She's my only child, but still the number of school uniforms we seem to get through is eye-watering – and that's not to mention the myriad of mysterious marks I'm tasked with making disappear.

Thankfully, years as Which?'s laundry expert mean I have a few tried-and-tested tricks up my sleeve to help me save valuable time on the washing each week. 

Read on to discover some of my favourite hacks to prevent unnecessary washloads, reduce ironing time and ensure uniforms last as long as possible.

1. Rotate uniforms to make them last longer

It might sound straightforward, but skipping this step when putting away your laundry could result in clothes wearing out much faster than you might like – especially around the collars, cuffs and underarms. 

Putting clean uniforms at the bottom of the drawer ensures your child doesn't end up wearing the same handful of polo shirts day after day, neglecting the rest of the multipack that still look practically brand new. 

2. Treat (some) stains well before washing

Not all stains are created equal, so while some won't do much damage if left to linger in the laundry basket, others can leave marks that are near-impossible to shift.

Remove things like felt-tip pens, Sharpies, and paint from fabrics as soon as possible. If your child is anything like mine, stains like these will be a very common occurrence, so working out how to deal with them will save you lots of hassle in the long run.

Get in the mindset of taking any stained uniform items off as soon as you get home, then you can spot-treat anything that looks particularly gnarly – especially if you're not due to put another washload on for a day or two. 

It's always best to gently dab or blot stains rather than scrub them aggressively, as this helps lift the grime from the fabric instead of pushing it in and spreading it around. 

3. Dry items hanging up to save on ironing time

Removing uniforms from the washing machine as soon as the program has finished ensures wrinkles don't have enough time to properly set in, so the first thing to do is get everything out of the drum and give each item a good shake.

I prefer to line dry where possible, as a good breeze helps to shake creases out too, but using hangers indoors is another good alternative. 

4. Never mix white shirts with colours

Mixing white clothes with anything other than more white clothes is always a no-no, but that becomes increasingly important when trying to keep a white school shirt from turning a murky shade of grey by October half-term. 

Try to save up all of your dirty white items until you have enough for a full (or half) load – even pale colours like beige or cream will make your whites lose their brightness over time. 

It's also important not to overload the drum, because your clothes need space in the washing machine for the suds and water to circulate, ensuring that the detergent can reach the fibres to clean them, and also be rinsed away without leaving any residue or streaks behind. A good rule of thumb is to leave enough space for a hand's width between your laundry and the top of the drum.

5. Wash smarter, not more often

Overwashing items causes them to wear out much quicker, not to mention the toll it can take on your weekly washing pile. Sometimes you can spot-treat smaller stains (especially on places like cuffs or collars) so your child can wear something again the next day.

6. Create a five-minute evening uniform reset

It's also a good idea to check items for dirt and grime when your child takes their uniform off. That way you can see what needs to be chucked in the laundry basket and what they can wear again in the morning. 

I'd also ask your child to empty their pockets – unless you particularly enjoy rooting hair clips, stickers, acorns and various other 'souvenirs' from the filter in your washing machine. I learnt this one the hard way.

Drunk on its own or added to cooking and smoothies, fans claim the savoury beverage has a range of benefits, including plumping skin and easing joint pain. This is mainly driven by the collagen-derived protein it claims to contain.

Bone broth: key findings

Bone broth is made by simmering animal bones in water for a long period of time, often with pieces of meat or connective tissue attached. 

It can be made from the bones of any animal but chicken, beef and fish tend to be popular in shop-bought versions.

Bone broth recipes vary, but many include herbs, vegetables and seasoning as well as a small amount of an acidic ingredient, such as vinegar, said to help extract collagen and minerals from the bones.

If it sounds like stock, that’s because it’s very similar. Stock is generally cooked for less time than bone broth, although there is considerable variation in preparation methods. 

When collagen is cooked for a prolonged amount of time it converts into gelatine, so bone broth often has a jelly-like texture when cooled.

Broth can be made from meat, vegetables and/or bones, so the terms broth, stock and bone broth can overlap.

Why is bone broth often labelled a 'superfood'?

Bone broth is often nicknamed ‘liquid gold’ on social media owing to the claimed benefits. But specialist dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine says, while it can be a nutritious addition to our diet, she wouldn’t consider it ‘a nutritional miracle food’.

In particular, there is limited evidence for claims around bone broth and the benefits of collagen.

However, she says we can’t assume a bowl of bone broth will have a similar effect.

‘Bone broth can provide collagen-derived protein, but the amount varies considerably depending on the bones used, preparation and cooking time,’ she explains.

Is bone broth good for you?

As bone broth doesn’t follow a standardised recipe, its nutritional content can differ substantially, but it has potential benefits.

1. It’s a source of protein 

Bone broth can be a useful source of protein but it’s worth checking the label as the protein content can vary. We looked at a number of liquid shop-bought bone broths (as opposed to powdered) and found protein ranging from 1.9g to 4.9g per 100g. 

‘It's also worth remembering that collagen isn't a complete protein,’ says Ludlam-Raine. ‘It doesn't provide all the essential amino acids in the proportions that we would find in high-quality proteins such as eggs, dairy, fish, meat or soya.’ 

2. It contains some amino acids 

While this sounds promising, consuming collagen doesn’t mean it will travel directly to our joints or skin. 'Like other dietary proteins, collagen is digested into peptides and amino acids before being absorbed,’ the dietitian explains. Our body then uses these building blocks where it needs to.

3. It can be hydrating 

Bone broth is predominantly water, so it contributes to your overall fluid intake.

4. It provides some minerals

Bone broth can contain small amounts of minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron. But Ludlam-Raine says these may be relatively modest depending on the recipe and we should look at our diet as a whole to meet mineral requirements.

Bone broth and joint health

‘We don't currently have equivalent evidence showing that drinking bone broth produces the same results. So I'd say the collagen research is interesting, rather than claiming bone broth itself has been shown to improve joint health,’ she says.

What about bone broth and skin?

When it comes to bone broth, Ludlam-Raine says it’s important to note that these studies looked at specific collagen supplements and doses. ‘At present, I don't think there's enough evidence to tell someone that drinking bone broth will noticeably improve their skin,’ she says.

Are there any downsides to bone broth?

While bone broth can be an enjoyable addition to your diet, some varieties can contain quite a bit of salt. Some ready-made bone broths we looked at contained varying salt levels, with an average of 0.6g per 100g. That’s around 1.5g per 250g cup, and it would be classed as red under the traffic-light labelling system. 

Is there a particular amount of collagen to look for when buying bone broth?

‘There isn't an established recommended daily intake for collagen,’ says Ludlam-Raine, so there’s no particular amount to look for in your bone broth. 

‘Studies of collagen supplements have used varying doses depending on the outcome being investigated, but we shouldn't take a dose used in a supplement trial and assume that everyone needs to obtain the equivalent from bone broth.’

How can I tell how much collagen bone broth contains?

Many shop-bought bone broths display the amount of collagen they contain. This isn’t mandatory on the nutrition label, though, and manufacturers provide it voluntarily.

If it isn’t listed, protein content could give you an indication, as much of the protein extracted from the bones is likely to be collagen-derived or gelatine. ‘However, total protein on the nutrition label doesn't specifically tell us how many grams of collagen are present, particularly where the product contains other protein-containing ingredients,’ says Ludlam-Raine.

The collagen backlash

While collagen supplements, gummies and powders have proven increasingly popular in recent years, doubts have been cast on their benefits.

So should we drink bone broth? 

‘I think bone broth is a good example of a perfectly nutritious traditional food becoming slightly over-promised through wellness marketing,’ says Ludlam-Raine. 

‘There's nothing wrong with enjoying it: it can provide fluid, protein and collagen-derived amino acids and make a warming, satisfying drink or base for a meal. But I'd separate "bone broth contains collagen" from "bone broth has been proven to improve your skin, hair and joints.’

But how do you know whether 10 other people are actually looking at that product, whether only two items are genuinely left in stock, or whether that sale really does end at midnight?

We found lightning deals that didn’t end when they claimed to, low-stock alerts where the product continued to be available after the ‘last one’ had been bought, and popularity claims that didn’t always appear to be as responsive as you might expect.

Read on to find out how we tested the claims and how much you should really trust these online pressure selling tactics.

What happened when we put the tactics to the test?

Experts say many of these pressure-selling tactics can be manipulative and untrustworthy. 

And they are widespread: when we looked at the websites of 50 of the biggest UK retailers, we found that 21 of them used either a flash sale, a low-stock alert or popularity claims.

Some had fairly specific terms such as ‘10 other people have looked at this in the last 24 hours’ or ‘five people have added this to their basket in the last two days’. But others made much vaguer claims such as ‘trending’, ‘selling fast’ or ‘best selling’. 

