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Updated September 24, 2026 | Articles

Best starter credit cards for first time borrowers

If you don’t have any credit history or are looking to rebuild your credit report, then specialist credit cards could help

Want to get a mortgage, credit card, loan or other form of borrowing? A healthy credit report can be the difference between acceptance and rejection, a good rate or a bad rate.

There are plenty of things you can do to strengthen your credit file – registering to vote at your current address, paying bills on time checking your report for errors and having a bank account all help. And alongside these is to spend on a credit card.

That might seem counter-intuitive. Using a credit card is to spend money that isn’t yours to make you seem a better bet for banks. After all, if you don’t need to borrow then surely it’s better to not have a card?

Well, what you’re doing by using a card showing you are a responsible borrower. That you can be given credit and you’ll pay it back on time.

Here’s more on how this helps your credit report and how to find the best starter and first time credit building cards.

Some articles on the site contain affiliate links, which provide a small commission to help fund our work. However, they won’t affect the price you pay or our editorial independence. Read more here.

Using credit cards to boost your credit file

There are some key rules you need to follow to make sure spending on a credit card helps rather than hurts your credit report.

Use them only for everyday spending

A very simple one to start. Having a credit card shouldn’t encourage you to buy things you wouldn’t normally be able to afford.

Instead use it only for everyday spending. I often suggest something like supermarket shopping or filling up on petrol. You might be able to pay some bills with your credit card too.

This way you’re just swapping spending on your debit card for spending on your credit card.

It helps to avoid temptation if you only take it with you when you are going to make that regular purchase, and leave it at home the rest of the time.

It doesn’t matter if you use it just once a month, or every day, it’s regular payments that matter. I would say you do want to be spending on it at least once a month though. Longer gaps will mean it takes longer to help boost your score.

Clear the card in full every month

It’s vital that you remember to pay off the card in full. This shows you are responsible and can pay back what your borrow. Big tick for that credit report.

But it also means you’ll avoid getting charged interest. Credit cards have high-interest rates, generally starting at 19% and going above 50%. This is added on each month to any money not cleared.

If you clear the balance in full the same month you’re billed, you can dodge that interest charge entirely for most things.

You can do this whenever you want, but it’s probably best not to do it as soon as you spend on the card as you need time for the spending to be reported to the credit reference agencies, which might just be monthly when the statement is issued.

You can do this manually via a bank transfer, but it’s probably better to set up a direct debit for the full amount. Doing this means you won’t forget, though you’ll need to ensure there’s enough cash in your linked current account to cover the payment.

If you can’t afford to pay the full amount you owe, then pay as much as you can. And that needs to be at least the minimum repayment. This varies and is set by the card provider. Fail to do this and you’ll be hit by charges and it’ll be shown on your credit file – going against the good work you’re doing to improve your credit score.

However, it’s worth pointing out that if you’ve not spent on the card and don’t owe anything, there will be no minimum to pay.

One final note – a few things will get interest charged on them from the same day you use the card. These are frequently called “cash-like” transactions. So buying foreign currency, using a cash machine, buying things like stocks and shares and crypto or buying a lottery ticket using the card should be avoided if possible.

Watch out for spending the money twice

Though you’ll be spending on things you’d normally buy, that money doesn’t leave your current account until you pay off the card.

There’s the risk that you’ll see the extra cash in your bank account and forget you need it to clear the card. So you spend it elsewhere.

If you are worried about this you can actually transfer the money from your current account into a sub account (either a “pot” or “space” or a completely different one just for credit card spending) as soon as you spend.

Then you can pay the credit card bill from this account and be guaranteed to have enough cash set aside. It might be sensible to add a little extra in there in case you forget, but to be extra safe just put a note in your diary before the direct debit is due to leave the account that the balance is high enough.

Try not to use more than 30% of your credit limit

Lenders often look at something called “credit utilisation”. This is how much of your available credit you use.

Though it’ll be different for every credit card company, a good rule of thumb is to keep that level below 30%. The closer you are to this level each month the better it reflects on your overall report.

So if you have a £500 credit limit you don’t want to owe more than £150 on that card.

However, this isn’t a target to aim for. If you don’t have normal spending that you can put on a credit card to increase your credit utilisation, or if you’re worried about budgeting if you put too much on there, then stick to what you have. It’ll be worse to spend money you don’t have just to get closer to 30%.

Finally, from a credit score perspective, getting into £5 of debt then repaying it on time is just as good as getting into £100 and clearing that. So erring on the side of caution in terms of how much you spend each month will do you no harm at all.

Focus on credit building

There are a number of other reasons credit cards can be useful – extra consumer protection, cashback and rewards, 0% spending and cutting the cost of debts. But I’d try to not get distracted.

Keep it simple by just spending and repaying, spending and repaying, and so on, month after month. Once you’re comfortable with this, and your credit report has improved, you can look at better cards.

The best credit card deals

Check out my list of the best credit card offers and promotions

Is a starter credit card right for you?

A starter or first time credit card can be the right move if:

You have little to no credit history – for example if you’ve just turned 18 or recently moved to the UK
You’ve had credit problems in the past and need to rebuild your report
You’re confident you can clear the balance in full every month

It’s probably not the right move if you’re likely to carry a balance, since starter cards typically charge higher interest rates than mainstream cards. In that case, building credit through everyday banking habits alone may be a better starting point.

Applying for credit building credit cards

Some get caught in the vicious circle of not having enough of a credit history to get accepted for a credit card, but needing a credit card to help improve their report in order to get one.

The problem is that officially applying for credit leaves a mark on your credit file everyone else can see. And someone who’s applied for credit, and been rejected, half a dozen times in a few months doesn’t exactly seem like a safe bet. That means every rejection makes it harder still to get another card.

So how do you avoid this?

Check your eligibility

Many credit card providers will let you undertake a ‘soft’ eligibility check before a full ‘hard’ application. Do this and you’ll know whether you’ll get the card or not, or at least see your chances of acceptance.

Personally, unless there’s a very specific card you are after, I’d go via a comparison site such as Money Saving Expert’s Credit Club. This will show you your chances against a range of different cards. You can then pick the card with the highest chance of acceptance.

Here’s more on how these checks work.

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Look at specialist credit building credit cards

Though any spending and repaying on any credit card will help you improve your credit report, if you’re starting from scratch or have had problems with credit in the past you’ll probably want to look at a specific credit building card.

These are easier to get, but often come with restrictions. The interest rate for a start is likely to be higher than you’ll see on other cards, but this shouldn’t be an issue if you are clearing the balance completely each month.

You’ll also probably get a relatively low credit limit. But that is no bad thing either as it prevents you spending too much on the cards.

Watch out for representative APR

Though I’d encourage you to not get a credit card if you think you’re going to pay the interest charges, it makes sense to be aware of what you could be charged just in case.

Sadly it’s not as easy as just picking the card with the lowest rate as only 51% of successful applicants need to be offered the advertised rate – meaning 49% could pay more, sometimes a lot more.

Best starter and first-time credit cards

The best starter or first-time credit card is the one you’ve got the best chance of getting (so check that eligibility). But if you’ve got a choice I think these cards are worth considering as your first credit card. They’re designed for building credit and they come with some welcome cash if you’re accepted.

Tesco Bank Foundation Credit Card

£25 cashback via TopCashback
1 bonus Clubcard point for every £4 spent at Tesco
1 bonus Clubcard point for every £8 spent elsewhere
£200 to £1,500 credit limit
29.9% APR

Going via TopCashback will earn you around £25 (the amount can vary). Once you have this card it offers money back when you spend – but don’t get too excited. You’d need to spend £100 a month for a year outside of Tesco to even make £1.50 – and that’s only if you are spending full multiples of £8 each time.

Check eligibility at Tesco Bank

Barclaycard Forward Credit Card

£15 cashback via Quidco
£50 to £1,200 credit limit
33.9% APR
0% interest for six months on purchases and balance transfers

My second pick also comes with cashback when you successfully apply, this time via Quidco.

If you think you will have to pay interest then the rate will drop by 3% after year one and another 2% after year two if you make all your payments on time and stay within your credit limit. Of course, you might be able to get a lower rate straight off from another card.

This also, somewhat rarely for a credit building card, has a 0% interest period for balance transfers and new purchases. This doesn’t mean you don’t have to repay any money for six months – you always need to make at least the minimum payment. But it does mean if you don’t clear your balance in full one month you might be able to avoid interest payments.

Check eligibility at Barclaycard

Asda Money Select Credit Card

£20 rewards for new customers paid into their Asda rewards cashpot
0.75% cashback on Asda purchases
0.2% cashback elsewhere
Up to £1,200 credit limit
39.8% APR

This is a nifty little card if you regularly shop at Asda, giving you rewards for spending on it. There are a few exceptions on what the cashback is paid out on, but getting a reward on top of your credit building is nice to see.

Just make sure you’re clearing it in full each month, otherwise the hefty 39.8% interest will wipe out any rewards you earn incredibly quickly.

See the full details on Asda

Expert thoughts on starter and first time credit cards from Be Clever With Your Cash

The credit card itself matters far less than the discipline of how it’s used. A starter card with a £200 limit, used for one recurring purchase and cleared in full every month, will do more for a credit report over six months than a premium rewards card used carelessly. They have the added bonus of being an awful lot more likely to accept someone with poor or even no credit history.

It’s worth resisting the urge to chase perks or a higher limit early on – the goal at this stage is simply demonstrating reliability.

The eligibility trap catches a lot of first time applicants unnecessarily. Applying speculatively for cards without checking eligibility first generates hard searches that can make the underlying problem – thin or damaged credit history – harder to overcome. A soft eligibility check costs nothing and removes almost all of that risk, so there’s rarely a good reason to skip it before applying.

