Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

URGENT Christmas MoneySaving Prep! Hiya, I’ve avoided it for as long as I can, yet Christmas’s closing in, and there are some preparations that must be done in advance to save. LOOPHOLE. Get a YEAR’s interest in a DAY. With supermarket savings stamps, you’re supposed to save up all year, then they add up to a 5% bonus. Yet to ease admin, most add this on a set day, eg, Asda adds 4% on 17 Nov. So put cash in the day before, and you STILL get it. Go quick though: the first ‘bonus’ day is next week. Full info in the New Guide: Supermarket Stamps Loophole Get 5% off ALL spending. A reminder that new Amex Platinum* cardholders get 5% cashback on all spending for the first three months. So apply now, and it covers Christmas & January sales. Do ensure you set up a direct debit to pay it off in full each month, so there's no interest. For more pros, cons and options, read the Full Guide: Cashback Credit Cards Put Money Aside NOW! Some people always react as if Christmas was surprise expenditure, as if it hid until winter then yelled, “BOO!” If that’s you, prepare now: put cash aside this month, so you needn't pay for the whole thing out of December’s income, or worse borrow (see later). Then, instead of asking “I want to buy x, y and z this Christmas, what's the cheapest way?” ask, “what can I afford to spend on Christmas?” and have the best time possible with just that cash. Use the free Budget Planner to help.

Ever had/got a LOAN? Reclaim £1,000s on PPI The Big Story. There’s possibly BILLIONS of Mis-sold Loan Insurance out there, and anyone who’s got or had a loan may be entitled to £1,000s back. Plus, former Hear'Say star Suzanne Shaw takes on my Cash Quiz. Recession proofing questions: Next week’s show is recession proofing your finances; to put a question, email questions@itpaystowatch.co.uk, inc tel. no. Free Audience Tickets: Email: audience@itpaystowatch.co.uk (incl. phone no.) Watch It: Wed, 7.30pm on five Watch last week's Cheap Trains

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The Ones Not To Miss MSE

New top credit card. Get 0% for 12 mths, if you need to borrow. Updated Article
With recession coming, borrowing's a BAD idea. Yet with Christmas approaching, many will anyway. If so, at least ensure it's planned, budgeted for and as cheap as possible. For new borrowing, you need a 'purchases', not 'balance transfer', card. Longest 0% Deals: For those who don't already have a Barclaycard, its Breathe card is the new longest deal with a year's 0%; the next longest is Capital One*, at 0% until 1 Nov 09. Be careful: Once these intro deals end, the rate will sky-rocket, so ensure you've repaid it in full or shifted the debt to a new card. Full pros, cons & more options in the Updated Guide: 0% Spending Cards Related Guides: Best Balance Transfers (for existing debts) and Cheap Loans

New Zizzi, Pizza Express & Café Rouge 2for1s. Click 'n' print vouchers for Zizzi & Café Rouge, or buy the (80p) Times any day until Fri for Pizza Express. These & more in the Daily Deals List: Restaurant Vouchers

Slash train fares. Grab early booking discounts on the day. Updated Guide
Everyone knows booking train tickets in advance is much cheaper, but Advance tickets can often be bought the night before, or even on the way to the station. Half price: I was prompted to write this, because in last week’s It Pays To Watch, I got our train ticket guinea-pig, who usually only finds out his destination the day before, to call for a London-Sheffield train leaving the next morning. He'd normally just pay £147 at the station, yet the night before £64 advance tickets were still around (watch the show). More in the Full Guide: Cheap Trains Related Guide: UK Travel Deals

Last chance! £15 off £75 code at Waitrose online. This legit WaitroseDeliver code ends Sun 2 Nov. Plus there's a 20% off Habitat click 'n' print voucher & more in the Daily Deals List: Shopping Vouchers

Icesave compensation news. Most payouts should be in November. Updated Article
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme has said by next Mon (3 Nov) it'll have finalised the compensation procedures for those who had money in the Icelandic bank Icesave. The Govt. had already promised ALL savings would be covered. Payouts due November: It aims to pay most Icesavers' money back in November. As Icesave went into default in early October, this is much quicker than the three months first mooted. Full details and the FSCS's statement in the Updated Guide: Are your Savings Safe?

