Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

The following is the text of the Martin's Money Tips E-mail sent on 11 Feb 2004

It's a bit of a hard hitting week this one.   A bit more ‘money product' than usual – sorry about that – just the way it goes sometimes.

Speared Mint! New Credit Card Takes it's crown. Halifax's One Card has rejigged its offer & taken top spot.  It is 0% for the first 9 months for both balance transfers and purchases (Mint is 8), pays 0.5% cashback (same as Mint) and is just 9.9% average APR after the intro period ends (Mint is 10.9%). I've updated the relevant Articles: Best Balance Transfers for existing debt, Best Card for Spending on, Best Cashback cards.
 

Book your party ticket quick!  My Book Launch & this Site's first anniversary party is on 25 March.  You're invited.  Tickets are £3.75 (helping offset costs, not making money) available by PayPal, Fastpay or Cheque. More info: click here   As it's in London (sorry non-Londoners) to discuss cheap accommodation click here. REMEMBER tickets are first come, first served!

UKs Cheapest Home Phone continued moan: I know I'm repeating, but if you'd spent 6 days on a spreadsheet, you'd want everyone to read it & save a fortune too. Click here (please)

Quick Tips from the Chat Forum

Return flights £20-£40 from Manch. & East Midlands, a top voucher spot. click here

Don't ponder. Cheaper Blueyonder. A cheeky trick for it's broadband customers click here

Free anti-snoring device. Breathe Right Nasal Strips click here

Reduce hair with Slimfast: Free £30 haircut voucher, via £2 Slimfast spending. click here

Free Experian credit check offer: click here, (Guide to Credit Scoring click here)

Easily save £360 a year.  I deliberately omitted headlining how, as it's boring even though the saving's powerful.  If you have Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance, it's likely you're paying twice what is necessary, forget the content, and grab the cash. Article: click here

Last chance to apply for Cahoot Free £100 loophole.  Cahoot says do a loan or credit card balance transfer and it'll give you £50 cash.  I've found a loophole so even the debt free can gain. It closes Feb 29.  So if you're interested do it quick.  Article: Click here

Rate Rise Special: Mortgage, Loans, Savings

Mortgages: Get a cut of the commission.  Last weeks rate rise again increased variable mortgage holders' repayments, but getting a better deal more than compensates. Article: Full remortgage guide.  Also one of the Mortgage Brokers regularly giving free help in the Chat Forum is now offering Chatter's a special deal, process mortgages through him he'll give a cut of his commission.  This is unheard of.  Chat Tip: click here.  Though best practice is check the big brokers exclusives too Article: Sneakily get top mortgage broker advice for free.
Loans: If you must borrow, now's the time! Interest rates are predicted to rise. Yet Loan rates are fixed at outset and last the entire term, plus most rates haven't yet been increased.  Articles: How to get cheapest loan, Half Price Precision Plastic Personal Loans.

Savings: Hold Tight.  Rates haven't yet changed.  Wait a couple of weeks till the dust settles before doing anything.

Current Account Cracking Rate Rise (& 0% overdraft): Lloyds TSB now pays 4.75% at its top tier, which teeters ahead of even the best savings account.  Unfortunately, this only applies to new customers or those joining after 24 Jan 2004.  Well worth a look though. Article click here

URGENT SCAM WARNING:  Watch for phone calls from ‘Visa' or ‘Mastercard's' security department.  Do NOT give out any information – even confirming details, such as your 3 digit security number. Never give any details to anyone calling you.  Always tell them you will put the phone down and then dial the card company yourself to check.  For more details or to discuss click here

The cheapest way to spend when you're on holiday:  Having just returned from my hols, tanned and gorgeous (well tanned anyway) I thought of this.  The right credit card undercuts everything else – but the wrong one adds a huge load to your costs.  Article: Click here

That's it.  I'd really love to see you all at my party.  And of course, as I always say, please tell people about the site, & especially the e-mail. 

I hope you save some money

Martin