Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

FREE and cheap warranties. New Guide!
Don't buy expensive shop cover - know your rights and slash the costs

Many shops try to scare us into buying costly warranties for electrical and white goods - most are a complete waste of money. Our new guide shows how to get peace of mind for less. Here's a summary. FREE warranties: Three main credit cards give a year's additional protection after the manufacturers' 1 year guarantee ends; provided you buy the goods on the card. REPAY IN FULL every month so there's no interest and it's free. Top pick: Nationwide's card* (16.9% APR) wins due to its other perks - cheap spending overseas and lets you shift debts to it at 0% for 15mths (3% fee). Alternatively there's Ulster Gold (16.9% APR) & Egg Money (18.6% APR). Cheap multi-appliance warranties: Warranty Direct* & Warranty Care offer policies covering a wide range of appliances for around £10/month. Do you need a warranty? By law, goods must last a 'reasonable time' anyway. So if a £1,000 plasma breaks down after 13 mths, while it'll be a fight, you've still a case even if it's out of warranty. Plus, theft and damage (not breakdown) may be covered by home insurance. For FULL info, safety details, how to complain, and more options, please read the New Guide: Free & Cheap Warranties Related: Consumer Rights, Cheap Home Insurance, Credit Card Perks

Are you due a 'cold weather' payment?
The Big Freeze! Get benefit payments and TRAVEL ticket refunds

The big freeze has caused chaos and more is on its way. Yet if it's hit your pocket, there may be ways to get money back. Cold weather payments: Those on pension credit & some on income support or income based Jobseekers Allowance get an extra £25 each week the temperature's below 0°C. Find out how to check if any money's coming your way in the Cold Weather Payments news. Train cancellations: If your train's been cancelled or over 30mins late, it's likely you're due a refund of some or all of your money (depends on the company). Claim forms available at most stations. Flight cancelled/delays: You're entitled to a full refund on unused tickets if cancelled at short notice, if you're delayed by over five hours or alternative transport isn't suitable. Full info in the Travel Refund Rights news story. Related: £14/year Trav. Ins, Cheap Trains, Cheap Flights

Last Chance! Get £100s for old mobiles in time for Xmas
It can be big money. Find who pays most with MSE's Mobilevaluer.com.

Want to speedily boost your Christmas budget? Search your drawers for old mobiles and flog 'em! Why last chance? All the mobile buying sites say do it this week and they should get the cash to you pre-Christmas. From next week, it's too late for some. Find who pays most: No one buyer is top for all phones, there's HUGE variation per handset. To help use the MSE Mobile Selling Comparison tool, which instantly tells you what each pays. Yet even the best may be beatable if you make the effort of flogging it yourself on eBay. How much is it worth? Desirable new handsets can be over £150, yet of course older ones may be worthless - do a quick comparison to see. How the sites work: You agree to sell. They send a freepost bag. You post it. They send the cash. All the warnings & full info in Tool: MobileValuer.com Related: Boost Your Income, eBay Selling, Cheap Mobiles

Urgent! Halve perfume or aftershave costs
THE de rigeur last-ditch gift, but time's ticking to grab sweet smelling deal

It's said more perfume's bought on Christmas eve than the entire month of August. If you'll end up doing just that, buy it NOW. Specialist web-sellers are a fraction of the price yet some cheap sites' last order dates are closing in fast. Web Prices: Supermarkets tend to undercut high streets, but the web usually beats both. Currently the code hpp10off gets 10% off at Halfpriceperfumes*. You can also compare prices at a range of stores via FragrancesCompared* and CheapPerfumeExpert, though they miss some. Also use our specially created 60%+ off fragrances* link from the Amazon hidden discount finder. Huge Savings: Kenzo flower costs £51 on the high street yet it's available for £28 delivered online or £20 unboxed (then box it yourself so it looks like an added treat). FULL info, pros and cons in the Updated Guide: Cheap Perfume Related: Online Shopping, Amazon Hidden Discounts

You can earn more if you're happy to lock cash away (ie, no withdrawals). Though remember, the longer you fix the more you risk losing if other rates rise and you can't leave. The new highest payers are... 3.15% for 1yr: The online Northern Rock* E-Bond issue 3 pays 3.15% AER until 20 Jan 2012 (a little over a year). 3.65% for 2yrs: The Post Office Growth Bond Issue 13a pays 3.65% AER for 2 years (min. £500) 4.0% for 3yrs: Northern Rock's* E-Bond issue 4 is 4% AER until 20 Jan 2014 (a little over 3 years) 2.9% easy access: For unlimited withdrawals the Post Office* Online saver pays 2.9% AER. Nationwide (min £1,000) pays a higher 2.99% but only allows one penalty free withdrawal a year. Both inc. one year bonus hikes so ditch and switch after. Safety: ALL accounts here (inc. Post Office) have the full £50,000 UK savings guarantee. FULL pros & cons and more options in the Updated Guide: Top Savings Related: Savings Safety, 2.85% Cash ISAs, 5% Current Accounts

Christmas gifts UNDER £5 and charity prezzies
Better gifts for less. What to give the kids if you're skint - or give to charity

Stuck for ideas? If you want to be a feelgood or philanthropic giver try... Charity gifts: Don't know what to get the person who has everything? Virtual charity gifts can be a great solution - and don't have to break the bank. Unusual ideas under a tenner inc. mosquito nets, safe water for 10 or even a can of worms - see full Charity gifts section. Festive fivers gifts: Every two years we run a contest for the best sub-£5 gift ideas - see all the past years' winners, including a dinner date for a fiver, sand art brownies (£3), the perfect (gingerbread) man (£2), vinyl record bowls (£4), and free edible art in the Festive Fivers guide. What to give kids if you're skint: Last week's Great Hunt produced some fantastic suggestions from MoneySavers, including homemade craft and baking kits, treasure hunts, festive hampers and loads more. FULL info & masses more ideas in the 'Xmas gifts for kids if you're skint' Hunt Related: Time To Ban Xmas Prezzies