MSE's weekly round-up
Fast key info to boost your finances
Welcome to the hottest MSE content from the past week! It's a bite-sized run-through of our latest top tips, best deals and news-you-can-use, plus (of course) Martin's musings. To catch up on all you need to know from this week, read on...
MSE's Money Tips email: Fix your energy with a cut-price tariff, 'I reclaimed £12,000 in holiday pay', get a top easy-access cash ISA & much more
Some highlights from this week's email include...
-
Lock in a fixed energy rate at up to 16% cheaper than the Price Cap. Our Big Energy Switch is back, with two fixes that are cheaper than the market's cheapest: one from British Gas, one from Fuse Energy. Act fast though, as the tariffs are available only for a limited time.
-
Could you claim £1,000s in unpaid holiday pay, like one MSE user? MoneySaver Joanne reclaimed over £12,000 after reading our previous MSE News story about missing holiday pay – see how to check whether you can, too.
-
Max your savings with a top easy-access cash ISA. Trading 212 pays 4.4% AER variable on its cash ISA, a rate that beats all top normal easy-access savings bar one.
Key MSE News: The Bank of England holds the base rate – what it means for you
-
The base rate – the UK's official borrowing rate – has been held at 3.75%, after being cut in December.
-
Our news story looks at why the base rate was held, and what effect that may have on any mortgage and/or savings you have.
-
Brokers and analysts also tell us why they think a cut to the base rate is likely in the coming months.
Hot deal: Bag a bargain at Boots
-
Get up to 70% off selected items in store at Boots, after the brand boosted its post-Christmas clearance sale. We've seen gift sets from No7, Soap & Glory, Nivea and more included. Plus, Boots is also offering 'up to 80% off' online, though stock is limited.
The latest from Martin: 'Let's make it easier for the people of Scotland to put their Power of Attorney into use'
-
MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis is urging the Scottish Government to improve the Power of Attorney system there. A Power of Attorney allows you to nominate a trusted friend or relative to look after your affairs if you lose the capacity to do so yourself.
-
Martin is calling for Scotland to introduce quick digital access codes like those in England and Wales, which allow an organisation to instantly view a digital summary of the Power of Attorney. Currently in Scotland you have to get hold of a paper copy, which can be inconvenient and slow.
-
The change would help to prevent unnecessary stress at what can already be a difficult time, Martin said.
READ MARTIN'S LETTER TO THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
What's new on MSE: Moving overseas with a pension in the UK – what you need to know
-
Our new in-depth guide explains what happens to your UK State Pension and any private pensions if you move abroad, including whether you'll still get annual State Pension increases when you move.
-
We also help you understand the risks and costs of the complex procedure of moving a private UK pension overseas, plus the tax implications of doing so.
-
Finding further help when moving a pension overseas and what to consider when transferring a pension to the UK are other areas that we cover.
READ THE FULL OVERSEAS PENSIONS GUIDE
And finally, from our social channels: Try our super-quick trick to potentially cut Sim costs
Looking to shave some pounds off your phone bill? As our social post explains, doing so can be as simple as sending a text...
By texting 'PAC' to 65075 to get your Porting Authorisation Code, which is needed to switch providers, you may make your current network think that you're leaving.
People are often then offered an improved deal, just like MoneySaver Trudi, who stands to save £276 a year. It may work; it may not, but it's worth a try.
Share this guide?
