Honest money, worth reading.

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Latest · Pensions & retirement

Your pension is above average. That means less than you think.

The average pension pot by age in the UK, restated in 2026 money. Two very different medians, why everyone quotes the wrong one, and what yours buys.

23 August 20268 min readThe honest numbers

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More blog posts

A couple looking up at a row of terraced houses

Mortgages

Can you still afford a house in the UK?

Can you still afford a house in the UK? The average home is £271,000 and the average first-time buyer puts down £63,855. The honest 2026 maths.

20 Aug 20268 min

A father and his daughter marking a date on a wall calendar together

Pensions & retirement

How much should you save a month to retire at 60?

How much should you save a month to retire at 60? A solved number, not a rule of thumb: £2,168 for a 35-year-old wanting £30k a year, and what moves it.

18 Aug 20267 min

A grandfather sitting back in a deckchair in the garden, at ease

Pensions & retirement

When can you stop saving for retirement?

When can you stop saving for retirement? The Coast FIRE numbers by age, a worked UK example, and the two catches before you stop contributing.

18 Aug 20267 min

A couple standing between two savings jars, deciding which to fill first

Pensions & retirement

ISA or pension first? The £167,000 retirement decision nobody explains.

ISA or pension first in retirement? On a £600k pension and £200k ISA, the order alone changes the lifetime tax bill by £167,300 and buys four more years.

16 Aug 20268 min

A mother opening a letter and reading it with concern

Mortgages

Your fixed rate is ending. Here's what actually happens next.

Your fixed rate is ending and your payment is about to jump. Here's the real UK timeline, what the SVR costs you, and the six months that decide the bill.

12 Aug 20268 min

A mother holding her baby, looking down at them fondly

Household

How much emergency fund do you actually need?

Three months? Six? The honest UK answer depends on your job, your household and your fixed costs - with worked numbers and how long it really takes to build.

12 Aug 20267 min

A father holding a set of keys and a bundle of letters outside a rented flat

Pensions & retirement

You're a 40% landlord. How to save tax on your rental income.

How can a 40% landlord save tax on rental income? The honest 2026/27 ways to pay less: expenses, a company, salary sacrifice and a SIPP.

9 Aug 20269 min

A mother and father at a kitchen table, each considering a different option

Mortgages

Overpay the mortgage, or invest?

Should you overpay your mortgage or invest instead? The honest UK maths, a worked example, and a live calculator for your own numbers.

9 Aug 20267 min

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