Once a starter card has done its job, there’s no obligation to upgrade immediately. Keeping the original card open, even lightly used, preserves the account history that contributed to the improved score in the first place. Closing it the moment a better card arrives can undo some of that progress by lowering your total available credit and potentially increasing your credit utilisation score (ie the percentage of all your available credit you’re using).

Updated September 24, 2026 | Articles

What is a credit score, how does it work & how to check it

James Andrews

“Credit score” is a phrase you might occasionally hear or think about. Maybe even worry about. But do you understand it?

In short: a credit score is a number, based on the information in your credit report, that reflects how reliable a borrower you are. Lenders use it to help decide whether to offer you credit, and on what terms.

I’ve known about credit scores since I was a teen, but it wasn’t until much, much later I realised how odd that made me. Far more people only really encounter them when they are unexpectedly refused something – and it could be anything from a mortgage to a sofa on credit. Then they try to get smart, fast.

Fortunately, credit scores follow some simple rules, and it’s free to check yours – and even correct any errors that may have crept in – which means you should never face an unexpected rejection.

Here’s my Be Clever Basics guide.

Credit score vs credit report

Before we talk about your credit score, we need to talk about how it is different to your credit report. These terms are often used interchangeably, but they aren’t the same thing.

What is a credit score?

A credit score, or credit rating as it is sometimes called, is based on this information in your credit report. It’s basically a number that reflects how good or bad your credit report is. You actually have three of these, one for each of the credit reference agencies in the UK, and all will be slightly different.

What is a credit report?

A credit report, or credit file, is basically a record of your financial history. Any account that’s required a credit check will be on there as well as any money you owe. It also shows how long you’ve had the account and your payment history, including missed or late payments.

Other elements in your report include details of any bankruptcy, county court judgments and other debt solutions.

You’ll also see your address history and records of any financial connections you have, such as joint accounts and joint mortgages.

What is the difference between a credit score and credit report?

The key differences between a credit score and credit report are:

Credit report – your full financial history, including accounts, payment history, debt, addresses and court judgements
Credit score – a single number generated from your credit report by a credit reference agency
You have one credit report per agency, and one credit score per agency – three of each in total
Lenders may see either or both, depending on the checks they run

Why lenders check your credit report

Your credit report is one of the leading factors that influence lenders when they’re deciding whether to offer you a product or loan.

Using the details on the report they’ll work out whether you’re likely to be a good or bad customer for them. That’s not just about how likely it is you’ll be able to afford the borrowing, but also how likely it is they’ll make money from you.

The data in the file can also affect how much you’ll be lent, the length of a deal (e.g. 0% balance transfer cards) or the interest rate offered.

Your credit report is also frequently used to verify your identity, so can be accessed by employers and landlords as well as lenders.

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When lenders search your credit report

Your report isn’t just searched when you apply for “serious” financial products like mortgages, loans and credit cards. Everyday consumer contracts are subject to searches too.

That’s because you’re essentially asking for credit when you open a new bank account, get a contract mobile phone and switch your utilities.

Even paying your home or car insurance by Direct Debit requires a credit check (it’s usually cheaper to pay these in a lump sum if you can).

Hard checks vs soft checks

Any application for credit will be subject to something called a “hard” search. This will then appear on your report for other lenders to see, whether you’re successful or not. They’ll stay there for 12 months.

However, if your report is looked at by comparison sites or to assess eligibility, this is actually a “soft” check, and though you can see it on your file, lenders can’t.

This distinction can be really important, especially to reduce the chances you’ll get rejected for a new credit card.

Do credit scores matter and how do credit scores work?

To answer this you need to explain how credit scores work. Put simply, though the score reflects your report, lenders all judge what’s on that report differently.

On top of that, you are also allowed to put notes on your own credit file to explain things, and lenders have to take these into account when making a decision. That bit, however, doesn’t go into your score.

You’ll also have put information on the application form when you apply for credit and if you’re an existing customer they might have their own file on you. Plus, an investigation by Money Saving Expert a few years ago found that lenders are using Open Banking data too.

So this means the score won’t reflect everything the lender is taking to account. That can lead to rejection even if you have an excellent score or acceptance with an average score.

But they aren’t pointless. Credit scores are still great indicators of how healthy your credit report is.

The higher your credit score, the more likely it is you’ll get accepted for credit products, or get a better deal such as lower interest payments.

And a low score will indicate a bad credit report, which could mean you get rejected or get offered less money than you need.

So, checking your score will help you decide whether you need to do anything to improve your report. And when those actions make a difference you’ll see that reflected in an increased score, telling you that you’re on the right path.

Who decides your credit score?

The three credit reference agencies are Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

Lenders choose which one to use when making a decision whether to offer you a product.

They all hold slightly different data on you in their credit reports, and then work your score out slightly differently. They even have completely different scales. So you can’t really compare one with another.

It’s worth noting that when you apply for credit, you generally won’t know which of the three credit reference companies will be used. This basically means all three credit reports are as important as each other. The good news is they all keep track of the same things, more or less, so a good score with one will generally translate across the others.

However, it’s worth checking all three – especially in the face of an unexpected refusal – as there could be a problem with one. For example, how your address is formatted can change between reports – and this could lead to problems if it doesn’t match the payment address you’ve entered when applying for a product.

How to check your credit score for free

You can check all three scores and reports for free via these websites:

Equifax via ClearScore
Transunion via Intuit Credit Karma
Experian via Experian’s free score checker, though the report is only available via their app

You have a right to see your report under the UK’s data laws, so can ask for a statutory report from all of them for free if you don’t want to sign up to any ongoing service.

Andy’s written in more detail about these different credit score sites and how to check them in this article.

Your credit score is most important when you’re going to apply for a product where your report will be checked. If you know this is coming up, then you should check for any errors or potential problems before applying.

It’s also worth looking at least once a year, if not more often, just to make sure there’s nothing fraudulent going on.

What counts as a good credit score?

Because each agency uses its own scale, ‘good’ looks different depending on which one you’re checking:

Experian: scores out of 999, with 881+ generally considered good to excellent
Equifax: scores out of 1,000, with 531+ generally considered good to excellent
TransUnion now: scores out of 710, with 604+ generally considered good to excellent
TransUnion soon: TransUnion is changing its scores to be out of 1,000 instead of 710. Under the old system a good score was 604–627; under the system a good score will be 653–785.

Rather than fixating on the number itself, it’s more useful to check where you sit within your own agency’s bands (poor, fair, good, excellent) since that’s how most lenders will interpret it.

Expert thoughts on understanding your credit score from Be Clever With Your Cash

The thing that surprises people most is that there’s no single “real” credit score – there are actually three, one from each credit reference agency, on three different scales, and lenders don’t always disclose upfront which one they’ll use. It’s worth checking all three for free periodically rather than treating one app’s number as gospel, since a problem on one report can easily hide behind a healthy looking score from another.

For example, one of my friends once discovered that he was rejected by lenders that used Equifax, but readily accepted elsewhere, because of a problem with the way his address was formatted on his Equifax report.

Timing also matters more than most people realise. Anyone planning a mortgage application benefits from checking their files a few months in advance, giving time to fix anything that looks off, for example an old address that hasn’t updated, a joint account with an ex-partner still linking files together, or an unrecognised account. None of these are quick fixes if discovered the week a mortgage offer is needed.

It’s also worth resisting the idea that credit scores are some mysterious black box. Lenders are essentially trying to answer one question – how risky is lending to this person – and once that’s understood, most of what shows up on a credit report starts to make intuitive sense. It’s less about gaming a score and more about maintaining a genuinely stable, well-documented financial life.

Updated September 22, 2026 | Deals

The best student discounts, offers and deals

Zoe Roddy | Updated by Amelia Murray

Students can save at Apple, Boots, Amazon and more

Here are the pick of the best student discounts – and you don’t need to be a student for some!

Whether you’re a full-time student or just someone with an NUS card (sadly, our loophole where anyone could get one has been closed – though previous Totum cardholders can get an alumni card), there are some fantastic deals to be had! The key is to ask – you never know!

Sadly there are a few discounts only available via MyUniDays or Student Beans, and you can only get those if you have a .ac.uk email address.

We’ve not listed all the different retailers, but you can also save at the likes of ASOS, Office and Foyles. The usual rate is around 10%, but is sometimes boosted to 20% at the start of term.

Here are our favourite discounts – there will be more!

For all students, staff and school children

Some discounts are available for staff working at universities and schools (and you don’t need to be a teacher), as well as for students at schools and colleges.

Apple: discounted Apple products in the Education Store

If you’re heading to University, you can get discounts on Apple products with its Education Store.

To be eligible, you need to verify your student status with UNiDAYS and you’ll be able to access the Education Store. You don’t have to be in your first year either. Plus, teachers or employees of educational institutions in the UK and parents of uni students can get the offer.

Get Apple student deals

For anyone with a student ID

These discounts work with your Uni or college ID or an NUS/Totum card (which includes some non-students).

Boots: 10% off

You can save 10% on your purchases at Boots. You’ll need to have a Boots Advantage card as well as an NUS/Totum card, and you need to connect these at a Boots checkout till.

Since you only need the Advantage card to get the discount, you could share your card with other family members so they also get the money off – though it does mean they won’t earn their own Boots points.

The discount is valid until 31 August each year so you’ll need to reactivate it at the till from 1 September onwards.

This is sometimes boosted to 20%, including at the start of the academic year.

You can also stack it with other deals and offers on the Boots site.

