 10, 20 and 30 year examples in pounds.
Does the 50/30/20 rule work in the UK?
What the 50/30/20 budget rule means in pounds, where it breaks (London rent, low incomes), and how to adapt the split honestly.
Should I pay off my student loan early?
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 is my bonus taxed so much?
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.
How much stamp duty do first-time buyers pay?
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.
Is salary sacrifice worth it?
Why salary sacrifice beats a normal pension contribution, what £100 in your pot really costs, and the three catches to check.
How do I get emergency tax back?
What the X, W1 and M1 codes mean, how much extra you are paying, and the two routes to getting the money back.
Why is my tax code BR?
BR taxes every pound at 20% with no allowance. When that is right, when it is a payroll mistake, and how to fix it.
Do you pay more tax on a second job?
There is no second-job tax rate. How allowances and codes actually split across jobs, and what your combined take-home really is.
How much can you earn from a side hustle before paying tax?
The £1,000 trading allowance for Vinted, eBay and Etsy sellers, when platforms report you to HMRC, and when Self Assessment kicks in.
Do I pay tax on savings interest?
The personal savings allowance by tax band, why frozen thresholds drag more savers in, and when an ISA beats a higher headline rate.
How much pension do I need to retire at 60?
Realistic pot sizes for retiring at 60, the seven-year gap before the state pension, and how to test your own number.
Can I take 25% of my pension tax-free at 55?
Yes, within limits. The lump sum cap, the age rising to 57 in 2028, and the emergency-tax trap on first withdrawals.
What happens to my pension when I die?
Who gets your pot, how age 75 changes the tax, and the expression-of-wish form most people never complete.
What happens when my fixed rate mortgage ends?
You roll onto the SVR and the payment jumps. The three exits, the six-month timeline, and how to price each option.
How much mortgage can I get on a £40,000 salary?
The income multiples lenders actually use, what affordability checks knock off, and your realistic price range on £40k.
Should I overpay the mortgage or pay into my pension?
The maths usually favours the pension, the psychology often favours the mortgage. How to compare them honestly for your numbers.
How much deposit do I need to buy a house?
5% gets you in, 10% gets better rates. What deposits unlock at each step and how long yours will take to save.
What happens if you only pay the minimum on your credit card?
Decades of payments and thousands in interest, by design. Why minimums shrink, and the one change that saves years.
Should I still claim child benefit if I earn over £60k?
Almost always yes. How the charge tapers to £80k, why claiming protects your state pension, and the pension trick that keeps it.
PCP or HP: which is better for car finance?
PCP is cheaper monthly, HP ends with you owning the car. Which wins depends on what you do at the end; here is the honest comparison.
Why has my tax code changed?
The five common triggers, from benefits in kind to underpayment clawbacks, and how to check the new code before it costs you months of wrong tax.
Am I due a tax refund from HMRC?
The situations that create PAYE overpayments, how P800 letters work, and how to claim without paying a fee-charging agent.
What happens to my tax when I earn over £100k?
The 60% trap, the childcare cliff, surprise Self Assessment, and how pension contributions claw your allowance back.
Do I pay capital gains tax when I sell my house?
Not on your main home, thanks to Private Residence Relief. The exceptions that catch people, and the 60-day reporting deadline.
ISA or pension: which is better?
Pension wins on tax relief and the employer match, ISA wins on access. The order of operations that uses both properly.
Should I consolidate my pensions into one pot?
Usually yes for old high-fee DC pots, almost never for defined benefit. The fee-drag maths and a lost-pot tracing checklist.
How much state pension will I get with 20 years of NI?
The 35ths formula made concrete: what 10 to 35 qualifying years each pay, and when buying missing years is worth it.
Are premium bonds worth it?
What median luck actually returns at each holding size, and who genuinely beats a savings account by holding them.
Can I retire at 60 with £500k?
Roughly £20k to £25k a year sustainably, more once the state pension arrives. The drawdown maths behind the answer.
Should I fix my mortgage for 2 or 5 years?
Certainty versus flexibility, what the rate gap between the two fixes is really pricing, and which suits your plans.
When should I start remortgaging before my fix ends?
Six months out. Why the window matters, how rate locks work, and the do-nothing cost of rolling onto the SVR.
Can I port my mortgage to a new house?
Porting moves your rate, not your loan. How re-approval works, topping up at a second rate, and when porting beats paying the ERC.
