The following is the text of Martin's Money Tip Email sent out on 14^th May 2003

New market leading savings account

www.INGdirect.co.uk, a new company owned mammoth European bank ING, has launched a new online savings account that simply pays 4.3% with no-notice with a minimum £1.  It's by far the best payer in it's category and if you want easy access it's the top account.  Alternatives to consider though are:  It is beatable as a savings account though in three ways.

1.    Notice accounts & Term accounts: There are 90 day notice accounts at 4.35% but for the slight difference it's probably worth sticking to no-notice.  Also you can lock your money in over a long period to get more though.

2.    Cash ISAs: Get your investment tax free if you haven't used up your cash ISA allowance.  Click here for a past deal

3.    Regular Savings Accounts: Use a regular savings account for up to 5%, by putting money in every month without fail, click here for a past deal

Cheap Petrol

It occurred to me the other day, I'd never done a heads up about www.petrolbusters.co.uk. Quite simply it's a website run by the AA which tells you where the cheapest petrol station near you is

New Article – cheapest way to spend on holiday

Some plastic is fantastic when you're on holiday, but not all credit cards are equal. The top player has changed, Nationwide altered terms and conditions means Liverpool Victoria's card is now the cheapest way to spend when abroad. Click here to read full details.

0% for life credit card loophole – UPDATE

The 0% for life Barclaycard balance transfer loophole is still possible.  I've added a number of clarifications and Q&A to the article (and there are more in the site's CHAT section too).  If you've not read the article – it's well worth doing – it's probably the best I've seen for two years.   Those who received an error message from the last mail, that's now been fixed, it was due to the server change (and also there's now a duplicate article in the CHAT section)  Click here to read it

Get your own back on credit card companies: Remember to help friends and get your own back on credit card companies simply send an email telling everyone you know to go to the site and read this 0% for life credit card loop hole article.  If you want a copy of a special e-mail to forward to friends just reply to this and ask for it. 

Martin's Money Poser 4

Thanks to Gerwyn James for suggesting this one.  It's a cracker.

Three flatmates buy a £30 stereo, each paying £10.  As they are leaving, the manager informs the shop assistant the stereo has been reduced to £25.  The assistant thinks aye aye, pockets £2 himself and calls the flatmates back and gives each a pound.  Yet 3 x £9=£27 plus the £2 in his pocket is £29.  Where's the other pound?  Click here to answer (ps the answer to the last question is on the site too)

If you've any Money Saving Questions

If you've any questions please post them in the relevant section of Chat (click here) and I'll do my best to answer them

I do you save some money

Martin Lewis

PS Want to know how you can keep MoneySavingExpert.com ad-free, sponsorship free, free to use and non-profit driven?  Martin used to fund the site solely from his own pocket.  However there are now two new revenue sources, using them will offset the cost of the site
 
Four of the product comparisons on the new best buys section are affiliate sites (it is always noted) so if you view a product or sign up to one via these services a chunky contribution is made to the site – yet this doesn't cost you any more and only comparisons which provide the best deal are used. 

There is also the Money Directory.  This is an independent yellow pages type directory of financial websites compiled externally compiled by find.co.uk.  It lists and categorises thousands of financial websites.  For every click you make to a provider, a micropayment is made to MoneySavingExpert.com and this helps offset the cost of the site and e-mail.

Notes about Martin and the information.  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.