Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

Happy New Year and batten down the hatches! In this space, a year ago, I wrote, "with the credit crunch biting, house prices teetering and the economy wobbling... 2008 is likely to be the worst financial year in a long time." Yet, sadly, 2009 is set to be worse. Add big company collapses plus rocketing unemployment to the list and it's time to hope for the best, but plan for the worst. Use the holiday period to protect yourself Do you spend more than you earn? It's more crucial than ever to stay within your means. If you don't know the answer, the free budget planner is designed to answer just that question. Are your finances recession proofed? Are you debt free (barring a mortgage), do you have a six month cash emergency fund, are your savings safe, do you make all purchases above £100 on a credit card (repaid in full) to gain section 75 protection. If not read the full recession proofing guide. Do you have the best deal for everything? Many people's knee-jerk money worry reaction is to cut back. Yet actually step one is to live the same way but pay less for it. That's the core MSE philisophy, if you've not done it see the detailed Money Makeover guide.

Week of Tue 23 Dec - Mon 29 Dec '08 1. Top Savings Accounts (1) 2. Freebies, Freebies, Freebies (2) 3. Best Cash ISA (4) 4. Cheap Flights (New) 5. Premium Bonds Calculator (5) 6. Christmas Quiz (New) 7. Cheap Train Tickets (New) 8. Best Balance Transfers (8) 9. Cheap Overseas Calls (New) 10. Reclaim Bank Charges (9) The top new entry was cheap flights on the back of the 1p Ryanair sale, yet overall savings are still dominant...but for how much longer? Will January renewals see car insurance move up the pile? Excludes daily deals notes

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The Ones Not To Miss MSE

Major Hotel Sales. 50% off Hiltons Worldwide. New Travelodge Summer £9 UK rooms
Two mammoth hotel sales have just started, but be quick as availability's disappearing. Hilton Hotels 50% off: Book in Jan. for Jan-Aug stays and you can get worldwide & UK weekend rooms incl. breakfast at half price e.g. Hilton Rome £35/night, Hilton Barcelona £55/night. See the Half Price Hilton Sale note (and Cheap Flights to get there). Travelodge Sale: The Budget hotel chain's got a new UK wide £9 room sale (usually £29-£59) for May-Sept incl. Edinburgh, London & Blackpool see the Travelodge Sale note. Related Guides: Cheap Hotels, Cheap Trains

2for1 Restaurant Vouchers: Tootsies, GBK, Las Iguanas, Walkabout, La Tasca. These join Slug and Lettuce & more. See the Daily Deals Note: Eating Out

Ends 7 Jan! 50% off Home Insurance. Yet quotes LAST 90 days. Lock in the low price
There's an easy way to extend access to two insurers imminently ending promotional discounts. Quotes last 90 days: So, even if you're not at renewal, get a quote now, and the sale price stays valid for three months. The Deals: Tesco's* offering 50% off until 7 Jan and Churchill online* at least 35% off. Don't assume it's cheapest: Even at the cheaper rate, these companies aren't always competitive. So check the results against the top three comparison sites, Confused*, CompareTM* and MSP* then see if you can get cashback. Full info in the Updated Guide: Cheap Home Insurance Related Guides: Cheap Car Insurance, Cheap Travel Insurance

Cheap Memory Cards. 16GB for £17, 8GB for £9.50. Need memory for a new camera, mobile or another gadget? This is an updated rundown of the cheapest, including SD, CompactFlash, XD & more. Deals Note: Cheap Flash Memory

Cheapest EVER unlimited Download Broadband, £6.40 a month (£1.50 for o2 customers)
Unlimited downloads means those who watch web-telly, are gamers, or music downloaders aren't restricted. The current cheapest is o2's £12.20/mth package or £7.20/month for its existing mobile customers. Get it even cheaper: Until 9 Jan., sign up for the deal via a specialist cashback website, and you get £70 back. Factor that into the 12mth contract and it effectively cuts the cost to just £6.40/mth or £1.50/mth for o2 customers. Full pros & cons in the Forum Note: o2 cashback Related Guides: Cheap Broadband, Cheapest Home Phones, Free Wireless Internet

Full Jan Sales Diary: Argos (up to 50% off), Selfridges (75%), PC World (40%). A comprehensive list of the top online & high st sales. Full details in the Daily Deals List: January Sales Diary

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

Free Downloads: iTunes songs & HMV album. Until 4 Jan. iTunes’ offering a different daily download (e.g. Lily Allen), while HMV's giving away a compilation album (incl. The Fratellis). Full list in the Forum Note: Free Downloads

