Ever Switched Mortgage? You could be owed £100s,
£18 PAYG Mobile
Credit Rating: Check & Improve,
And much, much more MoneySaving...
Council Tax Cashback: Over 700,000 try and the Govt's website crashed for 4 days! On Thursday, the Council Tax Cashback system was on two national newspaper front pages, followed by prime-time Friday night ITV1. The VOA website, the crucial part of the 'check and challenge' , crumpled. Don't let this stop you challenging any overpayments though; you could still get £1000s back. As VOA's site's still struggling, I'll remind you in next week's email. Read the Council Tax Cashback system (mini muttering).
Two million users in Jan proves collective consumer power. Council Tax has been a true collective triumph, the forum feedback and suggestions sharpened the full system (read my how it happened blog). This site's impact is now huge; tens of millions in Bank Charges, Endowment Misselling and Council Tax money is returning to where it belongs and below 'mortgage fee reclaiming' joins the nest.
Please spread the word. The more people using this site, the more collective power to take on corporate Britain. Please spread the word, and especially suggest people get this free weekly email. | |
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Ever switched mortgage? You may've overpaid £100s. Get it back. New Article
If you've either switched mortgage lender or paid off your mortgage in full, it's likely, without your knowledge, the exit fee you paid was much higher than your original contract stated. Last week the regulator, the FSA, announced this is unfair and you should be repaid the difference, possibly £100s. I've speedily written a brand new guide, including template letters to send. New Article: Mortage Fee Reclaiming (mini muttering) Related Articles: Cheapest Remortgages Guide, Cheapest Mortgages Guide, Endowment Misselling Compensation
Sub-£20 Pay as you go mobile phone. Can you find one cheaper?
Your Credit Rating. Loophole to check it for free & how to improve it. New Article
Actually credit ratings don't exist; they're a myth, regardless of what you read elsewhere. Each lender scores you differently based on its own priorities. This is my fully rewritten and re-researched article, explaining how it works, what they know about you and how to see every credit agency's report totally for free. New Article: Your Credit Rating (mini muttering) Related Article: What To Do With Problem Debts
Valantine's perfume/ aftershave buying. New Article. Smell a bargain! Massive £300 Gym Saving Loophole. Works at three major gym chains. One month left
Gym membership can cost up to £70/month, yet until the end of Feb, Pruhealth's* private medical insurance policy, which costs as little as £20/month, offers six months free at Cannons and some JJB gyms (or £25/month for Holmes Place). It's a massive saving and worth doing just for the cheap gym even if you don't want the insurance. Full Article: Massive Gym Loophole Related Article: Gym Membership Cost Cutting
STOP YOUR FRIENDS WASTING CASH! PLS SUGGEST THEY GET THIS EMAIL WARNING British Gas new £5 fine for late payments. Or switch and get cashback
As of March 1 British Gas will fine all customers who pay by cash or cheque £5 if their payment is 28 days late. The simple answer is switch your payment method to direct debit, which will save you up to 10% anyway. Even better, if you haven't already, ensure you're with the cheapest gas and electricity supplier. My top pick comparison service is Energyhelpline*, which pays up to £30 cashback if you switch through it. Better still read the Updated Article: Cheapest Gas & Elec Plus Cashback Related Articles: Cut Water Bills, Cheapest Boiler/ Central Heating Cover Got an iPod? Docking stations drop in price Now under £20 Cheapest car insurance reported at £27! Car Insurance Cost Cutting System update
Two weeks ago I published my updated Cheapest Car Insurance System and last week someone used it to get £48 insurance; now the cheapest reported is £27! Follow the Cheapest Car Insurance article and see if you can beat the reported successes URGENT REMINDER! Tax deadline 31 January. Fill in your self assessment form or be fined Related Articles: Tax Tony's guides five, four, three, two and one Reminder. Best Balance Transfers Deals; 0% for 14 months or 3.9% for life. Jan Debt Special
Top 0% deals: HSBC* 0% for 14 months with a 2% fee or Smart 0% for 6 months no fee. Top long term deal: M&S &More 3.9% until debt is repaid. To find out which is right for you read the Article: Best Balance Transfers |
