Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

Free £90 M&S, Boots, Amazon gift cards - credit card freebie
New! Get it in time for Xmas shopping - at absolutely no cost (if done right)
For the first 3 months, accepted new American Express Reward card* applicants get 6,000 bonus rewards points each month they spend over £500. As each point's worth 0.5p in vouchers at Amazon, M&S, Boots & more, that's £90 over the bonus period (plus normal reward points).The reward scheme stays pretty competitive once the bonus ends, though do be aware not everywhere accepts Amex. Ensure you're not charged: As with all cards, set up a direct debit to repay IN FULL each month, so there's no interest. Though as this is 0% on purchases for 6mths that needn't apply during this period provided you make the min. repayments. Just ensure the debt's fully cleared after or the rate jumps to 17.9% APR. Who qualifies? Anyone with £30,000+ household income who passes a credit score, even if you have another Amex. A cash alternative: The Amex Platinum Cashback* gives 5% cashback for three months (max £100), so spend £500/mth and you'd earn £75 - yet here you need to wait a year for the cash. For full info plus more credit card freebies, including free flights in the Full Guide: Credit Card Freebies Related: 5% Cashback Credit Cards, 0% Purchases 13 mths, 0% 16 mth Balance Transfers

Make £100s from old cameras, laptops, straighteners & more
Now it's not only old mobiles you can speedily flog, but lots of other tech too
Recycling sites are simple: you go to their websites, get a price (unless it's worth nowt) and if you accept it, they'll send you a jiffy bag to post your item. This week a new site Weeebuy, which recycles a mass of goods and does home pick-up, has launched (we've no feedback yet but it's got the same parent as Mopay - a good sign), yet it isn't always the best payer. Old mobiles (up to £250). Use MSE's MobileValuer Mobile Selling Comparison tool to find the best payer. iPods (up to £55). Do an iPod selling comparison (though only limited comparison included). Cameras, consoles, MP3s, sat navs: You can earn from £20 to £100 for good kit, yet you'll need to manually compare on the two major sites: Weeebuy* and Cash4gadgets and other sites offering these services are mostly rebranded versions of these two. Laptops, hair straighteners, etc: For other tech, even old fridges, Weeebuy* is usually on its own, for old laptops it says it'll pay up to £100. Can you get more? While these are the easy options, if you've the time, selling on eBay* can seriously boost returns. Also consider local pawnbrokers. More in the Updated Guide: Boost Your Income Related: Sell On eBay

Late holiday deals, eg, 2 star Crete £159
Package holiday sales frenzy, with 65% reductions on last-chance hols
The package holiday late deals market is super-cheap this year, as volcanic ash, BA strikes, companies going bust and the World Cup mean fewer booked than predicted, leaving a glut on the shelves. Typical deals: Package deals tend to be best for those who want precisely 7, 10 or 14 days away in a traditional tourist destination. Yet never believe the advertised price, which is hype. With half an hour of calling, we found the following real deals, all returning by 3 Sept when most schools go back (it's even cheaper later): a week in Crete 2* self-catering for £159 per person, 1 week in Cyprus £199pp 2* self-catering and £230 for 1 week in Tunisia 3* B&B. How to bag 'em? Remember, tour operators make holidays, travel agents sell 'em, so the same operator's holiday may be sold by many agents. So call a late deal specialist, find a specific deal you like, take down all the details, then ring round other late agents asking them to beat it. You may be able to cut a further 15% off. FULL info in the Updated Guide: Cheap Package Holidays. PS, don't rely on travel agents for the extras: They're often massively over-expensive, instead, check out £14 annual travel insurance, the Cheap Car Hire guide & use the Currency Comparison to find the best deals.

Free £100 with 'top customer service' bank
Sadly, many of the best payers give the worst service, so what are your options?
Our customer service poll last week revealed the banks with the best rates are, disappointingly, the worst for service, so what are the options? Top for service + £100: Some 85% of First Direct* customers rate it Great, yet you must earn over £23,300 to get its current account fee-free. If you qualify, it gives a £100 joining bonus and 0% overdraft, up to £250. Second for service is Smile with a 75% Great rating. Top for rate-free £100 + 5% interest: Switch to Santander's* Preferred In-credit Rate account and, provided you earn over £14,700 a year, it pays a £100 sign-up bonus and 5% in-credit interest for the first year on up to £2,500. Yet 62% rated it Poor for service (many of these may be A&L customers who've faced huge problems being moved to Santander, which the bank says it's addressing, but that's no excuse), so you need to make a choice. For FULL info plus best overdraft options and new service ratings see the Updated Guide: Best Bank Accounts Poll results: Worst Service Banks Related: 2.8% Easy Savings, Bank Charges Reclaiming

Renew car insurance NOW and save £100s
If you've a Sept renewal (new car reg month) don't wait, compare now
Check ASAP to see if you're one of millions with a car insurance renewal date around the corner. Too many wait till they get their insurer's letter, leaving little time to source a cheap deal, and many overpaying by £100s due to auto-renewing. If yours is due, first do a FULL comparison: To ensure you're getting the widest spread of quotes quickly, use both MoneySupermarket* & GoCompare* (covering 153 providers together). Plus include the big two all comparison sites miss: Aviva*, currently giving 2 mths free, and Direct Line*, currently 15% off online. Check for cashback too: For quick cashback, comparison sites Beatthatquote* and Moneyexpert* automatically give £25 if you get a policy via them, though even better cashback is often available from cashback sites. Don't miss offers: A selection of car insurers also have promotions you may miss via comparison sites which, if their prices are cheap enough, are worth checking. Eg. Tesco* (free MOT and service) or phone Santander to get a policy and get a free TomTom Start or £50 cashback. FULL info including haggling guide, provisional insurance, young people's and multi-car deals in the Full Guide: Car Insurance - cheapest ever 96p Related: Home Insurance, Van Insurance, Bike Insurance

Top 2010-11 student accounts. New Guide!
Free five-year railcards and up to £3,000 interest-free overdrafts possible
The big banks' student packages are out, so we've graded them. Biggest 0% deal: Sadly, many students need an overdraft, so it's important it's free. The highest guaranteed amount is with the Co-operative Bank (which is ethical too). If accepted, you'll get £1,400 in the first year, £1,700 in year two and £2,000 in year three. On paper, Halifax beats it by offering 'up to £3,000' at 0%, yet from past years' feedback it rarely offers close to this initially, with many 1st years getting £500. Top freebie: Sister banks Natwest* & RBS both offer students a 16-25 (young person's) railcard for 3-5 years, worth £65+, which cuts train costs by a third. But they only offer a 0% overdraft of £500 in term one, rising to £1,500 by year three. Quick tips: 1) Never go beyond your 0% overdraft or it's hugely costly. If absolutely desperate, get the bank's permission to extend your limit or you'll get nightmare bank charges. 2) Do a budget but don't count 0% overdrafts. Consider your income to be just your student loan + grants + employment earnings + money from family. FULL info & explanation in the New Guide: Top Student Accounts 2010/11 Related: Free Budget Planner, Student MoneySaving, Parents' Guide to Student Finance, Top Bank Accounts