We know many shoppers simply do not trust these techniques. And is it any wonder? 

Amazingly, none of the retailers explained how they defined the terms they used. And when we ran an experiment using a room of volunteers to test out the claims, we found some weren’t as responsive as you might think.

Should you trust countdown clocks?

There’s nothing like a ticking clock to make you feel under pressure. 

Around 30% of shoppers in our survey* had seen one in the past year. But more than half of those people have little or no trust in them. We found several cases where this cynicism is justified. 

An Amazon Marketplace ‘lightning deal’ on a balance board for £134.99 (RRP £209.99) was advertised as ending in six hours on 3 August. But the next day it was still £134.99 – and for the following five days when we checked.

We also found countdowns that reset repeatedly. An eyeshadow stick on Shein was on a flash sale with 49% off (£2.26, reduced from £4.49). The sale was meant to end at 5pm on 4 August. But it was extended until 7 August, and then to 8 Aug. All the while, the price remained at £2.26. 

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) says that countdowns where the sale price rolls on are misleading. It also says those where the sale price will be offered again soon, or where the same kind of discount continues but in a slightly different form, are likely to mislead. 

What did the retailers say?

Amazon said the balance board deal ended as scheduled, but the seller dropped the non-deal price the next day. 

It added: ‘Third-party sellers set their own prices on Amazon. The prices that followed the deals were independent seller pricing decisions outside of the deals programme.’ 

Shein said it had clear policies on flash sales, adding: ‘As soon as we became aware of this incident, we launched an internal review and promptly fixed the error. We have taken action ... to ensure that our promotions are implemented in line with CMA guidance.’

Should you trust low stock alerts?

If you saw only one item left on a shelf in a store, you might want to act fast and buy it. It’s only natural that the same principle applies to the low-stock alerts we come across online – the only difference is you can’t see for yourself that the claim is actually true. 

Used properly, low-stock alerts can be helpful to shoppers. But only if they are accurate. 

Our survey found about four in 10 shoppers had seen a low-stock warning and a whopping seven in 10 of them said they influenced their purchasing decisions. But again, more than half of those who had seen them had little or no trust in them. 

Dig a little deeper, though, and you quickly realise that all may not be as it seems on low-stock notices.

Definitions of a stock alert can be flexible. Many retailers have stock in different places – some in warehouses, others set aside specifically for online purchases and other stock in stores. 

We’ve seen examples of low-stock alerts where the product doesn’t become unavailable but simply has a slightly longer delivery time once the ‘last’ item has been bought. 

Should you trust popularity claims?

Popularity claims like ‘five other people are looking at this right now’ on online shopping sites have boomed in recent years. About four in 10 people in our survey said they had seen these types of claims, and about 60% of those said they influenced their purchasing decisions. 

We put claims to the test by asking 18 volunteers to simultaneously log in to some of the biggest UK retail websites to view a list of products and add them to their baskets.

Many of the popularity claims didn’t seem to update in real time or accurately reflect the numbers in our test. For example, all 18 people viewed and then added a frying pan to their basket at John Lewis. 

At the time of the test, the pop-up on the product said: ‘six customers added this to their basket in the last 48 hours’. But this message remained unchanged afterwards. When we checked around an hour later, the message had updated to 15 people, which didn’t make much sense. 

At M&S, all 18 people added a tie and handkerchief set to their baskets, but the message that popped up an hour and a half later said ‘added to bag 12 times in the last five days’. 

What did the retailers say? 

John Lewis said: ‘Our online prompts are a helpful guide, highlighting popular items to customers. We make sure they are accurate – but there will be a short delay before the figures go live – as happened with your frying pan test.’

We understand M&S’s ‘added to bag’ messages were based on genuine customer activity and were processed in real time, but that some customers’ activity may not be recorded due to tracking and consent settings, and figures may not update where the page isn’t refreshed. 

We understand M&S could not conclusively explain why our test showed 12 without knowing more about the consent/tracking status and test conditions. 

Other tactics to look out for

Pressure-selling tactics come in many different forms. Here are some more to watch out for…

What are the rules?

The law says prices must not be misleading, but the problem is that many of these pressure-selling claims go unchecked and are unverifiable. 

Last year, the CMA launched a string of investigations into businesses – including the alleged use of misleading time-limited sales at Wayfair and Appliances Direct. It’s also taken action against mattress firm Emma Sleep and secured changes at Simba Sleep over concerns that their use of countdown clocks could mislead shoppers. 

The CMA has new powers to decide whether consumer laws have been broken. It can order businesses to pay compensation to affected customers and fine companies up to 10% of global turnover.

Hayley Fletcher, the CMA’s director for consumer protection enforcement, told us: ‘The law requires that these claims are genuine and accurate, and authorities like the CMA can take tough enforcement action when that’s not the case. The rules are really clear – if you’re making a claim, then that needs to be true. The law is clear, and traders must abide by it.’

We’re sharing our findings with the CMA. But the task is enormous, and these cases could just be tiny drops in a very large ocean. 

How to resist the pressure

The best way to fight back is to try not to feel rushed and always be sceptical.

For flash sales, it’s unlikely the low price will never again be offered. Focus on whether or not you really want to buy the product at that price. 

When it comes to popularity claims, try to focus on whether you like the product -- not whether other people are looking at it or buying it.

And if you see a low stock alert, don’t feel rushed, and only buy the item if you would have done so without the stock warning. 

Jeff Bray, professor of consumer behaviour at Bournemouth University, told Which?: ‘We should always be sceptical about marketing claims that can’t be verified. And if they are really selling out so quickly, why do they need to shout about it?’

Which? thinks online stores should make their claims specific, verifiable and transparent, so that shoppers can make informed choices. 

Research from investments firm Vanguard shows that letting your annual fees creep from 0.5% to 1% can shrink a pension that would have been worth £392,000 at retirement down to £345,000, leaving you £47,000 worse off. 

As both scenarios assume the exact same monthly savings and investment growth, that £47,000 gap comes down purely to higher management charges. 

Since pension fees are taken directly out of your pot rather than sent as a bill, they often slip under the radar – despite taking a huge bite out of your savings.

Here, Which? explains why taking an interest in your pension fees matters, what charges you could see, and how to find them.

If you have a workplace pension through auto-enrolment, your fees are capped at 0.75% of the value of your pension if you stay in the default fund. 

Stakeholder pensions are capped at 1% or 1.5%, depending on when they were set up.

Those who have pension schemes that predate auto-enrolment – which launched in 2012 – can be charged extra.

Even within modern auto-enrolment schemes, if you switch to another fund, the charges could be higher.

How do higher fees affect your pension?

These fees are taken directly out of your pension and, as fees are often taken as percentages, the amount you lose to them is proportionate to the amount you have saved in your pension.

Vanguard analysed how fees affect a pension pot where someone pays in £250 a month (including tax relief) for more than 40 years, from age 25 to 66. 

Assuming an annual investment return of 5.5%, it found that paying 0.5% a year in fees results in a pension pot of around £392,000. However, if fees double to 1%, the pot grows to around £345,000 – a difference of approximately £47,000.

James Norton, head of retirement and investments at Vanguard Europe, said: 'When buying a car, it’s common for a more expensive vehicle to perform better than a cheaper one. So, you may think that higher fees should lead to better investment outcomes. 

'But the higher the fees you pay, the less returns you get to keep for yourself. Our analysis shows that if you keep your pension pot with a low-cost provider, in the long term you could keep significantly more of your returns and significantly improve your retirement.'

However, Norton noted that moving your pension carries investment risk, so before taking any steps you need to do your research.

What are my pension charges made up of?

Pension charging structures vary between providers, however, modern DC pensions typically involve two main ongoing costs. 

These are a platform (or service) fee paid to your provider for administration and account access, and a fund charge paid to investment managers for running your portfolio. 

There may be extra charges, depending on what sort of pension you hold:

How do I check what I'm paying in pension charges?

You can typically find how much your pension is charging you in fees a few different ways. You can:

If you are already in drawdown, providers are legally required to inform you each year of the exact amount paid in charges, presented in pounds and pence rather than percentages alone.

It’s a nightmare scenario, but the scientific evidence gathered so far – and what you’ve told us – shows that this is a problem that many people experience on a regular basis.

Many major lenders raised rates multiple times, making the once-plentiful sub-5 % fixed-rate mortgage now harder and harder to find. 

Here, Which? explains what's happening in the mortgage market, how it will impact your monthly repayments and whether more rate hikes are on the way.

What's happening to mortgage rates?

