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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 Where a guide is wrong or out of date, he wants to hear about it: team@getsmartsaver.co.uk.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
Holidays & Travel 21 Jul 2026
EES and ETIAS 2026: What UK Travellers Need to Know Before Visiting Europe
The EU's Entry/Exit System is now live and ETIAS is coming in late 2026. Here is what UK travellers need to know: biometrics at the border, the €20 ETIAS fee, key dates, who is exempt, and how to cut your card fees abroad.
Family Finances 12 Sep 2026
Father’s Day on a Budget UK 2026: 30 Gift Ideas Under £75
Father's Day 2026 is Sunday 21 June. Average UK spend is £54.38 — here are 30 thoughtful gift ideas under £75 plus free ideas dads remember most.
Tax 12 Sep 2026
Personal Savings Allowance UK 2026: How Much Savings Interest Is Tax-Free?
HMRC's savings interest tax take quadrupled in four years to £10.4 billion. A 2026 UK guide to the Personal Savings Allowance, the £5,000 Starting Rate for Savings, the ISA tipping point and how to legally keep your interest tax-free.
Mobile 21 Jul 2026
Mid-Contract Mobile Price Rises UK 2026: Your Rights and How to Exit
Ofcom rewrote the UK mid-contract price-rise rules on 17 January 2025, but customers are still being hit with £1.50 to £4 a month hikes. A 2026 guide to your rights, exit options and how to cut your bill.
Family Finances 21 Jul 2026
Tax-Free Childcare UK 2026: How to Get £2,000 Per Child From the Government
Up to 2 million UK working families are eligible for Tax-Free Childcare worth £2,000 a year per child, but only a third claim it. A 2026 guide to how the scheme works, who qualifies, and the pitfalls that cost families thousands.
Estate Planning 21 Jul 2026
Inheritance Tax Planning UK 2026: How to Reduce Your Family’s IHT Bill
A 2026 UK pillar guide to inheritance tax planning: the £325k and £175k allowances, the 7-year rule, pensions falling into IHT from April 2027, BPR/APR reform, gifts, trusts and worked examples to cut your family's bill.
Council Tax 2 Aug 2026
Council Tax Reduction UK 2026: Who Qualifies and How to Claim Up to 100% Off
Complete guide to Council Tax Reduction in the UK 2026. Means-tested help worth up to 100% off your bill, how schemes differ in England, Scotland and Wales, other discounts and exemptions, and how to apply.
Tax 21 Jul 2026
Marriage Allowance UK 2026: How to Claim £252 a Year (and Backdate £1,008)
Marriage Allowance UK 2026 guide. Transfer £1,260 of personal allowance to your spouse and save £252 a year in tax — plus backdate up to 4 tax years for a £1,008 lump sum. Free to claim direct from HMRC.
Pensions 21 Jul 2026
Workplace Pension Guide UK 2026: Auto-Enrolment, Tax Relief and Whether to Opt Out
Complete guide to UK workplace pensions in 2026. Auto-enrolment minimums, tax relief mechanics, salary sacrifice, default funds, opt-out impact, and what happens at retirement.
Mortgages 12 Sep 2026
First-Time Buyer Mortgage Guide UK 2026: Deposits, Schemes and Stamp Duty
Complete first-time buyer mortgage guide for the UK in 2026. Deposits, rates by LTV, stamp duty after the April 2025 reversion, Lifetime ISA, Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, Shared Ownership and a £250,000 worked example.
Provider Reviews 12 Sep 2026
eToro UK Review 2026: 0% Commission Stocks, CopyTrader and Real Risks
Advertising disclosure: This review contains affiliate links. If you open an eToro account through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost…
Family Finances 12 Sep 2026
Best Children’s Bank Accounts UK 2026: Compared and Ranked
Compare the best UK children's bank accounts and spending cards for 2026. Nationwide FlexOne, GoHenry, NatWest Rooster Money, Starling Kite, HSBC, Lloyds and more — fees, age limits, FSCS protection and verdict.
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