Shop at Boots

Superdrug: 10% off

You’ll need to sign up to the Health & Beautycard scheme (it’s free), then link your NUS/Totum card or student ID to the account in-store. It’ll then work for the academic year online and in person.

For anyone with a student email address

Papa Johns: free pizza

Students who sign up for a Papa Johns account using their university email address and download the app can get a free personal pizza to collect. Certain Papa Johns are excluded such as Butlins, Haven Holiday Parks, Ribby Hall Village, Planet Ice venues, on-campus stores or in Ireland.

In addition, every Wednesday you can play its ‘Spin the Wheel’ game for the chance to win discounts and other prizes.

Ikea: £10 or £20 coupon

Verify yourself as a student at Ikea and get a coupon for £10 off when you spend £75. If you spend £150, you’ll get a £20 coupon. You’ll need to log in or sign up for Ikea’s Family account and fill out the form using your student credentials. You’ll need a student email address, but if you don’t have one yet you can use alternative documents.

The offer runs until 25 October 2026, and you can only use the discount once.

For students with MyUniDays

Spotify: 46% off

You can save 46% on Spotify Premium. That’s £5.99 a month rather than £11.99. This version gets rid of adverts and lets you take songs offline to your phone or tablet, meaning you don’t need wifi or your data.

Spotify deals

Our podcast

Listen to Cash Chats, our award-winning podcast, presented by Steve Alderton and Editor James Andrews.

Episodes every Monday.

Listen now

For students with official student ID

Amazon Prime: six months free then 50% off

You can get Amazon’s delivery and streaming service free for six months as a student (or 18-22 year old). Then after that you can get a full annual Amazon Prime subscription for £4.49 a month, for three years.

Or you can pay £47.49 annually, saving a little extra.

The easiest way to get this is using an academic email, though there are other ways to verify student status. Sadly Totum cards are no longer accepted.

Watch out for other Amazon Student offers throughout the year, such as money off codes at Black Friday or Prime Day.

Train and tube travel

The 16-25 Railcard or 26-30 Railcard is a great way to cut the cost of train travel. Mature students outside this age range need proof they are studying with a form completed by their Uni or college. There are often deals to get discounts on these and other railcards.

If you travel by tube and live in London during term time you can get an 18+ Student Oyster card. This saves 30% on travel in the capital.

There are also bus and coach student passes.

Updated September 18, 2026 | Articles

Are cinema memberships worth the money?

James Andrews

Get unlimited tickets for a monthly fee.

After a blockbuster summer for cinema, a deal offering unlimited tickets might seem like a fantastic money-saving plan, but how often do you have to use ODEON Limitless, Cineworld Unlimited, Everyman Everywhere and other movie memberships to make them worthwhile?

We’ve taken a look to see what you get for your money by signing up to the membership schemes of the UK’s major cinema chains.

How cinema memberships work

There are two core types of memberships for the main cinema chains. The all-you-can-watch options will let you go every day, even more than once each day, if you want. The others will get you a handful of free tickets and then discounts on future ones.

Often you’re limited to just standard 2D screenings in normal seats, but some will let you access 3D showings, recliner seats and even event cinema such as theatre – though you’ll pay more for the privilege.

You can see the breakdown of ODEON MyLimitless, Cineworld Unlimited, Everyman, Curzon and Picturehouse memberships further down the page. But first, my thoughts on how to decide what represents good value.

Should you get a cinema membership?

I think value from cinema memberships comes down to three factors. If you can justify at least two of them, then potentially go for it.

How often will you go?

First is the most important, and it’s one very simple number – how often are you really going to go? Back in his 20s, Andy once managed 60 times in a year, but he confessed even he found that a bit too much.

I think if you can commit to going roughly two or three weeks out of four (between 26 and 40 visits a year) then you’ll likely be getting a bargain with a cinema membership. These are the key numbers used in the comparisons below, but that’s still a lot of films to see. Go less than this and the savings tend to be less likely.

Can you commit to just one cinema?

Next you need to consider if you’re likely to still visit other cinema chains. That could be because there aren’t many screens or certain films aren’t showing where you’ve got your membership – often the case for independent or foreign films. Perhaps it’s just a logistical matter because mates want to go elsewhere or you can only make a screening at 8pm.

There’s absolutely no point shelling out for an unlimited membership if you’re going to see movies elsewhere too.

But if you’ve only got one cinema then this is less of a problem.

Can you get a better deal elsewhere?

Finally, there are always managed to find deals to cut the price of my tickets. From six free ODEON or Vue tickets with Lloyds Bank through to a hack that’ll get you 2-4-1 Meerkat Movies. These can work out cheaper than the memberships, and give you so much more flexibility.

Of course, some of these memberships can also be used alongside other deals. There are tricks mentioned below for both Everyman and Cineworld memberships which effectively give you free tickets for two people if you go certain days. Bargain!

The best cinema deals

Our pick of the best offers in our dedicated cinema deals page

How the different cinema memberships compare

ODEON myLimitless

How it works

There are two versions of ODEON’s membership, called myLimitless. The standard offering works all over the UK, not just outside London. However you won’t be able to use it at Luxe locations. These are included in the myLimitless Plus membership.

With standard, you can go to as many 2D films as you want, though screenings can’t overlap. Extras such as 3D and IMAX require additional payments. You also can’t use your membership ticket to get another free ticket with Meerkat Movies.

You’ll be invited to free preview screenings. You can book up to four screenings in advance. There’s a 10% discount on food and drinks.

In addition, the Plus membership not only lets you watch films at Luxe cinemas, but also get unlimited access to premier or recliner seats, as well as 3D and iSense screenings. However you’ll pay extra for screen 1 in Leicester Square and Islington Luxe & Dine.

ODEON myLimitless costs

Standard cost (excluding Luxe): £16.99 a month / £186 a year
Plus cost (inc Luxe): £19.99 a month / £219 a year
Annual discount: 8% if paid in full (12 months for the price of 11)

It’s worth keeping an eye out for occasional offers that bring down the price of an annual Plus membership, especially around Black Friday.

ODEON myLimitless membership details

Minimum membership: 3 months
How to join: At the cinema or via the ODEON website

Is ODEON myLimitless worth it?

If you go once a week with an annual pass, a ticket works out as just £3.58 (£4.21 for Plus membership). That’s not bad! But you have to go 52 times.

Let’s say you go 40 times, which is three films every four weeks. Then it’s still a decent £4.65 (£5.48 in London). It’s hard to find cheaper tickets.

If you drop down to a visit every two weeks, it starts to get pricier – and potentially not too different than what your local charges.

But even if you go once a month you could break even at some of the pricier locations. For example, a ticket at Tottenham Court Road is £17.49.

Visits per year	Cost per film (Standard)	Cost per film (Plus)
52	£3.58	£4.21
40	£4.65	£5.48
26	£7.15	£8.42
12	£15.50	£18.25

Featured deal

IG Stocks & Shares ISA

Customer rating 4.7/5

Offer
up to £300 in free shares*
Annual fee
£0
Trading fee
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Minimum deposit
£0

Capital at risk. Other fees may apply. *Invest a minimum of £300 and get up to £300 in free shares.

FSCS Protected? Yes
Transfer in existing ISA? Yes
Interest on uninvested cash 3.75%
Fractional shares No
Flexible ISA Yes
Foreign exchange fee 0.70%
Fund fees If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 944492
Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up.
Offer Invest a minimum of £300 and get up to £300 in free shares. T&Cs apply. Other fees may apply.

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Cineworld Unlimited

How it works

Cineworld says that the monthly cost will be cheaper than two tickets a month – though the price will change depending on the location for your “home” cinema. There are four groups, and you can see which one your cinema fits into here.

The bulk of locations are in groups 1 and 2. Though not exclusively, group 3 contains most of the London cinemas, while group 4 adds in Leicester Sq. You can use your membership at all cinemas in your and lower groups – so group 4 is effectively every single Cineworld.

You can go to as many 2D films as you want, though screenings can’t overlap. Extras such as 3D and IMAX require additional payments, though if you continue for a second year 3D is included. There’s a 50% discount on “event” screenings.

In theory you can get another free ticket with Meerkat Movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so that would mean you’d only need one membership between you – if you only go midweek.

You’ll be able to see free previews and there’s a 10% discount on food and drinks, going up to 25% in year two.

How much does Cineworld Unlimited cost?

Cost (Group 1): £12.99 a month / £155.88 a year
Cost (Group 2): £17.99 a month / £215.88 a year
Cost (Group 3): £19.99 a month / £239.88 a year
Cost (Group 4): £22.99 a month / £275.88 a year
Annual discount: None (though look out for offers)
Other savings: Recommend a friend to get a free month each, or use Clubcard points at 2:1 value

Cineworld Unlimited membership details

Minimum membership: 3 months
How to join: At the cinema, via Tesco Clubcard or via the Cineworld website

Is Cineworld Unlimited worth it?

This one has the potential to be incredibly cheap, but only if you combine your free ticket with Meerkat Movies.

If you mainly go on a Tuesday or Wednesday to take advantage of this two for one offer in Group 1, you’ll pay just £4.20 for two tickets, based on 40 visits. That falls to a fantastic £2.10 per ticket.

Of course, if you’re on your own, in pricier groups, go different days or go less often, then it can get a lot more expensive. So once more you need to compare it to prices at your cinema to see whether you’ll save or not.

Visits per year	Cost per film (Group 1)	Cost per film (Group 2)	Cost per film (Group 3)	Cost per film (Group 4)
52	£3.23	£4.15	£4.61	£5.33
40	£4.20	£5.40	£6	£6.90
26	£6.46	£8.30	£9.23	£10.61
12	£13.99	£17.99	£19.99	£22.99

Everyman membership

How it works

The basic “Everyman” membership provides six free tickets. The next level up is the “Everyicon” membership, which offers 24 free tickets. However, both let you bring a friend for free on Mondays, potentially doubling your number of included tickets.