The Don't Forgets |
Top Current Accounts: 6.1% interest, 0% overdraft at A&L* or better Read Article MoneySaving Books: The Money Diet and Thrifty Ways, Read More Free MoneySavingExpert car sticker Grab one
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Quick tip. Just press the button and sail through customer services
If you're forever weaving through phone menus when trying to speak to customer services, there's an easy solution. Instead of obeying the voices, try bashing the hash key and you'll often (but not always) be put straight through. More info. Related Article: Say No to 0870
The Great ‘Team Up With Friends and Save' Hunt
A few week's ago, Terry who runs the Radio 2 allotment was telling me on the programme how much he'd saved by teaming together with other allotment holders to buy seeds. This seemed to be an idea that correctly grown and nurtured could bear fruit (sorry!). So I thought I'd tap MoneySavers' collective knowledge to find other ways to team up and save cash. Add your ideas/read others Past Great Hunts: Cut The Cost Of Moving Home, Use Less Water and Pricebeaters Plus FLIGHTCHECKER SALES WATCH Paris, Jersey & Amsterdam c. £20 each way
Budget airline Thomsonfly currently has a range of destinations at 49p 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 MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Should little sis get a holiday too?
When Jessica took her GCSEs her parents promised her cash for a holiday if she scored straight As. Jessica's very bright and sailed through her exams, getting the grades without too much problem. Yet now it's her little sister Ashley's turn. While Ashley works much harder than Jessica, she's not as naturally academic and has no chance of turning in top marks. Should her parents reduce the grades she needs to achieve to win the holiday because she's done much more work? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should little sis get a holiday too? Previous MMDs: Would you lend to a friend in need?, Give Santa the sack and Would you take the job? |
Quick Chat Tips Warning! Bargains listed here tend to sell out quickly | | |
How much can you save up in 2007?
If you're saving up for something in 2007, why not pit yourself against other MoneySavers? The Debt-Free Wannabes compete to pay off debt, and now the savers are competing too. Try it for motivation and tips: Saving Contest. Also see 2007 Debt-Free Olympics Great 'De-junk your house the MoneySaving way' Hunt Results
Last week I asked MoneySavers for hints on how to declutter and make cash at the same time. Your top tips included extreme eBaying, iBootsSale free trial and book crossing Board of the week: Scotland MoneySaving
This sub-section was set up, along with England, Wales & Northern Ireland for locals to discuss MoneySaving in their area. Recent discussions here include Free Entry to Edinburgh Castle, Cheap Things To Do In Glasgow and Matalan Clearance Store in Renfrew
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On the box this week: Catch my regular slots on LK Today (Thurs between 8.45am and 9.15am) and Classic Gold (Thurs 10.15am). Plus I'm on The Wright Stuff (Thurs 9am, Five) and Jeremy Vine, Fri 2 Feb, Radio 2. Keep updated on appearances
This week's Martin's Musings: Council Tax Cashback shows the power of this site
''There's a MoneySaver Dancing on Ice'' and "Any financial services PRs watching? If so, there's a man you can learn from!'' Read m'blogs (or RSS users access)
This weeks poll: Are you a secret spender? Vote and Discuss.
Last week's Poll. 'A MoneySaver walks into a bar…' jokes. Thirty percent of you thought A-Wing's joke was the funniest, so congrats to him (her?), you get the champagne. And here's the winning entry. “A MoneySaver walks into a bar and orders 12 shots of tequila. The bartender says, 'I don't think you should be drinking those so fast.' 'You would if you had what I have,' the man says. 'What is it you have?', asks the bartender. 'Fifty pence.'" Read the Full Results
Andreas Not So Freebie! Congratulations to her. That's it for this week, however regular freebie lovers and others may like to know that on Thursday 18 January, MSE Andrea gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Eleanor weighing 6lb 5oz. Huge congratulations to her and her husband. Read more
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: pruhealth.com, energyhelpline.com, hsbc.co.uk, alliance-leicester.co.uk, uswitch.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.
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