Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

The following is the text of Martin's Money Tips e-mail on 1 July 2004

No intro this week, too much MoneySaving below to waste the space!!!!

SLASH THE COST OF HOME INSURANCE: Completely new article.  It's possible to halve your bill using my quick four step home insurance cost cutting strategy.   A couple of months ago I put notes about this technique on the site and asked for feedback, thank to all who replied I've now polished, honed and shined it up and it's fully ready to roll.  There are two versions; the Quick Read purely for the strategy and the Expanded Guide (recommended) ncluding how to choose your cover & a raf t of extra cost cutting tips. 

Other Insurance: Remember too, there's a Car Insurance Cost Cutting guide and the Best Buy Section includes details on how to save on virtually every other type of insurance too.

THE GREAT ‘CHEAP DAYS OUT FOR KIDS' SUMMER HOLIDAYS' HUNT:  With Summer fast approaching, the age old question of ‘keeping ‘em amused for 7 weeks' is here.  The idea is to tap MoneySaving parents new and old's collective ideas and creativity.  Add your ideas or read others.  This Hunt follows the success of the Cheap Date hunt (see below) and the Great ‘How to get a flight upgrade' Hunt.

Click here.

URGENT REMINDER: SAVINGS New Best Buy 5.5% (only around for short time) Article

URGENT REMINDER: LOAN Cheapest ever, 5.8% & its flexible, (likely to end soon)  Article

DITCH YOUR NATIONAL SAVINGS ORDINARY ACCOUNT NOW (even they say so!).  A press release from National Savings (NS&I) says the 11 million Ordinary accounts are closing in four weeks.  The interest in them is pitiful anyway – take your money away.  NS&I says move it to their own Easy Savings account, yet you can earn much more interest than that (see this Article on Savings accounts). For more details, including how to withdraw yo ur money even if you've forgotten the account details & to discuss this, click here

THE LITTLE TELLY (again): Well I said it'd go quick at a tenner last time & it sold out immediately.  This 5 inch black & white telly & radio has now been spotted for £12.99. Chat Forum

PHWOOAR, DATING SPECIAL!  After so much interest in the last tip, I've expanded the MoneySaving dating discussions.  Feel free to read or take part in the new Great ‘Cheapest and Best Internet Dating' discussion plus the Great ‘Cheap Date' Hunt to find good ideas for where to take a date on a budget.  Plus there's the thorny (no, adding the t wasn't a typo) old discussion “who should pay for the first date”.  Click here

And just to officially say, thank you for all the wonderful offers, but I promise I didn't start these to find m'self someone!!

REMINDER: BARCLAYCARD 0% for 13 months + existing customer loophole Article

DISGUSTING BT PRICE RISE TODAY (1 July):  BT's lowest line rental increased £1/.month today as it has dumped its standard tariff.  The 2.5 million people making calls via another company but paying BT line rental have seen their prices raised.  I believe this is a despicable ‘disloyalty penalty' that the weak willed regulator should've stopped.  While prices for some of it's other packages are decreasing, why bother? If you do use BT for calls, you're paying too much anyway, read this and switch.Cheapest Home Phone Article.  Discuss it

QUICK CHAT TIPS

PROMOTIONAL ERROR AT BOOTS, BE QUICK!  Earn £1 for spending 49p. Click here

Saturday Night Fever London show tickets £19.77 Click here

Eye test for 50p Click here

Freeview/ Hard-drive recorder under £150 (scroll down for discount codes) Click here

48 stubbies (beer) for a tenner Click here

DVD Recorder (refurbs) £100 Click here

Skincare products for the cost of postage Click here

13-piece towel set around £3 (page 2 of thread) Click here

Andrea's Freebies:  Rapstrap plastic hair tie, Oceans 11 DVD,

Bloomberg Money Magazine, Tesco clubcard points, OC8 demo days

Try Me Free Summary, Freebies GOLD

HEADS UP FOR EBAY USERS: I did a short interview about Ebay for a ‘Tonight with Trevor McDonald” programme.  They've a full Ebay documentary, this Friday ITV1 at 8pm that you may find interesting.

DON'T FORGET: Healthcare cashback plans full comparison.  A cheap way to cover medical and alternative therapy bills Click here

POPULAR PAST TIPS AND ARTICLES

Roadside assistance cover Chat tip

Decent new savings account at 5.5% Article

T-t-t-t-tenner off at Tesco Chat tip

Cheapest ever flexible loan at 5.8% Article

Theme Park Tips Chat tip

Frequently asked MoneySaving questions. Article

Free will-making service for over-55s Chat tip

Cheapest Travel Insurance Article

Most Popular Chat Tips Ever (with links) Click here

MAKING THE SITE EASIER TO USE:  You should now see a new ‘search' box on top of the home page; so you can choose to search the ‘main site, chat site, or product providers contact details' – I'd love feedback.   Plans are also afoot to make the site easier to navigate; the aim is to split the Articles section into categories and give the Chat Forum a similar look to the main site (again feedback welcome).  Meanwhile, if you struggle to find wh at you want, for the moment try the Best Buy Section which is in some ways a categorised list of articles.  PS we're still working on the speed post tip being sent – sorry.

That's it for this week.  A quick hello to the very nice man who was so complementary about the book & the site when he saw me in the Supermarket.  Much appreciated.  My request as always; if you like the tips & they save you money, please e-mail everyone you know and suggest they sign up to the e-mail. (though please never sign them up without asking, then they think I'm spamming them)

I hope you save some money

Martin

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

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