At the start of January, two-year fixed-rate mortgages offered some of the lowest rates on the market. The lowest rates were just shy of 3.5%, and you could choose from 750 mortgages with rates below 4%. 

Nine months later, the picture is very different. Just one sub-4 % mortgage is available, and you'll need to meet strict eligibility criteria to get it. The tracker mortgage is available exclusively to Barclays Premier customers. To qualify as a Premier customer, you must earn a minimum of £75,000 or have at least £100,000 in savings or investments with the bank.

After a relatively calm August, mortgage rates gathered pace in September as concerns grew about rising energy costs and their effect on the wider economy. 

At the start of September, more than 1,500 fixed-rate mortgages offered rates below 5%. One month on, that number had plummeted to just 131, according to our analysis of Moneyfacts data.

In the past few days, borrowers have had a glimmer of hope as some lenders have started to drop rates again, but it's not yet clear how long this will last. 

The graph below shows how average rates across different mortgage products have changed since the start of the year.

Is now the time to choose a tracker mortgage?

Since March, tracker mortgages have offered the cheapest borrowing. For example, if you're remortgaging, the lowest rate for a two-year fix is around 5%, while the best deal for a two-year tracker is just above 4%. 

With this type of mortgage, the interest rate you pay is based on an external rate, typically the Bank of England base rate, plus a set amount.

The table shows the cheapest two-year tracker rates for remortgagers at different loan-to-value ratios.

In 2026, the base rate has remained steady at 3.75%. Last year, it was cut by a whole percentage point – good news for those with tracker mortgages.

But if you're thinking of taking out a tracker now, there's a risk your repayments could rise. Many experts predict that the Bank of England will raise the base rate by 0.25 percentage points at its next Monetary Policy Committee meeting in November. Economists at Barclays Research forecast a further increase of 0.25 percentage points in early 2027. That would take the base rate to 4.25% by early next year.

A tracker mortgage could save you money initially compared with a fixed-rate deal, but your monthly repayments will increase if the base rate rises as forecast. You could also face bigger increases if global instability prompts the Bank of England to raise rates further than expected.

Ultimately, anyone choosing a tracker mortgage should make sure they can afford repayments if their interest rate were to rise by a full percentage point over the next year or so.

How much more could you pay each month?

To show how rate increases can affect your monthly mortgage payments, we've set out two scenarios. For each scenario, we show the monthly repayments at three interest rates: 4%, 5%, and 6%. 

If you have a £250,000 mortgage with 25 years remaining, the jump from 4% to 5% would add an extra £141 to your monthly repayments, or almost £1,700 a year. The rise from 5% to 6% would cost you slightly more, adding £150 a month.

If you owe £200,000 with 15 years remaining, the increase would be smaller, with each percentage point rise adding just over £100 to your monthly repayments. 

How to find the best mortgage for you 

When choosing a mortgage deal, the headline rate is important, but don't overlook upfront fees. Some market-leading rates can come with charges of more than £1,500.

We have found that fee-free deals with slightly higher interest rates can sometimes work out cheaper overall. That's why it's important to consider the cost of the entire mortgage before choosing a deal. 

If it's your first time taking out a mortgage, you may also want to get help from a mortgage broker. A whole-of-market mortgage broker can find a deal that suits your circumstances and help you compare rates and fees to find the best value for money.

You can go temple-hopping in Japan, take an exhilarating train ride through the Canadian Rockies, explore the jungles of Sri Lanka and more on these journeys packed with culture and adventure.

For peace of mind, all are offered by Which? Recommended Providers (WRPs) – because it’s important to know you're in good hands when splurging on the trip of a lifetime.

Victoria Falls, South Africa and Mozambique by rail

Imagine rattling through the African wilderness from the grandeur of your vintage train carriage. 

On this 15-day trip, you’ll board the prestigious Rovos Rail in Pretoria, South Africa, before journeying all the way to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe – where you’ll stay in five-star luxury with views of the majestic Batoka Gorge. Stops along the way include Kruger National Park for a safari, providing an opportunity to see Africa’s Big Five, and a visit to ‘the Valley of Heaven’ in Eswatini with its winding river and flowering jacaranda trees. 

You’ll sleep onboard in a luxury wood-panelled Pullman or deluxe suite for most of the trip.

Australia’s East Coast and Great Barrier Reef

If you’re going to travel to the other side of the world, you may as well take your time when you get there. 

This huge 24-day itinerary veers away from the tourist hotspots to offer a more sustainable and authentic experience. This includes hiking in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, exploring boutique wineries by e-bike in Adelaide, and kayaking to see dolphins on the coast of Byron Bay. 

You’ll also spend three nights in an eco resort on Lady Elliot Island, located within the dreamy Great Barrier Reef – where you can dive or snorkel with more than 1,200 marine species, including manta rays and turtles.

Ride the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada

This is a five-star service as you chug past steep canyons, rushing rivers and jagged mountain peaks: no wonder the Rocky Mountaineer train ride is on many people’s bucket lists. 

After a night in Calgary, the gateway to the Rockies, you will hike, canoe or raft in the snowy mountains and forests of Banff National Park. The shores of glacial-fed Lake Louise, with its jaw-dropping views, will be your base for two nights. 

Then it’s time to board the Rocky Mountaineer westward to the Pacific Coast an epic two-day scenic journey. The trip ends with time to explore the beaches, rainforests and historic neighbourhoods of Vancouver.

Jungle and beaches in Sri Lanka and the Maldives

If you’re looking for a beach paradise with a bit of culture thrown in, this 14-night Indian Ocean getaway could tick all the boxes. 

You’ll start in Sri Lanka, enjoying the panoramic jungle views from Sigiriya Rock and admiring the ancient cave art of Dambulla Rock Temple. The misty tea hills and wild national parks also await, with opportunities to spot herds of elephants, prowling leopards and sloths. 

After that, it’s a short flight to the turquoise waters and white sand beaches of the Maldives, where you can kick back and relax in your all-inclusive accommodation.

Temples, onsens and alpine hikes in Japan

A self-guided adventure is perfect for those who crave independence but don’t want the headache of planning a trip. 

The 16-night itinerary begins in energetic Tokyo, where you'll find ancient neighbourhoods and neon-lit skyscrapers. You’ll take a day trip to see Kamakura’s giant bronze Buddha before heading to the Japanese Alps to stay in a traditional ryokan. Here, you can hike the hilltop trails and watch snow monkeys bathe in the outdoor onsen (traditional hot spring). 

Other highlights include a visit to poignant Hiroshima and the sacred island of Miyajima – famed for its centuries-old Itsukushima Shrine built on the water. Then you’ll explore the cultural capital Kyoto and Nara – famous for its free-roaming deer – to round off what promises to be an unforgettable experience.

Ride the Bernina Express in the Alps

A trip of a lifetime doesn’t have to involve long flights. This five-night escape kicks off with two nights in Milan, where you’ll take part in a pizza and gelato-making class. 

Then, you’ll board the Unesco-listed Bernina Express, one of the world’s most scenic train rides. The four-hour journey to Alpine Switzerland takes in shimmering lakes, wildflower-filled valleys and snow-capped peaks. Highlights include the striking stone Landwasser Viaduct and the Bernina Pass, 2,253m above sea level.  

Afterwards, you’ll spend a night in historic Chur exploring its cobbled old town. Finally, it’s on to Zurich to enjoy its stained-glass churches and fragrant chocolate shops before heading home.

'Go back over your bank statements'

Usually, when you sign in to the online account, the figures are automatically uploaded from information supplied by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to HMRC. 

However, as you started receiving your state pension halfway through the tax year, this hasn't happened. Instead, go back over your bank statements and simply add up the income received. 

This income is taxable, but it's always paid gross and the burden of any income tax due is loaded on to any private pensions you have.

Be aware that in future, the annual figures DWP supply to HMRC is the weekly rate times 52 weeks. However, because you're receiving the state pension every four weeks, the amount you actually get over a year may not be the same figure as that supplied by DWP.

Which? Money 1-2-1 Guidance

Our team of money experts can answer your questions big and small, on topics from pensions to tax and savings to scams.

Which? Money members and their immediate family get unlimited access to 1-to-1 guidance sessions.

We assessed 72 home insurance policies from 30 brands. Of the 13 policies we rated Best Buys, six aren't available on any comparison sites.

In fact, almost all the policies we recommend for contents cover are only available directly from the insurer.

Here, we reveal the Best Buy home insurance policies you won’t find on price comparison sites, plus how to find good cover at a competitive price.

Which home insurance Best Buy policies aren’t on comparison sites?

