At the start of 2026, it seems the financial picture is finely balanced. Inflation has come down from its latest peak, mortgage rates have started falling and changes announced in the budget should take some money off energy bills from April.
But the price of housing, groceries and energy remain far higher than pre-pandemic, and there are some changes coming that will make aspects of life more expensive.
Here are some dates that could affect your finances in the coming months.
January
During this month, mortgage customers on variable-rate deals should start benefiting from December’s Bank of England rate cut.
1st The energy price cap goes up. The per unit price limit – set by the regulator, Ofgem, and recalculated every three months – will increase by 0.2%, equivalent to taking the typical annual dual-fuel energy bill up by £3 to £1,758.
This is the cap for direct debit customers. The prepayment cap is lower, while those who pay in arrears have a higher one. Your actual bill will depend on how much gas and electricity you use and the tariff you are on – some are now cheaper than the price cap.
Investing in cryptoassets including bitcoin, stablecoins or non-fungible tokens (NFTs) will involve more paperwork from this date.
HM Revenue and Customs wants to make sure you are paying all relevant taxes, so you will need to provide details, including your national insurance number, to any provider you use to buy, sell or transfer crypto. You should already have been declaring any taxable gains you have made.
21st The official inflation figures for December come out, having fallen the previous month to 3.2%. The government has promised to tackle the rising cost of living, and so all eyes will be on the Office for National Statistics each month as it reports on prices.
31st The last day for filling in a self-assessment return for the 2024-25 tax year. Last January, more than 1 million people missed the deadline for filing. HMRC says 31,442 taxpayers left it to almost the last minute, submitting theirs between 11pm and 11.59pm on the day.
This date is also the deadline for energy companies to ensure they have a tariff available with low standing charges to help customers who do not use a lot of energy.
Ofgem had initially proposed tariffs with no daily standing charge, but this was watered down. It has warned consumers that these tariffs may have higher unit charges than others, so savings could be offset.
February
1st Alcohol duty will go up by 3.66%, in line with the RPI measure of inflation. According to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, the change will add 10p to a bottle of white wine at 11% ABV, 39p to a bottle of 40% ABV whisky and 6p to a four-pack of 4.6% lager.