The “Everywhere” membership is a lot of money at £680 a year. However, it’s for two people at any time and you can go to as many films as you like.

All give you 10% off food and drink, and fee-free booking.

How much does Everyman membership cost?

Cost (Everyman): £95 a year
Cost (Everyicon): £31 a month / £350 a year
Cost (Everywhere): £59 a month / £680 a year
Annual discount: None

Everyman membership details

Minimum membership: 12 months
How to sign up: At the cinema or via the Everyman website

Is an Everyman membership worth it?

If an Everyman is your local cinema, or the one you like going to, then you could well save a little with the six tickets for £95, making them £15.83 a ticket, or £7.92 if you go on a Monday with a friend and split the cost.

The next level – ‘Everyicon’ – is a little cheaper, but again use the free tickets just on Mondays and that’s now 48 tickets, working out at a very nice £7.29 each.

The top ‘Everywhere’ could work if you’ve a partner or friend who will share the membership with you. Even then you need to go a lot. See 40 movies each in a year and it’ll work out as £8.50 each for your ticket.

Personally I’d go to a cheaper cinema instead, or get a trial for Times+ which offers 2-4-1 tickets every Wednesday.

Visits a year	Everyman	Everyicon	Everywhere (one person / two people)
52	N/A	N/A	£13.08 / £6.54
40	N/A	N/A	£17 / £8.50
24	N/A	£14.58 (for 24 visits)	£28.33 / £14.77
12	N/A	£29.17	£56.67 / £28.33
6	£15.83	–	–

*based on annual spend

Curzon membership

What you get

The entry-level “Classic” includes five free tickets, and then discounts for you and a guest.

Next up, the “Cult” membership is seven tickets every week – so essentially free entry to as many films as you want. You can also use these credits to stream online movies from Curzon Home Cinema.

If there are two of you, you can add the “Events and Guest” option which gets you 14 tickets each week and you can use it on “event” screenings – but you’ll pay £50 more each month.

There’s also 10% off food and drink with all three membership levels. Sadly Curzon doesn’t accept Meerkat Movies.

How much is Curzon membership?

Cost (Classic): £70 a year (all cinemas) / £55 a year (non-London)
Cost (Cult): £25 a month / £285 a year
Cost (Cult plus Events and Guest): £75 a month / £850 a year

Curzon membership details

Minimum membership: 12 months
Annual discount: None
How to join: At the cinema or via the Curzon website

Is a Curzon membership worth it?

Go 40 times and the ‘Cult’ membership works out as £7.13 a ticket. That’s more than I’d like to pay, but not bad if you’re in London or only have a Curzon near you. However since Curzon has a more indie/arthouse lean, you might still need to pay elsewhere to see some of the big blockbusters.

Adding ‘Events and Guest’ to the Cult membership is the most expensive out there. Only if two of you go three out of four weeks, or a little less if you throw in regular event screenings, are you going to be making this worthwhile.

The Classic membership will be worth it if you are definitely going to go five times a year to a Curzon, or if the normal ticket prices elsewhere are around £11 outside London and £14 inside London.

Visits per year	Classic (London/Outside London)	Cost per film (Cult)	Cost per film (Cult+ one person)	Cost per film (Cult+ one person)
52	N/A	£5.48	£16.35	£8.17
40	N/A	£7.13	£7.13	£3.56
26	N/A	£10.96	£10.96	£5.48
12	N/A	£23.75	£23.75	£11.88
5	£14 / £11

Picturehouse membership

What you get

From Tuesday 22 September, the Picutrehouse membership scheme is changing – and moving to a rolling monthly cost. This could really work out in your favour – letting you see the summer blockbusters for less and then cancelling if you don’t fancy anything coming up in the next few weeks.

However, it’s not a limitless deal. Instead you get 12 tickets a year (one a month) as well as a discount on food and drink, and free entry to “Discover” films. You also get a £3 discount on any tickets bought outside your free allowance.

You need to sign up for three months before you move to the rolling monthly version that lets you cancel – and you don’t need to use your ticket in the month you get it. You can save them for up to a year.

The price you pay is based on the day of the week you can use your free tickets and the cinemas you can use them in.

How much does Picturehouse membership cost?

Cost (Picturehouse West End): £15.99 a month or £159.90 a year
Tickets available at any time and location. Includes access to the Picturehouse Central Members’ Bar.
Cost (Classic): £9.99 a month or £99.90 a year
Tickets available at any time, but excludes Picturehouse Central cinemas.
Cost (Light): £6.99 a month, £69.90 a year
Tickets only available Monday to Thursday, excluding bank holidays and Picturehouse Central

Picturehouse membership details

Minimum membership: 3 months, then rolling
Annual discount: if you buy for a year up front you effectively get two months free
How to join: At the cinema or via the Picturehouse website

Is a Picturehouse membership worth it?

This is best for the occasional cinema fan, offering 12 tickets from £6.99 each – with a few extra discounts thrown in. But that’s still potentially more expensive than using other tricks at other cinemas. The big bonus is the ability to cancel it after three months, letting you stop and start depending on what’s showing.

In the past you could use your membership free tickets alongside Meerkat Movies – but I can’t find any official confirmation this is allowed, but I can’t see why not. This essentially gives you double the number of free tickets to be used on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Visits per year	Cost per film (Outside London single)	Cost per film (Outside London joint)	Cost per film (London single)	Cost per film (London joint)	Cost per film (West End single)	Cost per film (West End joint)
12	£6.99	n/A	£6.99	N/A	£15.99	N/A

Cineworld Unlimited vs ODEON myLimitless

The two most effective memberships in terms of value for money are the ODEON and Cineworld schemes. If you have both cinemas near you and aren’t sure which one to go for here’s what I’d do.

Ultimately, ODEON’s is cheaper but if you can combine the Cineworld with Meerkat Movies, then the latter is a better option.

If that’s not a deal-breaker for you, I’d look at which has the most screens and which ones tend to show the films you want to see. If it’s just standard blockbusters both should have them on, but if you want smaller films that might not be the case.

Alternative ways to save at the cinema

We’ve written extensively about the different ways you can pay less at the cinema, and you can see these tricks and promotions in our regularly updated cheap cinema tickets guide.

Updated September 9, 2026 | Articles Review

Nationwide FlexDirect current account review: 5% interest & £10 cashback a month

James Andrews

Top paying interest, ethics and a decent switching bonus make the account worth considering again.

There’s been a revamp of Nationwide’s FlexDirect account. Not only does it offer one the highest interest rates (for some), newbies can also now get up to £10 a month cashback on spending.

Plus you can nab a decent switching bonus and linked saver. It also ranks well as an ethical bank and scores highly for customer service. However, the building society has ditched the large 0% overdraft.

So are these extras enough to make it your main account? Here’s what you get with the FlexDirect, and whether you should open up an account.

What is the Nationwide FlexDirect account?

The FlexDirect account is a current account from the Nationwide Building Society. It’s free to open and use, though you do have to pay in at least £1,000 a month to get the interest. That doesn’t need to be in one go, or stay in the account.

You cannot get the account if you already have four or more Nationwide current accounts.

Unlike many competitors, Nationwide has a decent network of branches you can access across the UK, and there’s also a phone support line.

In account interest of 5%

Nationwide’s FlexDirect account is one of the few current accounts that pay interest on balances held in the main account. And it’s usually a much better rate than you’ll get in normal easy-access accounts.

You can get 5% interest on current account balances of up to £1,500 – which is hard to beat right now. The rate is also fixed, at 5% for the entire year.

You have to pay in £1,000 every month to qualify for the interest. This can’t be from another Nationwide account.

Sounds good? Well it has its limits.

First, there is a very important rule that could be an issue – this rate is for first-time account holders only. So if you’ve had the FlexDirect account before, you won’t get the new rate, even if you open up a new account.

You also only earn money on the first £1,500. Above this you get 0%. This means if you have the full amount possible in the account for 12 months you’ll make £75.

Also the rate also only lasts for one year (after that it drops to 1%), so you will want to move your money in 12 months.

The best savings accounts

Check out our list of the highest paying regular, easy-access, fixed and ethical savings accounts

£10 a month cashback on spending

An changed feature is cashback on spending with the debit card and bill payments. It’s only for new customers who’ve not had a FlexDirect in the past. You also need to be paying in the same £1,000 each month to trigger this as you do the interest, though that’s a single payment for both perks, not each.

You get £5 if you spend at least £300 on Direct Debits then another £5 if you spend at least £500 on your debit card. As with the 5% interest, this cashback is only for the first 12 months.

That works out at a combined 1.25% cashback if you hit those limits exactly each month – and means you can earn up to £60 a year.

Cashback won’t be paid on gambling, crypto transactions or cash withdrawals.

FlexDirect 0% overdraft

Sadly with the addition of the cashback last year, Nationwide has ditched the sizeable 0% overdraft that was available for the first year.

In its place there is a £50 interest free buffer across all Nationwide accounts. Our guide to the cheapest overdrafts will help you find a larger alternative – though there aren’t many options left now.

Nationwide switching bonus

We’ve written about Nationwide’s bank switching deal in detail in a separate guide, but here are the essential need-to-knows:

Nationwide is offering £175 incentive for bank switchers.

In the past the offer was open to new and existing customers, but the new one isn’t.

Current Nationwide and Virgin Money account holders are excluded, along with anyone who has recieved a switch bonus from Nationwide since 2021.