We assess buildings and contents insurance separately, so a policy can be a Best Buy for one or both. These six policies are only available directly:

NFU Mutual also got high scores in our customer satisfaction survey and is a Which? Recommended Provider. 

Do comparison sites show every home insurance policy?

No price comparison website covers the whole home insurance market. Of the 30 insurers in our analysis, 21 sold at least one policy through comparison sites, while 27 of the 72 policies we assessed couldn’t be bought through them.

Some insurers, including Ecclesiastical, NFU Mutual and Sagic, don’t sell any of the policies we assessed through comparison websites. 

Others have different policies available on comparison sites and their own websites. For example, Aviva's Premium and Online policies are available on comparison sites, but the Best Buy Aviva Signature must be bought directly.

So, even if you find an insurer on a comparison site, you might not be seeing all its policies. Checking insurers’ websites or contacting them directly could uncover other policies, but you’ll still need to compare their cover and price with the quotes you already have.

Is it cheaper to buy home insurance directly?

Not necessarily. Buying directly could get you a lower quote, but comparison sites may offer a better price for the same or a similar policy. Premiums are based on factors such as your property, location, claims history and the cover you choose, so there’s no single cheapest route for everyone.

A Best Buy recognises the comprehensiveness of a policy’s buildings or contents cover. It doesn’t mean the policy will be the cheapest option for you.

When comparing quotes, make sure you’re looking at equivalent cover. Check the limits, exclusions and total excess, as well as whether features such as accidental damage and home emergency cover are included or cost extra. A cheaper quote may offer less protection, while adding optional extras could considerably increase the initial price. 

How to find the right cover at a competitive price

Comparison sites are a useful starting point, but they shouldn’t be your only stop. Follow these five steps to widen your search and find cover that suits both your home and your budget:

Scam adverts are thriving on social media, and when one is taken down, another swiftly replaces it. This whack-a-mole situation isn’t helped by the advertisers behind them being allowed to continue to operate, even after their initial dodgy ads are taken down.

Below, we reveal three scam advertisers who have published scam ads after being reported and examine what is being done, or not done, to stop them.

Dodgy menopause adverts

A series of AI-generated deepfake videos were used to promote a cream marketed to women to 'balance hormones' by an advertiser on Meta.

The adverts were published on Facebook and Instagram, and our suspicions grew due to the company not being listed as located anywhere, yet its Meta advertiser profile being managed by accounts in Thailand, Colombia and the Philippines. 

Reviews on Trustpilot also complain of receiving a dodgy product that didn't meet its advertised description.

Which? reported one of the adverts using the platform's reporting process, and the ads on the account were banned for ‘unacceptable business practices’. 

But then a new account with a very similar name popped up. The advertiser uses the same logo, links to the same website and has numerous adverts promoting the same product on Meta. 

At the time of writing, the new account had a reach, which is the number of Meta accounts that saw the advert at least once, of an estimated 23,392 from 18 live adverts. 

Investment scams

A series of scam adverts posted on Facebook and Instagram impersonated TV presenter Matt Allwright as well as the BBC and Lloyds Bank to peddle an investment scam. 

When Which? reported it, it was removed the following day.

However, the advertiser remained active and published a new version of the advert that also impersonated the BBC. 

The scam advert led to a fake BBC news article promoting an investment scheme advertised as being fuelled by technology hidden from the British public by banks. It asks you to register with your personal details to sign up for the investment.

This advert has now been removed, but the advertiser is still operating.

Weight loss sham

Which? reported these ads directly to Google, which owns YouTube, and they were taken down for ‘violating its ads policies.’ However, the advertiser continues to operate and has promoted more suspicious ads linked to a weight loss patch.

The new adverts lead to a website that uses stolen images to promote its product and claims that universities researched the weight loss patch, but there is no evidence for this.

What is being done about scam adverts?

Which? has been campaigning for tech platforms to take responsibility and stop the scourge of scams on their platforms. Sadly, right now it seems there's little that is being done to rein in these scams. 

Under the current draft of the Online Safety Act’s fraudulent advertising codes, the regulator Ofcom will require tech platforms to ban bad actors who post scam ads and prevent perpetrators from creating new accounts.

However, these rules are still being drafted, and these and other rules for social media platforms when it comes to keeping scam ads and advertisers off of their platforms will likely not be in force until late 2027. 

Which? believes these examples - and numerous others - demonstrate the importance of a strong user banning requirement in Ofcom’s final codes, and of robust enforcement by the regulator. The Online Safety Act gives the regulator the power to fine companies 10% of global turnover or £18 million, whichever is greater.

Which? shared this research with Meta and YouTube. Meta told us that it is investigating the content we brought to its attention.

A spokesperson from Google, YouTube’s parent company, told us: ‘We expressly prohibit ads that scam people by misrepresenting information about products or services and invest heavily in detecting and enforcing against scams. Upon review, we have suspended the advertiser account for violating our ads policies.’

But very few investors will have the kind of money required to access this top rate.

Here, we comb through the terms and conditions and compare the fees to other providers to see whether this offer is worth it.

How can you access the offer?

The offer runs from 1 October to 30 November 2026 and is available to account holders aged 18 or over with at least 1p in their account. The invitation to take part was sent out to eligible customers who are opted into marketing communications.

To participate, you can’t just transfer the amount across. You’ll need to register for the offer using the online form on the invite, calling the helpline or using the secure messaging service.

If you take money out of your Hargreaves Lansdown accounts between now and 30 September 2027, the offer will be calculated based on what’s left in your account. For example, if you transferred in £25,000 between now and 30 November but took out £18,000 in March 2027, you wouldn’t be eligible for cashback because you wouldn't have met the £10,000 minimum.

Any increases in the value of your account that come from your investments won’t be counted towards the contribution amount.

How much do you need to get the maximum?

To access this maximum amount, you’d need to put £1m into each of the four accounts. If you put £2m into one account, £750,000 into two, and £500,000 into your final account, you'd get £25,000 cashback instead.

But few investors will have £4m to spread across their accounts, making the headline cashback figure unrealistic for most. It's therefore worth focusing on how much you could actually receive, rather than being swayed by the maximum payout.

How much you’d get back depends on what you put into each account, not what you had in the account to start with.

Could higher fees wipe out your cashback?

If you have money spread across different accounts and are considering moving some or all of it to Hargreaves Lansdown to use the offer, it’s worth considering other fees.

A one-off payment may seem attractive, but higher ongoing charges can quickly outweigh it.

These are just two of many possible scenarios. There's no universally cheapest platform; it depends on what you're invested in and how much is in your portfolio.

Do other platforms offer cashback?

Hargreaves Lansdown isn’t the only platform to offer cashback; several others offer incentives to transfer your money to them.

Other benefits, like free trades when you sign up for investment accounts, are also available.

But costs and cashback aren't the only factors to consider. Platforms vary in ease of use, the number and types of investments available, and the information they provide to help you decide. 

Investing is about thinking long term, and the same should apply to your platform choice.

The impact of higher rates dampening the property market is that the cost of moving has actually fallen slightly by 2.3% in England, according to comparison site Reallymoving. However, costs have risen in Scotland and Northern Ireland, while falling in Wales.

Here, Which? breaks down the main moving costs, reveals which have risen and fallen over the past year and compares how much it typically costs to move throughout the UK.

How much does it cost to move house?

Moving costs vary significantly across the UK. This is mostly driven by differences in average property prices, which dictate the typical amount of stamp duty (Land and Buildings Transaction Tax in Scotland and the Land Transaction Tax in Wales) owed.

If we look at how costs have changed since last year, Northern Ireland recorded the biggest increase, with home movers paying an extra £2,217 on average. Costs also rose in Scotland, but by just over £500. However, movers in Wales now typically pay less, with the average cost dropping by more than £300.

Unsurprisingly, London has the highest moving costs. In the capital, the average cost of moving now stands at just over £32,000. This has dropped by more than £500 since last year as a result of falling property prices. 

The average first-time buyer in London pays just shy of £8,000. Much of this difference is due to stamp duty, which adds thousands to the cost of buying.

At the other end of the scale, moving costs are typically lowest in the North East.

Use our interactive map to compare average costs across the UK. 

Cost of moving falls by 2% in England 

The slight decrease in the average cost of moving in England is primarily driven by the struggling property market. The median house price has dropped by £5,000 over the past year to £390,000, cutting the average stamp duty bill by £250.

Lower property prices have also reduced estate agent fees, which are typically charged as a percentage of the sale price. The average fee has fallen by £142 over the past year.

A quieter property market has brought down the typical cost of removals, too. The average cost of moving 30 miles has fallen by 12% to £624.

Despite these falls, moving home remains considerably more expensive than a decade ago. A home move in 2016 cost £10,016 in today's money, according to Reallymoving.

