Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email
The following is the text of the Martin's Money Tip E-mailed 23 March 2004
Personal Loans, DVD Recorder, Staywarm price rise, ISA DEADLINE, 0870 alternative, Free £110 watch and much more MoneySaving…
After last weeks book emails, back to normal this week, some good old MoneySaving, oh and did I mention, ISA deadline, ISA deadline, ISA deadline.
Historically cheapest ever personal loans - last chance? Lenders pull more fast ones than Brad Pitt speed dating, so I've fully revamped my article to cut through their tricks for those who need to borrow. Rates are at historic lows, and as they're fixed at outset, if UK rates rise, the loan's costs won't. Article Click here.
Gadget Guzzlers Game e,g JVC DVD recorder £200: Website Skybuy has a clearance section with new stuff coming in roughly once a week. The techie gadget junkies in the chat room are playing a ‘spot the bargain' game. Some deals bad, some seriously good. E.g. the JVC DVD recorder is apparently a cracking buy, as periodically is other stuff such as 32” widescreen TVs for £200. So follow the Chat discussion and check the site and you may bag a bargain before it sells out. Chat discussion Click here
Staywarm price rise (and Atlantics do too). Gas rises, unfortunately so does electricity too when we're talking price. Sadly Staywarm, which offers homes with someone 60+ in them gas & elec. prices depending on rooms & people, not usage, is raising prices by roughly 5% in April. Do check whether it's still good value compared to cheapest standard suppliers. As for Atlantic, more hideous price rises there too, time to switch. Article: Cheapest Gas & Electricity supplier.
ISA DEADLINE!!. ISA DEADLINE!!. ISA DEADLINE!! SOONER THAN YOU THINK!! Hopefully the title is subtle enough. If you've savings and an unused ISA allowance, you're unnecessarily giving the taxman cash, so pull your finger out. The ISA year may end 5 April, but the two top cash ISA providers deadlines are earlier 24 March for IF, 28 for M&S. Article: Best Cash ISA. Article: Full ISA Guide
3 is very cheap, but is it worthwhile? Mobile phone company Three offers very cheap packages (read more here and here) yet its connection quality can leave much to be desired. I've designed a mini-survey to work out which handsets and locations are worthwhile. To read or report experiences Click here.
New 0870 alternatives site – cut phone costs. Call a number starting 0870 and you may pay up to 10x a normal phone call cost. Worst still these company complaint lines often use these and get a cut of the call revenue, so it's no surprise you're on hold of so long. Yet by using the company's international access number (just normal phone lines) you get round this. A great little website lists these alternative numbers, and its just relaunched with a new address www.saynoto0870.com. As it's so good and free, to ensure it keeps running, I've agreed to sponsor it for a year. 0870 Chat discussion: Click here
Quick Chat Tips:
Stop getting pestered with sales phone calls: Click here
Cheap ovulation and pregnancy tests: Click here
DVD rental home delivery – follow COS's survey of 7 suppliers: Click here
At Boots, Free Watch with Max Factor makeup: Click here
CD Wow £1 off, can be used with other vouchers: Click here
New baby MoneySavers discussion: Click here
March post of the month £50 prize. Click here to nominate
Andrea's Freebies: MoneySaver Andrea is undoubted Queen of the Freebies/Samples board. So I've asked her to help me by providing her freebies pick each week. So when you see ‘Andreas Freebies' in Quick Chat Tips you'll know why. This week it's Energy Saving Lightbulbs (if on benefits), Shampoo, Fair Trade Coffee, Avery Samples, Girl Next Door Tickets, Bakers Complete
Did you know? If you'd money in a savings account and the bank went bust. You're only protected for the first £35,000 (100% of the first £2,000 and 90% of the next £33,000). This is very very unlikely to happy, and it isn't a recommendation to prioritise safety over rate, just something to be aware of. More info/discuss Click here, Savings Article: Click here
FREE PARTY THIS THURSDAY! Are you coming to the MoneySavers first anniversary and book launch party? It's free, in central London, there are about 100 tickets left (first come first served). To get a ticket(s) E-mail ed.obrien@intelligent-pr.com with your name & how many. Full Details Click here.
Reminders of popular Deals and Chat Tips
Cheapest way to spend when you're abroad: Article Click here
London Discounts – for getting to and using in: Chat Click here
Free £30 and best current account: Article Click here
Free Sky Channels for some existing Sky Users: Chat Click here
Best Credit Card for Purchases: Article Click here
Free Glastonbury Tickets - sort of: Chat Click here
Egg Loophole. 0% every year guaranteed Article: Click here
Sainsbury Online, £10 off first shop: Chat Click here
Car Insurance Cost cutting system: Article Click here
BOGOF Little Chef! Chat Click here
Most popular chat tips of all time: Click here
Martins Money Poser: Stick or switch. You're on my game show and you've won. Hoorah! There are three boxes, one has £1,000,000 (in online discount vouchers) in it. You pick one box without opening it. I then remove an incorrect box and ask “do you want to stick with that or switch to the other.” What is the correct decision? Stick, switch or does it make no difference? I warn you it isn't as simple as it seems. To answer (or read others' answers) Click here
Another did you know? There are spies are amongst us. I'm pleased to say some major financial services companies' communications supremos now read the Chat Forum to keep up to speed. So having your say can really make a difference. The more of us there are the more powerful MoneySavers become. So please do e-mail friends and family who may not know of the site. The best thing to tell them is sign up to the e-mail as this is the easiest intro.
I hope you save some money
See you on Thursday?
Martin
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Disclaimer: This e-mail is based on journalistic research. It does not constitute financial advice. Any information should be considered in regard to specific circumstances. All tips are followed at your own risk and should be followed up with your own research.
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