Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

30 March 2003: Last minute ISA tricks, New Features, Apology

This info may be out of date. Read this week's emails

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ISA DEADLINE 1 WEEK AWAY
IF YOU'VE ANY SAVINGS - GET AN ISA BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE

April 5^th is the last date for opening an ISA this year. If you don't use it, you lose it. If you've any cash in savings – then put it in a mini cash ISA – it's just like a savings account, but tax free. The standard top payer at the moment is Monmouthshire Building Societies instant access 4.25% cash ISA.
For a NEW deal on cunningly manipulating fix rate cash-ISAs click here
For a deal on the best standard mini-cash ISAs click here

WARNING:ISA Direct Debits are a trap.

Anyone who has an ISA Direct Debit set up, beware. This is how providers trap you in, don't let them. Allow it to continue and by default you'll be picking your ISA set up for next year, and once that's done it can't be changed. For example, if you have a mini-cash ISA direct debit, then you will automatically go down the mini-route next year. This means you are losing the ability to have up to £4,000 of money in shares based investments tax free. There's nothing automatically wrong with this, but you need to ensure it's the right decision for you. If not urgently cancel the direct debit.

For a full guide to ISAs click here

NEW SITE FEATURE: MONEY SAVING POLL

On the site's front page you'll find a new poll checking out the opinions of other money savers. Come and vote - the first one is on house price predictions - up? down? no where to go?

NEW SITE FEATURE: MONEY DIRECTORY

If you come to the site you'll see a new feature. The Money Directory has been prepared by find.co.uk and lists hundreds of financial service provider websites in a range of categories. It's a very valuable resource and should help your shopping around. To check it out CLICK HERE. Also for every click you make to a provider, a micropayment is made to MoneySavingExpert.com. This money will help offset the increasing costs of running the site. (see below)

Apologies and Help needed
If you've tried to use the site in the last few days, sorry, due to upgrading the technology because of heavily increasing traffic it has been offline. It's mostly better now I'm pleased to say. However the ‘Chat section' has lost many messages. Your help is needed, come along and repost your messages. Worse still for me ALL the messages on the ‘how much have you saved' board have gone. So all the wonderful testimonials have disappeared.

That's it for the moment. If you have a question just come along to Chat and ask it there.

Martin Lewis

Money Saving Expert

The Usual Plea

I've said it before and undoubtably I'll say it again. If you like the site, your help is needed, beg, plead and nag your friends to try it. And get them to sign up for this e-mail list. The more Money Savers there are - the more power to our collective elbows. 'nuff said.

Martin Lewis is a journalist specialising in ways to save money. Information contained within this e-mail does not constitute financial advice. The information contained is based on general journalistic research and analysis rather than tailored advice aimed for individuals. Decisions should be taken after considering the effects of all specific circumstances. For the sake of transparency it should be noted Martin neither earns commission nor fees from any recommendations and is completely independent from all product and information providers - Martin makes his living as a journalist simply being paid for articles written or broadcasting.