LTV, APR, DTI... it's enough to make your head spin. Let us break it down for you. Dig into our content to learn more about house hunting, first-time buyer mortgages, interest rates and so much more.
As of 4th March 2025, we’ve increased the interest rate on our Cash Lifetime ISA and Cash ISA from 4.55% to 4.6% AER (variable). This means not only are our ISA rates above the Bank of England’s base rate, but over 5 years our savers will earn hundreds more in interest vs saving with competitors. If you’ve got a Cash ISA or Lifetime ISA with another provider, this increase could be a welcome change if you’ve seen your current rate drop and are considering switching.
Read more
A Fixed Rate ISA is a savings account where you put away money for a set period of time, usually 1-3 years. In return for locking away your money, you’ll receive a guaranteed interest rate for a fixed time period. Because it’s an ISA, your interest will also be tax-free, unlike funds saved in a normal savings account.
Read more
A Fixed Rate ISA is a savings account where you put away a set amount of money for a fixed period of time, usually 1-3 years. In return for locking away your money, you’ll receive a guaranteed interest rate for the set time period. Because it’s an ISA, your interest will also be tax-free, unlike if you saved into a normal savings account.
Read more
A Fixed Rate ISA is a savings account where you put away a set amount of money for a fixed period of time, usually 1-3 years. In return for locking away your money, you’ll receive a guaranteed interest rate for the set time period. Because it’s an ISA, your interest will also be tax-free, unlike if you saved into a normal savings account.
Read more
If you need a remortgage, it can be tempting to stay with whichever lender you are currently with — especially if you’ve had a mortgage with them for many years. Or if you’re a first-time buyer and you have a savings or current account with your local bank, you might be tempted to go to them when you need a mortgage. But what are the advantages of sticking with the same provider? And does loyalty pay when it comes to mortgage rates?
Read more
Almost 800,000 first-time buyers have used a Help to Buy ISA to buy a home, but over the last few years, many savers have decided to switch these accounts over to newer alternatives, like a Lifetime ISA. If you’re wondering if you should close your Help to Buy ISA or keep paying into it, here’s what you need to know.
Read more
When it comes to saving for your future —whether it’s a first home, a holiday, a wedding or simply some financial protection for a rainy day — finding the right savings account can make all the difference. As 2025, we're thrilled to introduce the new Tembo Cash ISA, offering a competitive 4.55% AER (variable) interest rate. This is the latest addition to our growing range of savings products, following the successful launch of our market-leading Lifetime ISA (LISA). With this new Cash ISA, your money isn’t just sitting in savings collecting dust - it’s actively working harder for you.
Read more
When you look at how some stocks have grown in value over time, you might be tempted to jump right in and start investing there and then. Or you might want to wait for prices to fall before you invest. But which method is this a good idea and when is the best time to invest? Keep reading to find out.
Read more
Deciding whether to buy a property is a huge decision. The financial landscape, housing market conditions, mortgage rates, and even rental prices all influence whether purchasing a home will make sense for you. To help you weigh your options, we’ve outlined key factors to consider when deciding if you should buy a house in 2025.
Read more
Pensions have traditionally been the go-to method of saving for retirement, but they’re not the only option. If you want to build a flexible and tax-efficient nest egg, ISAs can play an important role too. But is an ISA better than a pension? Find out in this article.
Read more
A Lifetime ISA lets you save up to £4,000 a year towards your first home or retirement and earn a 25% bonus off the government, up to £1,000. This makes it a great saving product for those saving over a number of years, but when it comes to withdrawing your money there are some rules. Let’s delve into when can you withdraw funds from your Lifetime ISA and how long will it take.
Read more
A Cash ISA is a type of savings account where you can save up to £20,000 a year without paying tax on your interest. With the right ISA, you can reduce the impact of inflation and reach your savings goals sooner. But which ISA provider is right for you? Let’s take a look at Cynergy’s current ISA rates and see how they measure up to those offered by other providers.
Read more
Since we acquired Nude back in February 2024, our product and tech teams have been working hard behind the scenes on what’s coming next for our award-winning savings app. Tembo has always prioritised simplicity and clarity, and with this redesign, we're taking these values to the next level. Our dedicated product and tech teams have been working tirelessly to ensure the app not only retains its unique charm but also aligns seamlessly with the Tembo brand and vision. And now, we're thrilled to be finally unveiling a fresh new look to make saving towards those big life goals even easier.
