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Independent comparisons, calculators and plain-English guides for banking, savings, mortgages, pensions, credit and bills. Free to read — no paywalls, no sign-up.
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Trading 212
Trading 212's easy-access Cash ISA advertised 4.63% AER variable for eligible new money in July 2026 — 3.6% ongoing plus a 12-month 1.03% bonus — with unlimited withdrawals.
4.63%
AER variable, easy access
Editorial guide with what to check before you apply.
Octopus Energy
One-year fixed tariffs from Octopus and rivals often undercut the Jul–Sep 2026 Ofgem cap by about 10–17% for typical usage — but you must compare against your real kWh.
12-mo fix
often 10–17% below the cap
Editorial guide with what to check before you apply.
Community Fibre
Alt-net full-fibre providers such as Community Fibre often advertise 150Mb+ deals from around £19/month where the network reaches your postcode — always check setup fees and the price after the promo term.
~£19/mo
150Mb full fibre (postcode dependent)
Editorial guide with what to check before you apply.
Head-to-head
Structured criteria tables with editorial verdicts — built for questions like "which is cheaper" or "which should I choose".
Personal loan vs PCP car finance
A personal loan buys the car outright so you own it from day one and can sell it any time; PCP usually has lower monthly payments but you only own the car if you pay the final balloon payment.
Cash ISA vs Stocks & Shares ISA
A Cash ISA holds cash and pays interest tax-free. A Stocks & Shares ISA holds investments — returns can be higher over the long run but the value can fall as well as rise.
Lifetime ISA vs Help to Buy ISA
Help to Buy ISAs closed to new applicants on 30 November 2019 but existing accounts still pay a 25% bonus up to £3,000. Lifetime ISAs are open to anyone aged 18–39 and pay a 25% bonus up to £1,000 a year until age 50.
Fixed-rate vs tracker mortgage
A fixed-rate mortgage locks your interest rate for a set period — usually 2, 5 or 10 years. A tracker mortgage moves up and down with the Bank of England Bank Rate plus a set margin.
PCP vs HP vs car leasing
PCP is a finance agreement with an optional 'balloon' payment to own the car at the end. HP is a loan secured on the car — you own it at the end. Personal leasing is long-term rental — you never own the car.
SIPP vs workplace pension
A workplace pension gets you extra money in the form of employer contributions. A SIPP gives you more investment choice and platform flexibility. Most people benefit from using both.
Credit card vs personal loan
A 0% purchase or balance-transfer credit card can be the cheapest way to borrow if you'll clear the balance before the 0% period ends. A personal loan is usually cheaper for larger amounts repaid over 2–7 years at a fixed rate.
DMP vs IVA
A DMP is an informal arrangement to pay an affordable monthly amount to all your creditors via a free debt charity. An IVA is a formal, legally binding agreement to pay an agreed amount over (usually) five years, after which remaining qualifying debt is written off.
Tax year 2026/27
Primary-sourced thresholds and allowances — checked against gov.uk, HMRC and the FCA.
£12,570
Personal Allowance
Tax-free income band, frozen until April 2028.
£20,000
ISA allowance
Combined annual limit across cash, stocks & shares and other adult ISAs.
£230.25 / week
Full new State Pension
Weekly amount from April 2025 (around £11,973 a year). The 2026/27 figure follows the next triple-lock review.
£85,000
FSCS deposit protection
Protected per person, per authorised bank or building society (banking licence), if the firm fails.
£12.21 / hour
National Living Wage (21+)
Minimum hourly pay for workers aged 21 and over from 1 April 2026.
£60,000
Pension Annual Allowance
Maximum pension contributions with tax relief each year (subject to earnings and tapering).
Run the numbers
38 calculators on current 2026/27 rates — no sign-up, instant results.
Work out your monthly mortgage payment, total interest and the impact of a rate change — in plain pounds and pence.
See exactly how much hits your bank account after Income Tax, National Insurance and your pension contribution — for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Calculate Stamp Duty Land Tax for a home purchase in England or Northern Ireland — including first-time buyer relief and the additional-property surcharge.
Work out your annual Council Tax bill in England from your property band and your local Band D charge — including the single-person discount and second-home premium.
Estimate the maximum property price you can target — including a +3% stress-test on the monthly payment and an adjustment for other commitments.
See how much basic, higher and additional-rate tax relief is added to your pension — and what your real out-of-pocket cost is.
Tax year 2026/27
Frozen allowances, ISA limits, energy cap and benefit rates — one plain-English round-up of what changed.
Latest updates
Lifetime mortgage rates remain above standard residential deals and interest compounds monthly. Regulated advisers must discuss downsizing, retirement interest-only loans and smaller unsecured borrowing before recommending release.
Read full articleScottish Water charges are collected through council tax bills — not a separate metered supplier. Charges rose for 2026/27; WaterSure Scotland helps low-income households with high essential water use.
Bundling broadband, landline and TV can beat buying separately — but compare total cost including annual TV price rises, setup fees and exit penalties. Ofcom rules require CPI-plus rises to be stated upfront.
Ofgem's micro-business rules cap contract lengths and require clear renewal notices. Compare unit rates, standing charges and rollover clauses — out-of-contract rates can double once fixed terms end silently.
Over-50s plans guarantee acceptance without medical questions but premiums can exceed the sum assured if you live long enough. Compare with level-term cover if you are still healthy — and check whether payouts keep pace with inflation.
Answer-first
408 concise answers in plain English — each links to the full guide underneath.
What is Universal Credit?
A single monthly benefit that has replaced six older means-tested benefits, paid to working-age adults on low incomes (in or out of work).
When is the Self Assessment deadline?
31 January for online returns and the balancing payment, 31 October for paper returns, and 31 July for the second payment on account. All deadlines are for the previous tax year ending 5 April.
What is the Inheritance Tax threshold?
£325,000 'nil-rate band' per person, plus up to £175,000 'residence nil-rate band' when leaving a home to direct descendants.
Do I pay tax on cryptocurrency in the UK?
Usually yes. HMRC treats most crypto as an asset, so selling, swapping or spending it can trigger Capital Gains Tax on gains above the £3,000 annual exempt amount (2026/27). Crypto from mining, staking, airdrops or as payment is taxed as income instead.
What is the Personal Allowance for 2026/27?
£12,570. Frozen until April 2028. It tapers by £1 for every £2 of income above £100,000, disappearing entirely at £125,140.
What is the ISA allowance for 2026/27?
£20,000 across all your adult ISAs combined. Junior ISA £9,000. Lifetime ISA £4,000 (counts towards the £20,000).
How much is the full new State Pension in 2026/27?
The full new State Pension rate is set each April under the triple lock. It was £230.25 a week (~£11,973 a year) for 2025/26 and is uprated again at the start of the 2026/27 tax year — check gov.uk for the current weekly amount. You need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance for the full new State Pension.
What is a Stocks and Shares ISA?
An ISA that holds investments rather than cash. All capital gains and dividends inside it are tax-free; the £20,000 annual allowance still applies.
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