Guides
How the fees, protections and rules behind money apps work, with the US and UK covered side by side.
APY, AER and APR: how interest rates are quoted in the US and UK
What APY, AER, gross rate and APR mean, how compounding, fees and tax change them, and how to compare rates on the same basis.
Guide · US & UK
Zero-based, 50/30/20 and envelope budgeting: how they differ
Three common budgeting methods explained with worked examples, including how each copes with irregular freelance income and yearly bills.
Guide · US & UK
Charge, credit, debit and prepaid expense cards: how they differ
The four kinds of company card behind expense platforms, and what each means for repayment, interest, limits, liability and who holds your money.
Guide · US & UK
How exchange-rate markups hide the real cost of sending money abroad
The fee is only part of what a transfer costs. Here is how to measure the margin hidden in the exchange rate, with worked examples and a check that works from any quote.
Guide · US & UK
FDIC vs FSCS: what protects a business account, and what e-money and fintech accounts lack
How deposit protection works for business accounts in the US and UK, how the limits are counted, and what changes when a fintech, partner bank or e-money institution sits in the middle.
Guide · US & UK
How credit-builder loans work, and what they really cost
A credit-builder loan holds the money you borrow as savings until you have repaid it. Here is how it works, what it costs, what the research found, and the alternatives.
Guide · US & UK
Investing app fees explained: platform fees, subscriptions, fund costs and spreads
Commission-free trading removed one layer of cost, not all of them. Here are the rest, with examples from US and UK apps and what each adds up to over time.
Guide · US & UK
How invoice payment fees work: card, ACH, bank transfer and direct debit
When a client pays through an invoice link, you receive less than the invoice total. Here is what each payment method costs, how to estimate it per month, and the rules on surcharges and late payment.
Guide · US & UK
Is a neobank a bank? Charters, partner banks and e-money explained
A neobank is a banking app, and it may or may not be a bank. Here are the three models behind the apps, what each means for protection, and how to check the one you use.
Guide · US & UK
Filing taxes as self-employed: Schedule C and estimated tax vs Self Assessment and Making Tax Digital
Working for yourself means paying tax yourself, during the year as well as at the end. Here is how the US and UK systems work, with dates, rates and worked examples.
Guide · US & UK
What an employee really costs: US payroll taxes vs UK employer National Insurance
The salary is only the visible part. Here are the employer taxes, minimum pay rules and statutory costs on top of it in the US and UK, with worked examples.