Read more
Investing can help you beat inflation and build wealth for the future, but it can also be a minefield when you’re just getting started. If you’re a complete beginner, you might be wondering where to invest your money and which investments are best. Keep reading to find out how to get started, how to reduce your risk and whether you should invest in volatile assets like crypto.
Read more
Interest rates have risen over the last few years, making savings accounts much more rewarding than before. However, not all savings accounts are made equal. While some accounts like Cash ISAs offer 4-5%, the average rate offered by easy-access savings accounts is 3.08%. So where should you keep your money? Let’s take a look at the best savings accounts available on the market today.
Read more
The FTSE 100, also known as the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index or ‘Footsie’ for short, represents the top 100 companies by market capitalisation in the UK. The FTSE 100 includes big names you’ll likely be familiar with, like banks, oil and gas companies, pharmaceutical firms and more. But how does the FTSE 100 work, exactly? And how do you invest in it?
Read more
If you’d like to invest in the stock market but you’re not sure what you’re doing, index funds could provide a good starting point. Let’s take a look at how index funds work, how to invest in them and how they differ from other types of investment such as mutual funds and ETFs.
Read more
An Individual Savings Account (ISA) lets you save or invest without paying tax on any interest or returns. But there are certain restrictions with an ISA on how much can you save in an ISA each year. If you’ve already met this year’s allowance, or want to know how long you have to max out, keep reading to find out when the ISA year starts.
Read more
A Cash ISA is a type of savings account where you can save up to £20,000 a year without paying tax on your interest. This makes them perfect for long-term saving, as well as emergency funds if you use an easy-access account. So which Cash ISA should you choose? Let’s take a look at Zopa’s Cash ISA rates to see how they compare to other Cash ISA accounts on the market.
Read more
A Cash ISA is a type of savings account where you can save up to £20,000 each tax year without paying tax on your interest. But with dozens of providers out there, it can be difficult to know which Cash ISA to choose. Let’s take a look at Plum’s Cash ISA rates.
Read more
A Cash ISA is a type of savings account where you can earn tax-free interest on up to £20,000 each tax year. The right account can help you reach your savings goals sooner, but which one should you pick? Let’s take a look at how Yorkshire Building Society’s Cash ISAs work.
Read more
A Cash ISA is a type of savings account that lets you save up to £20,000 each tax year without paying any tax on your interest. With the right ISA, you could reach your savings goals sooner and reduce the impact of inflation. But which ISA provider is right for you? Let’s take a look at Leeds Building Society’s current ISA rates and see how its accounts compare to others. It’s worth remembering that the big high-street banks don’t always offer the most competitive rates. To really make the most of your money, take a look at our guide to the Best Cash ISAs in the UK.
Read more
A Cash ISA is a savings account that gives you tax-free interest on up to £20,000 a year, making it easier to grow your savings and achieve your financial goals. Let’s take a look at Virgin’s current ISA rates and see how they measure up to other Cash ISAs available.
Read more
Are you a first-time homebuyer or looking to remortgage? Securing a cheap mortgage rate can make a significant difference in your monthly payments. In this guide, we'll walk you through how you could access cheap mortgage deals and secure the best mortgage deal for you.
Read more
A Cash ISA is a savings account that gives you tax-free interest on up to £20,000 a year, meaning you’ll get to keep all of the interest you earn rather than losing a portion to income tax. Let’s take a look at current Nationwide’s ISA rates available.
Read more
One in five people expect to be waiting until their 40s to buy their own home, while a third say that saving a deposit is the biggest barrier to ownership, and 44% say mortgage affordability is what’s stopping them from getting on the ladder. So if you’re wondering how on earth you’ll afford a place of your own one day, you’re not alone! If you’re desperate to ditch your landlord or you’ve been living with your parents for longer than you’d like, the good news is there is lots of help out there for first-time buyers. Let’s take a look at some of the best first-time buyer schemes available, and how you could find out which ones you’re eligible for.
