Is the Money Guide really free?

Yes. Every guide is free to read, with no sign-up, no paywall and no charge to readers. The site is funded by partner links, marked * where they exist — if you use a marked link and complete an action, we receive commission at no extra cost to you. Links without a * earn us nothing.

Do you give personal financial advice?

No. We provide general information only. For a personal recommendation you should speak to an FCA-regulated financial adviser, or contact a free regulated service like MoneyHelper or Citizens Advice.

Who writes and checks the guides?

Every guide is written in plain English by our editorial team, fact-checked against the relevant rules from HMRC, the FCA, the PRA and government departments, and reviewed at least every two months. See our editorial policy for the full process.

Money Guide is a free, independent UK personal finance website covering banking, savings, mortgages, pensions, credit, debt, insurance, benefits and tax. It explains HMRC rules, FCA regulations and government thresholds in plain English — with source links on every page.

Is Money Guide regulated by the FCA?

No. Money Guide publishes general information, not regulated financial advice. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority to advise on investments, pensions or insurance products. Always check whether a firm is on the FCA register before taking personal advice.

How often is Money Guide updated?

Pillar guides are reviewed at least every two months. Calculators, tax thresholds and news articles are updated when HMRC, Ofgem, the Bank of England or other primary sources change their published figures — typically around each tax year and Budget.

Free UK money guidance · Not financial advice

Compare smarter. Pay less. Keep more.

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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Partner links

Today's featured offers*

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Where a link is marked *, it is a partner link: if you click it and complete an action, we receive commission at no extra cost to you. Links without a * earn us nothing. Commission never affects our editorial ranking.

Trading 212

4.63% easy-access Cash ISA

4.63% AER variable for new Cash ISA money — 3.6% ongoing plus a 12-month 1.03% bonus — with unlimited withdrawals.

4.63%

AER variable, easy access

Check provider terms

Information only — this link earns us no commission.

Representative example: 4.63% AER variable illustrated for £10,000 over 12 months (£463 gross interest). Rate comprises 3.6% ongoing plus a 12-month bonus; actual rate depends on eligibility and balance type. Verified against Trading 212 and market data, 2 July 2026.

Figures checked 2026-07-04 — confirm live rates on the provider’s site.

Octopus Energy

12-month fixed below price cap

One-year fixed tariffs from Octopus and rivals often undercut the Jul–Sep 2026 Ofgem cap by 10–17% for typical usage — compare with your kWh before fixing.

12-mo fix

often 10–17% below the cap

Check provider terms

Information only — this link earns us no commission.

Illustrative saving for a typical dual-fuel direct debit household switching from cap-rate SVR to a fix 15% below cap: ~£280/year before usage variation. Verify live quotes on an Ofgem-accredited site.

Figures checked 2026-07-04 — confirm live rates on the provider’s site.

Community Fibre

Full fibre from ~£19/month

Alt-net full-fibre providers often beat big-four renewal pricing — 150Mb+ deals from around £19/month where available, subject to postcode.

~£19/mo

150Mb full fibre (postcode dependent)

Check provider terms

Information only — this link earns us no commission.

Illustrative £19/month for 150Mb full fibre on 12-month contract in London postcodes — verify availability and setup fees at your address.

Figures checked 2026-07-04 — confirm live rates on the provider’s site.

Head-to-head

Popular UK money comparisons

Structured criteria tables with editorial verdicts — built for questions like "which is cheaper" or "which should I choose".

All comparisons

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

The numbers that matter right now

Primary-sourced thresholds and allowances — checked against gov.uk, HMRC and the FCA.

All key numbers

£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

Free UK calculators

38 calculators on current 2026/27 rates — no sign-up, instant results.

All calculators

Mortgages & property

Mortgage repayment calculator

Work out your monthly mortgage payment, total interest and the impact of a rate change — in plain pounds and pence.

2026/27 ratesCalculate

Tax & take-home pay

Take-home pay calculator (2026/27)

See exactly how much hits your bank account after Income Tax, National Insurance and your pension contribution — for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

2026/27 ratesCalculate

Mortgages & property

Stamp Duty calculator (England & 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.

2026/27 ratesCalculate

Tax & take-home pay

Council Tax calculator (England)

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.

2026/27 ratesCalculate

Mortgages & property

Mortgage affordability calculator (UK)

Estimate the maximum property price you can target — including a +3% stress-test on the monthly payment and an adjustment for other commitments.

2026/27 ratesCalculate

Pensions

Pension contribution & tax relief calculator

See how much basic, higher and additional-rate tax relief is added to your pension — and what your real out-of-pocket cost is.

2026/27 ratesCalculate

Tax year 2026/27

Key changes for April 2026

Frozen allowances, ISA limits, energy cap and benefit rates — one plain-English round-up of what changed.

Read the hub Key dates

Latest updates

UK money news & analysis

All news

Featured

Equity release rates in July 2026: roll-up maths and alternatives

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 article

Energy & bills5 Jul 2026

Scottish water charges 2026/27: council tax band linkage explained

Scottish 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.

Consumer rights5 Jul 2026

Broadband and TV bundles: total contract cost and mid-contract rises

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.

Energy & bills5 Jul 2026

Business energy contracts: micro-business protections in 2026

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.

Insurance5 Jul 2026

Over-50s life insurance: guaranteed acceptance and inflation erosion

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

Quick answers

393 concise answers in plain English — each links to the full guide underneath.

All answers

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.

How we make money

Money Guide is free to read — no paywall, no sign-up, no display ads. Where a link is marked *, it is a partner link — we receive commission at no extra cost to you when you click and complete an action. Links without a * earn us nothing. Commission never decides what we feature or how we order it.

Read the full policy

Reader-first

Guides answer the question first. Commission funds the site but never decides our editorial ordering — what we feature is chosen on factual criteria, whether or not it pays us.

Plain English

If a guide can't be understood by someone meeting a topic for the first time, it goes back for another draft. Jargon is always explained.

About this service

Common questions

Is the Money Guide really free?: Yes. Every guide is free to read, with no sign-up, no paywall and no charge to readers. The site is funded by partner links, marked * where they exist — if you use a marked link and complete an action, we receive commission at no extra cost to you. Links without a * earn us nothing.
Do you give personal financial advice?: No. We provide general information only. For a personal recommendation you should speak to an FCA-regulated financial adviser, or contact a free regulated service like MoneyHelper or Citizens Advice.
Who writes and checks the guides?: Every guide is written in plain English by our editorial team, fact-checked against the relevant rules from HMRC, the FCA, the PRA and government departments, and reviewed at least every two months. See our editorial policy for the full process.
What is Money Guide?: Money Guide is a free, independent UK personal finance website covering banking, savings, mortgages, pensions, credit, debt, insurance, benefits and tax. It explains HMRC rules, FCA regulations and government thresholds in plain English — with source links on every page.
Is Money Guide regulated by the FCA?: No. Money Guide publishes general information, not regulated financial advice. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority to advise on investments, pensions or insurance products. Always check whether a firm is on the FCA register before taking personal advice.
How often is Money Guide updated?: Pillar guides are reviewed at least every two months. Calculators, tax thresholds and news articles are updated when HMRC, Ofgem, the Bank of England or other primary sources change their published figures — typically around each tax year and Budget.
Does Money Guide use affiliate links?: Only where a link is marked *. A * appears only when a live partner relationship exists — we then receive commission at no extra cost to you when you click and complete an action. Links without a * earn us nothing. We disclose this upfront, follow UK disclosure rules (ASA/CAP), and never order products by what pays the most. See our How we make money page for the full rules.