If you search “best dividend stocks UK”, you’ll find endless lists of tickers with big yields next to them. The problem is that yield alone is not the goal. A dividend that gets cut is not income, it is a warning sign you ignored. A truly strong dividend stock usually has three traits working together: … Read more
Monthly dividend income sounds like the dream: money landing in your account every month while you get on with life. The reality is a bit more nuanced, especially in the UK, where many companies pay dividends quarterly or twice a year. But you absolutely can build a portfolio that pays you monthly. You just need … Read more
Dividends can feel like “easy money” when they land in your account. But if you hold shares outside an ISA, dividends can also create a tax bill you did not plan for, especially once you start building a serious portfolio. The good news is that UK dividend tax is actually predictable once you understand four … Read more
Capital Gains Tax (CGT) sounds complicated because people talk about it in tax jargon. In real life, it’s built on one simple idea: If you sell something for more than you paid for it, the profit may be taxable. Where most beginners get stuck is everything around that profit: what counts as a “sale”, which … Read more
Credit cards can either be a powerful tool or an expensive trap. Used correctly, they help you build credit history, protect purchases, and smooth cash flow without paying a penny of interest. Used badly, they quietly drain your income through APR, fees, and minimum payment debt that never seems to end. This guide is designed … Read more
If you have more than one debt, the hardest part is not the maths. It’s the feeling of being pulled in three directions at once. One card is charging scary interest, another has a smaller balance that annoys you, and the loan payment sits there every month like a permanent tax on your life. That’s … Read more
Mortgage overpayments are one of the most underrated ways to improve your finances. Overpaying can cut years off your mortgage, reduce the total interest you pay, and give you a powerful sense of progress. But most homeowners ask the same question: Is it better to overpay monthly, or make lump sum overpayments when you can? … Read more
Remortgaging is one of the easiest ways to save serious money as a homeowner, yet many people leave it too late and end up drifting onto an expensive standard variable rate. Others remortgage at the wrong time, pay unnecessary charges, or choose a deal that looks cheap on paper but becomes costly once fees and … Read more
Choosing between a fixed-rate mortgage and a tracker mortgage is one of the biggest money decisions you’ll make as a homeowner. Get it right and your payments feel predictable and manageable. Get it wrong and you can end up stressed, overpaying, or locked into a deal that does not fit your life. The internet often … Read more
If you’ve ever typed “How much can I borrow for a mortgage?” into Google, you’ve probably seen a quick calculator give you a number that looks exciting… then reality hits when a lender offers less (or asks for a mountain of paperwork). Here’s the truth: mortgage borrowing in the UK is not just a simple … Read more