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Money guides for UK households

Karl Johnson

Karl Johnson

Founder and editor, GetSmartSaver.Uk · Coventry, United Kingdom

Karl Johnson launched GetSmartSaver.Uk in 2026 to give UK households one honest place to compare savings accounts, household bills and everyday deals. He researches, writes and verifies every guide on the site personally.

His day job is operations management for a UK manufacturer and wholesaler, running multi-site P&L across more than 30 retail stores, negotiating supplier contracts, and owning the compliance side of the business — including acting as the named HMRC responsible person for a UK excise duty regime. That is where the method behind this site comes from: go to the primary source, check every figure against the provider's own documentation, and never publish a number you cannot evidence.

Karl is not a financial adviser and GetSmartSaver.Uk is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Everything here is written from the position of a household consumer doing the research properly — rates checked against each provider's own website, terms read in full, and the working shown so you can check it yourself. Where a guide is wrong or out of date, he wants to hear about it: team@getsmartsaver.co.uk.

Based in Coventry, West Midlands.

How the guides on this site are researched

  • Every rate, fee and eligibility rule is checked against the provider’s own website or the relevant regulator before publication, and re-checked on a rolling schedule.
  • Interest rates are checked against the Bank of England Bank Rate; deposit protection against the FSCS checker; firm authorisation against the FCA Register; energy caps against Ofgem; and tax and allowance rules against GOV.UK.
  • Claims that cannot be traced to a primary source are removed rather than hedged. Several have been.
  • Corrections are acted on the same week and the page’s verification date is updated. Report one at team@getsmartsaver.co.uk.

Independence

GetSmartSaver.Uk is published by a sole trader and is not owned by, or affiliated with, any bank, broker, comparison group or lead-generation network. Some links earn a commission — that never changes which products are recommended or how they are ranked. See how we make money.

Karl is not a financial adviser and this site is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Nothing here is personal financial advice. For free impartial guidance, see MoneyHelper.

Contact · LinkedIn

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Showing 190 guides
Tax 21 Jul 2026
Capital Gains Tax UK 2026: Rates, Allowances and How to Legally Cut Your Bill
Your plain-English guide to Capital Gains Tax for 2026/27: the £3,000 allowance, the 18 and 24 per cent rates, how to report and pay, and eight legal ways to shrink your CGT bill.
Mortgages 12 Sep 2026
Mortgage Rates 2026: Will They Fall, and How to Get the Best Deal Now
Bank Rate is 3.75 per cent, average fixes sit near 5.5 per cent but the best buys are already back under 4.2 per cent. Here is where UK mortgage rates are heading in 2026 and how to lock in a good deal.
Family Finances 12 Sep 2026
Back-to-School Costs 2026: How to Budget for the New School Year
UK parents face an average back-to-school bill of around £450 per child in 2026. Here’s a realistic budget breakdown, the new uniform rules, the help available, and 12 ways to cut the cost.
Groceries 12 Sep 2026
Cheapest UK Supermarket 2026: Aldi vs Lidl vs Tesco vs Asda vs Sainsbury’s Compared
Which UK supermarket is genuinely cheapest in 2026? We compare Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's using the latest Which? basket data, explain how Clubcard and Nectar prices distort the picture, and give a clear verdict plus 10 ways to cut your grocery bill.
Energy 21 Jul 2026
Energy Price Cap October 2026: Latest Forecast and What It Means for Your Bills
The July 2026 price cap sits at £1,862 a year. Cornwall Insight forecasts October at roughly £1,899 — but a methodology change could make the headline look lower. Here is what it means for you.
Mortgages 12 Sep 2026
Should You Overpay Your Mortgage in 2026? Overpay vs Save vs Invest
Overpaying your mortgage can save tens of thousands in interest and cut years off your term, but in 2026 it only beats saving when your rate wins. Here is how to decide.
Savings 12 Sep 2026
Bank of England 30 July 2026: Will Interest Rates Finally Be Cut?
Bank Rate is 3.75 per cent and the next decision lands on 30 July 2026. Most economists expect a hold. Here is what it means for savers, mortgages and borrowers.
Holidays & Travel 21 Jul 2026
EU Hand Luggage Rules 2026: The ‘Free’ Cabin Bag Truth
The EU's July 2026 vote promised a 'free cabin bag' - but the reality is nuanced and nothing changes this summer. What UK travellers should do now.
Provider Reviews 12 Sep 2026
Plum Review 2026: Auto-Saving, Cash ISA and Investing — Is It Worth It?
A balanced review of the Plum app for UK savers and investors in 2026. We cover auto-saving features, the Cash ISA rate (currently 4.60% AER for new deposits), subscription tiers, investing fees, FSCS protection, and how Plum compares to Moneybox and Chip.
Cashback 12 Sep 2026
Airtime Rewards Review 2026: Free Money Off Your Phone Bill?
Airtime (formerly Airtime Rewards) lets you earn cashback just by shopping with your linked card. But how much can you realistically save, which networks are supported, and is it safe? Our balanced 2026 review.
Insurance 21 Jul 2026
Home Insurance in a Heatwave: Subsidence, Storms and Summer Claims
As temperatures soar this summer, your home faces risks you might not have considered. From subsidence on clay soil to flash-flood damage after a dry spell, here is what your buildings insurance covers, what the excesses look like, and how to cut your premium without cutting your protection.
Broadband 21 Jul 2026
The UK Landline Switch-Off 2027: What the PSTN Digital Switchover Means for You
The old analogue phone network shuts down on 31 January 2027. Here is what the PSTN digital switchover means for your home phone, your bills, and what to do if you use a telecare alarm or live somewhere with patchy mobile signal.
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