Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

Get 8% more holiday cash
Supercharged TravelMoneyMax now compares 29 bureaux to find THE best rate
Whether it's Euros, Dollars, Turkish Lira or more, never change currency at the airport. You get over €50 more converting £500 at the best bureaux, even beating established players like M&S and the Post Office. Instantly find the best rate: We've supercharged the unique MSE TravelMoneyMax.com tool, which lets you compare the day's best collection or delivery rates for ANY currency incorporating all charges, and added new bureaux like Thomson and Halifax. The cheapest way to spend: If you're not going for a few weeks, beat even the best bureau rates by applying for a specialist overseas spending credit card (always repay in full each month to minimise interest). The top player is the Halifax Clarity* card which has perfect exchange rates worldwide and fees-free cash withdrawals; the only charge is 12.9% APR interest on cash withdrawals (even if you repay in full). More options, pros & cons in the Guide: Cheap Travel CardsRelated: £14 Annual Travel Ins, Cheap Flights

Get £1,000s towards your childcare - perfect for summer
Summer can mean a massive boost in costs. Check now what help you can get
Don't just think of babies in swaddling cloth; after-school or summer clubs for 6-foot, hairy 15-year-olds count too (and that's just the girls!). We've updated our detailed guide - here's a summary... Childcare tax credits (avg. £3,500/year): If you're a single parent who works 16+ hours or a couple who both work 16+ hours and have family income under £40,000 check if you're eligible - even if you only pay for childcare during summer. Childcare vouchers: These let you pay for childcare from pre-tax earnings (ie £1,000 childcare costs you £700), though beware it can lower tax credits eligibility (full info in guide). Free/subsidised summer clubs: Lots of schools run these, and your kids needn't go there to get in - plus if you need to pay you may get tax credits to help. Full step-by-step info in the Updated Guide & Calc: Get £1,000s in Childcare Help Related: Childcare Vouchers, Cheap Days Out, Cheap Theme Parks, Free Museums

Book Holiday Car Hire NOW - save £100s. New Guide
Halve costs - dodge the big boys, speedily compare & use specialist insurers
Car hire costs have rocketed this year, yet book now and bargains are still possible e.g. Malaga as low as £10/day (many big boys charge up to £40 for the same). To rocket propel the savings, we've fully rewritten and re-researched the guide, here's a summary. Step 1. Speedily Compare: Use top pick comparison sites Kayak*, Travelsupermarket* & Car Rentals* to quickly scour providers for cheapest prices. Step 2: Bid for 20% less (US only). Take the comparisons' cheapest, reduce it by 10%-50% and use Priceline's* 'name your own price' function to bid and see if any companies will agree to it. Step 3: Beat 'excess' insurance traps. Most included insurance makes you pay a HUGE amount, often £500, if there's an issue - so they hire companies and flog further insurance to cover this excess at extortionate rates. Instead compare separate 'excess' insurance policies via MoneyMaxim*. There are many other ways to save too, for FULL best buys, tricks and cashback info see the New Guide: Cheap Car Hire Related Guides: Cheap Flights, Cheap Hotels, Package Holiday

Urgent! 50% off the already best-buy PAYG mobile sim
Switch! Get unlimited texts, data & 100 mins for £5 or add unlimited mins for £17.50
It's already one of the cheapest Pay-As-You-Go deals on the market, its free sims charge 8p/min calls and 4p texts plus bonuses, currently GiffGaff which works on the o2 network has a summer sale on. Half Price Top Ups: Until 31 July you can buy up to 2 mths 'goody bags' 50% off, e.g. £5 gets you unlimited texts and data plus 100mins or £17.50 gets unlimited minutes on top. Is it worth switching? Even outside sales, for many it's one of the cheapest PAYG providers, use MobilePhoneChecker* site (the only one that includes Giff Gaff so far) to check how it stacks up. Cheap handsets: As you only get a sim card from Giff Gaff, you'll need an unlocked handset (or an o2 one). Otherwise, you can currently pick up an LG from o2 for £10. Full details in the Deals Note: Cheap PAYG Mobile Sims Related: Cheap Mobiles, Haggle Your Mobile Contract

12mths 0% on spending AND balance transfers. New Top Card!
Longest 0% for spending credit card with a year's 0% on debt shifted thrown in
There's a new joint top 'All-Rounder' card offering 0% on both new purchases and existing debt shifted to the card, great if you need both, as it means only one credit check. Always plan repayments: Only use it for new borrowing if you can afford to repay within a year as the rate rockets afterwards. New top card: Barclaycard* Platinum joins Virgin* in giving successful new applicants 12mths 0% on purchases and balance transfers, though shift debt and you pay a 2.9% fee (2.98% on Virgin), after a year the APRs jump to 16.9% - 21.9%. 15mths 0% balance transfers: If you just want to cut existing debt costs three cards offer successful applicants 0% for 15mths with a 2.9% fee (16.9% after) Natwest*, RBS* and a different Barclaycard* Platinum. 0% spending + Tesco points: While Barclaycard give some rewards, if you're only using it for new borrowing, the Tesco* card gives 0% for a year on all spending (16.9% APR after) plus 25 Clubcard points per £100. Full info pros and cons in the Updated Guide: Top 'All-Rounder' cards Related Guides: 0% for 15 mths bal transfers, 0% for 12 mths purchases

Cut 50% off travel insurance - Europe isn't just Europe
£14 Annual Europe cover includes Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey, Russia & Israel
Don't always jump for worldwide travel cover, you may be able to halve the cost by getting Europe only if you're holidaying in Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey, Russia (west of Urals), and sometimes Israel as they're included in many policies. Cheapest Annual Policies: Based on pure price most are exclusive deals via Moneysupermarket (so the links take you there) and include all countries mentioned, though always double check... Under 65s: Multitrip* is £14 for singles in Europe with £150 excesses or £28 for couples and families. Over 65s: Prices rocket, but options include Flexicover* at £64 for 65-69s, though it doesn't include Israel, see over 65s section for more. 'Top value' policies (incorporates past reliability): The MSE & Defaqto top pick Direct Travel* is £33 for singles in Europe though it doesn't include Israel. FULL info, worldwide best-buys pros, cons in the New Guide: Cheap Travel Insurance Related: Package Hols, Travel Money, Cheap Flights

Ends Sun! Get Petrol 6p per litre cheaper
Asda, Sains, Tesco & Morrisons cut 1p litre + Tesco 5p off voucher ends 18 July
There's a supermarket forecourt price war - Asda, Sains, Tesco & Morrisons have all cut unleaded petrol by up to 1p/litre (diesel up to 2p), though Sainsbury's is only in some areas. Urgent Voucher: Spend £50 in store or online at Tesco before Sunday to get a 5p off fuel voucher, valid for two weeks - so if you were planning a shop there, do it soon. There are other ways to save on petrol too... Step 1: Make your car more efficient. Pumping up tyres, getting rid of extra junk, turning off unnecessary aircon and detaching empty roof racks combined can save you 15%. Step 2: Drive more smoothly. This is the BIG saving, accelerate and brake gently and you can get 20-30% more miles per tank (see full info in the guide). Step 3: Find a target price. In the guide there's a quick tool to let you check if there are any supercheap petrol stations in your area. FULL info and more tips 'n' tricks in the Updated Guide: Cheap Petrol/Diesel MSE News story: Supermarkets Cut Petrol Prices Related: Cheap Car Insurance, Breakdown Deals