Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

The following is the text of Martins Money Tips Email sent on 31 March 2005

Hiya. I've sent this tip a little later this week due to Easter, so I'd better shut up and get on with the MoneySaving

NEW ARTICLE. UK's CHEAPEST CALLS PROVIDER - HUGE SAVINGS. Phone providers and commercial web price comparison sites conspire to portray a price war between BT, One-Tel & Talk Talk. Yet it's all pants. For almost everyone the real battle is between 18866 and 1899, and as the first's just doubled its prices, now it's really close. Article. Cheapest home phone provider.

NEW 'NEW CAR COMPARISON' ENGINE. Yet another website is promising to find the cheapest new car prices. The difference here is it uses 'screen scraping' technology to trawl other sites and report back the info. This isn't a full recommendation, but do try it and let me know if it works for you. Car Comparison* and feedback.

NEW CHEAPEST PERSONAL LOAN 5.7%. Full article (also see Cut existing loan costs article)

SIX GOLDEN RULES OF EBAY SHOPPING. People seem to have been hypnotised into believing 'if it's on eBay it's cheap'. Wrong! It may be, but then again it may not. Read m'six golden rules to shopping on eBay, to get a bargain and avoid scams (also see eBay Chat Board).

Streams via Media Player, for help read this

MUTTERINGS SORRY! Last week's first streamed mutterings had an error! This week we hope it will work better but if not, forget the streaming above and instead download the Broadband or Dial-Up versions. (For help read this).

Urgent Reminder. Best non-Amex cashback card 1% Citibank (apply/view* ). Full article
Last Chance. £20 bonus and even cheaper calls Ends 31.3.05
Re-mortgage time. Get the free MoneySavingExpert.com printed/ PDF remortgage guide

SCORES OF MAINSTREAM MAGAZINES 3 FOR £1 I'll probably be struck from the NUJ for this, but many magazines offer 3 mags for £1 trials. They hope you'll forget to cancel the direct debit when the trial ends whether you want the subscription or not. But active MoneySavers can cancel in time, and often you'll be allowed to re-sign up for the trial. Updated list of magazines.

FLIGHTCHECKER SALES WATCH!  Ryanair has flights to Spain for 99p until midnight Thurs. Use the Flightchecker to find them.

GREAT IPOD/ IPOD MINI/ SHUFFLE HUNT. A toy for muso's & techies alike so I want to tap the MoneySaving community's collective knowledge to find the cheapest Ipod (or Ipod-ish product) around. Add your find or read others. Past Hunts. Plasma TV, Great Disguised Own Brands,Sat Nav, all other Great Hunts.

FIND EVEN CHEAPER CALLS ABROAD. The CallChecker now has two more new companies added to its search (Just-dial and Liquid Dial) to doubly ensure it reports you the cheapest to call any country!

LATEST QUICK CHAT TIPS (Warning! Bargains listed here tend to sell out quickly)
(Also see Daily Bargains Updates and Chat Tips GOLD)

• 12 ft by 30" swimming pool £60 Get splashing! (likely to sell out quickly)
• GO QUICK! Breakfast Cereals pricing error 32p per box
• Yamada DVD/DIVX player £38 delivered
• Gadgetshop closing down In-store bargains to be had
• Share a car to save cash?
• Adult suspension bicycle £60 On yer bike!
• Nominate Post of the Month for March

NAME AND SHAME! WHICH? I thought long and hard before doing this. In my hand's a Which? £300,000 Double Fortune Draw', the type of shoddy marketing that gives companies a bad name. From Which? it's shameful. I've huge respect for Consumers Association. It leads great campaigns, forces change and now the Govt's given it a 'Super Consumer' power in the Courts, yet the campaigning arm's now been rebranded Which? as well, tarnishing it with the magazine's shoddy brush. Someone has to watch the Watchdog, so I'd like to know your thoughts. Feedback here.

Reminder. ISA deadline almost upon us. Article. Best Cash ISAs
Reminder. Egg Customers' easy quick £10.
Reminder. Get your credit rating for free Zopa loophole

SHOULD I CANCEL OLD CREDIT CARDS? This question's cropping up a lot again lately, so I thought I'd remind you I've a full Should I cancel old credit cards? article.

BOARD OF THE WEEK. HOW MUCH HAVE YOU SAVED? There are some great, inspiring tales of mega savings site users have made. Have a look and join in discussions on topics such as Diesel Vs Petrol, and What's the daftest thing you've haggled for?

Andrea's Freebies (also see Freebies GOLD)
Lancome Lip Makeover, Batchelors cup-a-soup, Home computer mag
Radio Times, Baby wipes, Aussie hair care

NEW POLL. Royal Mail Rivalry? Vote or discuss. Also, see last week's Would you trust a politician with your money? Poll results.

That's it for this week, but before I go I thought I'd proudly tell you that i just had a fight with Alvin Hall and I won!

IMPORTANT FINAL NOTE. As always my final plea, if you like the site and it's saved you cash (remember it's free to us and free of ads). Please recommend friends and family join this tip's distribution list. Why not send a mass mailing to them? I'll smile and they'll save.

I hope you save some money

Martin





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MoneySavingExpert.com is focused on the very best ways to save money on everything and anything, owned and run by journalist Martin Lewis, the Money Saving Expert on ITV1s Tonight with Trevor McDonald, Radio 2 Jeremy Vine show and the Sunday Express amongst others. More about the site and its funding

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