Other Nationwide perks

Regular saver 6.5%

There’s also a 6.5% paying regular saver only for all Nationwide current account customers. This can be beaten by a handful of other providers, but isn’t a bad bet.

Annual member bonus

Though there’s no guarantee it’ll still be on offer in 2027, for the past few years Nationwide has offered members with an active current account and savings or mortgage product on top, a £100 ‘Fairer Share’ bonus. Here’s everything you need to know about when Nationwide last offered this free cash.

Nationwide’s app

There have been some massive improvements to Nationwide’s app, but it still falls short of the features you get from challenger banks like Monzo, Starling and Chase.

So what does it do? You can activate a couple of features to help you save. One, Impulse Saver lets you add money to your savings account from the homescreen of the app.

The other is a round-up feature, as you see with many other banks. If you turn this on a small amount of money will be transferred each time you spend. So say you spend £1.20 on your debit card, 80p will go to savings.

You’re also able to lower your contactless limit, freeze your card and block gambling transactions.

The reliance on a card reader has been massively reduced recently, but it’s occasionally still needed for full internet banking access. Of course, that might not be a bad thing as it does add an extra layer of security, but it’s not something most of the other banks I use require.

The tracking and budgeting tools are also incredibly limited – you can run a budget on it, but you need to manually enter all your expenses, which makes it little better than just doing on a piece of paper, spreadsheet or a third party app.

Account ethics

Something I’ve been thinking about more over the past few years has been how the money I keep in a bank is being used. It’s not sitting in a vault, it’s being invested and loaned by the bank. And that could mean it’s used for things I really don’t agree with – from supporting arms manufacturers through to funding new oil pipelines.

If this bothers you too then Nationwide is regarded as one of the best options. A big part of this is that it’s a building society rather than a bank, which means it has to use 75% of its holdings to lend to home buyers.

That prevents it lending large amounts to unethical sources – but it also has a positive investment policies. For example your money will not be invested in fossil fuels.

Nationwide is also a mutual – meaning it’s owned by and run for the benefits of its customers (or members) rather than shareholders.

Ethical Consumer rates Nationwide ahead of all the other major banks, so it’s a good bet if you want to put your money somewhere other than low-scoring banks such as HSBC, Natwest, Barclays, Lloyds, Santander and co.

And while the top-rated current account for ethics is from Triodos, that comes with a £3 monthly fee and a more limited app, so Nationwide represent a good alternative.

Should you open a Nationwide FlexDirect account?

James’ Analysis

With savings rates dropping on easy access accounts, Nationwide’s FlexDirect has sprung back into contention. That 5% can be beaten, but not with a fixed rate.

The £1,500 limit for this rate will be a frustration for some (especially since the balance used to be £2,500 a few years ago), but if that’s not a worry and you want to lock in a rate it’s worth a look – for one year only though.

And the switching offer is a fantastic extra too, especially if you’re a couple who can also switch a joint account.

The app has also improved massively, though it’s not as good as the offering from digital banks Monzo, Starling or Chase.

The cashback might sounds good, but it is limited by the £10 monthly cap – and it’s only for one year. You can beat this with a credit card like the American Express Nectar.

That said, it’s a great account to go for if you’re concerned about how your money will be invested.

The problem I have with this account is the 12 months limit on, basically, all the perks. If you’re looking for somewhere to offer long-term value, this isn’t it.

Yes, you, might be able to pull hundreds of pounds in a year, but at the end of that year you’d be better off moving again – even taking account of the potential for a £100 Fairer Share payment. Of course, if you’re happy jumping for bonus cash, then this is an excellently paying 12-month stopover.

What do customers say?

Customer reviews on our sister site Smart Money People rate the FlexDirect account at 4.72 out of 5, liking the customer service and the availability of high street branches. The app is where people think it could do better.

Nationwide Flex Direct summary

Cashback	£10 cashback a month on spending and Direct Debits for the first year
Interest	5% AER (fixed) interest on the first £1,500 saved for 12 months (drop to 1% after a year)
	Access to 6.5% AER (variable) Flex regular saver (max £200 a month)
Overdraft	£50 0% buffer
Fee	None
Requirements	Pay in £1,000 a month
Multiple accounts?	Two – one personal and one joint
Notes	Transfers in from other Nationwide accounts don’t count towards the £1,000

More on the account on the Nationwide website

Updated September 3, 2026 | Deals

Quidco bonuses: up new member offers

BCWYC Team | Updated by James Andrews

Get free cash when you shop at thousands of shops or other bonuses with these Quidco sign-up bonus offers.

We’re big fans of cashback and – even better – you can often get a bonus when you sign up for the first time.

Quidco is one of the big cashback sites, and we’ll list the best deals here, as well as any other specific cashback deals we think you can’t afford to miss.

What is Quidco?

Quidco is a cashback website that lets you earn money back when you shop through its platform. It works with thousands of retailers across different categories, including fashion, tech, travel and groceries. When you make a purchase through Quidco, a percentage of what you spend is tracked and later paid out as cashback, which you can withdraw to your bank, PayPal, or as a gift card.

First time Quidco user offers

There are regular retailer-specific offers that come and go which could save you £10 or £15 if you buy at those shops. But the two generic offers below are far better as they mean you can spend your money wherever you want on whatever you want.

Currently Quidco has paused its new-member offers, but it’s looking to bring them back soon.

£18 bonus cashback when you spend £10 (ended)

The best deal is for subscribers to our weekly newsletter who get access to an exclusive £18 first-time bonus when they spend £10. You’ll also get the cashback offered by the retailer on top.

Once you sign up, you’ll need to click on the sign up confirmation email that will be sent immediately. If you don’t see it please check your spam folders as it could be there, and then add our email address to your safe senders list.

Then look for a special email that will be sent to you with the exclusive Quidco sign-up link. Make sure to read the terms and conditions on Quidco’s website before making your first purchase to ensure it tracks.

This offer is due to end 30 September 2026, but will hopefully be extended

Get £10 cashback when you spend £5, plus extra cashback (ended)

This is an ongoing offer that can get you the cashback on any purchase, as long as you spend £5 or more. So if you spend £5 at any of the 5,000+ retailers listed on Quidco – which is pretty much all of them – you’ll get £10 back plus whatever the cashback rate is. There are so many shops you’ll definitely find a way to get your cashback.

Ends 31 December 2025.

Existing Quidco customer offers

It’s worth looking for bonus cashback deals which can pop up from time to time. You need to click to activate these offers. We’ll add them below when we see them.

Quidco Flashback offers

Often Quidco has boosted cashback known as Flashback that runs for 24 hours. Sometimes we can share them in advance, although they could change or be cancelled. Always check the Quidco homepage for the full terms and conditions. You might also have to activate some offers.

Already with Quidco?

TopCashback also offers new member bonuses. Check out the latest here.

Free cashback offers

Some deals will give you money without actually spending any money:

£3 bonus when you install Quidco reminder (ended)

If you use Chrome as your internet browser you’ll be able to earn a £3 bonus by installing the Quidco Reminder extension, then using it to activate cashback while shopping and spend at least £3. There are a handful of retailers excluded which are listed in the terms and conditions when you click through. The offer comes and goes.

Featured deal

IG Stocks & Shares ISA

Customer rating 4.7/5

Offer
up to £300 in free shares*
Annual fee
£0
Trading fee
£0
Minimum deposit
£0

Capital at risk. Other fees may apply. *Invest a minimum of £300 and get up to £300 in free shares.

FSCS Protected? Yes
Transfer in existing ISA? Yes
Interest on uninvested cash 3.75%
Fractional shares No
Flexible ISA Yes
Foreign exchange fee 0.70%
Fund fees If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 944492
Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up.
Offer Invest a minimum of £300 and get up to £300 in free shares. T&Cs apply. Other fees may apply.

View Deal

Updated September 2, 2026 | Deals

The best birthday freebies and how to get them

Amelia Murray

Get more than £60 of birthday freebies from shops and restaurants

Everyone likes to feel extra special on their birthday. Which is why some companies offer birthday freebies, with everything from free cake to a bottle of Prosecco. The best thing about some of these is that you often get a few weeks to claim your freebie, letting you take advantage of more, and spread your birthday out even further.

One birthday, Editor-in-chief Andy managed to bag himself a free meal at his favourite burger joint Meat Liquor, some posh Hotel Chocolat treats, a Body Shop shower gel and he saved money on some flatpack furniture at Ikea, totalling £28 worth of freebies.

And here’s how you can get up to £60 worth of freebies for your birthday.

How to get birthday freebies

While most retailers’ emails end up unread and clogging up your inbox, when it comes to a few weeks before your birthday, it’s time to pay a little extra attention to them, just in case you’re getting a little gift.

Of course, these brands aren’t giving you something for nothing. In all cases, you need to be signed up for their newsletters, loyalty schemes or apps, which means handing over your data and dealing with constant emails.

If you’re selective, and only pick the brands you regularly shop at and want to hear about, then it’s well worth doing. And often the birthday freebies aren’t the only offers and deals you’ll get sent during the year.

Don’t forget that you can always unsubscribe from emails once you’ve had your birthday, and possibly even sign up again – though it’s worth doing this at least a month before your birthday to allow time for your details to be processed.

One of our writers Nicky Selwood, says that she always gives a different birthday, so she’s got birthdays all year round to make the most out of. The odd one might want ID, so use your real birthday for these ones.

Free birthday vouchers

With these retailers, it could be worth signing up in order to get a free voucher on your birthday. These are often only £5, but you could get yourself a few freebies or take a discount off something you’ve been eyeing up. There’s often no minimum spend, so you can get something for absolutely nothing.

