Guide
Using your ISA allowance without the March rush
The annual ISA allowance resets each April. Waiting until March to move a lump sum can work if the money was already earmarked, but many households find themselves short because the cash was sitting in easy-access savings they dipped into over winter.
A standing order of a fixed monthly amount into a Cash or Stocks & Shares ISA removes the decision fatigue. Couples can each use their own allowance; transferring between spouses outside an ISA does not create allowance for both of you inside one.
If you are unsure whether cash or invested ISAs fit your timeline, write down when you expect to need the money. Money needed within three years usually belongs in cash; longer horizons can justify market risk after an emergency fund is in place.