Martin's Weekly Money Tips
10 January 2007  

DANGER! If you only make minimum repayments on credit cards read this. Jan Debt Special
Paying a fiver a month off your credit card bill may sound cheap, but it's so dangerous, on many credit cards it will leave you repaying for forty years! Credit card minimum repayments are mathematically designed to keep you perpetually in debt. If you're saying "I can't afford to pay more" there's an easy three step solution in this fully rewritten and updated article. New Article: Danger: Minimum Repayments (mini-mutterings) Related Articles: Best Balance Transfers, Problem Debts, Which Credit Card Is Right For Me?

Train Fares Rise up to 7%. Yet you can save £100s with hidden tricks Fully Updated Article

Massive Gym Savings. £400 off loophole. Get a month's free trial. Two New Articles
To help save you pounds while you lose them, I've written two new articles. The first goes through gym membership pitfalls and alternatives and how to get free trials for up to a month, read the New Article: Gym Cost Cutting. The next is about a major loophole. Get a medical insurance policy from Pruhealth* for as little as £20/month gives six months free at Cannons or some JJB gyms (or Holmes Place for £25 a month); alone this costs up to £70/month, so for some a £50 a month saving is possible, even if you don't want the insurance, read the New Article: Massive Gym Loophole

Freeview TV box, one off £22 for over 30 channels Can you beat it? Related Article: Digital TV Cost Cutting

Cheapest Loans. Under 5% available to top credit scorers Jan Debt Special
If you need a cheap loan to cover your debts, Northern Rock* offers typical 5.8% APR on borrowing over £1,000, with an even lower typical 5.7% APR available from Moneyback*, from £3,000 up and Masterloan from £4,000 up. For those with spotless credit histories who earn over £25,000, Zopa*, the loan exchange allows borrowing as low as 4.8%. For all options and pitfalls please read the Updated Article: Cheap Loans Related Articles: Short Term Loans Interest Free, Your Credit Rating

STOP YOUR FRIENDS WASTING CASH! PLS SUGGEST THEY GET THIS EMAIL

URGENT. Deadlines loom. Claim £1,000s in endowment misselling compensation in just 10 mins.
If you were sold an endowment without being told it mightn't repay your mortgage, you could be entitled to £1,000s. Over the last year, I've had mountains of e-mails saying "I never thought I'd get a payout, hadn't bothered, but then got £6,000!". It's free to do, and the template letters are all written for you. Many endowment providers, including Prudential and Standard Life, have imposed claim deadlines, and the first of those fall in a month. Act now! Article: Endowment Compensation (mini-mutterings) Related Articles: Bank Charges: Reclaim Up To 6 Years Worth, Reclaim Lost Assets For Free

Get 3 copies of Elle magazine plus a £20 manicure set £3 Cute-ickle deal

Mortgages rates are cheap right now, so it's a good time to switch
January's always the powerhouse month for mortgage deals, as lenders are fighting to bring in new business. There are many sub-5% deals available, which considering recent and predicted interest rate rises is hot. There is no ‘top mortgage' as it always depends on your circumstances, but 20 mins of reading will show you exactly how to make big savings. To help, as always, read the full free printed guides. Remortgage Guide (for those already with mortgages): Download a PDF, Printed Guide, Read More. Mortgage Guide (for newbies): PDF, Order Free Printed Guide, Read More. Or read Mortgage Articles

Reminder. Best Balance Transfers Deals; 0% for 15 months or 3.9% for life
Top 0% deals: HSBC* 0% for 15 months with a 2% fee or Smart 0% for 6 months no fee. Top long term deal: M&S &More 3.9% until debt is repaid. To find out which is right for you read the Article: Best Balance Transfers

Londoners want a fun TV check up if you're overpaying council tax? ITV1 are looking for volunteers

What to do when a spouse/partner dies? Your help needed
Very sadly, two days before Christmas one of the Forum's user's husband died, and other MoneySavers provided great support and advice through it. It made me realise that right then, help is needed to sort out money, logistics and organisation, as thinking straight at such a time is very hard. So I need your assistance, those who've been through it, please feedback your experience and advice, in a Great Hunt style; I'll then combine this with my own notes and make a checklist article available to everyone  Add your ideas/read others Past Great Hunts:  What Kids Should Know About Money, Free Info and Cheap Ways To Make Your House Safer

Are you a Talktalk 'free broadband' user? Feedback needed, good and bad
While TalkTalk's free broadband and phone package is seriously good value on paper (see cheapest home phone article), the same can't be said for its customer service. As the papers carried massive negative publicity, 4 months ago, I surveyed MoneySavers' experiences. The results were better than expected, showing that while a very substantial number had suffered problems, they were still in the minority. Now I want to see if things have improved. If you have it, even if you answered last time, please take 30 seconds to help. TalkTalk Feedback Poll

How to calculate the real cost of a loan in your head.... read m'blog!

Got a gas & elec capped rate? If it's about to end, switch, save & get cashback
If you've previously capped or fixed the price of your gas and electricity, many of these deals are ending soon, so diarise the date as once it finishes you'll move to your providers' expensive standard rate, at that point ditch and switch. Related Article: Get the cheapest gas & electricity and £30 cashback

MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Should Lisa exchange her gaudy engagement ring?
After four years together, Michael proposed to the love of his life, Lisa. She said yes immediately, and he handed her a huge diamond ring. It had cost two months of his salary, a stretch, but he thought she was worth it. Unfortunately, while Lisa loves Michael she immediately hated the ring; to her it was gaudy, over elaborate, tasteless and totally against her usual style. Should she grin and bear it, as it's the sentiment that counts, or ensure his hard earned money is spent on something she adores? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should Lisa exchange her ring? Previous MMDs: Would you lend to a friend in need?, Give Santa the sack and Would you take the job?

Last week's giveaway of 'Fattitude' DVDs - have you been lucky? Find out here