Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

New! Cheap broadband finder (from £7/mth)
Finds the cheapest standard or superfast broadband WHERE YOU LIVE

Broadband costs soar for those not in providers' 'standard network areas'. New tool: We've created a Cheap Broadband Finder: put a postcode in and it tells you which top deals are available to you. These include ...

• 3mths free on cheapest deal: 80% of the UK can get Plusnet Value* for £6.49/mth + £25 fee and you get 3 months free via Broadband Choices (link goes there). All in, it's an avg £6.95 over the year's contract, with a 10GB monthly download limit. Existing O2* mobile customers can get 20GB downloads for an avg. £6.13/mth, using a similar 3mths free promo.

• Unlimited downloads £14/mth: For heavier users, the Be Value* package is £14.08 all-in and, again, 80% of the UK can get it. Existing O2* mobile customers can get similar for £9.19/mth (inc 3mths free) and existing Orange* mobile customers for £10/mth plus a free £20 Amazon voucher.

• Superfast £23/mth: For up to 40Mbps, about 20% of the UK can get BT Infinity* Option 1, which is £20/mth + £50 connection with a 40GB usage cap (£22.77/mth avg). For unlimited downloads, Option 2 is £25.60/mth all-in.
  

Some Sky TV customers may be able to get better packages. FULL info, more options, the tool and extra cashback in the Updated Guide: Cheap Broadband Related: Cheap Home Phones, 3G Broadband

Loan wars! New cheapest 7.2% APR
URGENT! If you're going to apply, do it before problematic new rules hit

The loan price war continues apace. Santander's cut its rate again after Nationwide matched it. Do you need it? Never borrow unnecessarily. Ensure it's planned, budgeted for, affordable and the amount and duration are minimised (if it's to cut credit card costs, Balance Transfers are cheaper).

• Over £5k: Santander* is 8.5% APR, or Tesco* is 8.7%.

• Over £7.5k: Santander* is now 7.2% APR while Nationwide's* 7.3% via Moneysup.

• Over £15K: Both Alliance & Leicester* and Tesco* are at 8.4% APR.

• Under £5k: Even the cheapest loans cost 18% for small amounts. Instead, disciplined short-term use of 0% credit cards such as Tesco* (0% on spending for 13mths - 16.9% APR after) is cheaper or, if you need it as cash, use a Cheap Credit Card Loan.

Why's it urgent? All these loans are typical rate, meaning only 2/3 of accepted applicants get the listed APR. From 1 Feb a ridiculous anti-consumer EU rule means this drops to 51%, so your chance of getting the top rate drops. Other new rules will allow partial overpayments on new loans made from then; if that appeals, you may want to wait. FULL info in the Updated Guide: Cheap Loans Related: 0% Credit Cards, EU Protection Cut, Problem Debt Help

"I got a free car on Freecycle!"
Want free sofas, beds, TVs, bikes, baby clothes & more? Top giveaway sites

A growing range of community giveaway websites offer second-hand, sometimes first-class goods for nowt - the idea's that folks ‘recycle' goods they'd otherwise have thrown out, cluttering up landfills. It's no longer just stalwart Freecycle, there's its competitor Freegle and eBay-style sites, which let you browse giveaways online. What can you get? Buggies, printers, ski equipment, wedding dresses, DVDs, cookers, washing machines ... the list is endless. Isn't it all junk? Of course a chunk is, but pick right and there's top-notch stuff. MoneySavers have acquired a Nintendo DS, a piano, live chickens and much more. Free car: Among the myriad of successes is this from MoneySaver lofty_cherrytree: "We received a car for my daughter (needed MOT, service and tax which cost us around £350 and she was thrilled), a breadmaker and a Kenwood chef (retro) and various other bits. I think it's fab!" How to get free stuff: It's all about following the etiquette, giving stuff yourself and keeping your eyes peeled. If you've never done it before, first read our detailed step-by-step Updated Guide: Freecycle & Giveaway Sites Related: Freebies, Sell Old Mobiles

2011 Cash ISA & new top 3.05% savings
With inflation rising, it's crucial to maximise interest now

Every tax year you're allowed to save up to £5,100 tax-free in a cash ISA. With less than 3 mths to go (tax year ends 5 April), if you've savings and haven't used it, do it now.

• 2.85% tax-free: Santander's* Flexible ISA (issue 3) pays 2.85% AER variable easy-access. More info & top fixed rate deals in Top Cash ISAs

• Boost old Cash ISAs: If your old ISAs pay poor rates (check ASAP), the top easy-access deal to shift them to is Halifax's* (or BoS's*) 2.8% variable ISA Direct Reward. Full info: ISA Transfers

• New 3.05% savings: For normal savings, the Coventry BS's* new deal pays 3.05% AER variable (min. £1,000) but needs 30 days notice to withdraw. For no-notice, the Post Office* Online Saver's 2.9% variable. Full Info: Top Savings

With all these ISAs & savings accounts, after 1 year the rates are likely to plummet, so diarise, ditch & switch. Related Info: Top Savings, Safe Savings, Repay Debts with Savings

Worried about your debts?
Jan credit card bills are arriving - if you're worried ACT NOW and it'll improve

Many avoid sitting down and focusing on their debts, as they feel it'll be awful. Actually there's nothing better as it means you can now deal with it...

• Step 1: Stop borrowing. Things won't improve if you keep borrowing. Do a budget (free planner) to balance the books, a money makeover to cut bills & stop spending.

• Step 2: Use any savings. Don't save if you're in debt. Debts cost more than savings pay. So repay any debts with savings - sometimes even using your emergency funds (see Pay off debts?).

• Step 3: Cut your interest rates. This means more of your repayment clears the debt, instead of servicing the interest. Try a balance transfer or if you can't get new credit, the credit card shuffle.

• Step 4: Repay highest rates first. List your rates, then focus all spare cash on clearing the highest interest debts first. Just pay the minimum on everything else. Once it's clear, shift the second costliest.

• If in crisis get debt help. If you've not got enough to pay the bills, visit a non-profit free debt counsellor ASAP. If you've hidden your debts, go by yourself, so later you can present your partner the solution, not just a problem.
  

FULL info and detailed checklist in the Updated Guide: Problem Debt Help

Get PAID to take out home insurance
Masses of new promos launched | Some even get PAID to get home ins (record £67/profit)

It's home insurance season, lots of companies have deals on, so NEVER just auto-renew - you could overpay £100s.

• Don't over cover. With building cover, it's the rebuild value not the higher 'house price' you need to cover. Yet don't underinsure contents. Add everything up inc. clothes, as go for £20k when you've £40k worth and claim for, say, a £1,000 TV and it may only pay out in proportion, ie 50%.

• Combine comparisons: Sites don't search identical companies; our order to get max. range in min. time is GoComp*, Moneysup*, CompareTM* & Confused*. These should inc. current promos such as Barclays & Churchill 50% off contents. Then add in big insurers missed by comparison sites: Aviva* (free contents with buildings promo) & Direct Line* (up to 45% off).

• Not found cheaper? If you've not beaten your renewal quote, tell Direct Line*, as it promises to beat the price (with a good few caveats).

• Grab cashback. Once you've found your cheapest try finessing more off using a Top Cashback Site.

Can you beat £67 profit? The best we've ever had reported was £52.50, with cashback of £120, meaning £67.50 profit. FULL info in the Updated Guide: Cheap Home Insurance Related: Cheap Car Insurance, Van, Bike