Conveyancing is the only cost that has increased since 2025, although the rise was less than £100.

This table summarises the average cost of moving home in England if you're selling and buying. 

The cost of buying your first home

Reallymoving's analysis also explores how much it costs to buy your first home, although the figures don't include a house deposit. 

Average first-time buyer moving costs vary across the UK, from £1,581 in Scotland to £2,293 in England. Buyers typically pay £2,183 in Wales and £2,243 in Northern Ireland.

In England, first-time buyers now pay £22 less on average than last year, driven by a fall in removal costs.

First-time buyers have lower costs than home movers, as they avoid estate agent fees, which are paid by the seller, and may qualify for relief from property taxes, depending on where they're buying and the property price.

How to save on moving costs  

There are some moving costs that - no matter how much research and negotiation you do - can't be reduced. Stamp duty is the best example of this. 

Other costs can be reduced, though. By shopping around for providers, such as removal companies and estate agents, you may be able to make savings. When considering your options, always get the right balance between price and the level of service.

When searching for a removal firm, Reallymoving also advises checking whether you qualify for a discount, which sometimes applies to pensioners, students, key workers or members of the armed forces.

Another way to make savings is by moving at a quieter time. The end of the summer holidays is typically the busiest moving period and therefore the most expensive. Fridays are typically the busiest day of the week for moving. 

When budgeting for your next move, also take the time to factor in often-forgotten costs. According to our research, people commonly find that the price of decorating and buying new furniture, appliances and curtains is higher than they'd expected. 

The main selling point of this toothbrush is an AI-powered camera built into the brush head that identifies gaps between your teeth, allowing a small but powerful jet to shoot mouth rinse and floss with precision as you brush.

While it goes through our rigorous lab tests, where dental experts measure exact plaque removal over several weeks, here are my first impressions after using the Dyson CameraJet at home for a month. 

Dyson CameraJet: first impressions

It's a premium-feeling toothbrush. It's slightly wider and heavier than most electric toothbrushes, especially with the added mouth rinse tank, but it's evenly weighted and comfortable to hold.

There are more steps compared to setting up a standard electric toothbrush, but the process was fairly straightforward. I plugged in the charging dock, filled the tank with the provided mouth rinse (mouth rinse and toothpaste are included in the initial purchase, then £8.49 each for replacements) and put the toothbrush on charge. 

Next, I set up my account on the MyDyson app by using the QR code on the packaging. It was quick and easy, and the app itself is sleek and intuitive.

Once charged and filled with mouth rinse, I started my first Brush & Auto-Jet session using the app's guided cleaning feature. This was definitely a new experience from just using a standard electric toothbrush. 

The jets are powerful, come often and create quite a mess, especially when the app tells you to ‘part your lips wide’ while brushing your front teeth. My mirror was left covered in a spray of mouth rinse, toothpaste and saliva. 

Despite the mess, once the three-minute cycle ended, my teeth felt very clean and fresh. The toothpaste and mouth rinse taste pleasant, although the non-foaming properties create a slightly different brushing experience that lets the camera see better. 

Using the app for guided cleaning was smooth, and I felt it contributed to a thorough clean by breaking my mouth into six sections and telling me how many seconds to spend on each area. 

How does the Dyson CameraJet work?

The CameraJet toothbrush has an integrated 100k-pixel micro lens built into the neck, just under the brush head. 

Using Dyson’s specialised AI technology Gap Optical Targeting, the camera detects, tracks and predicts where the gaps in your teeth are, enabling precision jet bursts of mouth rinse to be fired from the device, liquid-flossing your teeth. 

This feature worked fine most of the time; however, there were a few occasions when I received a ‘lens blocked’ notification that would limit the jets from working. Removing the brush head and rinsing everything under the tap usually fixed this quickly. 

It's also quite loud while the jets are firing, so I would advise against using them if you're in an en-suite bathroom with someone asleep in the bedroom.

You can view the camera feed live on the app. This is live-only streaming, and footage isn't stored on the device or in the app. I tried this a handful of times, but the footage wasn't very clear or useful to my untrained eye. 

The mouth rinse is stored in an ‘anti-gravity’ tank. A balloon inside the tank inflates as the liquid is used. It maintains pressure and prevents air pockets, allowing the jets to keep working regardless of the angle the toothbrush is used at.

I found this feature a bit temperamental. There would be occasions when the balloon would deflate overnight between uses or not inflate properly while I was brushing. This would cause the jet to shoot out air instead of the mouth rinse, or not shoot at all, prompting me to refill the tank.

Is the CameraJet travel-friendly?

The box includes a travel case that fits the whole charging/refill dock. At around 30cm tall, this is considerably larger than a normal travel case that only fits the toothbrush, and it would take up a lot of space in a hand luggage bag. 

The case also includes the refill tank, which holds 200ml of mouth rinse. I wouldn't want to risk travelling with this amount of liquid unsealed in my bag, so I'd need to empty it before taking it on the move. 

This would either waste the mouth rinse (which isn't cheap at £8.49 for 400ml) or require an inconvenient step to store the excess liquid elsewhere.

The toothbrush has a simple cable charger, which is much more portable. You would need to store the toothbrush elsewhere while travelling, but this makes things easier. You can then fill the mouth rinse tank by pouring it in manually, rather than using the dock. 

What's the CameraJet's battery like?

Because of the additional technology in the device, the battery drains fairly quickly. The app shows a percentage reading that drops in 5% increments, and I found that each brush/jet session use about 5% of the battery. 

That means the toothbrush lasts about 10 days without a charge, which isn't bad given the extra functionality. The brush has two chargers, a charging dock and a simple Pogo-pin cable that attaches magnetically. Both use USB-C. 

However, the real issue I found is refilling the tank with mouth rinse, as you need to do this every few sessions, and it requires the dock to be plugged in. 

If you're like me and don't have a USB-C charging port in your bathroom, you'll have to make regular trips to wherever you have the dock plugged in to refill the mouth rinse, which can become an extra chore.

Dyson CameraJet: my First Look verdict

The toothbrush is well made, and it brushes effectively. If using the toothbrush were enough to completely replace flossing, I'd argue it's a much easier and preferable experience than the usual two minutes of brushing followed by flossing. 

However, after speaking to my dentist (I coincidentally had a check-up a few weeks ago), he said it wouldn't be as thorough as using an interdental brush/stick or floss, and that I should still use them after brushing.

Then there's the issue of the features being a bit temperamental. Inconsistencies with the jets firing due to a blocked lens or the ‘anti-gravity’ tank failing to inflate, along with the mess created from the jets when they do work, make the experience a bit of a faff. I've enjoyed using the CameraJet, and it has a unique selling point, but I'm not completely sold on it yet. 

The video above shows serious safety failures during testing of the Axkid Minikid Core and the Britax Römer Baby-Safe Pro + Vario Base 5Z.

What happened during testing?

Axkid Minikid Core

During the frontal impact tests with a dummy representing a 6-year-old child (Q6), and with the seat installed rearward-facing, the support leg retracted with the seat back in both upright and reclined positions. 

Once the support leg retracts, the seat loses a critical part of its connection to the vehicle floor, allowing excessive movement of the seat and child during impact.

In the reclined position test, the harness also broke away from the seat shell, meaning the crash test dummy was no longer fully restrained. 

These failures represent a significant risk of serious injury to your child.

Britax Römer Baby-Safe Pro + Vario Base 5Z

In frontal impact testing, with a dummy representing an 18-month-old child (Q1½) and the seat installed rearward-facing and reclined, the harness buckle failed and opened, causing the crash test dummy to come loose.

This means the harness no longer restrained the child, which, again, represents a major risk of injury.

When the seat was not reclined, or when it was installed using the vehicle seatbelt rather than the Isofix base, this issue didn't occur.

What should you do if you own one of these seats?

We recommend that you stop using the Axkid Minikid Core seat immediately, as we believe the risk to your child is too great.

If you own the Britax Römer Baby-Safe Pro + Vario Base 5Z, we recommend that you don't use the seat with the Isofix Vario Base 5Z in a reclined position until the manufacturer has resolved the issue. 

However, it is safe to use if you keep the seat upright, or install it into your vehicle without the base and use the adult seatbelt. The seat passed our tests in both of these configurations.

What do the manufacturers say?

When Axkid was informed of the test outcome, it attributed the support-leg failure to excessive seat movement during impact, which caused the base to strike the support leg with enough force to release its adjustment mechanism. 

Axkid says this is inconsistent with its own internal tests, but takes the finding seriously. It says the harness-buckle finding (when the seat is reclined) has never occurred in its testing.

