Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

13 May 2004: Cheapest Overseas Spending, Gambling Loophole, Cheapest Contents Insurance, New Best Cashback Card, Reclaim Forgotten Investments, Cheaper MOTs and much more

This info may be out of date.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

The following is the text of the Money Tip e-mail sent on 13 May 2004

Cheapest Overseas Spending, Gambling Loophole, Cheapest Contents Insurance, New Best Cashback Card, Reclaim Forgotten Investments, Cheaper MOTs and much more

There's so much this week, I've held some tips back. On a rough calculation there's £1,000 worth of MoneySaving below. And I'm proud that for the first time in my MoneySaving career, I've finally closed the one final major omission, home contents insurance,
NEW BEST CASHBACK CARD – BE QUICK!
The American Express Platinum card has been around a while, but previously it was ‘invite only', it pays 2% cashback on annual spend above £5,000 with tiered rates below that. Overall, spend more £6k+ a year and it's cashback King (minimum income £20k to apply). It is also 0% on purchases and balance transfers for the first six months. This ‘openly available' offer looks to be a short term, so best be quick. Full pros, cons, alternatives & how to apply in the best cashback cards article.

FREE CASH GAMBLING LOOPHOLE.
A new style gambling site with bingo type games, gives a week's free play paying cash prizes (I won £5 some've won more). To get the trial week, sign up for an account (£10/£20 a month), then cancel before the end of the week and there's no cost. Warning: It's fun and addictive, hence sucking people in people with the trial. Whilst gambling with someone else's money is MoneySaving, gambling with your own isn't – the odds are always stacked against. Please be careful, only take the freebie, if you're sure you'll cancel within the week. Click here

FOUR STEP HOME CONTENT COST CUTTING PLAN:
Norwich Union has just announced a 25% price cut if you go via website Insure Supermarket. This spurred me to finally hastily write a piece on cutting the cost of contents insurance (it includes Norwich Unions cut). This is the first time I've ever published this, and its still rough, any feedback – success/failure, before I polish it – gratefully received (article explains how). Read it
CHEAPER MOTS, fully collated list.
Using a council run MOT centre, which doesn't do repairs, often means cars are passed without a "needs serious work, gov."'. Its been a chat thread for a while, now MoneySaver Bambi-Blou has kindly collated all the centres across the country & I've put it here. If you know others, please reply to the discussion.
NEW ARTICLE, CHEAPEST OVERSEAS SPENDING: Holidaying? Purchasing from overseas websites?
Using the right credit or debit cards beats Bureau de Change and Travellers' Cheques hands down. Yet not all cards are equal, get it wrong and it costs. It includes a table to check whether your credit and (for the first time) debit card is any good overseas. Full Article (P.S. other travel articles: Cheapest travel Insurance, Package Holiday Bartering, Ryanair under £5 Flight Checker & Travel MoneySaving Chat Forum) SAVE £600 A YEAR! So important it's repeated & promoted.
Last week I told my mobile provider I was considering leaving if I didn't get a better package. Result:- a cheaper bill, two and a half times the free minutes, free texts and a new camera phone. After mentioning it last time, one person who tried the same saved £600. If you're on a contract mobile, try it. Don't let apathy provide mobile network's profits. Read the method & report success/failures.
URGENT:
Capital One launches new cardholder fines. Details.
5% CURRENT ACCOUNT INTEREST. Beats best savings & £30 joining bonus.
From 6 June (I'll remind you) Lloyds will increase it's new customer top current account rate to 5%. There are also rate changes for existing customers. Read updated article QUICK CHAT TIPS
Talk Talk Users Reduce Your Bills
click here
£100 free baby concierge voucher click here
Cheap non cosmetic boob job (i.e. wonderbra) click here
Free 5 Euro bet, no deposit click here
Budgeting help – remember the war: Chat Forum Discussion
Free Tesco.com book delivery click here
Andrea's Freebies: Free Glade Circulair Plug and Refill Voucher,
Maths Papers, Lego Mag 2 yr subscription, Greyhound Racing in Manchester,
Ferrari Sticker Sets, Chilli Seeds, Post-It Notes
INTRODUCING FREEBIES GOLD:
Hey pop-pickers. Welcome to Freebies Gold, a collection of still pocketable past freebies. You may remember such greats as Jelly Belly Beans & Horny Goat Weed, well Freebies Gold is exclusive to the MoneySavers collection, just enclose no stamp addressed envelope, and no cheque instead click here. (seriously there's some crackers )RECLAIM FORGOTTEN BANK ACCOUNTS & INVESTMENTS.
There are billions of pounds of lost bank accounts, life policies, investments and pensions (especially common are widows who haven't claimed their husbands). The ‘pay us and we'll find ‘em' brigade is growing. Instead, do it yourself easily for free. Details
POPULAR ARTICLES & AND CHAT TIPS
Cabernet Sauvignon £1.84
Chat Forum
A cheaper way to protect credit card repayments Article
Leather chair £29.99 + sandwich toaster (still running) Chat Tip
Cheapest Gas & Electricity Article
How to convert larger amounts of foreign currency Chat Tip
Completely new frequently asked MoneySaving questions. Article
Landline calls for 0.5p/min Chat Tip
Car Insurance, cost cutting system Article
Alton Towers discounts Chat Tip
REVENGE: Make free cash from credit cards Article
Free Travel MoneySaving E-book click here
Most Popular Chat Tips of all time click hereThat's it for this week. A sneaky note of things to come, it looks like we're going to be able to expand the Ryanair checker to other airlines. Also do look at the
online poll (poll), I amused myself setting it.
I hope you're still enjoying the tips. I know it seems to get longer every week. Hopefully they're easy to scan through so you can pick out what you like.. Any feedback welcome
here.
As always please forward and recommend everyone on your e-mail list joins up, The more MoneySavers, the more we can challenge companies (boy does that make me smile!)

I hope you save some money.

Martin

PS a quick thought for you – if you ate pasta immediately followed by anti-pasta, would you put on any weight?

TO ASK A QUESTION OR SEE ALL BEST BUYS LISTED SCROLL DOWN

Questions? Pls don't email, instead ask here. Technical problems: please e-mail forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com Martin's Next Broadcast Appearances List: click here

Read Martin's NEW Book 'The Money Diet'.
To read more click here. To compare shops prices and buy it for less click here. To discuss it click here

www.moneysavingexpert.com is owned and run by Martin Lewis, who is the Money Saving Expert on ITV1s This Morning, Sunday Express columnist, regular contributor for BBC Radio 2, 4 & 5 amongst others. To read about how the site is funded click here

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.
To change your e-mail address: go to www.moneysavingexpert.com and unsubscribe your current e-mail and then subscribe the new one.
To unsubscribe: go to www.moneysavingexpert.com and unsubscribe on the front page.