Read more
If you’ve ever lost your passport, dropped your phone in a puddle, or been hit with an unexpected vet bill, you’ll know how stressful it can be to cover an unexpected expense. With an emergency fund to fall back on, you can cover these financial emergencies and avoid sleepless nights.
Read more
If you’re in your 20s or 30s, it can feel like everyone around you is buying a house, getting married, and going on 3 holidays a year. Meanwhile, you’re left scratching your head and wondering how on earth they’re affording it. If you want to save money for big life events and adventures, we can help! Let’s explore how much you should save per month, whether £200 is enough, and whether it’s ever too late to start saving.
Read more
A cash ISA is a special type of savings account where you can earn tax-free interest. Anyone over the age of 18 can open one - they’re particularly useful if you’ve already maxed out your LISA allowance for this year and want to save more, or you’re a higher-rate or additional-rate taxpayer.
Read more
Almost two-thirds of first-time buyers team up to get on ladder. It’s unsurprising when first-time buyers have to put down an average deposit of over £53,000. Clubbing together with a partner, friends, siblings or other family members to buy together is a way to boost your borrowing power and overcome the house affordability gap - so you can buy sooner. Whether you want to buy a house with a partner, mate or loved one, at Tembo we’ve made it easier for you to save for a house together with the in-built ‘Team Up’ feature in our Lifetime ISA app.
Read more
If you’ve got a Lifetime ISA, or are about to open one, understanding how the tax year impacts what you can put into your LISA is important to ensure you max out your free government bonus! Keep reading to find out how Lifetime ISA works in relation to the tax year, and how long you have till the tax year ends.
Read more
If you’d like to buy a house one day, a Lifetime ISA could make it easier to save a deposit. You can save up to £4,000 a year in your Lifetime ISA and the government will boost your contributions for free by 25%, meaning you could get a £1,000 bonus each tax year if you max out your account. Lifetime ISAs were first introduced in 2017 and since then more than 170,000 first-time buyers have used them to buy their first home. But is a Lifetime ISA worth it today and should you get one?
Read more
So, you're dreaming of owning your first home and seeking an ally to guide you through reaching one of life’s biggest milestones – building a deposit. Well, you've found your companion. Here's how Tembo can help you pave the way to your first home 🏠
Read more
When a recession hits, it can be a worrying time for homeowners and first time buyers, particularly those facing tightening budgets, pay cuts or even redundancies. Keep reading to find out what happens to mortgage rates in a recession, and what you should do.
Read more
Buying a home with a small deposit can often be a challenge, due to rising house prices and strict affordability criteria. Not only do banks often limit the amount a buyer can borrow to 4 to 5 times their income, they’re often reluctant to offer large loan to value (LTV) mortgages. This is particularly true for first-time buyers on a modest income or those buying a new build. A number of schemes have been introduced over the years to try and tackle the problem, such as Help to Buy and Shared Ownership. What is the difference between Shared Ownership and Help to Buy? Which should you choose?
Read more
If you’re thinking of buying your own place, you may be wondering where to start. How much do you need for a deposit? How can you boost your affordability? And how do you get a mortgage? If you’ve been furiously Googling one mortgage question after another, you’ve come to the right place. With the help of our mortgage tips for first time buyers, you can save yourself time, stress and money.
Read more
If you’re saving for your first home, having a Lifetime ISA or Help to Buy ISA can make things that bit easier. In this article, we’ll take you through the main difference between the two accounts, and why you might select one over the other.
Read more
For many of us out there, the ability to buy your own home before the age of 50 seems like a far-off and unattainable dream. House prices may have decreased slightly, but for those who are potential first-time buyers, the prospect of purchasing a property while faced with constant reports of changing inflation rates and the cost of living crisis can feel out of reach. At Tembo, we are on a mission to help first-time buyers who are not in the position to obtain a mortgage “in the traditional way” (aka the standard repayment mortgage) get on the ladder sooner. If you are looking for alternative and affordable ways to buy your first home, read on…
Read more
Instagram. It’s got it all: reels, relationship advice, updates on your favourite celebs, the list goes on. But it's also a great place for growing your knowledge of your finances, from the comfort of your own sofa! In this blog, we've picked our five favourite financial influencers of 2025, and how they can help you on your journey to financial freedom. Read on...
Read more