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ISI Seal Household money, plainly checked Saturday Letter
A man in his late fifties makes notes in a notebook while on a phone call at a dining table by a bay window.
Pensions & retirement
What a free Pension Wise appointment covers, and what it leaves to you
Tax
Why the January tax bill can be bigger than last year’s tax
Money & family
What happens to a joint bank account when one of you dies
A woman in her fifties talks with an energy engineer in the hallway of a terraced house beside an open cupboard under the stairs.
Home & energy · Lead story

What changes when a smart meter is fitted, and what stays exactly the same

A smart meter sends readings by itself and comes with a small display. It does not change your tariff, lower your bill on its own or stop you switching supplier. Here is what to expect on the day and afterwards.

ISI Seal Editorial · 2 November 2026 · 6 min read
Figures checked for this issue
£268,275
The usual lifetime cap on tax-free cash from pensions
Lump Sum Allowance, 2026/27
72%
Share of gas and electricity meters in Great Britain that were smart or advanced
DESNZ, end of June 2026
£3,000
Gifts each person can make every tax year outside inheritance tax
Annual exemption, GOV.UK
28 days
Time to use a Tell Us Once reference number after registering a death
GOV.UK

Pensions & retirement

All articles ›
A man in his late fifties makes notes in a notebook while on a phone call at a dining table by a bay window.
What a free Pension Wise appointment covers, and what it leaves to you
6 min read
 A bearded man of about sixty reads printed pages at a pine kitchen table with a mug of tea.
What really happens when you move a workplace pension, and the checks that come first
6 min read
 A woman in her mid fifties sits on a bedroom carpet looking through a box of old folders.
How to trace a workplace pension from a job you left years ago
5 min read

Workplace and personal pensions, from finding an old pot to moving one safely and getting free guidance before you take any money.

Go to Pensions & retirement ›

Tax

All articles ›
A woman around fifty sorts paper receipts into a box file at a small desk lit by a lamp on a winter afternoon.
Why the January tax bill can be bigger than last year’s tax
6 min read
 A couple in their early sixties sit on a wooden garden bench with mugs of tea, talking in an autumn garden.
How the tax-free quarter of a pension works, and how the rest is taxed
6 min read
 A woman in her sixties hands a present wrapped in brown paper to her teenage granddaughter on a sofa.
The everyday gifts that inheritance tax leaves alone from the start
6 min read

Self Assessment dates, the tax on pension withdrawals and the everyday gift exemptions, explained with worked examples and links to HMRC.

Go to Tax ›

The Saturday Letter

Every Saturday morning: what is worth knowing about pensions, tax, home bills and family money, in a few minutes.

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Home & energy

All articles ›
A woman in her fifties talks with an energy engineer in the hallway of a terraced house beside an open cupboard under the stairs.
What changes when a smart meter is fitted, and what stays exactly the same
6 min read
 A woman in her sixties stands at the front door of her red-brick house, talking with a visitor on the step.
The free register that tells your energy and water companies you may need extra help
6 min read
 A man around sixty stands on the front path of his semi-detached house, looking up at the roof.
Why a home insurance renewal can no longer cost more than a new customer pays
5 min read

Smart meters, extra support from energy and water companies and the rules on home insurance renewals: how they work and what to check.

Go to Home & energy ›

Money & family

All articles ›
A woman in her late sixties and her adult son talk at a kitchen table over cups of tea.
What happens to a joint bank account when one of you dies
6 min read
 A man in his early sixties tries on a pair of glasses in front of a mirror in an optician’s shop while the optician looks on.
Who gets a free NHS eye test, and what an optical voucher pays towards
5 min read
 A brother and sister in their late fifties in winter coats walk down the steps of a Victorian town hall.
The service that tells most of government about a death in one go
5 min read

Joint accounts, NHS eye care costs and the paperwork after a death: the practical money side of family life.

Go to Money & family ›