About

UK Smart Money is written by Mitica Lazer. I have lived and worked in the UK for nine years, on construction sites, as a steel erector.

This site exists for a straightforward reason. Rent, transport and the general cost of living here climbed faster than my wages did. So I started working out where the money was going and what could be done about it — comparing tariffs, chasing cashback, checking whether the deals being advertised were actually deals.

A lot of what I found online was useless. Pages full of confident advice with no numbers in them. Articles that clearly existed to push you toward a sign-up button rather than to help you decide anything. Savings claims that fell apart the moment you did the arithmetic yourself.

So I started writing down what I actually found, with the figures attached. That is what this site is.

Who this is for

People in the same position I was in: working full time, watching the bills go up, and wanting a straight answer about whether something is worth the money.

I am not a financial adviser and I do not pretend to be one. What I can do is read the terms properly, find the current numbers, do the maths, and tell you what I found — including when the answer is that something is not worth it.

How I write these articles

• Numbers, with dates and sources. Energy prices, tariff rates and grant deadlines change constantly. Every figure I publish is dated and attributed so you can check it or see when it has gone stale.
• The maths is shown, not summarised. If I say something pays back in twelve years, the calculation is in the article with its assumptions stated. You can disagree with my assumptions — but you can see them.
• The downsides go in. If a product has a catch, a short warranty, or an expensive finance option, that goes in the article. A review that only lists positives is an advert.
• I say when I do not know. Where something could not be verified, or where the rules were still being finalised, the article says so rather than guessing.

How the site makes money

You can read the full terms on the Affiliate Disclaimer page.

What I cover

Household energy and solar, mobile and broadband deals, cashback and voucher schemes, everyday banking and saving, and shopping — mostly the areas where I have had to work things out for myself.

Corrections

If you spot something wrong — an out-of-date rate, a broken calculation, a scheme that has closed — please tell me. I would rather fix an article than leave bad information up. Corrections get made and the update date on the article changes.

Nothing on this site is financial advice. It is information to help you make your own decision. For advice about your specific circumstances, speak to a qualified adviser.

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