Personal Finance Articles & Guides
Covering tax changes, ISA rules, mortgages, pensions, and salary.
How to Calculate APR on a UK Car Loan: a Step-by-Step Guide
How to calculate APR in the UK: the statutory formula under SI 2010/1011, a worked car loan example, and how to convert a flat rate into a true APR.
30 May 2026
Salary Sacrifice Pension: How Much Could You Actually Save in 2026/27?
Pension salary sacrifice saves you income tax and NI — 28% for basic-rate taxpayers, 42% for higher-rate. How much could you save in 2026/27?
17 May 2026
How to Claim Higher Rate Pension Tax Relief: A Step-by-Step Guide
Higher and additional rate taxpayers are owed extra pension tax relief HMRC won't pay automatically. Here's how to claim it — including for past years.
9 May 2026
Salary Sacrifice Car: How Much Could You Actually Save in 2026?
Salary sacrifice car schemes can cut the cost of an EV by 30–50% for basic-rate taxpayers. Here's the maths, a worked example, and who benefits most.
5 May 2026
Remortgage LTV: How Your Loan-to-Value Ratio Affects Your Next Deal
How LTV affects remortgaging in the UK: the key rate thresholds, how to calculate your current LTV, and practical ways to improve it before your fixed rate expires.
3 May 2026
PCP vs PCH: Which Is the Better Deal for UK Drivers in 2026?
PCP vs PCH in 2026: the real difference in monthly cost, ownership rights, mileage traps, and which option suits each type of driver. Real UK numbers.
30 April 2026
Fix for 2 Years or 5 Years in 2026: How to Decide
2-year vs 5-year fixed mortgage in 2026: understand ERCs, SVR rollover at 7.15%, and the variables that decide which term fits your situation.
27 April 2026
How to Calculate Inheritance Tax: A Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
How to calculate inheritance tax in 2026: the nil-rate band, residence allowance, taper relief, and spouse transfers explained step by step.
20 April 2026
The LISA Withdrawal Penalty Is Not 25% of Your Bonus. It’s 25% of Everything.
The LISA withdrawal penalty is 25% of everything — not just the bonus. Here’s the maths, the four traps, and whether a LISA is worth opening in 2026.
18 April 2026
Pension Pots Face Inheritance Tax from April 2027: What to Do Now
Pension pots face inheritance tax from April 2027 — unused DC funds count towards your estate at 40%. Around 49,000 more estates will be affected.
18 April 2026
Employer NI Threshold Dropped to £5,000: Why Small Business Owners Are Furious
Employer NI secondary threshold fell from £9,100 to £5,000 in April 2025. The rate rose to 15%, adding roughly £800 per minimum-wage worker each year.
15 April 2026
ISA Allowance is Dropping to £12,000 in 2027: What to Do Before April
ISA allowance drops to £12,000 for cash from 6 April 2027 for under-65s. The 2026/27 tax year is your last chance to use the full £20,000 limit.
15 April 2026