Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email
Time to switch savings 6.5% top deal,
£25 Annual Travel Ins; Mobile phone price war,
And much, much more MoneySaving...
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Bank Charges Reclaiming Decision Day Thur 22 May. Thursday's case management conference is a massive day in the bank charges case. It determines what happens next, including whether the banks will appeal last month's ruling. That's when the courts said bank charges are governed by fairness rules. Plus we should also hear the timetable for the OFT decision on whether the charges actually are unfair. Latest Info: Bank Charges News Full, updated Reclaiming Guide: Bank Charges Reclaim Credit Card Charges... easier than bank charges. In April ‘06, the Office of Fair Trading said credit card charges above £12 were unfair; and immediately lenders cut theirs. This means if you were charged the full £35 whack before that, for going over the limit or late payments, you should ask for the difference back. This is a much easier reclaim than bank charges, and many have got £100s, yet it's much less known about. You can do it even if you don’t have old statements. Full guide incl. template letters: Credit Card Reclaiming |
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It’s The Right Time To Sort Savings. New top 6.26% cash ISA and 6.5% savings.
As the Bank of England didn’t cut interest rates this month, it's now six weeks since the last change, meaning rates have settled, so there’s a level playing field for comparing accounts. Top No-Notice Cash ISA: You can save up to £3,600/year tax-free in a cash ISA and National Counties Building Society has launched a 6.26% AER deal. Top No-notice Savings Account: Top payer for those with £1,000+ to save is still Kaupthing* at 6.5% AER which guarantees to be at least 0.3% above UK base rates until 2012; but now those with under £1,000 can also get 6.5% with Birmingham Midshires e-saver, though it doesn't have a rate guarantee. Updated Articles: Best Savings Accounts, Top Cash ISAs
Related Articles: Are Your Savings Safe?, Starting Saving
Loophole! £11 RAC membership. Get £22 cashback on £33 cover RAC Deal. Related Article: Breakdown Cover
Cheapest Annual Travel Insurance: Individuals £25, families £40, over 65s £30.
There’s a simple rule of thumb, if you’re planning to trip away more than two times a year, including weekend breaks, then annual travel insurance policies are usually the best deals. It’s possible to cover a year's travel within Europe for just £25, less than the cost some travel agents charge for a one week trip. This is a fully re-researched article revealing all the cheapest annual policies and how to find the cheapest single trip deals too. Updated Article: Cheap Travel Insurance Other Travel MoneySaving: Cheap Flights, Package Holidays, Spending Overseas, Cheap Currency
URGENT! 1p Ryanair European flights (incl. most taxes & charges). On selected dates between 30 May & 31 Oct. avail. until midnight Thurs 22 May. Find them quickly: 1p Ryanair Flights Guide.
Mobile Phone Price War. Save £100s with new deals or haggle down your contract
There looks to be a mobiles price war, the networks are desperate to retain existing customers and win them off others. So on one hand there are scores of competitive new customer offers (e.g. Vodafone’s free mobile web browsing) and on the other, as your contract ends, threaten to switch and it’ll often beat the best of these to keep you. Your aim should be to as closely match your usage to inclusive allowance (for calls, texts and web use) as possible. Go over and calls/texts are expensive; under and the fees too high. Updated Articles: Read the full Cheap Mobiles Guide or the focused Mobile Haggling article.
2for1 Bank Holiday Thorpe Park/Days Out Deals. Lots of vouchers around, including a new one from Tesco; Alton Towers, Go-karting, Chessington and more. 2for1 Days Out
STOP YOUR FRIENDS WASTING
CASH! PLS SUGGEST THEY GET THIS EMAIL
Self-employed/freelance warnings! A third of what you earn isn’t yours...
If you're self-employed don't make the mistake of thinking when you're paid it's your money. It’s not! As a rough estimate around 1/3 belongs to the tax man. If you don’t think this way, at the end of the year you get an unaffordable tax demand that may require borrowing. Instead, each month, simply shift a third of the cash earned into a separate ‘tax’ account, never allow it to join your ‘pot of cash’. We’re now a month into the new tax year, so the first monies should be coming in, it’s the perfect time to start this. Free Budget Tool: The Budget Planner Discuss This: Working For Yourself Related Article: Money Makeover
Beertastic! Bargain beer, Cider for the cost of a text and more. Remember, though, to drink responsibly. Beer Googles
Science & business boffins: solve companies' problems for pay. Boost your income
Many companies put problems online and offer cash to people who can come up with an effective solution. While not a guaranteed way to grab cash, these can be a fun, interesting, lucrative way to spend your spare time if you're a business or science boff. Current cash on offer includes £150,000 if you can find a new Travelodge site location and £20,000 for a way to reduce the sugar content of baked goods, but keep them tasty. This and more MoneyMaking tips in the Article: Boost Your Income Forum Section: Up Your Income Also save yourself a fortune: Money Makeover
Your age as a discount off posh hotels. Over this bank holiday weekend. If you're 100, you get 100% off!
