Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

URGENT! Tesco 50% off home insurance, get a quote now and it lasts 90 days
Tesco home insurance has halved prices until 6 Aug, and it'll hold quotes for 90 days, so even if you're not at renewal, get a quote now and buy later. This is a seriously good deal, but even with the discount don't assume it's automatically cheapest; before getting its quote, first follow my usual four step cost cutting plan to compare the market including using both screenscraping websites Insuresupermarket.com* and Confused.com*, which whizz your details to scores of insurers and brokers to find the cheapest. Then go to Tesco*, which the screenscrapers don't include and compare the top results with its quote. Read the Article: Home Insurance Cost Cutting System (mini-mutterings) Related Insurance Cost Cutting: Car, Travel, Pet, Medical, Dental

Sub-£100 full Satellite Navigation System: Garmin i3 £99 delivered

Tell all who've graduated in the last two years, don't miss out on your cash prize! New Article
It's a common misconception that students must keep the same account when they graduate. Actually, new graduates, and those who've left Uni in the last two years, can switch to the best graduate account, saving (or making) you up to £400. Bag the best three year interest-free overdrafts with the highest limits read New Article: Graduate Accounts (mini-mutterings) Related Article: Best Current Account

Passport fees rise to £66 in October If your'e renewing in the next 9 months do it cheaper

Don't switch energy provider! (Hold on though, what about fixed rates?)
Last week, following British Gas's price rise, I sent my special ‘Don't switch energy provider' email because others, especially Powergen, are expected to increase prices too so any comparison now isn't on a level playing field. Many asked, "what about price capped tariffs, are they cheaper?" Sadly there's no definitive answer, the real question is 'how much peace of mind do you need?' Those on a tight budget needing certainty should grab one without delay. Others should still wait for all prices to level out. Those wanting a price cap can use the price comparison services to find the cheapest; go via these special links and Energyhelpline* will give you £12.50 cashback or Uswitch* a bottle of champagne if they can switch you. Updated Article: Cheapest Gas and Electricity (mini-mutterings) Related Articles: Cheapest Home Phone, Cut Water Bills

STOP YOUR FRIENDS WASTING CASH! PLS SUGGEST THEY GET THIS EMAIL

Double Advantage points at Boots online this month Details

Cheapest Personal Loan Still 5.6%, but you may want to go for 5.7%!
Moneyback* is now the only loan on the market at 5.6%, as Direct Line's hiked its rates. Yet this is a 'typical rate', meaning only 66% of accepted customers actually get that rate. Anecdotally (it's impossible to get stats) it cherry picks customers and only near perfect credit scorers get it. Sadly you don't find out until you've applied and had a search added to your file. One alternative is go for the 5.7% loans which, while still 'typical rate', seem a touch easier to get, mainly Northern Rock* and Barclaycard Loan*. These providers are only cheapest for uninsured borrowing, for more lower credit scorers' options, flexible loans read Cheapest Personal Loan Related Articles: Your Credit Rating How It Works, Check and Improve Your Credit Score

Who says community is dead? I was moved, will you be...
I've just been reading a discussion in the Debt-free Wannabe Board of the forum called 'I can't believe it's got this bad'. Subtly beautiful, someone has posted their SOA (statement of affairs) and other MoneySavers have picked it to the bone to help them save. The time and effort people put in to aid someone they've never met, can't see, and don't know I find personally very moving. See it for yourself. Related Articles: Where To Start With Problem Debts

Nectar Double Rewards Watch This week 50% off cameras and DVD players

New Separate Audio and Video Podcast sites. Watch and Listen to this e-mail!
Thankfully we've now arranged separate Itunes sites for the audio podcast and video podcast of the mutterings (my weekly commentary to accompany this e-mail). There's also a PSPcast or you can download a windows media player version. Read an explanation plus feel free to discuss it

Great 'What I Wish I'd Known Before I Retired' Hunt
Whether it's about pensions and annuities, selling up and moving abroad or simply down-sizing, I'd like to tap the knowledge of retired MoneySavers for tips to help future retiring MoneySavers. If there's something you wished you'd known before you retired let others know. Add your tips/read others Past Great Hunts: How Much To Tip Overseas, Cut The Cost of Moving Home and Free Info

DON'T CHANGE CURRENT ACCOUNT TODAY. YOU CAN SHARE £100 AND DO IT NEXT WEEK!
Alliance and Leicester, one of the market's top current accounts (0% overdraft for a year amongst other things) will at the end of this week rekindle its £50 refer a friend scheme... that means you and a mate can share £100 and get the market's best account. So don't switch this week, full details of what to do next week!

Fill the gap at Gap! Great 'What Shops Don't Want Us To Know' Hunt Result
Last week I asked MoneySavers to let us know what shops don't want us to know. Tips you came up with included McDonalds Fast Food, Asda Tips and Gap Refunds

MoneySavingExpert.com Job Announcement: Temporary web developer needed

FLIGHTCHECKER SALES WATCH  Amsterdam, Prague & Malaga 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

Are you a CAB officer who sent me a letter?.... if so read this

Now the latest copy of this email is always at MoneySavingExpert.com/latesttip

Board of the week: Scotland
This sub-section was set up, along with England, Norn Iron and Wales for locals to discuss MoneySaving in their area. Scottish MoneySaving. Discussions include Edinburgh attractions & things to do, Eating in Edinburgh, and Edinburgh Fringe, 185 free shows

JEREMY VINE RADIO HEADS UP: Beat or bash the banks? I've my usual Jeremy Vine spot on Radio 2, 1pm this Friday

This week's Martin's Musings: So Michael Buerk, what's the manly way to hold a fan?
'Competing with the girlfriend? Me in Hello! and the missus in OK!', 'Round of applause for the aircon man' and 'Thank you Nectar for listening' Read m'blogs (or RSS users access)

MONEY SPENDING EXPERT POLL: What's the most absurdly extravagant item on sale now? Vote or Discuss. Vote result: Branded Coke/Pepsi .... it seems even for MoneySavers when it comes to Coke & Pepsi brand names come first, with 60% of you saying you only drink those. See poll results

That's it for this week. Yet occasionally MoneySaving takes a wee bit of cunning, you could almost call it Machievellian. There's a very cute wee test I spotted in the Forum to see how close in philosophy you are to the 16th century's most pragmatic of politicians... take the Machiavelli test

I hope you save some money

Martin

*links: Any links with a * by them are affiliated. That means go via this link and a contribution may be made to MoneySavingExpert.com, which helps it stay ad-free and free to use. You shouldn't notice any difference, the links don't impact the product at all and the editorial line (the things I write) is NEVER impacted by it. If it isn't possible to get an affiliate link for the best product, nothing changes, it's still included in exactly the same way. As I believe transparency is important, I'm including the following 'un-affiliated' web-addresses for the same things: insuresupermarket.com,confused.com, tescofinance.com, energyhelpline.com, uswitch.com, mbloan.co.uk, postoffice.co.uk, amazon.co.uk, conran.co.uk, alliance-leicester.co.uk, northernrock.co.uk, barclaycardloan.co.uk, boots.com. Read more about this site and how it's financed.

Referring people to insurers or insurance intermediaries can in some circumstances require FSA authorisation. For this reason, Martin Lewis of Shepherd's Studios, Rockley Road, Shepherd's Bush, London W14 0DA is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.