Key Dates to Watch in 2026 That Could Impact Your Finances
The financial landscape is set to undergo significant changes in the coming months, with various dates on the horizon that could affect your finances. While some good news comes in the form of lower energy bills and rising wages, others signal higher prices for housing, groceries, and energy.
In January, mortgage customers on variable-rate deals will start benefiting from December's Bank of England rate cut. However, they'll also face an increase in the energy price cap, which will rise by 0.2% and take the typical annual dual-fuel energy bill to £1,758. The prepayment cap is lower, while those who pay in arrears have a higher one.
A new year will also bring more paperwork for investors looking into cryptoassets, including bitcoin, stablecoins, or non-fungible tokens (NFTs). As of January 21st, HM Revenue and Customs will require individuals to provide details, such as their national insurance number, when buying, selling, or transferring these assets.
Meanwhile, in February, alcohol duty is set to rise by 3.66%, affecting the prices of wine, whisky, and beer. The first interest rate decision of the year from the Bank of England will also take place on February 5th, with some forecasters predicting two cuts in interest rates this year.
In March, regulated rail fares in England won't increase, but that's not the case for unregulated fares. London commuters can expect a 5.8% rise, while about half of all fares can jump up at any time. The second interest rate decision of the year will occur on March 19th, with some experts predicting two cuts this year.
April marks several key dates that could impact your finances. Around 2.7 million workers will receive pay increases, with the national living wage rising by 4.1% to £12.71 an hour. NHS prescription charges won't increase in England, but other household bills like TV licence fees and water bills are likely to rise.
Energy bills should decrease due to changes announced in the budget, which could cut the price cap by £138 a year for the typical dual-fuel bill. However, this is subject to various factors, including wholesale prices. The beginning of the 2026-27 tax year will also arrive on April 6th, with income tax thresholds frozen again.
As we head into the summer months, keep an eye out for further changes that could affect your finances. On March 30th, the Bank of England will announce its third interest rate decision of the year, which could signal additional cuts or increases in interest rates.
The financial landscape is set to undergo significant changes in the coming months, with various dates on the horizon that could affect your finances. While some good news comes in the form of lower energy bills and rising wages, others signal higher prices for housing, groceries, and energy.
In January, mortgage customers on variable-rate deals will start benefiting from December's Bank of England rate cut. However, they'll also face an increase in the energy price cap, which will rise by 0.2% and take the typical annual dual-fuel energy bill to £1,758. The prepayment cap is lower, while those who pay in arrears have a higher one.
A new year will also bring more paperwork for investors looking into cryptoassets, including bitcoin, stablecoins, or non-fungible tokens (NFTs). As of January 21st, HM Revenue and Customs will require individuals to provide details, such as their national insurance number, when buying, selling, or transferring these assets.
Meanwhile, in February, alcohol duty is set to rise by 3.66%, affecting the prices of wine, whisky, and beer. The first interest rate decision of the year from the Bank of England will also take place on February 5th, with some forecasters predicting two cuts in interest rates this year.
In March, regulated rail fares in England won't increase, but that's not the case for unregulated fares. London commuters can expect a 5.8% rise, while about half of all fares can jump up at any time. The second interest rate decision of the year will occur on March 19th, with some experts predicting two cuts this year.
April marks several key dates that could impact your finances. Around 2.7 million workers will receive pay increases, with the national living wage rising by 4.1% to £12.71 an hour. NHS prescription charges won't increase in England, but other household bills like TV licence fees and water bills are likely to rise.
Energy bills should decrease due to changes announced in the budget, which could cut the price cap by £138 a year for the typical dual-fuel bill. However, this is subject to various factors, including wholesale prices. The beginning of the 2026-27 tax year will also arrive on April 6th, with income tax thresholds frozen again.
As we head into the summer months, keep an eye out for further changes that could affect your finances. On March 30th, the Bank of England will announce its third interest rate decision of the year, which could signal additional cuts or increases in interest rates.
. Like what's next? Paying our taxes with Bitcoin too? 
And those energy price cap changes, £1,758 is a lot of money... I don’t know about people on variable-rate deals getting some good news but it’s still not great for the average person 
. And don't even get me started on the tax rates, remember when we used to have a flat tax rate? Now it's all about income thresholds and whatnot... my grandma could've figured that out with her 401k plan back in the 80s 
. Anyway, I'm just saying, things seem like they're getting more complicated by the day...
I think people need to be prepared for some big price hikes this year - energy bills are already on the rise and that's just January! 
And then there's the booze tax going up by 3.66%... does anyone really want a £8 pint of beer? 
It's just too much to handle. Mark my words, this summer is gonna be a real financial rollercoaster.
! First it's energy bills increasing by 0.2%, and now alcohol duty is rising too? 
Just great. Can't we just have a stable financial landscape for once? 
I'm not loving the thought of higher energy bills and increased mortgage payments, but at least we'll get some pay raises to help balance it out 
. And can we talk about how much I'm looking forward to seeing what new NFT drops will come out this year? 
I'm ready to spend that crypto cash! 
First off, those mortgage customers getting a rate cut in January are basically just going to be paying more for their energy bills. Like, what's the point of saving money on your mortgage if you're just going to lose it all on higher energy costs? 
And those interest rate decisions in February and March... I mean, can we just have some stability for once?! 
It's like the government is just picking and choosing who they're helping out. And don't even get me started on the NHS prescription charges not increasing... yeah, right! 
Anyway, it's always good to stay on top of these changes and plan ahead, you know?
. Lower energy bills and rising wages sound great, but then there's the 0.2% increase in the energy price cap... that's just a nice way of saying I'll be paying more 
. Can't we just make it easier to buy and sell these things without having to fill out forms every five minutes? 
it's kinda frustrating to see all these changes happening around us and we're just trying to focus on our exams 
Not to mention the whole crypto thing is getting more regulated which means more paperwork for investors ugh 
But still 2026 is shaping up to be a bit of a rollercoaster for our wallets 
. And those interest rates? Who knows what'll happen, right? Might be good news or bad. Can't keep up with all these predictions 
i mean, £1,758 for a dual-fuel bill? that's like, almost 2 grand a year! and it's not just that, it's also the prepayment cap and arrears cap being different... it's all so confusing. and now we gotta worry about interest rates too? 
, £1,758 is still way too much for most people's budgets! And what's up with all these changes? Can't we just have some stability for once? I do hope the pay rises in April will make a difference, 4.1% is better than nothing, right? 
- Theodore Roosevelt