Free Microfinance Calculators & Money Tools

Remortgaging explained UK style is simple: it’s switching your current mortgage to a new deal — either with a new lender or your current one — without moving house. You do it when your fixed or tracker deal ends, because drifting onto your lender’s standard variable rate (SVR) at around 7% is almost always far … Read More “Remortgaging Explained: The 6-Month Window Most People Miss (UK 2026)” »

PCP vs HP vs lease UK — on a £25,000 family car, hire purchase costs roughly £30,000 over four years but the car ends up yours, PCP costs around £20,000 over three years if you hand it back, and leasing costs about £13,650 with nothing to show for it. The trap? Judging by monthly payments … Read More “PCP vs HP vs Lease: The Honest Total-Cost Comparison (UK 2026)” »

How long does debt stay on credit file records in the UK? In most cases it’s six years from the date of the marker — a default, a CCJ, an IVA or a bankruptcy — after which the record drops off automatically. And no, the “7-year rule” you see quoted everywhere doesn’t apply here: that’s … Read More “How Long Does Debt Stay on Your Credit File? The 6-Year Rule (UK)” »

What happens if you only pay minimum on credit card? On a £3,000 balance at 24% APR, paying only the minimum takes around 28 years to clear and costs £4,750–£5,200 in interest alone — more than the debt itself. Most of every payment goes to interest, so the balance barely moves. Here is how the … Read More “What Happens If You Only Pay the Minimum on Your Credit Card (UK)” »

No — is 40 too late to start a pension? Absolutely not. Starting a pension at 40 still gives you 27 years of growth until age 67, and with tax relief, employer contributions and compound growth, a modest monthly payment can still build a meaningful pot. Look, forty isn’t the finish line — it’s the … Read More “Is 40 Too Late to Start a Pension? The Honest Maths (UK)” »

Learning how to find lost pensions UK is simpler than most people think: the free government Pension Tracing Service helps you track down old workplace and personal pension pots using just your employer’s name and employment dates. About 3.3 million pension pots are believed lost or forgotten, worth an estimated £31.1 billion. Here’s how to … Read More “Lost Pensions: How to Trace Old Pots for Free (UK 2026)” »

Premium Bonds vs Savings Account: The After-Tax Truth The premium bonds vs savings account debate turns on tax: Premium Bond prizes are completely tax-free, while savings interest above your Personal Savings Allowance is taxed at your income tax rate. For a higher-rate taxpayer who’s used their ISA allowance, tax-free prizes can beat a headline 4.5% … Read More “Premium Bonds vs Savings Account: The After-Tax Truth (2026)” »

Authorised Push Payment Fraud Refund: Your Rights After a Bank Transfer Scam Since 7 October 2024, an authorised push payment fraud refund is no longer a favour — it’s a legal right. If you were tricked into sending money to a scammer’s UK account, your bank must reimburse you up to £85,000 in most cases, … Read More “APP Fraud: How to Get Your Money Back After a Bank Transfer Scam (UK)” »

Help to Save Scheme Explained: A 50% Bonus on Your Savings With the help to save scheme explained simply: if you’re on Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit, the government adds 50p for every £1 you save, up to a £1,200 bonus over four years. You save between £1 and £50 a month, and the … Read More “Help to Save: The 50% Government Bonus Most Low Earners Miss (2026)” »

Marriage Allowance: How to Claim Up to £1,259 Back Learning marriage allowance how to claim takes about ten minutes and can put £252 a year back in your pocket: the lower-earning partner transfers £1,260 of their unused Personal Allowance to the other, cutting the higher earner’s tax bill. Claims can be backdated four years, so … Read More “Marriage Allowance: How to Claim Up to £1,259 Tax Back (2026/27)” »