November 2022

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has today announced that the energy price guarantee (EPG), introduced in October to protect households from a hideous 80% increase in energy bills, will continue after April. However, the support available will be massively scaled back. Currently, a typical dual-fuel household pays £2,500/year under the EPG – from April, it'll be £3,000/year until 31 March 2024. We've full info on today's announcements below.

Before giving gifts this holiday season, first ask yourself honestly if they're going to be a help or a hindrance for the people receiving them. That's the message from MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis in the special Christmas preparation episode of the latest series of ITV's The Martin Lewis Money Show Live.

Households on certain benefits living in England and Wales can get £150 off their energy bills this winter under the Warm Home Discount after the scheme reopened this week. However, unlike previous years, you won't be able to apply for it as you should get it automatically - here's how to check if you're eligible.

If you've got Christmas gifts to stock up on, you might be best buying on Black Friday rather than planning a last-minute dash around the shops. New MoneySavingExpert.com research has found that, last year, the prices of more than half of the 50 popular items we checked were cheaper on Black Friday compared to on 23 December.

If you're struggling to pay your energy bills and have built up a debt on your account, your supplier may want to move you onto a prepayment meter so they can collect repayments over time. But prepay is about £70 a year more expensive than direct debit (on typical dual-fuel use), and there's an added risk of being cut off from heat or power if you run out of credit. Below, we explain your rights to refuse prepayment.

Family members of a 98-year-old – who was refunded £15,000 in council tax overpayments and had future bills axed due to her having vascular dementia – have urged others in a similar position to check if they can do the same.  

If you need a new mortgage you might now be much better off sticking with your existing lender than switching to a new one. We look at the difference between 'sticking or twisting', and why the balance between the two has shifted.

Homebuyers and those looking to remortgage can now take out a five-year fixed deal that charges less than 5% interest. It's the lowest shorter-term fixed rate for new customers we've seen in a month and suggests rates have peaked following recent turbulence. Below we explain how the new deal works and how it compares. 

If you live in Scotland and claim certain means-tested benefits, and you have children under 16, you can now claim £25 a week per child in 'Scottish child payment'. The benefit has today been extended to reach more families, while the amount you can claim has also been boosted. Over 400,000 children could now be eligible. 

Over £13 million worth of unused Clubcard vouchers are set to expire at the end of this month. If your vouchers are due to run out, you'll either need to use them by 11.59pm on Wednesday 30 November OR use our trick to extend them.