Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

Totally FREE BA Europe return

New credit card freebies! Plus 2x Flybe returns with a tenner's credit

Two big credit card free flight intro deals have just launched (you need a decent credit history). Ensure you always repay IN FULL every month so there's no interest cost. Totally free BA Europe return: Get a Lloyds Airmiles Duo* (15.9% APR) and for 3mths you get a mammoth 1 Airmile per £1 spent on the Amex up to a max 1,500. So use this card for all normal spending to hit this amount & it's enough for a BA return to Spain, Italy, etc including ALL taxes & charges. Alternatively get the same card at Airmiles* and spend £10 for an instant 1,500 miles voucher, yet here you must use the voucher by August and book at least 1 night in a hotel via the Airmiles website, which can be costly. 2 Flybe returns (you pay taxes) + £10: Until 30 Nov, get a Flybe card (18.9% APR) and spend owt on it (eg, buy a banana) by 31 Dec and you get a £10 credit and a voucher for two returns, though taxes & charges are c. £50. Yet we've had poor flight availability feedback using this voucher, so weigh that in. FULL info, more freebies and the credit score impact in the Updated Guide: Credit Card Freebies Related Card Guides: Top Airline Reward, Cashback, 0% For Spending

Regular savings accounts can pay huge interest, but you need to put cash aside EVERY month and can only deposit relatively small sums. 8% AER linked to top bank account: Normally we dislike 'linked' Regular Savers, but this is with the top customer service bank which pays £100 joining bonus. New & existing First Direct 1stAccount* customers (see Best Bank Accounts) can get its Regular Saver which lets you save £25-£300/mth at 8% fixed for a year, but you must lock cash away. 5% AER open-to-all: Skipton BS's Regular Saver pays 5% variable on up to £500/mth saving for a year. You can't withdraw cash early but can close the account with no penalties. Alternatively Norwich & P'boro BS lets you save up to £250/mth at 4% fixed for a year & allows one penalty-free withdrawal. Top 2.99% Easy Access: For lump sum savings Nationwide's* MySave Online Plus (min £1,000) pays 2.99% AER, but only allows one annual penalty free withdrawal. The Post Office's* Online Saver (min. £1) pays 2.9% AER with unlimited withdrawals. Both are variable rate, and include a year's interest rate boost, so monitor it and when it drops ditch and switch. Safety: All accounts here have the full £50,000 UK savings safety guarantee. FULL pros & cons in the Updated Guides: Regular Savings, Top Savings Related: Savings Safety, 2.85% Cash ISAs

Urgent! Help nonline family save on energy. New Guide
'Save £300 switching to online tariffs! Great but what about m'granny?'

Energy prices are rocketing, we've urged EVERYONE on standard tariffs to switch to online ones, cutting typical bills from £1,250/year to £950. Many have replied 'what about my parents/grandparents who can't/don't use the web?' Well, we can't change the system, but if you've a trusting relationship & want to help... Step 1: Set up an email. If they don't have an email address, get them a Gmail or Hotmail account they can access, or you can monitor or print for them. Step 2: Do a comparison. Use a comparison site (pref with them there), it's better if you have the bills, but can be done without. Top Picks: (cashback only via these MSE links): Energyhelpline* pays £15 cashback per switch. Dual Fuel: MoneySupermarket* £30 in cash. Both send cash once the switch is actioned (c. 2 mths later) via post or to a bank account, so web access isn't key. Step 3: If poss. set up a direct debit. It cuts bills by up to 10% more, and you can usually phone in meter readings to keep it accurate. Step 4: Online tariffs with offline access: Surprisingly some tariffs call themselves online but still offer paper billing, we take you through who does what in the full New Guide: Nonline Energy Switching Related: Cheap Gas & Elec, Boiler Cover

It's so close Noddy Holder's started gargling, yet there's still time to keep costs down. Free Santa letter & vid: Some meany firms charge up to £20 for a letter from Santa. Yet write to a special address before 15 Dec, and his pals at the Post Office will ensure he writes back for free. Plus there's a cracking personalised video, where Santa gives bespoke words of wisdom, full details in the Deals Note: Santa Letter & Video New Xmas section. We've also compiled a mammoth new site section to slash all your festive costs, crammed with our detailed research for bargains on perfume, games, gifts, entertainment, drink, grocery shopping, quizzes and much more. Take a trip through the New Section: Christmas 2010 MoneySaving

Earlier this month we launched a guide to getting back £10 million of your cash held by old telecoms providers. Fantastically the successes have included much bigger amounts than we expected and stretched back as far as 2007. Why you may be owed: While a few companies (eg, BT and the Post Office) have always auto-refunded any credit owed when you cancel, most don't (eg, Sky & Three) and hold onto your cash unless you ask for it back. Don't assume you didn't have credit left, it's often a by-product of paying in advance, or because a promo deal (eg, 3 months free) worked via a credit at the end of the period. Successes so far: Lots reported in the forum, including Sheppie2305: "Did as instructed and to my amazement found I have a £144 refund due to me from Talktalk. Well impressed. Thank you" The success rate is over 50%. For easy help in this speedy process, see the Company by Company Guide: Reclaim Old Mobile & Phone Credit Report Successes: Feedback Related Reclaims: PPI, Council Tax, Mortgage Exit Fees, Bank Charges

One month to go, so still time to apply, receive and use new plastic (all require decent credit history). Earn 5% cashback: Only do this if you ALWAYS repay in full so there's no interest... Amex Platinum* (19.9% APR) pays accepted new customers 5% cashback for the first 3mths, on up to £2,000 spending. To qualify, you need £30,000 household income and must spend £3k a year on it. If not, Capital One's* World Mastercard (12.9% APR) pays 1% cashback but with an effective £8 annual fee so you'll only be in profit with spending over £800 on it. Free warranties: Buy electricals on a Nationwide card* (16.9% APR) and you get a free year's extra warranty. To avoid interest, repay in full. This top perks card's also 0% on debt shifted for 15mths (3% fee). 0% on spending: Xmas borrowing is bad, please think twice before doing it; though if you must, do it the cheapest way: new Tesco* card holders get 0% for 13 mth (16.9% APR after), Barclaycard* Platinum and MBNA* Dual are 12 months 0% (both 18.9% APR) - repay before the 0% ends though. FULL info in the Updated Guides: Cashback Cards, 0% Cards Related: 16 mth 0% Balance Transfers