How much can I overpay my mortgage without penalty?
The usual 10% a year allowance, how lenders count it, what early repayment charges cost if you cross the line.
Does Klarna affect your credit score?
Buy-now-pay-later now reports to credit agencies. What lenders see, what hurts, and how BNPL reads on a mortgage application.
Is 30 hours free childcare actually free?
Term-time only, top-up fees, and the £100k cliff. What the funded hours really cover and how to work out your true bill.
Do I need to file a Self Assessment tax return?
Who has to file a Self Assessment return: self-employment over £1,000, the High Income Child Benefit Charge, untaxed income and capital gains, plus the deadlines.
How much National Insurance do I pay?
National Insurance in 2026/27: employees pay 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 and 2% above, worked out per pay period, with a real worked example.
Can I claim Marriage Allowance and how much is it worth?
Marriage Allowance lets a non-taxpayer transfer £1,260 of personal allowance to a basic-rate partner, worth up to £252 a year and backdatable four years.
How do I claim higher-rate pension tax relief?
Relief-at-source pensions only add 20% automatically. Higher and additional-rate taxpayers must claim the extra 20% or 25% back, and can backdate four years.
Is overtime taxed more in the UK?
There is no special overtime tax rate. Overtime is taxed at your marginal rate; a heavy overtime month can look over-taxed because PAYE annualises, then it evens out.
How much company car tax will I pay?
Company car tax is P11D value times a benefit-in-kind percentage times your tax rate. Why electric cars are taxed at 4%, petrol at 30%+, and how it hits your tax code.
How much income tax do I pay in Scotland?
Scotland has six income tax bands, not three, and they diverge from the rest of the UK above about £30,000. A worked £50,000 comparison and who counts as a Scottish taxpayer.
How is rental income taxed?
Rental profit is taxed at your marginal rate. The £1,000 property allowance, allowable expenses, the 20% mortgage-interest credit and the Making Tax Digital timeline for landlords.
What is a P60 and what do I do with it?
A P60 is your year-end summary of pay and tax, issued by 31 May. How it differs from a P45 and P11D, what to check on it, and why you keep it for refunds and applications.
How does the High Income Child Benefit Charge work?
The charge claws back Child Benefit at 1% for every £200 of adjusted net income over £60,000, gone entirely at £80,000. How it is collected and how pensions cut it.
How much do I need to retire comfortably in the UK?
The PLSA retirement living standards for 2026: what minimum, moderate and comfortable cost a year, the pension pot behind each, and how to find your own number.
Cash ISA vs stocks and shares ISA: which is better?
Cash ISAs are safe and predictable, stocks and shares ISAs grow more over time but fall along the way. How to choose by your time horizon, not by the label.
Lifetime ISA vs pension: which is better for me?
The LISA gives a 25% bonus up to £1,000 a year; a pension gives bigger tax relief and employer money. When each one wins, and why most people use both.
Annuity vs drawdown: which is right for you?
Annuities give guaranteed income for life, drawdown keeps your pot invested and flexible. How the two compare in 2026, the risks of each, and why many blend them.
How many ISAs can I have? (2026/27 rules)
Since April 2024 you can pay into multiple ISAs of the same type in one year. The four types, the single £20,000 allowance, the LISA sub-limit and transfers explained.
Junior ISAs explained: allowance, rules and how they work
A Junior ISA lets you save up to £9,000 a year tax-free for a child. Cash vs stocks and shares, who can open one, when the child gets the money, and a worked example.
SIPP vs workplace pension: should you have both?
Workplace pensions give you free employer money you should never refuse; a SIPP gives you investment choice. How to use both, and when to consolidate.
Pension annual allowance and carry forward explained
The £60,000 annual allowance, how carry forward lets you use up to three unused years, the taper for high earners, and the £10,000 MPAA trap.
Defined benefit vs defined contribution pensions: what's the difference?
Defined benefit pays a guaranteed income for life; defined contribution builds a pot you invest and bear the risk on. How to tell which you have.
Regular saver accounts: how they work and are they worth it?
Regular savers advertise big rates like 7%, but interest builds on each monthly deposit, so the real return over the year is roughly half the headline.
Workplace pensions and auto-enrolment: how do they work?
Employers must auto-enrol eligible staff into a pension: minimum 8% total, with 3% from the employer. Why opting out throws away free money.