The company told us that the Minikid Core continues to meet all applicable legal requirements and has demonstrated strong safety performance across multiple test conditions.

Axkid - voluntary recall

'[However] later testing identified results that do not meet all of our own stringent requirements,' says Daniel Lundgren, Safety and Compliance Manager at Axkid. 'Minikid Core has successfully completed all required approvals, but our own standards go beyond the legal requirements. That is why we have decided to initiate a voluntary recall and replace all affected Minikid Core seats free of charge.

'Axkid respects the clarification from Which? with regards to their standard procedure during crash test deviations to recommend not to continue to use a car seat. The Axkid recall process allows a replacement car seat in line with the Which? recommendation. 

Britax Römer - investigating further

Britax Römer says it is working to pinpoint the problem and plans to take corrective action as soon as it identifies the cause. 

It says the result is unexpected, given that its own full-sized vehicle tests and development tests, carried out under the same conditions as our tests, showed no abnormalities.

Britax Römer points out that the harness buckle that failed is a widely used industry-standard part sourced from a common supplier and used by multiple manufacturers. 

It states that any decision on replacement, repair, recall or other action requires completion of its technical assessment.

UPDATE (12/10/2026)

Since publishing our news story and video, we've been informed by Britax that it has issued a voluntary recall of the Baby-Safe Pro for all products manufactured between 26 December 2025 and 30 September 2026.

Products affected can be found in the table below. The item number and production date are shown on the product label on the bottom side of the car seat shell.

Which? car seat testing

Which? carries out its car seat testing as part of European consortium of consumer groups and motoring organisations. Our tests are derived from crash test scenarios by Euro NCAP, the organisation that carries out crash testing on cars.

Our tests are severe, and tougher than the standard regulations for R129-approved car seats, using higher - but realistic - loads on the child-restraint system.

The test is well accepted by car seat manufacturers across the UK and Europe, and many develop their seats to meet our exacting standards.

Wet weather doesn’t have to keep you trapped indoors or stop a family outing. It also shouldn't mean soggy socks, slow-drying trousers or muddy footprints everywhere.

Which? experts share the autumn essentials they rely on to stay dry in the outdoors, alongside indoor gadgets that will help if you do get caught in a downpour.

Black & Decker X Frame Heated Airer

Dry wet clothes more quickly by investing in a heated airer, rather than just using a regular clothes horse. It will take a matter of hours rather than days to dry your trousers, and may help to prevent damp in your home, too. 

With an X-shaped layout, this Black and Decker airer is designed so that clothes shouldn’t stack on top of each other. And it will neatly fold down when you want to store it. 

Helly Hansen Waterproof Overtrousers 

A pair of waterproof trousers is a must-have for any rainy-day walkers. They’ll keep you dry and comfortable even when it’s chucking it down outside. 

Helly Hansen was a popular brand among Which? members. It had the highest customer score along with Arc'teryx, whose products cost nearly three times more. 

Helly Hansen's waterproof trousers start at £50 and are regularly on sale for less.

Fox Racing Ranger water jacket

A waterproof jacket is a must-have for all sorts of outdoor activities in the autumn. 

The Fox Racing Ranger jacket caters to cyclists, keeping you dry and protected with a roomy hood that fits over your helmet. It also has zippered pockets to secure your valuables and claims to be engineered to be breathable for added comfort.

Polti Vaporetto SV460 Double PTEU0296

Whether it’s the dog or the kids, someone is bound to traipse muddy footprints through the house on a rainy day. A steam cleaner will allow you to keep hard floors looking spick and span, no matter the weather outside. 

Polti’s Vaporetto SV460 promises to kill bacteria and sort out dried-on stains. It works as both a steam mop and portable steam cleaner. 

Puremate PM465 20 Litre dehumidifier

As the weather turns, a good dehumidifier becomes essential. Beyond preventing condensation and mould, it pulls excess moisture from the air to dramatically speed up indoor clothes drying. 

Puremate’s PM465 20-Litre model comes packed with practical features, including two fan speeds, dedicated night and laundry modes, 11 target humidity settings, a 24-hour timer and built-in wheels for easy portability.

Shoe dryer

There’s nothing worse than putting on a pair of shoes to find they’re still wet from the day before. This electric dryer slots into your shoes and circulates warm air to dry them out so they’re ready to wear next time you go to put them on. 

It claims to heat up within 15 seconds and takes up to two hours to dry them out. You could also use it for drying gloves, hats, socks or any other soggy clothing. 

Rainkiss poncho

Stay completely dry on dreary days with a cosy, full-coverage poncho. 

Rainkiss ponchos shield you from head to toe with heavy-duty weatherproofing, including adjustable hoods and sealed cuffs to lock out the rain. 

Best of all, they inject plenty of personality into gloomy weather. You can buy them in all kinds of styles, from delicate Japanese blossom prints to bold leopard patterns.

Nikwax TX Direct Spray-On

If your waterproof clothing isn’t quite as waterproof as you’d like, a waterproofing spray can help prevent the outer fabric from absorbing water.

Unlike other waterproofing treatments, there’s no need for tumble drying. Just spray it on and let it air dry. 

Le Chameau boots

Wellies don’t need to look bad. Le Chameau has options in different styles and colours, including short ankle boots, mid-length ankle boots and tall boots. 

Which? members praise them for how comfortable they are, with one telling us they're 'almost like a pair of shoes' and 'can be worn all day and over long distances'. The weather and mucky ground conditions are no match for them either. Le Chameau wellies achieved a five-star rating for their grip, which is very important to avoid skidding in muddy patches. 

Totes Eco-brella X-tra Strong Plus Auto Open umbrella

A sturdy umbrella is a must-have accessory to keep in your bag, ready for rainy days.

Avoid buying something super cheap that will break after a few uses. Instead, it's worth spending a little extra to get something that claims to survive the wind as well as the rain. 

More podcasts from Which?

The Which? podcast showcases the best content from across our website and magazine. 

Plus, keep an eye out for bonus episodes that tackle important issues, from motoring and tech to health and wellbeing and travel.

How to listen to the Which? podcast

We're always releasing new episodes, and the podcast is available from wherever you usually get your podcasts.

As part of your subscription, Which? members also get access to exclusive podcasts.

The number of fixed-term accounts paying 5% or more has surged in the past two months. Moneyfacts data shows there were just three such deals on 5 August. Today, there are more than 70.

With savers who lock their cash away rewarded with the best returns, how do you choose the right fixed bond for you?

NS&I hikes rates on fixed bonds

NS&I is one of the biggest household names to raise rates on its range of fixed-term accounts. 

It's the fourth time the government-backed provider has hiked interest on these savings products since June, and the latest push means it now offers some of the highest rates on the market.

Guaranteed Growth Bonds pay interest annually, and Guaranteed Income Bonds pay returns into savers' nominated current accounts every month. Both allow you to invest between £500 and £1m. 

This table shows the accounts ordered by term:

How fast are fixed rates rising?

A better savings deal seems to be appearing almost every day. That’s because it probably is, with many fixed-rate deals now paying more than 5% AER for the first time in two years.

Just three topped 5% on 5 August 2026. By 8 October, there were 75, according to our analysis of Moneyfacts data.

Here are some of the latest fixed-rate deals announced last week:

Our table shows the top fixed-term savings accounts, ordered by term:

What's happening to savings rates?

This graph shows how average interest rates on fixed accounts have fared since August 2020:

Savings rates usually track the Bank of England (BoE) base rate. After 14 consecutive hikes between December 2021 and August 2023, the top savings rate hit 6.2% AER in October 2023. Rates then fell as the BoE started cutting.

The base rate has been 3.75% since December 2025, yet savings rates have climbed since March 2026 to their highest level since 2024. Why?

One factor could be expectations that higher inflation caused by conflict in the Middle East will prompt the BoE to raise the base rate in the future. But competition matters too. Strong demand for certain savings products can push rates higher.

Banks may also offer attractive deals to bring in deposits and hit their funding targets. That may certainly be the case with NS&I's latest round of rate hikes.

In August, the provider revealed it had raised just £1bn of its £15bn target in the first three months of its financial year. It has some serious catching up to do and will hope its new deals help to achieve that goal.

5 things to consider when fixing savings

1. How long?

Generally, the longer you fix for, the higher the return. Right now, the best rates are on fixes of more than a year.

Even if shorter fixes regain the edge, locking in a competitive rate today is still likely to earn more over five years than rolling over one-year fixes.

2. How much should you lock away?

Fixed-rate savings accounts are a great option for people with larger pots. Interest is guaranteed for the agreed term, and locking the money away can also help curb the temptation to spend it.

