Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

Best Balance Transfers just got worse. 0% fees-free offers thin on the ground
Credit Card Tarts, those shifting from 0% deal to 0% deal, have had a recent good run with a range of 9 month 0% cards which don't charge a fee. This week they closed, leaving the best fees-free 0% cards for debt-shifting being either 10 month's 0% from Barclays but ONLY if you apply in a branch, and the best online deals at 6 months' 0% from the Post Office* and M&S amongst others. For full details, alternative strategies and what to watch read the Updated Article: Best Balance Transfers Related Articles: Best Card for Purchases, Best Cashback Cards

Lost your instruction manual? Get it back for free Downloadable manuals for equipment new and old

New 'Nectar Double Rewards' watch! Got a point stash?
Until 25 August Nectar is halving the number of points needed to redeem specific rewards making this the right time to cash your stash. There's a different theme each week (it's wine and BBQ rewards currently). Luckily it's pre-announced the themes so you can plan ahead. I'll be reminding you here of each week's theme, however for planning see the Chat link: Weekly schedule. Related Articles: Nectar, Boots, Tesco, AirMiles Loopholes, Credit Card Rewards

Two free rolls of Bounty kitchen roll Nice chat tip forum spot Simply click and get

Got Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance? Save £300ish a year. New Article
Many have MPPI (also known as accident, sickness and unemployment cover) policies due to their mortgage lenders' hard sell, without being aware the same cover's available elsewhere at half the price. This new article tells you whether you need it at all, and if you do who's cheapest. New Article: Halve your MPPI costs. Related Articles: Remortgage Guide PDF Download/Printed Version

HELP FRIENDS SAVE CASH TOO! PLS SUGGEST THEY GET THIS EMAIL

Call mobiles for 4p/min anytime without changing phone provider
It's possible to call mobiles from home for 4p/min anytime (BT is 13-26p/min daytime, 8-19p/min evenings) without changing phone provider. A new company 0844calls has joined the companies offering this; great as the current services are occasionally oversubscribed. For all provider details use the UK CallChecker. For full info read the Updated Article: Sever the Cost of Calling Mobiles Related Articles: UK's Cheapest Home Phones Provider, Completely Free Calls Via Your PC

12 free bottles of wine Smile loophole Find out how

Current Account All Change. Earn 5.1% interest in-credit or get a 0% overdraft
Thankfully Alliance & Leicester* still offers new customers 0% overdrafts for the first year followed by the lowest standard overdraft rate available. Yet it's all-change for those in-credit; top account if you earn over £15,500, Coventry 's First Account paying 5.1%. For the other new details read the Updated Article: Top Current Account Related Article: Cheapest Personal Loans

Quick Tip. All Scottish residents now get free eye tests. Just go to the optician with ID More Details Related Article: Cheapest Contact Lenses

Debt Makeover. ITV1's Tonight with Trevor is looking for case studies. Find out more

Energy bill complaints? Now there's an ombudsman!
The new Energy Supply Ombudsman deals specifically with billing and switching complaints, so if your supplier won't sort out a dispute, hopefully it'll get a kick up the bum. The service is free to all gas and elec customers who've tried to go through their supplier first with no luck. Full Details. Related Article: Time To Switch

No gaps in your career!
Last week I asked MoneySavers to let us know about gap year ideas. You came up with some crackers including Wwoof, Helpexchange and Taking a career break

I've nagged. I'm nagging, I will nag again. Complain about your missold endowment. Now!
I know I include this almost every week, but time's ticking and this email I've just received explains why. "Martin, just wanted to pass on my sincere appreciation for your nagging! I got fed up with you telling us time was running out to complain about possible missold endowment policies. So I gave in and filled out the pre-formatted letter as suggested, not expecting to hear more. Last week I received £13,264.82 compensation!! To say I was flabbergasted would be a great understatement. Thank you! Geoff." Updated Article: Missold endowment? Complain quick! Related Articles: Reclaim Unfair Bank Charges, Reclaim Lost/Forgotten Accounts

The Pipeline Discount Card: Damp squib or hot potato?
Pipeline is a proposed free petrol discount card, it's stated aim was 'if we get 100,000 members we can negotiate a discount'. At the time I wrote "will it work? Possibly. Is it worth trying? Definitely as it's free". Six months later the 100,000 target well passed, many from this site, and still no joy, plus slight concern it'll use the database to push other products. Thus I'm suspending but not withdrawing my 'try it' stance. It has the numbers it needs so no-one new should sign up. Updated Article: Fuel Cost Cutting Related Articles: Car Insurance Cost Cutting, Save On MOT Costs, Car Buying Cost Cutting

FLIGHTCHECKER SALES WATCH  Malaga, Faro and Prague c. £20 each way
Budget airline Thomsonfly currently has a range of destinations at £1.99 each way. When you add in its taxes and charges this becomes roughly £20 in total. For a full briefing read the How To Find a Cheap Flight article or go straight to the special free FlightChecker to find the seats in seconds

Board of the week: Charity Board
A couple of months ago I started a new Charity board for those wanting to discuss ways to help good causes but still save money. Well it's doing rather well with some great discussions. Charity Board Discussions include Giving blood, Great North Run training and sponsorship raising tips and Charities that collect goods

This week's Martin's Musings:
'Never say Moo to the NFU' and 'Risotto' Read m'blogs (or RSS users access)

DO YOU FILE OR IGNORE? POLL: Vote or Discuss. How much are your holidays worth vote result? Staggeringly almost half of you wouldn't exchange your time off for cash. See poll results

Score your own goal for England. Men Only!! That's it for this week and now all the home nations are out of the World Cup, perhaps it's time we returned to playing the beautiful game itself. This version however is one only boys can play. Something a wee bit special!

I hope you save some money

Martin

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