Some Train Fares Trebled in Price this week. Last Sunday, train fare structures radically changed; some good, some bad, some journeys have risen three-fold. We’re hastily updating the Cheap Trains guide; meanwhile please feedback whether you’ve gained, lost, and can still split ticket. Train Fares Feedback
Reminder! Cheap International Roaming Sim. Currently for £15 get Sim4travel with £20 credit, for £9 get £10 credit. Guide: Cheap Roaming
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The Big & Easy Ways to Save Checklist |
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Free calls to Burma & China from mobiles. Mobile company Rebtel* is offering free calls to China & Burma until 24 May due to the disasters. Full info: Burma/China Related Article: Cheap International Calls to any Country
Great "Battle of the Brands" Hunt: Do any brands actually deliver better value?
Brands are normally a great way of adding costs to a product… but which ones do you think actually cut the (Colman’s) mustard. Whether it's lightbulbs, washing up liquid or batteries or computers. What to buy and what not to buy? Does Duracell beat Energizer? Add your feedback/Read others: Great 'Battle of the Brands' Hunt Past Great Hunts: Blag by Threatening to Leave, Rural MoneySaving and Sales Tactics
MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Should retired parents pay off their daughter’s debts?
A retired couple have saved all their life to build a nest egg. Now their 34 year old daughter, a single mum with two young kids, is badly in debt; so much so they’re knocking at her door and repossession is possible. Twice before she’s been in a money troubles and they’ve bailed her out; yet she keeps on overspending and has limited financial control; but if she can’t pay they’re worried about their grandchildren. Repaying the debt would eat up half their retirement funds. Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should they repay their daughter’s debts? Previous MMDs: Should Darth take money from his kids' accounts? and Grant's been overpaid, should he keep it?
Quick Forum Tips
Warning! Bargains listed here tend to
sell out quickly
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Board of the week: Mortgage-Free Wannabe
If you'd rather keep your well-earned in your pocket than pour it into a mortgage for 25 years then the Mortgage-Free Wannabe Board's the place to visit. Many home-owners are there encouraging each other in discussions including Get a mortgage pig, Reduce payment or term?
and How do you keep track of where you are? If you've already paid it off early then inspire others on the Mortgage Free Roll of Honour. Plus also do read the Should I Pay off my Mortgage? article
Great 'Breakfast MoneySaving' Hunt Result
Last week I tapped MoneySavers for tips on how to kick the expensive breakfast habit, and make quick, cheap breckies when in a rush. There were some great suggestions including Go to work on a banana,
Keep cheap, healthy snacks in your drawer and Make low fat cereal bars
T-shirt, Castle Combe Car Racing, Flower Seeds |
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MoneySavingExpert on the box/wireless
Over the next week you can catch Martin on the following broadcasts:
- It Pays To Watch, five, Wednesday, 7:30-8pm. Are you in need of a wallet workout? Martin discusses how to get the Best Bank Account, Store Cards, Credit Cards and the Top Savings Accounts.
- LK Today, ITV1, Thursday between 8.45-9:15am. Find out the answers to a range of questions in Martin's MoneySaving Surgery, including tips on Cheaper Spending Overseas, Debt Help and Cheap Roaming Calls
- The Wright Stuff, five, Friday 9am (I'm on at 10am). The MoneySaving subject's yet to be confirmed.
- GMTV, ITV1, Tuesday between 7:30 & 8am. Slash childcare costs by up to £1,000 each year by using Childcare Vouchers.
Watch/listen back to past appearances: Including Radio 1's Jo Whiley, Radio 2's Vine, Radio 4's MoneyBox and GMTV. Listen/watch here
Keep updated on appearances: Changes and updates go in the Updated appearances list
Feedback on appearances: Discuss or add your thoughts on MoneySaving in the Media
This week's Martin's Blog: I didn’t say that! Part 1… Misquotes and Muddles
"Stupid Question of the Year Award" and "A big week for the MSF and me…". Read m'blogs (or RSS users access)
When would you financially bed your partner? This week’s poll. How long do you need to be with someone before you get a joint account. Vote and Discuss
Less than a third of people’s cash goes on rent/mortgage. Last week’s vote. The most popular answer for both renters and mortgage holders was that only 20-30% of after tax income goes on accommodation costs. Plus more than 1 in 10 MoneySavers are already mortgage free! See full Rent/Mortgage Poll result.
Archna's Free Game of the Week! Explore the deep sea & catch as many fish as you can The Penguin Academy
Vegetable art. That's it for this week, but before I go, sometimes a little silliness can go a long way. Turnip and have a look
I hope you save some money
Martin
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MoneySavingExpert.com is the free to use Consumer Revenge website focused on how to save you cash. It’s owned, and run by ultra-specialised journalist and bestselling author Martin Lewis. On TV amongst other things Martin has his own show It Pays To Watch on Five, is GMTV’s Money SavingExpert, presents money programmes for ITV1 Tonight. On Radio Martin has regular slots on Radio 2 Vine and Radio 1 Whiley. He’s also a columnist for the News of The World, Moneywise and the Sunday Post. Find out more: About the site and its funding.
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