If you click a link with an * to go through to a provider, we may get paid. This usually only happens if you get a product from it. This is what funds our team of journalists, and keeps us free to use. Yet there are two crucial things you need to know about this.
- This never impacts our editorial recommendations – if it's in, it's in there because we independently rate it best.
- You'll always get as good a deal (or better) than if you went direct.
For a more detailed explanation see How MSE is financed.
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Ongoing
The Open University is a distance learning university with an open admissions policy (many of its undergraduate courses have no formal entry requirements). Like most universities, there are hefty course fees, but it also offers more than 800 short online courses completely free via its Future Learn and Open Learn schemes. These are ongoing courses, but we reckon they're good enough to share here.
Some of these courses are short extracts from longer Open University courses, and others have been adapted specifically for these schemes. They include a range of subjects such as creative writing, history and languages. There's even a course on managing your finances featuring MSE founder Martin Lewis.
Future Learn - 62 online courses with a set timeframe and tutors
The Future Learn site is owned by The Open University but also offers online courses from other UK universities. They're run during set periods of time, and there are tutors to help you. For some of these courses you have the option to pay for a certificate at the end (£40ish).
How to join a Future Learn course
To enrol on a course you will need to click on this Future Learn link and create an account using your email address and select your chosen course. Alternatively, if you fancy any of the courses below, the link will take you directly to that course's sign-up page.
Current courses include:
- Managing my money (featuring MSE's Martin Lewis)
- Introduction to cyber security
- Begin programming: build your first mobile game
Open Learn - 750+ self-learn online courses with no timeframe
The Open Learn site offers all the Open University online courses which have been featured on Future Learn in the past. There is no set timeframe to complete them and there are no tutors. There are currently 750+ available. It's worth noting that you won't receive any qualifications from completing these courses.
How to join an Open Learn course
You can access the majority of the Open Learn course materials without creating an account, but the Open University says that registering (which is free), gives you access to additional features, such as activity records which track your progress on each course. You can click on this Open Learn link or the links below will take you to the relevant application page for each course.
Free courses include:
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Use the Money Mantras
Before spending, use Martin’s Mantras. If you answer 'NO' to any, then don't buy!
Then ask:
- Do I need it?
- Can I afford it?
- Have you checked prices elsewhere?
Then ask:
- Will I use it?
- Is it worth it?
Free protection for all shopping!
There's a little-known piece of legislation that turns any credit card into a financial self-defence superhero. 'Section 75' of the Consumer Credit Act means your plastic must protect anything you buy for more than £100 for free, so if there's a problem or the company goes bust, you can still get your money back.
And although Section 75 doesn't apply to debit cards, there is something else to fall back on if you've paid using a debit card, or used a credit card for a purchase under £100. Known as Chargeback, this is part of banks' and card companies' internal rules and not a legal requirement. Read full details of Section 75 or Chargeback, plus how to claim, in our guides.
What the * means above
If a link has an * by it, that means it is an affiliated link and therefore it helps MoneySavingExpert stay free to use, as it is tracked to us. If you go through it, it can sometimes result in a payment or benefit to the site. It's worth noting this means the third party used may be named on any credit agreements.
You shouldn’t notice any difference and the link will never negatively impact the product. Plus the editorial line (the things we write) is NEVER impacted by these links. We aim to look at all available products. If it isn't possible to get an affiliate link for the top deal, it is still included in exactly the same way, just with a non-paying link. For more details, read How this site is financed.
Duplicate links of the * links above for the sake of transparency, but this version doesn't help MoneySavingExpert.com:
16 June 2021
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Martin's Mortgage Alert
'Rates have dropped below 1% – check NOW'
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First Direct boosts free cash to £125
It's top for service too
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Cheapest broadband in a year
'£13/mth' from BT's Plusnet
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'Don't over worry about credit scores'
Martin's new blog
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New. 12 Spotify tips to pay less
And play more
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30% off the whole McDonald's menu
Till Sun
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TWO prescription sunnies £22 all-in
Cheapest we've seen this deal
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Read the full email
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Warning - certain Applaws, Pets at Home and Sainsbury's branded cat food has been recalled over fears it could be linked to fatal disease
17 June 2021![]()
Pet owners have been warned to stop feeding certain dry food to their cats over fears it could be linked to a fatal disease. Certain Applaws, Pets at Home, and Sainsbury’s branded cat food made by Fold Hill Foods are affected by the precautionary recall but you can get a full refund from retailers. -
First-ever financial education textbook arrives in Scottish schools, funded by Martin Lewis
17 June 2021![]()
The first-ever curriculum mapped financial education textbook – funded jointly by MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis and the Money and Pensions Service – has now landed in secondary schools in Scotland. -
Martin Lewis: 'Mortgage rates drop below 1% – check urgently if you can switch & save £1,000s'
16 June 2021![]()
New mortgage deals are at their LOWEST EVER rates, with two-year fixes down to 0.95% and five-year fixes at 1.17% (though in some cases they load the cost in the form of hefty fees). That means huge savings are possible for some. -
Tesco Bank trials new debit card that gives you extra Clubcard points during the first three months - and budgeting help
16 June 2021![]()
Tesco Bank has quietly launched a prepaid debit card called 'Clubcard Pay', which it's currently trialling. -
Triodos savers to be moved to online-only banking - but some can challenge the shake-up
15 June 2021![]()
Thousands of Triodos savers will be asked to switch to managing accounts online-only going forward. The so-called "ethical" financial provider is rolling out the move over the next few years, although vulnerable customers and those who can't access services digitally should get in touch as exemptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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Martin Lewis: Why you shouldn't worry too much about your credit score – it’s not actually a real thing
14 June 2021![]()
When it comes to finances, numbers are key – whether it's what you earn, your credit card balance or the interest rate on your mortgage, small changes can add up to a big difference. Yet there's one number you shouldn't pay too much attention to – your credit score. -
Martin Lewis VIDEO: Should you pay off your Plan 1 student loan?
18 May 2021![]()
If you started university between 1998 and 2012, or since then in Scotland and Northern Ireland, you'll have a Plan 1 student loan. While much is written about whether those with savings should overpay the current English Plan 2 student loans, there's little out there about Plan 1. I wanted to change that, so here's a video explaining how to decide...
Clever ways to calculate your finances