Bank Charges Reclaiming. First £10,000 'Hardship' Case Success. Get your claim in
Over £1bn of unfair bank charges have been reclaimed (5m+ template letters downloaded from this site), but for 18 mths the regulator's put a HOLD on it to allow legal test cases. Hardship Cases: Yet 6mths ago the hold was lifted, but only for those in financial hardship eg. redundancy, getting over £500 a year of charges (see definitions). Success Report: Many MoneySavers report banks offering settlements, and now the biggest yet, £10,000. Put a claim in: You can reclaim up to six years worth of unlawfully taken charges, those not in hardship will be on hold, yet it's worth being in the queue. Full Guide inc. template letters: Bank Charges Reclaiming. Latest Updates: Bank Charges News

BA & Virgin worldwide sales until 27 Jan. Yet these aren't always the best deals. Do a comparison as it includes sales prices anyway. E.g. To New York, BA was £259, Virgin £258, but a comparison found Delta at £238. See the Full Guide: Cheap Flights

Last Chance! 'Barclays Monthly Saver' 1 yr 7.75% fixed. Great Rate...Hit n Miss Service!
The rate's unbeatable. Open it by end of play Wed 31 Dec & pay in £20 to £250 every month for 12 months and you'll get 7.75% interest fixed for a year. The Problem? This rate's now only available in branches, and some MoneySavers have had terrible experiences trying to open it, given incorrect info or told the rate changed in Nov (please feedback your experience). Yet Barclays head office has now confirmed, in writing, it's still available at 7.75%. Want to try? Go to a branch NOW, with picture ID, proof of address and a cheque to make your first payment. For how these accounts work see the Updated Guide: Regular Savings Related Guides: Top Savings

Reminder. Rail/Tube Fare 6% price hikes this Fri 2 Jan. Buy season/annual tickets NOW to beat the hike. For more see the Deals Note: Train & Coach Promos Related Guide: Cheap Train Tickets

Going to USA in next two years? Got US family? New travel restrictions. Apply NOW!
From 12 Jan, if you haven't filled in the US govt’s free Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) at least three days before hand, US immigration will turn you away. Why do it now? The ESTA lasts two years, and only takes five mins, so after that you’re covered in case you forget, plus the three day rule could be a problem for emergency travel. Full how to in the Forum Note: USA ESTA Related Guides: Cheap Flights, Cheap Hotels

Icesave Compensation Survey. Have you got your money back, how easy was it? Please feedback

Want to return Christmas gifts and goods? Gen up on your consumer rights first
It all depends on whether the goods are faulty or not. Not faulty: You've NO legal right of return, so if a store says "here's a credit note" or demands a receipt, you're actually doing well. Unless you bought it online when by law you've a week to send it back. Faulty: If the goods broke the 'SAD FART' rules ie it wasn't of Satisfactory quality, As Described, Fit for purpose, And lasting a Reasonable length of Time, take it back asap and you've a right to a full refund. Much more detail in the Forum Note: Christmas Consumer Rights Related Articles: Section 75 Refunds, Consumer Rights

The MoneySaving Quiz. It's nasty! It seems the MoneySaving Christmas Quiz isn't easy, only 0.5% got nine out of ten or more. Try it: MSE quiz

Want a GMTV Money Makeover next week? See how much you can save. Find out more

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Shift Existing Debts: Virgin* 16 mths 0%, 2.98% fee or read Balance Transfers Motor Insurance: Read the Car, Van or Motorbike articles Give Yourself a Money Makeover: Special guide to overhauling your finances Assess Your finances: Free Budget Planner to see if you spend more than you earn New Borrowing: Best Card For Spending or Cheapest Loans Mortgage Makeover: Read the free Remortgage Guide Reclaim £1,000s: on Mortgage Fees, Council Tax, Endowments, Bank Charges, PPI Home Phone & Broadband: Tiscali* or better still read the Home Phones article Cashback Credit Card: Amex Plat* or read Best Cashback Cards Get Quick Cash for Old Mobiles: Envirofone*, Mopay*. Recycle Mobiles article Switch Gas & Elec and Get up to £30 Cashback! Energyhelpline* or Gas & Elec Article

More MoneySaving MSE

Get a pension? On benefits? Extra £60 poss coming soon... Each year those on state pensions plus some on benefits get a £10 Christmas bonus. This year there'll be a further £60 per person, due to be given out between Jan and March next year. Full details on who qualifies in the Forum Note: £60 additional bonus Related Guides: Five-Min Benefit Check-Up,Gas & Electricity, Energy Direct Debit Overcharging Stamp prices to increase by 3p in April. So 1st class will be 39p, 2nd 30p. Yet any bought now that say 1st or 2nd rather than a price will still be valid. So you can stock up. See the Forum Note: April stamp price rises MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Would you pay Brian the Builder in cash? Brian the Builder's been rebuilding your front path. His original written quotation was £1,500 including VAT. Yet the day before he's due to settle, he suggests "why don't you just give me £1,200 in cash tomorrow... then I needn't do any paper work, if you know what I mean?" Would you pay the non-VAT price, knowing he's probably tax evading, would you report him, or just pay the normal price? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Would you pay Brian the Builder in cash? Previous MMDs: Do you break the no Christmas present pact? and Would you give a car park attendant a back hander?

