Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

Got existing credit card debts? Smash the cost. New best balance transfers article
The credit card market's changing. For many, 0% to 0% tarting is now bad news. Instead the easy option of a one-off move to a long term permanent cheap rate wins - the cheapest being Amex Platinum* at 4.9% life of balance (ie. the cheap rate lasts until all the debt shifted is repaid). So I've restructured the article to help you decide whether to tart and what the best deals for you are. New Article: Best Balance Transfers. Related Article: Best Credit Card For Purchases

How to haggle with Sky.... an anonymous insider dishes the dirt
A few weeks ago I published my five-step digital TV cost cutting plan. One step involves threatening to leave and pushing for a better deal. Great news - a MoneySaver who until recently worked for Sky's customer disconnections call centre wrote to me, so I asked if they'd anonymously dish the dirt on what authority reps have and what deals can be made. It's now in the article... Digital TV Cost Cutting

URGENT FREE £30 from Nectar: December only
Sign up for a new American Express 'Nectar' credit card and you earn 6,000 Nectar points (worth £30) when you spend on it. Yet 'spending' can be as little as a Mars bar and you still get the points! Be careful, 6,000 points are only available via this link Amex Nectar* as it goes through commercial price comparison site Moneysupermarket (otherwise it's just 1000 points). For full pros and cons on the card, and the impact on your credit score read Credit Card Freebies Article (Special mini-muttering)

New Cheapest DVD Recorder
Amazon's now offering a recordable DVD player for £67 with free delivery Can you beat it? (PS you can always grab the Money Diet on top for £3.99 too!)

Free reply from Santa. I ho-ho-hope you save some money
Shame on companies charging a tenner for this. If children post (with stamp) a letter to Santa, Reindeerland, SAN 1TA before 13 Dec, he'll write back. Letter details

SPREAD THE SAVINGS! Pls suggest friends/family/colleagues get this email too

Act now if you need a loan: rates are rising
Two months ago the cheapest loan was 5.5%, now it's 5.7% and there's only one lender offering that rate. So if you're planning to take out a loan get in there sharpish. Cheapest Uninsured Loan: Moneyback* 5.7% or better still read the full Getting The Cheapest Loan Article

Travelodge rooms for a tenner If you can book 21 days ahead. Get a room!

Megabus 50p coach tickets from 30 UK cities to London. Ends 12th Dec

FREE £10 loophole for Egg customers, extended! Now available til 30 Dec Eggcellent!

Half price perfume and aftershave, perfect Xmas prezzies
Time for my seasonal reminder that it's possible to get smelly stuff much cheaper online. Sometimes these are much cheaper unboxed tester bottles, so canny MoneySavers can buy them £20 cheaper, then spend £2 on a gift box and it looks like you've made more not less effort. Cheaper Smellies

Great Personalised Gifts for Xmas Hunt: includes versions of Sherlock Homes & Alice in Wonderland
I came across a series of sites offering customised books with the name changed ie Alice in Wonderland or Sherlock Homes. It made me think. A gift with a difference is always good, and personalised of course fits the bill. So I thought I'd tap MoneySavers' collective knowledge to find more suggestions. Add your ideas/read others Past Great Hunts:  Festive Booze, Factory Shops and Legal Music Downloads

What women want for Xmas: tea at the Ritz, makeovers and camels
Last week I asked the ladies to tell men what they'd like for Xmas for under £75 What Women Want For Christmas. Presents included Tea at the Ritz, Makeovers and a Camel

Call18866 increases charge to 4p per call, consider switching
My former cheapest calls provider recommendation has now increased its connection charge to 4p per call (no matter how long you speak). While still cheap it is now substantially beatable, so it's worth considering switching. Article: Cheapest Home Phone Provider

FLIGHTCHECKER SALES WATCH  £17 flights to Bordeaux, Amsterdam & Edinburgh each way from BMIBaby. Including taxes. Use the free FlightChecker to find the seats in seconds

Earn 10% on savings; switch to the best current account
Alliance & Leicester's* extended its sign up bribe. It's already the top current account; with 5% interest, a year's 0% overdraft, plus play its refer-a-friend scheme and you can make £100s. Now apply before the end of December and you can open a special linked 10% paying regular savings account. Read a full Special Briefing Related Articles: Best Current Account, Bag £100s free cash, Regularly Beat The Best Savings Accounts

Got an office Secret Santa to buy? Check out the Festive Fivers article

Board of the week: Small Biz & Charities MoneySaving
It's a quiet but useful board where the self-employed and charities workers share their tips Small Biz & Charities Board Discussions include Free Pixel Advertising, Have I started my own business by accident? and Best Card Machine Deals

This week's Martin's Musings: A Fantastic New Year's Party
'Putting a bit of slap on the site', 'Life's exciting at the moment, but boy am I exhausted' and 'Shame on you Alliance and Leicester' Read m'blogs (or RSS users access)

ALL PENSIONED UP? POLL: Have you topped up your pot? Vote or Discuss. Also, see last week's Friday Feeling Poll results

That's it for this week. Of course this time of year there are tons of free festive online games to keep you amused. I must admit I laughed at this one, no longer a school boy but a farting Santa still makes me laugh! Sober Santa

I hope you save some money

Martin