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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.
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.