However, it's wise to keep some cash in an instant-access savings account you can withdraw at short notice. Try to have enough money to cover you for three months. If you're retired, however, you may need much more to tide you over – think one to three years' worth. 

3. When and where is interest paid?

Fixed-rate savings accounts pay interest monthly, annually or at the end of the agreed term.

Many accounts will add that interest to your nest egg, but others pay it out to your current account. That can be useful if you need regular cash. But because that income isn't rolled back into your savings pot, it won't benefit from compounding.

4. What's in the small print?

Remember to check the small print before you open an account so you're fully aware of what happens when the bond matures. 

If you don't tell your provider what to do next, the money will be automatically moved into either an instant-access account, back into your nominated current account or fixed for another term.

To avoid ending up on a worse rate, note down the term end date in your diary or set an alert on your phone a couple of weeks before. You can then start planning what you want to do with the cash and move the funds somewhere that suits you best.

5. Could you face a tax bill?

Big pots earning higher rates could mean you're at risk of being taxed on savings interest.

The personal savings allowance (PSA) is £1,000 for a basic-rate taxpayer, but that's halved to £500 for those paying the higher rate of income tax. Additional-rate taxpayers don't have a PSA, meaning all their savings interest is subject to income tax. Any interest that exceeds the limit will be charged at your usual rate of income tax (20%, 40% or 45%). 

From April 2027, the rates of income tax on savings interest will rise by two percentage points, meaning you could pay more on any interest above your allowance.

The best way to avoid falling into the savings tax trap is to open an Isa. Isas help you shield up to £20,000 a year from tax. From 2027, however, the amount you can pay into cash Isas will fall to £12,000 for savers under 65. 

To use the full £20,000 Isa allowance, the remaining £8,000 would need to be invested in a stocks and shares Isa. 

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/im-a-car-expert-heres-why-petrol-prices-in-google-maps-is-a-big-deal-alCOh1x2Ab2V Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:09:55 GMT Cars https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/im-a-car-expert-heres-why-petrol-prices-in-google-maps-is-a-big-deal-alCOh1x2Ab2V You can now see the cheapest petrol and diesel near you on Google Maps. So if you’re on a long journey, or simply want to see the state of play in your local area, it’s now trivially easy to find out where filling up will be cheapest. 

This has been made possible by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ, often pronounced ‘Deznez’) and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) obliging petrol stations to provide live fuel information to the Fuel Finder tool. This creates a live data feed for anybody to use, and Google has decided to add it to its Maps service.

Diesel prices are particularly volatile right now and currently sitting at their highest since 2022, with many forecourts having to replace the ‘1’ at the start of their prices with a ‘2’ – a symbolic change that has shocked many a motorist.

Finding cheap fuel

Fuel Finder's integration into Google Maps is actually pretty good.

Run a search for ‘petrol pumps’ in Google Maps and all the corresponding map pins will show the lowest fuel price at each petrol station. Even in areas with a huge number of forecourts, such as where I live in north London, it’s easy to see the cheapest place to go.

Tap on a specific location and you’ll see the prices for all the fuels the forecourt has reported on. 

The government has always said that buyers who compare petrol prices could save up to £40 a year on fuel, which is probably about right for average-mileage drivers.

Having prices on Google Maps also highlights where you can make big savings. For example, you can now easily see the price difference between service stations and local petrol stations.

In the example pictured, you can see the difference between two petrol stations near the A14 on the outskirts of Cambridge – a Shell dedicated service station and a Tesco supermarket. However, both are very close to A14 exits and therefore easy to get to.

Filling up a 50-litre tank with petrol would cost £7.50 less at the Tesco vs the Shell. Locals probably know this, but this data gives you local knowledge at the tap of a button, no matter where you are in the UK.

Make a few good decisions like that over the course of a year and you’ll save much more than £40. 

 Discover the questions to ask yourself before making the switch

Data quality

Fuel Finder legislation states that petrol stations have to update their fuel prices within half an hour of a change.

However, with small independent operations, this might mean an already over-busy petrol station employee has to update Fuel Finder manually within the half-hour window. As such, the data may not always be accurate or up to date for reasons that are quite understandable.

There has never been a motivation for petrol retailers to publicise their prices beyond lit-up totems, so none of the major petrol retailers list fuel prices on their websites. It took the huge fuel price increases of 2022 to create the legislation that forced their hands, which means we consumers are working with an undeniably useful, but not completely infallible, system.

Take the cheapest petrol station in all of north and north-east London. I visited on Wednesday night with the latest data telling me that standard unleaded was 163p and that diesel was 186p, making it the 65th cheapest petrol station in the whole country. When I arrived, unleaded was 167p and diesel was 192p, up 4p and 6p respectively. The reason? That big-brand petrol station hasn’t updated its prices on the Fuel Finder platform since 17 September 2026.

For me, the most puzzling thing is that even with accurate Fuel Finder prices, this petrol station would still be notably cheaper than any other petrol station for miles around. In other words, they have nothing to hide but seem to have neglected to keep on top of this task or are having an unresolved technical issue.

The fuel prices in the real world (above) vs the 'latest' Fuel Finder data in Google Maps

The good news is that, seemingly, this is the exception to the rule.

I’ve analysed the latest raw Fuel Finder data (which is what forms the basis of the Google Maps tool), and of the 8,133 fuel stations with Fuel Finder data, 4,964 (61%) have updated their fuel prices since the start of October.

A further 1,596 updated in the last few days of September, and another 1,101 did so between 21 and 27 September 2026. In total, 459 fuel stations haven’t updated their prices since before 20 September, which is about the time diesel was in the middle of its latest big price bump. In some cases, this is due to a petrol station being temporarily or permanently closed, and in those cases Google Maps doesn’t display data anyway. 

Currently, Google Maps doesn’t display how up to date the fuel prices are, although based on my research it does appear to remove pricing information that is clearly out of date or falls outside of an expected price range.

Enforcing the rules

The CMA has the ability to fine retailers that don’t keep their fuel prices up to date on Fuel Finder and, as of August, it says it’s written 1,166 letters to retailers to get them properly registered and issued 53 compliance notices to retailers.

Thus far, no retailers have been referred by the data company VE3 (which is employed to manage the data for Fuel Finder) for suspected noncompliance. Financial penalties for noncompliance can be up to 5% of worldwide daily turnover for a company for ongoing breaches, or 1% of global turnover for other breaches. 

In practice, it’s hard to imagine it being possible to accurately verify the accuracy of all petrol stations all the time, which is why today’s Google Maps news is so welcome.

Millions of eyeballs on petrol prices will cause the market to self-correct: reviewers on Google can be brutally honest, and if a petrol station is consistently reporting incorrect fuel prices that appear on Google Maps, negative reviews will follow. This will help motorists decide whether to trust the price they see. 

All this brings petrol and diesel into line with EV charging, which already has excellent and pretty accurate public data on various apps including Google Maps, Zapmap and Octopus Electroverse. It puts more decision-making power into our hands, and that’s always a good thing.

: whatever car you choose, make sure it’s a Which? Best Buy ]]>

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/national-trust-abroad-into-aJ9n48w7c5S2 Thu, 08 Oct 2026 15:18:55 GMT Travel https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/national-trust-abroad-into-aJ9n48w7c5S2 If you’re a National Trust member, you already know your pass gives you access to more than 500 properties across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  

In fact, savvy National Trust members might have even used their passes to access sites in Scotland or Ireland, making use of the Trust’s agreements with National Trust for Scotland and An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland.

Did you know you can also use your National Trust card to access more than 1,000 sites in 80 nations and territories worldwide for free? Historic houses, castles, expansive living museums, wildlife sanctuaries, nature reserves, art galleries and World Heritage-listed gardens are among the attractions National Trust card holders can visit.

Not only can you use your pass to visit properties in popular European tourist hotspots like Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland – you can also use it in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, Zimbabwe, Malaysia and beyond.

Read on to learn how to unlock free and discounted entry to cultural and historic sites on your next overseas holiday, using just your National Trust pass.

How does it work?

The National Trust belongs to the International National Trusts Organisation, which calls itself a ‘global family of heritage trusts’. All 106 worldwide members – including the UK’s National Trust – share reciprocal agreements, meaning they allow visits from members of other organisations. 

That means that if you’re a member of the UK’s National Trust going on holiday to Italy, for example, you can visit heritage sites run by the National Trust for Italy (known in Italian as Fondo Ambiente Italiano or FAI) for free and at a discount. Likewise, FAI cardholders can visit UK National Trust sites as part of their membership.

Some properties are free to the public anyway but might offer cardholders a free tour —others can waive significant admission fees. In Italy, we found you could get free access to dozens of castles, gardens, villas and even a winery, which usually charge nine to 15 euros per adult ticket.

