Guides

How commissions, quotes, underwriting and credit checks actually work — including the parts the sales pages leave out.

What renters insurance actually covers (and what it never does)

Your landlord's policy does not cover your belongings or your liability. The three coverages that matter, the sub-limits that surprise people, and the standard exclusions.

7 min read

The DIME method: working out how much life cover you actually need

Why ten times your salary is a bad answer, how debt and mortgage structure change the number, and matching term length to the obligation.

6 min read

Refinance break-even: when lowering the payment raises the cost

Three numbers to compare instead of one, and why a five-year term extension can undo a two-point rate cut.

6 min read

Why home insurance is based on rebuild cost, not market value

Insuring to market value usually means paying for land you cannot claim on. The opposite mistake is worse: most policies penalise under-insurance.

6 min read

How mortgage amortisation works, and why year one is almost all interest

The formula behind your payment, where the interest-principal crossover falls, and why extra payments early are worth several times more than late ones.

7 min read

Pre-approval vs prequalification: the difference that decides offers

One affects your credit score and carries weight with sellers. The other is a budgeting estimate. Confusing them costs buyers houses.

6 min read

Why your car insurance quote changes every time you check

Five mechanical reasons the same driver gets a different number on Thursday than on Monday — none of which involve the insurer being random.

6 min read

How insurance affiliate programmes actually pay (CPL vs CPA)

Why two comparison sites with identical traffic earn wildly different amounts, what a 30-day cookie really changes, and how to read a commission disclosure.

7 min read