OPTIML

Guides

Money guides

Practical explanations and transparent tools for saving, investing, borrowing, tax and the economy.

Guide library

43 guides in the migration plan

15 migrated 6 awaiting approval 22 queued

Migration roadmap

One guide at a time

The first milestone is five approved migrations. A built guide remains awaiting approval until you confirm it, and the queue pauses in the meantime.

4 of 5 in the first milestone

  1. 01Save or investSavingMigrated
  2. 02Emergency fundsSavingMigrated
  3. 03Compound interestSavingMigrated
  4. 04What is a Cash ISA?SavingMigrated
  5. 05Savings accountsSavingAwaiting approval
  6. 06Fixed-term accountsSavingMigrated
  7. 07FSCSSavingMigrated
  8. 08Gross interest and AERSavingMigrated
  9. 09How to save for a carSavingMigrated
  10. 10How to save for a houseSavingMigrated
  11. 11How to save for a weddingSavingMigrated
  12. 12Lifetime ISAsSavingQueued
  13. 13Notice accountsSavingMigrated
  14. 14Premium BondsSavingQueued
  15. 15Round-upsSavingAwaiting approval
  16. 16Save v mortgageSavingAwaiting approval
  17. 17Saving 101SavingMigrated
  18. 18Saving for a goalSavingMigrated
  19. 19Saving for a holidaySavingMigrated
  20. 20Savings bondsSavingAwaiting approval
  21. 21Short-term cashSavingAwaiting approval
  22. 22Time to savings targetSavingMigrated
  23. 23What is a Junior ISA?SavingAwaiting approval
  24. 24BetaInvestingQueued
  25. 25Calmar ratioInvestingQueued
  26. 26Goal-based investingInvestingQueued
  27. 27Invest v mortgageInvestingQueued
  28. 28Money-weighted returnInvestingQueued
  29. 29Portfolio returnInvestingQueued
  30. 30Sharpe ratioInvestingQueued
  31. 31Sortino ratioInvestingQueued
  32. 32Stocks or bonds?InvestingQueued
  33. 33Time to targetInvestingQueued
  34. 34Time-weighted returnInvestingQueued
  35. 35Avalanche or snowballBorrowingQueued
  36. 36Credit cardsBorrowingQueued
  37. 37Interest on debtBorrowingQueued
  38. 38ISA allowance: 2026/7TaxQueued
  39. 39Savings allowancesTaxQueued
  40. 40DeflationEconomicsQueued
  41. 41HyperinflationEconomicsQueued
  42. 42InflationEconomicsQueued
  43. 43StagflationEconomicsQueued

Saving guides

23
Saving for a goal guideMigratedSavingSaving for a goalSet a target, choose a deadline and calculate the monthly amount needed.Read guideWhat is a Cash ISA? guideMigratedSavingWhat is a Cash ISA?How wrappers work and the value of keeping your savings in one.Read guideCompound interest guideMigratedSavingCompound interestSee how interest earns interest and why time changes the result.Read guideEmergency funds guideMigratedSavingEmergency fundsWork out how much to keep, where to hold it and when to use it.Read guideFSCS guideMigratedSavingFSCSBeginner's guide to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.Read guideFixed-term accounts guideMigratedSavingFixed-term accountsWhen locking in your money at a fixed rate makes sense.Read guideGross interest and AER guideMigratedSavingGross interest and AERUnderstand gross interest, AER and how compounding changes the rate.Read guideHow to save for a car guideMigratedSavingHow to save for a carStep-by-step guide to saving for your next car.Read guideSaving for a holiday guideMigratedSavingSaving for a holidayStep-by-step guide to saving a dream holiday.Read guideHow to save for a house guideMigratedSavingHow to save for a housePractical steps and strategies to build your home deposit.Read guideHow to save for a wedding guideMigratedSavingHow to save for a weddingStep-by-step guide to saving for a wedding.Read guideNotice accounts guideMigratedSavingNotice accountsWhen notice accounts are the right fit for your savings.Read guideSave or invest guideMigratedSavingSave or investWhen cash gives enough safety and when investing could make sense.Read guideSaving 101 guideMigratedSavingSaving 101Building solid foundations: the ultimate guide to saving.Read guideTime to savings target guideMigratedSavingTime to savings targetHow long will it take to reach your savings goal?Read guideWhat is a Junior ISA? guideAwaiting approvalSavingWhat is a Junior ISA?Save or invest tax-free for a child's future.Review guideRound-ups guideAwaiting approvalSavingRound-upsHow spare-change round-ups work and where they fit in a savings plan.Review guideSave v mortgage guideAwaiting approvalSavingSave v mortgageUnderstand the options to decide what's best for you.Review guideSavings bonds guideAwaiting approvalSavingSavings bondsBeginner's guide to savings bonds.Review guideSavings accounts guideAwaiting approvalSavingSavings accountsAn in-depth guide to savings account types, rates, access, tax and protection.Review guideShort-term cash guideAwaiting approvalSavingShort-term cashGuide to short-term cash and how to manage it.Review guideLifetime ISAs guideQueuedSavingLifetime ISAsWhat are Lifetime ISAs? Are they right for me?View legacy guidePremium Bonds guideQueuedSavingPremium BondsIn-depth guide to Premium Bonds.View legacy guide

Investing guides

11
Beta guideQueuedInvestingBetaMeasures sensitivity to market movements.View legacy guidePortfolio return guideQueuedInvestingPortfolio returnHow to calculate the return on your portfolio.View legacy guideCalmar ratio guideQueuedInvestingCalmar ratioMeasures returns relative to maximum drawdown.View legacy guideGoal-based investing guideQueuedInvestingGoal-based investingHow much you need to invest to reach your goal.View legacy guideInvest v mortgage guideQueuedInvestingInvest v mortgageWeigh up whether to invest or to reduce mortgage debt.View legacy guideMoney-weighted return guideQueuedInvestingMoney-weighted returnThe money-weighted rate of return (MWRR).View legacy guideSharpe ratio guideQueuedInvestingSharpe ratioCompare investments by risk-adjusted performance.View legacy guideSortino ratio guideQueuedInvestingSortino ratioMeasures returns relative to downside risk.View legacy guideStocks or bonds? guideQueuedInvestingStocks or bonds?Compare the risk and return of stocks and bonds.View legacy guideTime to target guideQueuedInvestingTime to targetHow long it'll take to reach your target based based on your savings plan.View legacy guideTime-weighted return guideQueuedInvestingTime-weighted returnWhat is the time-weighted rate of return and why is it important?View legacy guide

Borrowing guides

3
Avalanche or snowball guideQueuedBorrowingAvalanche or snowballHigh-interest debt or smaller balances first?View legacy guideCredit cards guideQueuedBorrowingCredit cardsEverything you need to know about credit cards.View legacy guideInterest on debt guideQueuedBorrowingInterest on debtWhat is debt? How does interest work?View legacy guide

Tax guides

2
ISA allowance: 2026/7 guideQueuedTaxISA allowance: 2026/7How much can I put into an ISA each year?View legacy guideSavings allowances guideQueuedTaxSavings allowancesWhat is the Personal Savings Allowance (PSA)?View legacy guide

Economics guides

4
Deflation guideQueuedEconomicsDeflationDeflation and how it affects prices and growth.View legacy guideHyperinflation guideQueuedEconomicsHyperinflationUnderstand hyperinflation and its real-world impact.View legacy guideInflation guideQueuedEconomicsInflationInflation and how it affects prices and money.View legacy guideStagflation guideQueuedEconomicsStagflationWhat stagflation is and why it's hard to fix.View legacy guide