Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

The following is the text of Martins Money Tips Email sent on 22 December 2004

This Christmas countdown is ticking and frankly, I'm on m'holidays on distant shores, so no messing about with trite intros, on with the MoneySaving!.

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Feed the world's starving at no cost to you.  To give something back in this time of excess consumption there's a special website that in 10 seconds, a mouse click and no cost to you, means a cup of staple foodstuff is donated to someone needing food.  New Article:  Feed the starving at no cost

GREAT LAST MINUTE XMAS SHOPPING BARGAINS HUNT.  Let's use MoneySavers collective knowledge to find the UK's best last minute prezzie bargains. Please suggest your spots or read others.  Selected Past Great Hunts Virtually free stocking fillers, DVD box sets, All other great hunts

BE A TART OVER THE BREAK!  While many have complimented m'free Tart Alert service (it sends a text or email 'time to switch' reminder before your 0% credit card rate ends), finding all your card end dates can be a wee effort, so use the Xmas break as the perfect opportunity. Tart Alert. All Credit Card articles. PS. The Tart Alert is permanently linked from the top of every page, so 'I can't find it' isn't an excuse!

LATE XMAS DELIVERIES: YOUR RIGHTS.   If goods bought for Xmas don't arrive in time, you've some protection. If you specified they were for pre-Christmas delivery, then it's breach of contract and you've a right to your money back.  If you didn't specify, but bought on the web or by mail order then you've the right to send stuff back immediately without reason anyway. Xmas delivery more info  Related (updated) article: Consumer Rights

CHEAPEST HOME PHONE PROVIDER.  I received this amusing e-mail this week; "Martin, I use your 18866 recommendation. It has saved me a fortune. The other day a company rang me up offering discount phone calls. When I said I use 18866 the man said "Oh Bu**er" and hung up!"  Time to make the rest of the UK's big phone companies swear.  Updated Article: Cheapest UK calls

Give someone a MoneySaving New Year.  Don't keep this e-mail to yourself.  Please forward it to friends and family and suggest they join the distribution list at www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips.  It'll help them and help you as more MoneySavers means more of us to take on the big corporate beasts.

Reminder: Earn interest on your current account: Top current account
Last Chance: First-class savings: last chance for 5% off stamps
Reminder: Cut the cost of your existing loan

FIRST DEBIT CARD CASHBACK, CLEVER BUT BEATABLE! (repeated due to link problems last week) Halifax's new Moneyback 0.5% interest current account launching next Feb pays 1% cashback on yearly spending up to £10k.  It's a convenient but beatable system.  Use the Amex Platinum credit card which pays up to 2% cashback with a direct debit to pay off in full from Alliance & Leicester's 5.5% interest paying current account. Apply/View: Amex Plat*, A&L acc*, Halifax Acc or read more analysis. Related Articles:  Best Cashback Card, Top Current Account

RADIO 2 VINE NOTE:  Here's more info on the topics I discussed on last Fridays programme: Internet Shopping techniques, Cheapest way to spend overseas, Best credit card rewards, Cheapest Travel Insurance, Say no to 0870, Consumer Rights (S.a.d. F.a.r.t)

•     Fuji Finepix A101 refurbished £30
•     Bluetooth headset £18 Free delivery
•     Mini Robosapiens (in-store) £10
•     Kids go free to pantos with adults Oh no they don't, oh yes they do
•     Stowells wine: 4 for a tenner or even less
•     DIVX DVD player £30 Online/instore
•     15 Milkybars and a lunchbox The Milky Bars are...on you! (for £1)
•     Nominate Post of the Month winner for December
•     Bargain hunters' daily update

WHAT HAPPENS TO CARDS WITHOUT CHIPS ON 1 JAN?  On 1 Jan the 'Chip n pin' rules change and retailers become liable if they allow customers with chipped cards to sign for them and there's a fraud.  Yet Amex, which many use because it has the best cashback, isn't chipped.  Find out what happens then. Articles: Best cashback card, Chip'n Pin

MONEYSAVINGEXPERT CHARITY T-SHIRTS: See the total.  Thank you.  We've made over £700 for charity from the T-shirts.  And, ut humm, I won't comment on the fact the "if you think this t-shirt's tight... see MoneySavingExpert.com" slogan was more popular in XL than Medium!  See final total.
 
Reminder: Make the most of your savings: Instant Access saving
Reminder: Sort out your debts: Where to start with problem debts?
Reminder: Xmas MoneySaving chat forum tips

CHAT FORUM DOWNTIME.  Advance warning.  We've whizz-bang new software to power the Chat Forum and it's being upgraded during the next few weeks, so there may be brief periods where you are unable to post messages. Chat downtime info

IT WASN'T ME! Don't blame me for the change in my pic. The site's techies did it without my knowledge. Click on any page to view it or, worse, see the ones I managed to stop!

NEW POLL: WHERE DO YOU WANT THE PARTY TO BE? We're planning to hold a (free of course) MoneySavingExpert.com 2nd anniversary party in Feb/March.  Last year's was in London.  This year your choice is London and Manchester. Vote, Discuss, Last week's Wallflower or Warpath? poll results

That's it for this week, and quite possibly this year, as I'm going to decide on whether there's a tip next week depending on the MoneySaving news.  I do wish all of you and your families a Merry Christmas, or season's greetings, and a healthy, happy and especially prosperous New Year.

I hope you save some money


Martin

*Affiliated link:  Click via this link and a contribution is made to MoneySavingExpert.com, which helps it stay ad-free, sponsorship-free and free to use.  This in no way impacts any editorial decisions (what I write), costs you anything or changes the product.  For an identical link which doesn't help the site go to www.alliance-leicester.co.uk, www.americanexpress.co.uk.  Read more on how it works and the site's non-profit driven ethical and  financial policy.

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