How much can I borrow for a mortgage?
Most lenders start at about 4.5 times income, some stretch to 5 or 5.5, but the affordability test on your outgoings usually decides the real number.
Fixed, tracker or variable: which mortgage type is right?
Fixed gives you a set payment, a tracker follows the base rate up and down, the SVR is usually the dearest, and a discount sits below it. When each one suits.
Mortgage in principle: what it is and how long it lasts
An agreement in principle is a lender's indicative yes based on a credit check, usually valid 30 to 90 days. It is not a guarantee, but you need one to make offers.
Self-employed mortgages: how many years of accounts do you need?
Most lenders want two years of accounts or SA302s, some accept one. How they assess sole traders and company directors, and how to strengthen your case.
How does a mortgage actually work? A UK beginner's guide
A plain guide to how a UK mortgage works: deposit and LTV, term, capital and interest, fixed and variable rates, repayment versus interest-only, and missed payments.
What is LTV (loan-to-value) and how do I improve it?
LTV is your loan divided by the property value. Rates get cheaper as you cross the 90, 75 and 60 percent bands. How a bigger deposit or overpayments improve it.
Shared ownership explained: is it worth it?
How buying a 25% to 75% share works, paying rent on the rest, staircasing to own more, service charges, resale rules, and when it beats renting or waiting.
Product transfer vs remortgage: which should you choose?
A product transfer keeps your lender with no legals or affordability check; a remortgage moves lender for a possibly cheaper rate. When each one wins, with the numbers.
The true cost of buying a home: conveyancing and solicitor fees
Every buying cost beyond the deposit: solicitor fees, searches, Land Registry, bank transfer, survey and stamp duty, with a rough total on a typical UK purchase.
Gifted deposits: the rules, who can gift, and the gift letter
Most lenders accept a gifted deposit from close family with a signed gift letter. The letter, the money-laundering checks, and the inheritance-tax angle explained.
Leasehold vs freehold: what's the difference?
Freehold means you own the land and building outright; leasehold means you own it for a term with ground rent, service charges and the sub-80-year lease trap.
Buying with a partner: joint tenants vs tenants in common
Joint tenants own the whole equally and it passes to the survivor; tenants in common hold defined shares that pass by will. Which suits couples, friends and unequal deposits.
How can I improve my credit score in the UK?
The moves that actually shift a UK credit score: register to vote, pay on time, keep utilisation under 30%, space out applications, and fix errors, plus how long it takes.
How does a UK credit score actually work?
There is no single UK credit score. Three agencies hold different files, every lender scores you their own way, and the number you see is not the one they use.
Am I eligible for Universal Credit and how much will I get?
How Universal Credit is worked out in 2026/27: the standard allowance, the child, childcare and housing elements, the 55% earnings taper, and the £16,000 savings limit.
What benefits am I missing? Pension Credit, Council Tax Reduction and more
Billions in UK benefits go unclaimed each year. Pension Credit, Council Tax Reduction, PIP, Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance and Healthy Start, and how to check.
Is a debt consolidation loan a good idea?
When a debt consolidation loan actually saves money and when it just hides the problem. The APR maths, the secured-loan trap, and when free debt advice beats a loan.
Struggling to pay council tax? Reductions and arrears help
How to cut a UK council tax bill with the single-person discount, Council Tax Reduction and disregards, plus what happens with arrears and how to get help fast.
DMP, IVA, bankruptcy or DRO: which UK debt solution is right?
DMP, IVA, DRO and bankruptcy compared for UK debts: how each works, what it costs, which ones bind your creditors, and where to get free debt advice first.
How do 0% balance transfer credit cards work?
How 0% balance transfer cards work: moving existing card debt to a new card, the 1-4% transfer fee, clearing it inside the promo window, and using one well.
What is a CCJ and how do I get it removed?
What a CCJ is, how it reaches your credit file for six years, how to remove it by paying within one month, and how to set aside a wrongly issued judgment.
How much does an overdraft really cost?
What an overdraft really costs at a typical 39.9% EAR, how that compares to cards and loans, arranged versus unarranged, and how to clear a stuck overdraft.
What cost-of-living grants and hardship help can I get in 2026?
Cost-of-living help in 2026/27: the new Crisis and Resilience Fund, charitable grants, energy and water hardship schemes, and interest-free budgeting advances.