Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

New! Amazon's hidden CHRISTMAS bargain basement
Up to 90% off perfume, decorations, toys, kids' dvds & other Xmas goods
We've Christmas-ified our Amazon Hidden Discount Finder Tool that manipulates web-links to create secret bargain basements. Make bespoke discount pages: Just go to the Amazon Discount Finder and select the percent & category eg, 60%+ off gym equipment. For bigger items such as furniture use lower discounts to find more, for goods such as DVDs even at 80%+ off things appear. Xmas Quick Links: We've added a new section with pre-selected quick links to provide a wide range eg, Fragrances 60%+ off*, Decorations 25%+ off*, Kids' DVDs 75%+ off* & underwear 70%+ off* see ALL Christmas Quick Links. Warnings! The pages are auto-generated using Amazon's data, and sometimes it lists the wrong discounts. Also watch for 3rd party (non-Amazon) sellers, with higher delivery costs and remember a discount doesn't automatically mean a bargain. Always compare prices elsewhere. FULL info & help in the Updated Tool: Amazon Discount Finder Related: Cheap Online Shopping Coming Next Week: Amazon launches its 'Black Friday' Super Reductions

British Gas prices up 7%. EVERYONE switch NOW
If you're on ANY firm's standard tariff beat winter hikes & save £300/year
We're going to yell till we're blue in the face: "If you're on a standard tariff you're likely to be paying £300 a year more than the cheapest online-billed deal." Now price hikes make switching even more urgent. Price hike so far: Three of the big 6 have now shown their hands... British Gas' gas & electricity prices will jump an avg 7% on 10 Dec, just after Scot & Southern's 1 Dec 9.4% gas only rise. EDF Energy's pledged not to hike until March (probably to grab market share). Why change is urgent: Switching tariff takes up to 2 mths, so do it now to reduce costs this winter; wait and it'll be spring. Plus many super-cheap online deals have been pulled recently. Shouldn't I wait? In the past we've said don't compare when prices are moving as the playing field's not level, but switch from a standard to online tariff, even if its rates increase, and the saving vs what you would've paid is huge. Compare, switch & get cashback: (only via these MSE links) Top Pick: Energyhelpline* pays £15 cashback per switch. Dual Fuel: MoneySupermarket* £30 in cash, Uswitch* offers a crate of wine, SimplySwitch* £35 Amazon vouchers. FULL info & cashback options in the Updated Guide: Cheap Energy + Cashback Related: Boiler Cover

Regenerate old credit cards!
TOP 0% new customer only deal launches. How to cancel & be new again

Doctor Who would be proud. Most top credit card deals are for 'new customers' so old cards gathering dust could block your access to them - yet there are ways to regenerate, but first the new deal... New top balance transfer: Virgin* now lets new cardholders shift debts from other cards to it at 0% for 16 months for a 2.89% fee, a fraction lower than MBNA* Plat Plus and Barclaycard* Plat which charge 2.9% for the same thing. Ensure you repay these or shift again by the end of the 0% period or you'll pay 18.9%, 16.8% or 16.9% APR respectively. How to regenerate cards. If you've an unused card call up and cancel (NEVER just cut up), then after 30 days to 8mths depending on the card (see card by card list) you should count as a new customer for deals again. Plus, less available credit can boost your credit score! Any reason to keep cards? Some cards offer decent existing customer deals, eg, Barclaycard lets existing customers shift debts to it at 6.9% for life with a 2.5% fee. Full info on all this in the New Guide: Cancel Old Cards? Plus FULL best buys in Updated: Best Balance Transfers Related: 0% for Spending Cards, Credit Rating

Redundancy - how to prepare & survive. Updated Guide!
Whether it looms or has already hit, this guide's got the crucial info
The recession may technically be over, but with 500,000 public sector jobs due to go and some private companies struggling, redundancy's still a very real issue. So we've updated our step-by-step help guide. Is redundancy looming? Do an urgent action plan while you're still in work to stabilise your finances, and take advantage of a better credit score now than when your job goes. Lost your job already? You've strong redundancy rights so ensure you're treated fairly and use the financial checklist to get maximum income and minimum outgoings while out of work. Slim chance of redundancy? Hopefully you won't be hit, but it's worth the debt free considering an emergency fund and making contingency plans in case they're affected down the line. Full info on grants, sorting debts, benefits and more in the Updated Guide: Redundancy Help Related: Mortgage Arrears Help

While online accounts are usually 'easy access' it still takes a few days to get your money paid into your bank account. So what if you want access at speed? 2.75% Instant Access Savings: The Santander* eSaver issue 2 pays 2.75% AER (min. £1) and allows you to withdraw up to £300 a day with a cash card. Though 2.25% of this is a year's bonus, after that it'll drop like a stone, so ditch and switch it at speed then. 2.9% Easy Access: The Post Office's* Online Saver (min. £1) pays 2.9% AER inc 1.25% year's bonus (so ditch it after), you can make unlimited withdrawals via bank transfer to your current account. 2.99% Easy Access (limited withdrawals): Nationwide's* MySave Online Plus (min £1,000) pays 2.99% AER (incl. a year's 1.45% bonus, so ditch after), but withdraw more than once a year and your interest drops to 0.1% for a month. Safety: We've only included accounts with the full £50,000 UK savings safety guarantee. More options & FULL pros and cons in the Updated Guide: Top Savings Related: Savings Safety, 2.85% Cash ISAs

Cashback sites warning. Make £100s carefully
Cashback websites pay you for using them, but follow key safety rules
Last month we warned some cashback websites were built on shaky finances. Sadly last week the worst happened, see Rpoints & Cashbackkings collapse news. So we want to reiterate our tips on using cashback safely. What are cashback sites? You sign up for free, then click through them to buy something or get financial products. They get paid for sending traffic and give some of this cash to you. Some people make £100s a year. Safety Rules - only see it as a bonus: Never let the cashback dictate where you spend or what products you get. Focus on the cheapest or best deal, then see if cashback's available on it. That way if it doesn't track or goes bust, you've the best-buy anyway. Withdraw cash ASAP: Don't store cash in a cashback site, withdraw funds as soon as you're permitted, otherwise if companies go bust you're not protected. It's not yours until it's in your bank: Whether it's tracking, payment or reliability issues, problems can happen, so to avoid disappointment never think of the money as yours until it's in your account. Top picks: Topcashback* is still the top pick on payout and reliability, closely followed by Quidco*. Full explanation, more warnings plus tips on boosting cashback in the Updated Guide: Top Cashback Sites Related: Boost Your Income, Survey Sites