Further afield in Canada, your National Trust card would save you more than $20 (around £10) on the price of admission to Craigdarroch Castle in British Columbia or $18 on the cost of getting into the Toronto Railway Museum, along with dozens of other options across the country. 

In Australia, you could visit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Queensland (usually $70 AUD per adult), Everglades House & Gardens in the Blue Mountains (usually $17 AUD), or Sydney’s SH Ervin Gallery (usually $15 AUD), all without spending a penny.

How do I do it?

Then, head to that organisation’s site and navigate to its INTO or ‘reciprocal agreements’ page. You should find a list of sites you can visit with your National Trust card, usually free, or, in a few cases, at a discounted rate.

If you can’t find a dedicated page, go to the admissions information for any property you’re interested in; it should include details on visiting via an INTO partner organisation.

If you’re unsure about anything, you can also contact the relevant organisation about your planned visit – most include an email address or contact form on their website.

Finally, remember to bring your National Trust card on the day.

Will my National Trust for Scotland pass work?

Yes – just like the National Trust UK, National Trust for Scotland is an INTO member, meaning you can benefit from INTO reciprocal agreements. The same applies to members of the National Trust equivalents in Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man. 

]]>

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/are-fibre-supplements-really-worth-it-aIhez8m1OWzn Wed, 07 Oct 2026 23:04:00 GMT Health https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/are-fibre-supplements-really-worth-it-aIhez8m1OWzn If you’ve spent any time on social media recently, you’ve likely encountered the latest wellness trend: fibremaxxing. 

Supplement brands are cashing in on this shortfall, but beneath the slick marketing and pretty packaging, you could be paying a premium for benefits that could be achieved for a fraction of the cost. 

We looked at a range of popular fibre supplements to see how their claims stacked up. 

We found that some actually contain very little fibre vs real food, and others appear to use clever marketing to sound more impressive than they actually are. Here's what to watch out for:

1. Pricey pills with low fibre content

But a 50g bowl of porridge oats delivers the exact same amount of fibre for just 4p. 

2. ‘Fairy dusting’

Due to strict UK regulations, there are very few approved nutrition and health claims for fibre that brands can legally make. To get around this, some brands appear to be turning to a marketing technique called ‘fairy-dusting’ - where other ingredients with approved health claims, such as vitamins, are added to a product so that they can put health claims on the front of the packaging.

For example, Novomins Fibre Gummies contain vitamin B12 and vitamin D2. This allows them to feature claims relating to the support of the immune system and normal energy-yielding metabolism on-pack, despite these claims not being related to the fibre content.

- independent expert reviews, and what to watch out for when buying

3. Number games

You shouldn’t need a calculator to read a supplement label. Yet, we found you might need one to make sense of dose claims and costs when choosing.

Some brands list fibre content in milligrams (mg) instead of the standard grams (g) - presumably to make doses sound bigger and stand out on the shelf.

For example, Novomins Fibre Gummies (pictured above) boast '4,000mg of fibre' per serving. That sounds far more impressive than a competitor offering 4g, but it's exactly the same amount - and is still just 13% of your daily 30g target. 

It's a simple tactic that makes it more difficult to quickly and accurately compare products on the shelf, and tricks your brain into thinking you're getting more for your money. 

That's why it's also important to check what the daily dose is, a detail you'll usually find hidden on the back of the pack. It's often two or more capsules or gummies, which means a pack will last you half as long as you might expect from the number on the front. To ensure you know the true cost per dose, always check the back of pack info first.

4. Science-washing

To add credibility, some brands seem to rely on ‘science-washing’, using impressive-sounding science or medical terminology to add clout and give a product an evidence-backed edge. 

However, a closer look reveals that these studies were conducted on individual ingredients, not Biomel’s proprietary blend. While the research itself is genuine, it doesn't tell us anything meaningful about the true number of studies on the actual product, and lends a sense of impressiveness that isn't backed by the small print.

Looking to add more fibre to your diet? Try these 

Why high-fibre foods are a better bet

Whilst it might be tempting to top up with a quick fibre hit, especially if you struggle to get your 30g, it's best to aim for a fibre-filled diet than to turn to supplements where possible. 

As well as providing a variety of soluble and insoluble fibres, whole foods naturally contain a range of essential vitamins and minerals too and help to foster a diverse gut microbiome. 

The food-first approach can be just as effortless and far more economical. Something as simple as grabbing an apple for your morning commute can provide you with 3-4g of fibre. Equally, five minutes of prepping overnight oats offers more fibre than a scoop of expensive powder. 

* Food pricing based on standard retail costs from Tesco; all prices correct as of 5 October 2026.

Everyday staples such as oats, a slice of wholemeal toast, or a portion of lentils can give you higher fibre doses than many supplements at a fraction of the price. 

Sprinkling toppings on meals is another good way to pack the fibre in, and bulk-buying flax, chia or pumpkin seeds works out drastically cheaper per serving in the long-run than some pricey supplement blends.

Want the chance to ask your nutrition and health questions to leading experts?  on 13 October with experts including Dr Amir Khan 

Which ingredients should you look out for when buying a fibre supplement?

Ultimately, many of these supplements include the same fibre types, which you can also buy as basic supplements without the marketing glow-up. Understanding the different types can also help you to make a more informed decision for your individual needs:

Psyllium husk (soluble)Inulin (soluble)Beta-glucan (soluble)Apple fibre (soluble and insoluble)Wheat bran fibre (insoluble)

Who should take care when adding fibre to their diet?

Although getting enough fibre is important, dramatically increasing your intake overnight is a recipe for digestive discomfort. 

Ramping up your fibre intake too quickly can trigger gas, bloating, abdominal cramps, and even temporary constipation if you aren’t drinking enough fluids alongside it. Slow and steady is key to minimise reactive symptoms.

If you have any pre-existing digestive health issues, it's important to talk to your GP or a health professional before upping your fibre intake, especially with supplements, as it can make some health issues worse. This especially applies if you have IBS, IBD, SIBO or take certain prescription medications.

 We asked experts for the facts about fibre and your skin

What is fibre?

Dietary fibre is a non-digestible carbohydrate found in plant foods that our bodies can’t break down. Instead, it passes through the digestive tract. 

There are two distinct types: soluble fibre (eg inulin, pectin), which dissolves in water to form a gel-like substance, feeding beneficial gut bacteria in the colon, and insoluble fibre (eg cellulose). This doesn't dissolve but adds roughage/bulk to your stool and stimulates the gut lining to speed up the movement of waste.

How much fibre do you need per day?

Our expert's top tips for increasing fibre intake

For those looking to increase their fibre intake, I recommend the following:

Food first, supplement second Go slowHydration is keyTake extra care if you have existing health issues Be consistent Feel fuller for longer with these  ]]>

Right now, Santander has the best deal, paying 8% AER for the first year. That's one and a half percentage points more than Chase. The account also allows you to make as many withdrawals as you like.

However, unlike Chase's deal, the rate is variable and Santander can choose to change it at any time. The headline figure also includes a bonus rate of 5% for the first 12 months. After that, it drops to 3%. 

Chase's account is also better suited to savers who have slightly deeper wallets, with a maximum monthly deposit limit of £300 compared to Santander's £200 limit.

Who are regular saver accounts best suited to?

Regular saver accounts can be great if you don't have much cash saved already but want to start saving regularly and get a return on your money. Signing up to save something every month means you're more likely to carry this on in future.

However, many regular savers don't allow withdrawals, so think about whether you can do without this money until the term is up. If not, an instant-access account could be a better bet.

If you already have a significant sum of money to lock away, you'd be better off opening a fixed-term account. The current top-rate one-year fixed-term savings account is from Union Bank of India and pays 5.12% AER.

4 ways to make the most of regular savers

If you feel a regular saver product is right for you, here are some simple ways to make the most of the account:

1. Fixed or variable?

There are two types of regular saver accounts: fixed-rate and variable. Fixed-rate deals offer higher interest rates but have more restrictions. 

Variable deals are usually more flexible – for example, they're less likely to have limits on withdrawals. However, the rate is subject to change. 

2. Check with your bank for deals

Many banks offer loyalty-based regular saver accounts that are exclusive to current-account customers. Make sure you're not missing out on accounts offered by your provider. 

3. Open more than one

If you're eligible, there's no reason why you can't maximise your savings by opening more than one regular saver account. Just make sure you can afford to pay in the required amount of money to keep them open. 

4. Switch after maturity

Regular saver accounts usually mature after one or two years. After this, you'll probably be moved to a standard savings account that pays a much lower interest rate. So, remember to move your money to another top-rate account once the term is over.