UK articles on investing, pensions and mortgages
Articles
The guides I wish had existed when I started investing. Written for people who are figuring this out for themselves.
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Start with the decisions that usually have the biggest effect on a household plan.
Salary sacrifice in the 2026/27 tax year
How the pension boost compares with the take-home pay you give up; and the catches to check first.
8 min read · Updated May 2026 MortgagesShould I overpay my mortgage or invest?
A cleaner way to compare the certainty of debt reduction with the uncertainty of market returns.
9 min read · May 2026 InvestingISA vs pension: which should come first?
The trade-off depends on whether you need access or tax efficiency; and most people need to think about both.
7 min read · May 2026 Planning basicsHow much emergency fund do I need?
How to move beyond the standard rule of thumb and find a number that fits your situation.
6 min read · May 2026 RetirementHow long will my pension pot last?
Why the length of time a pension lasts depends on far more than just the pot size.
8 min read · May 2026Browse by topic
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Scenario-led articles, worked examples and calculator companions.
Salary Sacrifice Examples at £40k, £50k, £60k, £80k and £100k
See what a 10% pension sacrifice looks like at different incomes, including the real take-home pay trade-off.
What Happens If I Salary Sacrifice Below £50,270?
Why £50,270 is a useful checkpoint, but not a magic line everyone should chase.
Mortgage Overpayment vs Investing at 3%, 4%, 5% and 6% Rates
At 3% the argument feels different from 6%. This guide shows why the mortgage rate changes the whole decision.
ISA vs Pension for Basic-Rate and Higher-Rate Taxpayers
A side-by-side look at why the pension advantage grows for some taxpayers, while ISA flexibility still matters.
The ISA Bridge to Early Retirement
How to use ISAs to fund the years before your pension unlocks, how big a bridge you need, and where a Lifetime ISA fits.
How Much Do I Need Invested to Withdraw £1,000 a Month?
Translate a simple monthly income goal into the pot size it might require under different withdrawal assumptions.
Emergency Fund Examples for Renters, Homeowners and Families
Different households need different buffers. A renter, homeowner and family do not carry the same risk.
Is Salary Sacrifice Worth It?
When pension salary sacrifice is efficient, what it can affect, and why employer NI give-back matters.
What Is the 60% Tax Trap?
How the £100,000 Personal Allowance taper works and why pension contributions can change the maths.
ISA vs Pension: Which Should Come First?
A practical guide to flexibility, tax efficiency, employer contributions and access age; with the calculator for testing your own figures.
Should I Overpay My Mortgage or Invest?
Compare certainty, risk, tax wrappers and time horizon before choosing where spare cash goes.
Should I Overpay My Mortgage or Pay Into My Pension?
Why pension tax relief usually wins on the numbers, what the lock-up costs you, and when overpaying still makes sense.
How Much Emergency Fund Do I Need in the UK?
Work out whether one month, three months, six months or more is sensible for your household.
How Long Will My Pension Pot Last?
Understand withdrawals, investment returns, inflation, tax and sequence risk in retirement drawdown.
Where Overpaying Your Mortgage Actually Wins: 125 UK Scenarios Analysed
Original analysis comparing mortgage overpayment against investing across rates, returns and wrappers.
How Much Should I Invest Each Month?
How to pick a contribution that survives normal life, rather than one that only works on a perfect spreadsheet.
Review dates and assumptions where they matter
Tax-sensitive articles show when they were checked and link back to the assumptions behind the calculators. The full legal wording stays on the disclaimer page, instead of cluttering every article.