Would student loans SHRINK if we had deflation? Answer: Yes. If the rate of inflation was negative in the month of March, then the student loan interest rate would match it from the following September, meaning the amount owed would SHRINK month by month. Discuss: Shrinking Student Loans Suggest: A question of the week

Great ‘Recycle & Re-use’ Christmas Things Hunt Revisited
After consuming like crazy over Christmas, it's time to see where you can recycle and re-use to compensate. So we thought we'd tap MoneySavers' knowledge to find your best tips on recycling and re-using. For example where's the best place to recycle stamps from Christmas cards? Add your ideas/read other peoples': Great Recycle & Re-use Hunt Past Great Hunts: Large Families, Financial Mistakes, Letters That Work

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

Top Deal! £19 mens' suit. Perfect cheap interview gear. Cheap but smart togs! Cheap ski wear at Aldi & TK Maxx. Trousers & jackets from £19. Taking the piste! £15 Ferguson DAB Digital Radio. Quick! Limited stock. Can you find one? 'The Wire' Boxset. £10 from BangCD. Usually around £15 79p for Madonna's Confessions Album. MP3 at Amazon. Continuous mix Debt Free Wannabe chat of the week: How much can you make with a tenner Challenge? Old Style (Thrift) Board thread of the week: Your best Old Style tip this year LAST CHANCE! Nominate Post Of The Year for 2008

CHEAP FLIGHTS SALES ALERT Airline: BMI Baby. Price: sub-£30 e/w. Ends: Midnight Tues 13 Jan.
My top pick budget airline sale this week is BMI Baby's 50% off sale, with flights to a host of European destinations from a range of UK airports for under £30 each way (including most taxes and charges). Tickets are at this price until midnight Tues 13 Jan, on selected flights travelling between now and 24 Oct '09. 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 guide. Related Travel MoneySaving: Cheap Hotels, Spending Abroad, Cheap Currency, Travel Insurance, Mobile Roaming

Board of the week: Mortgage Free Wannabe
With interest rates in free-fall, many people are considering using spare cash to pay off their home loans faster than originally planned and achieve the ultimate debt-free status: mortgage-free. There are some top ideas and great motivational tips on the Mortgage Free Wannabe forum board including How much interest do you pay on your mortgage per day?, Mortgage Free Wannabe resolutions and At what age do you aim to be mortgage free? Related Article: Saving Vs Mortgage

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Andrea's Freebies Freebies, Freebies, Freebies

Free eBooks, Coffeemate, Tales of Robin Hood (Nottingham) Nappies, Kew Gardens (London, New Year's Day)

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 2 January, 1pm. It's an open phone-in on all MoneySaving topics
• GMTV & LK Today, ITV1, Tuesday 6 to Thursday 8 January, between 7:30 & 9:30am. New Year, New You. Have a Money Makeover!
• Past appearances: Listen/watch back, plus keep updated on future appearances.

Fantasy Chancellor II: This time it's political. This week's poll. Vote and Fantasy Chancellor II discussion.

You want a Dragon to be Chancellor! Last Week’s Vote. In last weeks fantasy chancellor vote, drawing on 20 showbiz names, the Dragon's den quintet dominated with 42% in total . I suspect Duncan Bannatyne (14%) will love beating Peter Jones (12%) into 2nd and Theo Pathetis (9%) into 4th (3rd was Stephen Fry 10%). And spare a thought for Deborah Meaden with just 2% of the votes, less even than Jade Goody. See the full fantasy chancellor result.

Archna's Free Game of the Week! Remove the blocks without upsetting the spirit! Dui

MoneySaving Car Sticker Slogan. The current “Legally Rob a Bank” free stickers have almost run out (get one), so I thought I’d ask for suggestion for a new one. Suggest Car Sticker Slogans

I hope you save some money

Martin

Explanation of * Links

FSA NOTE: 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.

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: tescofinance.com, churchill.com, confused.com, comparethemarket.com, moneysupermarket.com, uk.virginmoney.com, tiscali.co.uk, americanexpress.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 is GMTV’s Money SavingExpert and 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.

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