URGENT! 500 Hoxton posh hotel rooms £1. Avail. midday Fri 31 Oct. Yet it's never easy to get one, so good luck. Info in the Forum Note: £1 Hotels Related Article: Cheap Hotels

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

New. AA cover for £12 (and RAC still £11). While RAC breakdown's been available via 'cashback' websites for a while, the AA's now joined it, making both super-cheap. Full info in the Updated Deal Note: Roadside Deals

Great 'What to Buy in Pound Shops' Hunt. What should and shouldn't you grab?
Don’t ask the price ... it’s £1! Pound shops have a powerful premise: they draw you in with goods that usually cost over a quid, and hope you’ll buy some less valuable items too. Therefore I want to tap MoneySavers’ knowledge to find the best value deals in pound shops. What should and shouldn’t you grab? Add your ideas/read other people's: Great 'What to Buy in Pound Shops' Hunt Past Great Hunts: Free Online Courses, Student Discounts and How Much To Tip Overseas

5% off first-class postage stamps. Bulk-buy inflation proof stamps from Superdrug. Forum Note: Stamp Down Costs

"I got £5,532 back." Loan insurance reclaiming getting easier? New Easy Guide
Anyone who's got/had a loan in the last six years should read this e-mail from Robert, one of many in recent weeks: “Another happy ending! I downloaded the PPI recovery letter template and sent it off to Northern Rock. They just gave me back £5532.92! I am over the moon!” Is it getting easier? It feels like we've had more loan insurance reclaiming successes recently; my suspicion is as the FSA’s reviewing cases and fining more companies, they're fighting less hard. It's a simple job: My past reclaiming guide was long, and some said a bit complex. So I've rewritten and simplified it, which I hope helps. New Guide incl. free template letters: PPI Reclaiming. Report Success: PPI feedback. Related Reclaim Guides: Bank Charges, Credit Card, Mortgage Fees, Endowments, Council Tax

Free £3.50 Lonely Planet magazine. For the cost of a phone call. First 5,000 only. More in the Forum Note: Free Lonely Planet

WARNING! Abbey DEBIT card adds overseas charges. New card from hell.
While almost all debit and credit cards add a load of up to 3% to the exchange rate when you spend abroad, a few nasty DEBIT cards add another whack on every time you spend on them. Now Abbey is charging £1.25 each time you pay with it abroad, so it joins Halifax, RBS, NatWest, and Lloyds TSB as one of my overseas 'cards from hell'. The Cheapest Way: The right plastic is by far the cheapest way to spend while abroad, the very cheapest is Nationwide's debit card or, bizarrely, Abbey's Zero credit card (providing you pay it off in full each month). Full details and alternatives in the Updated Guide: Cheap Travel Money

WillAid: free wills in November. November's WillAid month, where solicitors across the UK draft wills for nowt; in return they hope you'll donate to charity. Full info in the Forum Note: WillAid

Did you apply for a Barclaycard 0% purchases between 12 and 20 Oct? We've some reports the link was going to Barclaycard's balance transfer card instead. That is a different deal. Urgently check that you applied for the right card; if not, Barclaycard customer services is aware of the problem and will do its best to help.

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The Big & Easy Ways to Save Checklist

Assess Your finances: Free Budget Planner to see if you spend more than you earn Give Yourself a Money Makeover: Special guide to overhauling your finances Shift Existing Debts: Virgin* 16 mths 0%, 2.98% fee or read Balance Transfers Mortgage Makeover: Read the free Remortgage Guide Motor Insurance: Read the Car, Van or Motorbike articles Home Phone & Broadband: Tiscali* or better still read the Home Phones article Get Quick Cash for Old Mobiles: Envirofone*, Mopay*. Recycle Mobiles article Teen Cash Guide: Free 40 page PDF guide to teach your kids about money Switch Gas & Elec and Get up to £30 Cashback! Energyhelpline* or Gas & Elec Article Cut Car & Home Insurance! Car Insurance/ Home Insurance Cost Cutting MoneySaving Books: The Money Diet, Thrifty Ways, Three Lessons Free MoneySavingExpert Car Sticker MoneySavingExpert.com/carsticker

More MoneySaving MSE

The banks are appealing! Bank charges case back in court.
Last April, the court ruled bank charges ARE subject to 'fairness rules', though it’s still to be decided whether the charges are actually unfair. Yet since Tuesday, the banks have been in court appealing that decision. The hearing itself will last until next week, and it could be months before a result. Meanwhile, for all but those in financial hardship, reclaiming is still on hold, though you should still put your claim in. Full Guide & template letters: Bank Charges Latest: Bank Charges News Related: Best Bank Accounts

Final warning. Paper-based tax returns deadline is this Fri 31 Oct. Miss it and the choice is submit online or pay a £100 fine. More in the Forum Note: Tax Deadline

Price match BT's Basic £4.50 line rental if you're on benefits. Haggle down your home phone
Last week I wrote about BT's new social tariff, BT Basic, which gives those on certain benefits line rental for £4.50/month, including £1.50 of calls. One MoneySaver, not on BT, managed to ring up his provider and get the same deal, just by mentioning BT's offer. Worth a try. Full details on BT Basic, plus report your successes in the Forum Note: Cheap line rental if you're on benefits Related Article: Cheapest Home Phones

Great Fireworks Hunt Revisited: Read MoneySavers' old tips on cheap, but safe fireworks, and add your own in the Great 'Cheap Fireworks' Hunt Revisited.

MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Should you give cash to the drunk homeless man?
For a few months you've been helping out Pete, a friendly homeless man who you walk past on the way to work. He's always friendly and polite. Then one day you pass him and spot that he's got a couple of six packs of strong lager hidden away and is downing one as you speak. Should he be free to do as he pleases with your money, or are you simply hurting him by pushing a possible habit? Would you turn down his appeal next time? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should you give cash to the drunk homeless man? Previous MMDs: Do you charge house guests for breakages? and Should Rebecca come clean about David's baguette?

25 pairs of London Motorsport Show tickets blagged for MoneySavers. At Brands Hatch (Kent), 22-23 Nov. Try for a pair. Vroom Vroom!

Board of the week: Armed Forces MoneySaving
Almost six months ago, we launched a forum board for those in the Forces and their families. The Armed Forces board is now a great one-stop shop for those looking for suggestions on everything from moving accommodation to special discounts and offers. Discussions include Military Discounts, AFPS, New Employment & the Tax Man and Christmas Boxes for the Forces

Packed lunch set giveaway results. Last week we blagged 50 packed lunch kits from for MoneySavers. Did you get one?

Quick Forum Tips Warning! Bargains listed here tend to sell out quickly Daily Bargains Update Tips, Tricks & Treats

Top deal! Bonfire Night feast £4 at Morrisons. Flaming great! The best Christmas jobs, as found by MoneySavers. Grotto hand it to 'em £3 Argos 24-piece cutlery set, in-store. Don't fork out! Roald Dahl 15-book set £20. Normally £70. Wonka deal! Free kids' choccie at Sainsbury's this Halloween. That's the spirit! 2for1 Terry's Chocolate Oranges. Stash for stocking fillers. Sweet! Debt Free Wannabe chat of the week: Debt free social life Old Style (Thrift) Board thread of the week: Using old pillows in new ways Nominate Post Of The Month for October

CHEAP FLIGHTS SALES ALERT Airline: BMI Baby. Price: sub-£30 e/w. Ends: When tickets sell out.
My top pick budget airline sale this week is BMI Baby's sub-£30 (inc. most taxes & charges) flights to various European destinations from a range of UK airports. Tickets are at this price on selected flights until they sell out. How to quickly find the sales flights: Don't go direct, instead use the Budget Airline FlightChecker and ask it to find all flights under £30. Non-Budget Airline Tools: These are listed in the Cheap Flights article. Related Travel MoneySaving: Cheap Hotels, Spending Abroad, Cheap Currency, Travel Insurance, Mobile Roaming

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Andrea's Freebies Freebies, Freebies, Freebies

Boss Fragrance, Goldfrapp Download, Knitting Patterns, Pumpkin Carving Patterns, Quentin Blake Kids’ Downloads

Odds and Ends MSE

MoneySavingExpert on the box/wireless
If you like to watch as well as read about MoneySaving, I'll be appearing on the following programmes over the next week or so.

• Jeremy Vine, Radio 2, Friday 31 October, 1pm. Winter energy, what's going to happen to gas & elec prices, and how to get Cheap Energy.
  
• Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show, Absolute Radio, Monday 3 November, 8am. Listen to Martin's tip of the week, including earn while you spend with a Cashback Credit Card and check 'n' challenge your Council Tax Band to possibily reclaim £1,000s.
• GMTV & LK Today, ITV1, Tuesday 4 November between 7:30 & 9:30am. Do a debt audit! Make the most of Best Balance Transfers, do the Credit Card Shuffle and Cheap Mortgage Finding.
  

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

This week's Martin's Blog: Getting political…?
"Thank goodness IPTW isn’t live … crucial edit" Read m'blogs (or RSS users access)

Would you take a pay cut? This week's poll. Vote and Pay cut discussion.

What'll happen to house prices? You say an ave. 11% drop over the next year. In last week's vote, nearly half of you (45%) now expect a house price fall of more than 10% over the next year, compared with just under a quarter (23%) in January's poll. Just 7% of voters believe house prices will increase, compared with 18% in January. See House prices poll results.

Archna's Free Game of the Week! Test your ingenuity and physics skills! Fantastic Contraption

Build your own snowflake. That’s it for this week, but before I go, this is a cute website to build a virtual snowflake, for kids and adults alike. Snow much fun!

I hope you save some money

Martin

Explanation of * Links

How this site is financed. 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, 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: americanexpress.co.uk, americanexpress.co.uk, halifax.co.uk, uk.virginmoney.com, tiscali.co.uk, envirofone.com, mopay.co.uk, energyhelpline.com. Read more about this in how this site is financed.

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.

Disclaimer: This e-mail is based on journalistic research. It does not constitute financial advice. Any information should be considered in regard to your own specific circumstances. All tips are followed at your own risk and should be followed up with your own research Full Terms & Conditions.