We’ve ignored those that give the likes of 10% off as those kinds of codes are regularly available.

Marks & Spencer

M&S didn’t used to guarantee a freebie or voucher on your birthday, but it recently changed the Sparks scheme to get one for everyone signed up to the M&S Sparks card who has signed up for marketing and enters their birthday more than 35 days before via the app.

You used to be able to pick from a decent range of treats including Percy Pig sweets and a selection of biscuits but now you can only choose one of the below.

All Butter Cookies 8-pack (or Plant kitchen cookies)
Grapes (red, white, mixed or black)

Join Sparks

Hobbycraft – £5 voucher

Register for Hobbycraft Club and you’ll be sent a £5 voucher to spend in-store or online on the month of your birthday. You’ll also get a 15% off voucher when you sign up.

Hotel Chocolat – £5 voucher

For a free fiver with a £5.50 minimum spend, you just need to be signed up for Hotel Chocolat’s VIP.ME scheme.

Be warned, you can’t use the voucher on already reduced items.

Bodyshop – £5 voucher

Join the Bodyshop’s Love Your Body Club you’ll get a £5 voucher on your birthday to use online or instore. There’s no minimum spend and you can get mini items for under £5, and often things on sale.

Free food and drink

From smoothies to doughnuts, here’s all the free food and drink you can get on your birthday. We’ve ignored a lot of the offers where you get a free main or bubbly when you buy a main, though there are a couple listed at the bottom of this page. They’re still decent offers, but we’re more excited about the freebies.

If you manage to get a bill for £0, it’s still pretty good form to leave a tip.

Barburrito – free burrito

Barburrito is offering a free burrito on your birthday, as long as you’re signed up to the loyalty app. A few days before your birthday, you’ll be emailed a voucher for a free burrito, which should also show in the app. Show this at the till, and you can eat for free.

You only get four days to claim it, so you have to be quick.

Boost – free drink

If you sign up for the Boost Vibe Club (you can do this online), you can get a free drink on your birthday.

This can be claimed up to 3 days before and 3 days after your birthday.

You need to have earned at least one point and you’ll need to show ID proving that it’s your birthday.

Burger King – free whopper

Add your date of birth to the BK Rewards app and you’ll get a free Whopper!

You must have registered your birthday at least seven days before and opted in to receive either email marketing communications or app push notifications.

Caffé Nero – free cake

If you’re signed up for the free Caffé Nero app and ensure you have your birthday in your settings, you’ll get a voucher for a free slice of cake on your birthday.

Costa – free cake

If you’re signed up for the free Costa Club you’ll notice a reward for a free slice of cake appear in your app. Costa lets you know it’s there with an email too.

Make sure you’ve told Costa when your birthday is, you can do this in the app.

Greggs – free cake or doughnut

Sign up to the Greggs Rewards scheme via the Greggs app and you’ll be able to claim a free doughnut, cupcake or cream cake. The voucher is valid for a month.

Krispy Kreme – free doughnut

You get a free doughnut via the Friends of Krispy Kreme scheme each year, though it’s only in full shops, not the ones you find in Supermarkets.

With this offer, you can get a free Original Glazed doughnut during your birthday month. When it comes to claiming it, you will need to add the birthday reward to your wallet in the Krispy Kreme app.

Lidl – free doughnut

If you haven’t quite had enough free doughnuts on your birthday, donut worry — you can claim another one from Lidl.

This one is found in the Lidl Plus app and is valid for 7 days from the birthday listed in your Lidl Plus Account.

Lola’s Cupcakes – free cupcake

If you join the Lola’s Cupcakes Love Club more than 30 days before your birthday, then you can get a free regular cupcake on your birthday for free.

You have to show ID that confirms your birth date and you have to prove you’ve been a member of the Love Club for at least 30 days. This excludes Lola’s Bakery in West Hampstead. If you don’t live near a store, you’ll get points added to your account instead.

Muffin Break – free Muffin

There’s nothin’ like a free muffin on your birthday. By signing up for the Muffin Break loyalty scheme, you can get a free muffin in the month of your birthday.

There’s also a free doughnut for joining, too.

Starbucks – free drink

One for regular Starbucks users. If you join the free Starbucks Rewards scheme and reach Gold level (you need to earn 2,500 Stars, roughly a spend of £250) you’ll get a free drink on your birthday. You’ll also get other freebies throughout the year at this level.

As an aside, the Starbucks Rewards scheme has recently changed which means you need to spend more to get the perks.

Subway – free cookie

Join Subway Rewards, add your date of birth and you’ll receive a treat on your birthday, usually a free cookie.

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Birthday gifts

Shopmium – free gift

Cashback app Shopmium often provides a special extra offer on your birthday. Andy’s managed to snag a free box of Celebrations.

You’ll need to have reached Gold level and you’ll then get an offer appear in your app. You’ll then need to buy the item and scan the receipt to get the cashback. Here’s more on how the app works and a sign up offer.

Hobbs – free gift

Sign up for the Hobbs newsletter to get a free birthday gift. We’re not sure what you get, but in 2021 it was a candle. You also get 10% off your first purchase when you sign up.

Space NK – free gift

If you sign up to the Space NK loyalty scheme N.dulge you can get three free beauty items for your birthday. You’ll need to have made a purchase online or in-store within the last 12 months.

This is a loyalty scheme, so you’ll earn points each time you spend money, which can be converted into money off future purchases.

Featured deal

IG Stocks & Shares ISA

Customer rating 4.7/5

Offer
up to £300 in free shares*
Annual fee
£0
Trading fee
£0
Minimum deposit
£0

Capital at risk. Other fees may apply. *Invest a minimum of £300 and get up to £300 in free shares.

FSCS Protected? Yes
Transfer in existing ISA? Yes
Interest on uninvested cash 3.75%
Fractional shares No
Flexible ISA Yes
Foreign exchange fee 0.70%
Fund fees If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 944492
Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up.
Offer Invest a minimum of £300 and get up to £300 in free shares. T&Cs apply. Other fees may apply.

View Deal

Good birthday offers that aren’t freebies

Sometimes you’ll be sent a discount voucher or a free meal/ bottle of bubbly as long as you get another meal. These can be good and might be worthwhile if you’d like to eat there anyway, but they’re not strictly birthday freebies.

Here are some of the things you can be offered:

Bills – “free” bottle of Prosecco or pancakes

Again, not strictly a freebie, as each diner has to order a main meal.

Make sure you’re signed up for the Bill’s Newsletter 4 weeks before your birthday and you’ll get an email with the gift.

You’ll also need to pre-book a table. It’s valid for 5 weeks from the date that you get the email.

Birthday perks for kids

Build-a-Bear – pay your age

Sign up to the Build-a-Bear loyalty programme and on your child’s birthday they can make a teddy bear at an instore workshop and you’ll pay the equivalent to their age – so if they’re turning two years old, it’ll cost £2 (usually £14).

Once you’ve signed up you can add your child’s birthday to your birthday profile. You’ll need to go to an instore workshop to get the discount, let them know it’s your child’s birthday and confirm your account details at the checkout. The full terms and conditions are on the Build-A-Bear website.

Updated September 1, 2026 | Deals

SIPP offers and cashback deals

Zoe Roddy

Investment providers often give cashback incentives for opening a new SIPP and funding your account, especially with a new tax year

Pensions typically hold a fair amount of money, so providers are keen to get you to invest with them or transfer your investments over to them. These offers mostly offer cashback when you open and fund a new account.

Here at Be Clever With Your Cash, we’re not regulated to give you financial advice. We aim to give you the facts about a provider or investment but it’s up to you to decide if it’s suitable for you. If you’re looking for more personalised guidance, find a financial adviser who can give you specific advice. Remember that your capital is at risk when investing — don’t invest more than you are prepared to lose.

SIPP offers

These are offers to tempt you to sign up for a new SIPP or transfer existing ones. There may be a minimum amount you need to add in order to get the bonus, and sometimes the amount you’ll get will be determined by the amount you fund the account with. Remember, we’re just sharing offers here and not recommending any individual investment platforms, so do your research before applying.

SIPP offers

interactive investor SIPP

Customer rating 4.3/5

Offer
up to £3,000 cashback*
Monthly fee
£5.99 per month
Trading fee
£3.99 per trade
Minimum deposit
£0

*New customers can get £100 to £3,000 cashback when they sign up and deposit at least £20,000

FSCS Protected? Yes
Interest on uninvested cash 1.71%
Investments available Shares, funds, exchange-traded funds, investment trusts, bonds, gilts, and sustainable funds. You can also choose ready-made portfolios
Fractional shares No
Trading fee £3.99 per trade for UK and US shares, funds and exchange-traded funds. Other international shares cost £9.99 per trade
Foreign exchange fee 0.75%
Transfer out fee None
Fund fees If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees between 0.03% and 1.5%
Fees The fees displayed here are based on the lowest plan, Core.There are three different plans: Core, Plus and Premium, all with different features and fees. Core costs £5.99 per month, Plus costs £14.99 per month and Premium costs £39.99 per month.
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 141282
Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of your investments may go up or down
Offer You can get between £100 and £3,000 cashback when you open a personal pension by 31 October 2026. You need to deposit or transfer at least £20,000. The amount you'll get will depend on how much you deposit.

