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New! Amazon pricetracker tool hunts real bargains
Find 70%+ Amazon hidden price cuts then track 6mths' past prices to check
Our hidden discount finder's proved ridiculously popular, yet, as we've warned, just because Amazon lists it as reduced doesn't mean it's cheapest; prices bounce more than Jordan on a trampoline. Now we've discovered a great new site to help, just in time for Amazon's last pre-Xmas free delivery orders on Sat... (MSE Update: Amazon has brought its date forward to 16 Dec since this email went out) Step 1. Find hidden discounts: Our Amazon Hidden Discount Tool lets you build bespoke bargain basements at the giant e-tailer. Just select a category and a discount percentage, and it builds you a page, eg, Underwear 70%+ off*, TVs 25%+ off*, Fragrances 60%+ off*, Shoes 75%+ off*, Kids' DVDs 75%+ off*. Step 2. Track past prices: Then, before you buy, plonk the item's URL (web link) into the site CamelCamelCamel and it charts Amazon's last six months' price changes, showing if the 'was' price is realistic. Results can be fascinating ... A Hottie: This Harry Potter 1-6 DVD was £33 in September and is £17.99 now. A Nottie: This MacBook Pro's RRP's £999 and it's 'reduced' to £939, yet Amazon was selling it at £853 less than a month ago. FULL info & more bargain hunting help in the Updated Guide: Amazon Discount Finder Related: Cheap Online Shopping
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Urgent! Line rental & broadband £15/mth
That's only £2/mth more than BT standard phone-alone line rental
We were about to tell you about the new cheapest phone & broadband bundle (see below) but just before we pressed send, another even cheaper solution's reared its head (remember BT's standard line rental alone is now £13.29/mth)... STOP PRESS! £15/mth via TWO providers: Get phone-only £7.99/mth line rental* from Primus (with eve & weekend calls), and now most can get Plusnet's £6.95/mth all-in broadband* with 10GB download limit (it's £6.49/mth with a £25 activation fee, but the link we've used via Simplify Digital gets you 3mths free, so £6.95 all-in). So the two together are £14.94/mth, both with 12 month contracts. New £16/mth deal: The Primus Phone & Broadband Saver is £15.99/mth on an 18mth contract, plus sign up by phone via Broadband Choices* on 0800 036 0392 and the £30 connection is waived. It includes 'up to' 24Mbps broadband (do a speed test), a 10GB download limit and eve & weekend calls to landlines. Important: Only 80% of the UK gets this price; it tells you if you can over the phone. BT £9.99/mth line rental: For just phone line rental, if you want to stick with BT and can pay £119.88 for a year upfront (equiv. £9.99/mth), get BT's line rental saver*. FULL info, pros, cons & more options in the Updated Guides: Cheapest Home Phones, Cheap Broadband
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Cut parcel delivery costs by 75%
Get UK & overseas delivery by DHL & UPS using specialist web firms
If you've prezzies to send, you can save a packet (sorry!) on big-name couriers such as DHL and UPS via discount courier services. Why so cheap? Special web firms buy up big couriers' spare capacity, then flog it on at cut price. For example, send a 5kg package across the UK for £6 rather than £10, or a 30kg parcel for £8 instead of £35. Sending overseas? There are huge savings to be had - get a 10kg package to Germany for £15 (not £45), or New York for £39 (not £76). Pack it right. Nab free cardboard boxes from supermarkets and pad with screwed up newspaper or even homemade popcorn. Always weigh & measure accurately; don't be tempted to shave a bit off or you could be hit by excess charges. FULL info, safety tips and more in the Updated Guide: Parcel Delivery Related: MegaShopBot Tool, eBay Selling
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Easy access savings hit 3% again
Milestone reached for first time in six months. Or lock in at up to 4%
The savings rate mini-rollercoaster keeps on rolling... 3% if you've £10,000+: The new Northern Rock ESaver issue 4 pays 3% AER to all new customers who save over £10,000 in it. It includes a year long 2% bonus, so monitor the rate and ditch and switch after. 2.9% if you've less: For unlimited withdrawals the Post Office* Online saver (min. £1) pays 2.9% AER, inc. 1.25% bonus for a year so ditch and switch after.
Fix at up to 4%: If you're prepared to forgo access to the cash, you can lock-in higher fixed rates. Barnsley BS* is 3.2% (for a year until Jan 2012 - min £100), the Post Office is 3.65% for two years (min £500) and Northern Rock* pays 4% for just over three years - though if rates rise elsewhere you can't ditch and switch it. Safety info: All of these accounts (inc. Post Office) have the full UK £50,000 per person protection. FULL details and many more options in the Updated Guide: Top Savings Related: 2.85% Cash ISAs, Savings Safety |
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| Warning! Beware NatWest, Tesco & RBS cards abroad
New rate shock! Ensure you've the cheapest way to spend overseas
A great scoop in Sat's Guardian revealed the RBS group of cards is giving a much worse rate abroad than previously thought. Horrendous exchange rates: Most cards add a hidden 3%ish 'load' abroad (so £100 worth of euros costs £103). Yet it's been discovered RBS, Natwest & Tesco credit cards don't base this on the usual 'perfect' Visa/Mastercard rate but their own exchange rate, often a further 2%ish worse on top. While its debit cards use the better exchange rate, they charge a nasty £1.25 fee every time you spend and 3% (min £3) at ATMs. Quite simply, avoid! Get a super-cheap 'overseas card': The cheapest way to spend oveseas is with a specialist credit card, always repaid IN FULL to minimise interest. Top Overall: Halifax Clarity is load free worldwide, so you get perfect exchange rates. Its only fee is 12.9% APR for cash withdrawals (c. £1/mth per £100), even if you repay in full. Top with perks: Nationwide's* Gold card (16.9% APR) is load-free, but only in Europe and charges a 2.5% ATM fee. However, it also gives a year's extra extended warranty on UK-bought electricals and a 0% for 15mths balance transfer deal (3% fee). FULL details in the Updated Guide: Cheap Travel Money Related: 0% for 13mth on Spending, 0% for 16mth Balance Transfers, Guardian Story |
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Join a Credit Union: Non-profit banking
Now 85% of UK can access their services - new tool helps you find yours
If you're fed up with your bank, there may be a local non-profit alternative. Alternatively if you've got bad credit, it may be a lifeline to help you borrow at a reasonable rate. What are Credit Unions? They're community led savings & loans institutions, that offer a range of products, sometimes including current accounts. The members of a credit union need a 'common link' - it could be everyone in an area eg, Glasgow, or the same profession eg, police - and these days very few people aren't eligible for one. Are they safe? You get the same £50,000 per person per financial institution protection as you do with a high street bank. Check yours out now: A tool to help you locate ones near to you has just been launched. The Find Your Credit Union search includes all 450 credit unions in Britain by postcode, employer or other organisation. They're multiplying! We regularly hear of new or expanded unions - recent additions include Derby, Brixton and a current account product in North Yorkshire. For more about them see the Updated Guide: Credit Unions Related: Basic Bank Accounts, Debt Problems |
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