View Deal

Charles Stanley Direct Self-Invested Personal Pension

Customer rating 3.6/5

Offer
up to £1,500 cashback**
Annual fee
0.3% (£5 min/£50 max per month) + £100 SIPP wrapper fee*
Trading fee
up to £10 per trade
Minimum deposit
£0

*SIPP wrapper fee is waived if you hold £30,000+ across your accounts **earn up to £1,500 cashback when you transfer cash or other investments to Charles Stanley Direct

FSCS Protected? Yes
Interest on uninvested cash 1.32% paid on up to £99,999, 1.75% paid on amounts over £100,000
Investments available UK and international shares, ETFs, managed portfolios, Investment Trusts, Exchange Traded Commodities, Corporate and Government bonds
Fees You get £50 in trading credit every six months. After this, shares (both UK and international), ETFs and investment trusts cost £10 per online trade; OEICs and UNIT Trusts cost £4 per trade; and Charles Stanley Multi-Asset Funds are free to trade
Foreign exchange fee Up to 1% (depending on how much you're exchanging)
Fund fees If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees between 0.04% and 2.00%, depending on the funds you choose.
Transfer out fee £10
Offer You could be eligible for up to £1,500 cashback if you transfer your cash and/or investments held with another provider to Charles Stanley Direct Online Investing platform. Terms apply. The amount you'll receive depends on the amount you transfer (from £20,000 to £200,000 or more)
Referral offer You could receive a Referral Reward of £250 when you refer your friends and family, depending on the amount they transfer in. Terms apply.
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes, FRN: 124412
Risk warning The value of investments can go up and down and you may get back less than you invested.

Quilter Invest SIPP

Customer rating 4.8/5

Offer
£0 platform fee and £0 subscription fee*
Annual fee
£0 with offer
Trading fee
Variable
Minimum deposit
£10

*£0 platform fee and £0 subscription fee for new customers who use the code INVEST26 - T&Cs apply. Other fees apply

FSCS Protected Yes. Your eligible deposits and investments may be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Protection is up to £120,000 per person, per firm. FSCS does not cover losses due to market performance.
Interest on uninvested cash Yes (variable, see here for current rate)
Investments available Quilter’s MyGoal funds
Fractional shares Yes
Trading fee Flat monthly fee
Foreign exchange fee 0.40%. Other fees may apply.
Transfer out fee None
Fund fees Variable depending on the fund selected. See fund documentation for specific charges. Other fees may apply.
Offer Open and fund a Quilter Invest account before 11:59pm on 30 November and receive £0 platform fee and £0 subscription fee. You need to use the code INVEST26 to get the offer. T&s apply. Other fees apply. Approved by Quilter Invest Ltd FRN 955775 25/09/2026
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 955775

View Deal

What is a SIPP?

A self-invested personal pension is a type of pension that you can open and pay into yourself. You have the freedom to choose what you want to invest in.

We have a full guide on SIPPs where I’ve outlined all the reasons why you might choose to invest in a SIPP, the fees involved and compare the best SIPP providers.

Updated August 26, 2026 | Deals

Investing offers and cashback deals

Zoe Roddy

Investment firms often give incentives like free cash to get you to give them your money.

These offers are extra cash payments and freebies you can get for opening an investment account. We’re only sharing these promotions as a way to get some free cash rather than a recommendation of individual investment platforms or funds. Sometimes the type of account you open matters, so take a look at the T&Cs to double-check. We’ve split them into Stocks & Shares ISA offers and General Investment Account offers.

Stocks & Shares ISA offers

These are offers to tempt you to sign up for a new ISA or transfer existing ISAs. There may be a minimum amount you need to add in order to get the bonus. Remember, we’re just sharing offers here and not recommending any individual ISA investment platforms, so do your research before applying. Our S&S ISA best buy tables are a good place to start.

ISA offers

Trading 212 Stocks & Shares ISA

Customer rating 4.7/5

Offer
Free fractional share up to £100*
Annual fee
£0
Type of investing
DIY investing
Minimum deposit
£1

*New customers get a free fractional share worth up to £100 when you sign up via our link or use the code BCWYC. Terms apply

FSCS Protected? Yes
Transfer in existing ISA? Yes
Fractional shares Yes
Interest on uninvested cash 3.8%
Flexible ISA Yes
Foreign exchange fee 0.15%
Fund fees If you invest in ETFs, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
Offer details To get the offer, you need to open a Trading 212 Stocks and Shares ISA or Invest account and deposit at least £1 within 10 calendar days
Important details Remember, the value of any money invested, which includes your free share, could go up or down
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 609146
Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up

View Deal

Freetrade Stocks & Shares ISA

Customer rating 4.7/5

Offer
free share worth £10 - £100*
Annual fee
£0
Type of account
DIY investing
Minimum deposit
£1

*New customers can get a free share worth between £10 and £100

FSCS Protected? Yes
Interest on uninvested cash 1% on up to £1,000
Fractional shares Yes
Transfer in existing ISA? Yes
Flexible ISA Yes
Foreign exchange fee 0.99%
Fund fees If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 783189
Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of your investments may go up or down
Offer New customers can get a free share worth between £10 and £100. To get it, sign up for Freetrade and deposit at least £50 to your account. The probability is weighted, so more expensive shares will be rarer.

View Deal

interactive investor Stocks & Shares ISA

Customer rating 4.3/5

Offer
£150 in free trades*
Annual fee
£5.99 per month for portfolios up to £100,000
Type of investing
DIY or ready-made
Minimum deposit
£0

*You can get £150 towards your trading fees when you open an ISA

FSCS Protected? Yes
Transfer in existing ISA? Yes
Interest on uninvested cash Yes – tiered interest is paid on cash balances within your ISA, based on the amount held.
Fees £5.99 per month (up to £100,000), £14.99 per month (no upper limit)
Flexible ISA No
Foreign exchange fee Core plan: 0.75%; Plus plan: 0.75% (first £50,000), then 0.25% above this
Fund fees Ongoing fund charges vary depending on the investments you choose. These are set by fund managers and typically differ across funds.
Trading fees Funds: from £3.99 per trade, UK & US shares (including ETFs and investment trusts): £3.99 per trade, Other international shares: from £9.99 per trade, Regular investing: free
Investments available Shares (UK and international), Funds, ETFs, Investment trusts, Bonds
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 141282
Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of your investments may go up or down
Offer details You can get £150 towards your trading fees when you open an ISA. Open to new customers only and ends 31 October 2026.

View Deal

Plum Stocks & Shares ISA

Customer rating 4.8/5

Offer
£15 bonus*
Annual fee
£3.99 per month + 0.45% annual fee
Minimum deposit
£1

You need a Plum Plus account which costs £3.99 per month to start investing in funds. *Get a £15 bonus if you transfer at least £250 into the account and keep it there for 4 months

FSCS Protected? Yes - up to £85,000
Transfer in existing ISA? Yes
Interest on uninvested cash No
Fractional shares Yes
Flexible ISA No
Foreign exchange fee 0.45%
Fund fees If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
Investments available You're limited to 13 funds to invest in, and can invest in the full range of 26 funds with the Premium plan which costs £14.99 per month
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 900573
Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up
Offer Get a £15 bonus if you transfer at least £250 into the account and keep it there for 4 months using our link. Offer valid until 31 December 2026.

View Deal

IG Stocks & Shares ISA

Customer rating 4.7/5

Offer
up to £300 in free shares*
Annual fee
£0
Type of investing
DIY or ready-made
Minimum deposit
£0

Capital at risk. Other fees may apply. *Invest a minimum of £300 and get up to £300 in free shares.

FSCS Protected? Yes
Transfer in existing ISA? Yes
Interest on uninvested cash 3.75%
Fractional shares No
Flexible ISA Yes
Foreign exchange fee 0.70%
Fund fees If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 944492
Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up.
Offer Invest a minimum of £300 and get up to £300 in free shares. T&Cs apply. Other fees may apply.

View Deal

eToro Stocks & Shares ISA

Customer rating 3.8/5

Offer
free £50 worth of assets*
Annual fee
Custody fee of 0.35% per year (max £45)
Type of account
DIY investing
Minimum deposit
$50

*Get £50 worth of free assets when you deposit £200 into a General Investment Account

FSCS Protected? Yes
Interest on uninvested cash 3% on balances up to $50,000, 3.8% on balances over this
Fractional shares Yes
Foreign exchange fee 0.7%
Fund fees If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees, which cost on average ~0.16% per year, with additional market-spread effects up to 0.05%
Trading fees You'll pay £3.95 per trade for shares, ETFs and mutual funds and £5.95 per trade for bonds
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes, FRN 583263
Risk warning The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. ISA powered by Moneyfarm. ISA rules apply. UK residents only.
Offer details You need to sign up, verify your account and deposit at least £200 to get the free asset. ISA deposits aren't included in the £200 requirement to get the offer.

View Deal

eToro Stocks & Shares ISA

Customer rating 3.8/5

Offer
free £50 worth of assets*
Annual fee
Custody fee of 0.35% per year (max £45)
Type of account
DIY and ready-made investing
Minimum deposit
$50

*Get £50 worth of free assets when you deposit £200 into a General Investment Account

FSCS Protected? Yes
Interest on uninvested cash 3% on balances up to $50,000, 3.8% on balances over this
Fractional shares Yes
Foreign exchange fee 0.7%
Fund fees If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees, which cost on average ~0.16% per year, with additional market-spread effects up to 0.05%
UK shares trading fee You'll pay £3.95 per trade for shares, ETFs and mutual funds and £5.95 per trade for bonds
Managed portfolio fees Management fees are tiered, so you'll pay 0.45% up to £50,000, then 0.20% from £50,000 to £100,000, 0.10% from £100,000–£1.5m, and 0% above £1.5m. A platform fee of 0.25% also applies to all managed portfolios.
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes, FRN 583263
Risk warning The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. ISA powered by Moneyfarm. ISA rules apply. UK residents only.
Offer You need to sign up, verify your account and deposit at least £200 to get the free assets. ISA deposits aren't included in the £200 requirement to get the offer.

View Deal

Quilter Invest Stocks & Shares ISA

Customer rating 4.8/5

Offer
£0 platform fee and £0 subscription fee*
Annual fee
£0 with offer
Type of account
DIY or ready-made investing
Minimum deposiot
£10

*£0 platform fee and £0 subscription fee for new customers who use the code INVEST26 - T&Cs apply. Other fees apply

FSCS Protected? Yes. Your eligible deposits and investments may be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Protection is up to £120,000 per person, per firm. FSCS does not cover losses due to market performance.
Transfer in existing ISA? Yes
Investments available You can invest in OEICs and exchange-traded investments
Flexible ISA Yes
Foreign exchange fee 0.40%. Other fees may apply.
Fund fees Variable depending on the fund selected. See fund documentation for specific charges. Other fees may apply.
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes, FRN 955775
Risk warning The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invest.
Offer Open and fund a Quilter Invest account before 11:59pm on 30 November and receive £0 platform fee and £0 subscription fee. You need to use the code INVEST26 to get the offer. T&Cs apply. Other fees apply. Approved by Quilter Invest Ltd FRN 955775 25/09/2026

View Deal

interactive investor Managed Stocks & Shares ISA

Customer rating 4.3/5

Offer
£150 in free trades*
Annual fee
£5.99 per month (up to £100,000)
Minimum deposit
0

*You can get £150 towards your trading fees when you open an ISA

FSCS Protected? Yes
Transfer in existing ISA? Yes
Portfolios 10 expertly managed portfolios, 2 investment styles: Index and Sustainable, 5 risk levels for each style. Portfolios are matched to your goals and risk appetite, then managed on your behalf.
Interest on uninvested cash No
Fees £5.99 per month (up to £100,000), £14.99 per month (no upper limit)
Fund fees Portfolio management costs apply and vary depending on the portfolio selected (typically low-cost index-based or sustainable options)
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 141282
Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of your investments may go up or down
Offer details You can get £150 towards your trading fees when you open an ISA. Open to new customers only and ends 31 October 2026.

General Investment Account offers

GIA offers

Our top pick

Trading 212 General Investment Account

Customer rating 4.7/5

Offer
Free fractional share up to £100*
Annual fee
£0
Type of investing
DIY
Minimum deposit
£1

*New customers get a free fractional share worth up to £100 when you sign up via our link or use the code BCWYC. Terms apply

FSCS Protected? Yes
Fractional shares Yes
Interest on uninvested cash 3.8%
Foreign exchange fee 0.15%
Fund fees If you invest in ETFs, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
Offer details To get the offer, you need to open a Trading 212 Stocks and Shares ISA or Invest account and deposit at least £1 within 10 calendar days
Offer New customers get a free fractional share worth up to £100 when you sign up via our link or use the code BCWYC
Important details Remember, the value of any money invested, which includes your free share, could go up or down
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 609146
Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up

View Deal

XTB General Investment Account

Customer rating 4.7/5

Offer
Choose a free share*
Annual fee
£0
Minimum deposit
£0

*You can choose a free share if you're a new customer by opening a General Investment Account and making a deposit

FSCS Protected? Yes
Fractional shares Yes
Interest on uninvested cash 4.50%
Foreign exchange fee 0.50%
Fund fees If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 522157
Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of your investments may go up or down
Offer details New XTB customers can get a free share of their choice (choose from Tesco, BP, Glencore, Barclays, Rolls‑Royce Holdings). You need to be a new XTB customer, open a General Investment account and make a deposit to get the offer

View Deal

Plum General Investment Account

Customer rating 4.8/5

Offer
£15 bonus*
Annual fee
£2.99 per month + 0.45% annual fee
Minimum deposit
£1

*Get a £15 bonus if you transfer at least £250 into the account and keep it there for 4 months

FSCS Protected? Yes - up to £85,000
Important details You need a Plum Pro account which costs £2.99 per month to start investing in funds
Interest on uninvested cash No
Fractional shares Yes
Foreign exchange fee 0.45%
Fund fees If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
Investment funds available You're limited to 16 funds to invest in, and can invest in the full range of 26 funds with the Premium plan which costs £9.99 per month
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 900573
Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up
Offer Get a £15 bonus if you transfer at least £250 into the account and keep it there for 4 months using our link. Offer valid until 31 December 2026.

View Deal

IG General Investment Account

Customer rating 4.7/5

Offer
up to £300 in free shares*
Annual fee
£0
Type of investing
DIY or ready-made
Minimum deposit
£0

*Invest a minimum of £300 and get up to £300 in free shares

FSCS Protected? Yes
Interest on uninvested cash 3.75% usually
Fractional shares No
Foreign exchange fee 0.70%
Fund fees If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 944492
Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up
Offer Invest a minimum of £300 and get up to £300 in free shares. T&Cs apply. Other fees may apply.

View Deal

Trading.com Invest Account

Offer
£50 welcome offer*
Annual fee
£0
Type of account
DIY investing
Minimum deposit
£50

*new customers can receive a £50 welcome offer when they sign up and verify their account

FSCS Protected? Yes
Dealing charge £0 for all share and ETF trades
Additional fees 0.50% UK stamp duty for buying UK shares., £1.50 PTM levy for buying or selling UK shares worth more than £10,000, 0.4% French transaction tax for buying French shares, 0.2% Italian transaction tax for buying Italian shares and 0.2% Spanish transaction tax for buying Spanish shares. Other fees apply
Foreign exchange fee 0.25% of trade value for buying or selling anything not in your account currency
Interest on uninvested cash Earn 3.61% AER on your GBP investment account. Paid daily. T&Cs apply
Welcome offer T&Cs apply. New customers get a £50 welcome offer credit. To get it, you need to create and verify your investment account and make your first investment within 90 days of opening the account.
Deposit offer T&Cs apply. There's also a further offer that lets you earn back 5% of your deposits as investment credit. To get it, you need to create and verify your investment account. You can receive credit in the first 90 days of setting up your account up to a cumulative maximum of £5,000 to invest in shares of your choice. When using your credit, you need to use your own deposited funds first. Any unused credit expires after 180 days
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes, FRN: 705428
Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of your investments may go up or down

View Deal

Quilter Invest General Investing Account

Customer rating 4.8/5

Offer
£0 platform fee and £0 subscription fee*
Annual fee
£0 with offer
Minimum deposit
£10

*£0 platform fee and £0 subscription fee for new customers who use the code INVEST26 - T&Cs apply. Other fees apply

FSCS Protected Yes
Accounts available General Investment Account (GIA), Stocks & Shares ISA, Junior ISA (JISA), SIPP
Interest on uninvested cash Yes (variable, see here for current rate)
Fractional shares Yes
Foreign exchange fee 0.40%. Other fees may apply.
Fund fees Variable depending on the fund selected. See fund documentation for specific charges. Other fees may apply.
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 955775
Risk warning The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invest.
Offer Open and fund a Quilter Invest account before 11:59pm on 30 November and receive £0 platform fee and £0 subscription fee. You need to use the code INVEST26 to get the offer. T&s apply. Other fees apply. Approved by Quilter Invest Ltd FRN 955775 25/09/2026

View Deal

ISA vs GIA

When you open these accounts you can usually choose between an ISA and a general investing account. If you haven’t used your full £20,000 ISA allowance this financial year, and you don’t plan to do so before 5 April, then that’s the best account for you as any gains you make will be tax free.

If you can’t or don’t want to add any more to an ISA, you can opt instead for the General Investment Account, although some of these offers may not be available for this account. In this account, you’ll only pay tax on profits after selling your share if it brings you over the Capital Gains Allowance.

Using credit cards to boost your credit file

Use them only for everyday spending

Clear the card in full every month

Watch out for spending the money twice

Try not to use more than 30% of your credit limit

Focus on credit building

More on credit reports

Is a starter credit card right for you?

Applying for credit building credit cards

Check your eligibility

Look at specialist credit building credit cards

Watch out for representative APR

Best starter and first-time credit cards

Tesco Bank Foundation Credit Card

Barclaycard Forward Credit Card

Asda Money Select Credit Card

Expert thoughts on starter and first time credit cards from Be Clever With Your Cash

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Who decides your credit score?

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Apple: discounted Apple products in the Education Store

For anyone with a student ID

Boots: 10% off

Superdrug: 10% off

For anyone with a student email address

Papa Johns: free pizza

Ikea: £10 or £20 coupon

For students with MyUniDays

Spotify: 46% off

For students with official student ID

Amazon Prime: six months free then 50% off

Train and tube travel

How cinema memberships work

Should you get a cinema membership?

How often will you go?

Can you commit to just one cinema?

Can you get a better deal elsewhere?

How the different cinema memberships compare

ODEON myLimitless

How it works

ODEON myLimitless costs

ODEON myLimitless membership details

Is ODEON myLimitless worth it?

Cineworld Unlimited

How it works

How much does Cineworld Unlimited cost?

Cineworld Unlimited membership details

Is Cineworld Unlimited worth it?

Everyman membership

How it works

How much does Everyman membership cost?

Everyman membership details

Is an Everyman membership worth it?

Curzon membership

What you get

How much is Curzon membership?

Curzon membership details

Is a Curzon membership worth it?

Picturehouse membership

What you get

How much does Picturehouse membership cost?

Picturehouse membership details

Is a Picturehouse membership worth it?

Cineworld Unlimited vs ODEON myLimitless

Alternative ways to save at the cinema

What is the Nationwide FlexDirect account?

In account interest of 5%

£10 a month cashback on spending