|
|
Martin's Quick Briefing
|
You can save £5,100 this tax-year (until 5 April) in a cash ISA. It's just like normal savings accounts, but the interest's TAX-FREE. So if you've savings and haven't opened one since last April, do it ASAP.
Up to 3% easy access
If you will need access to your cash, these are the current highest payers.
-
New ISAs only: The Santander* Flexible ISA (issue 3) pays 2.85% AER or 3% for some existing customers.
-
New ISAs & transfers: To boost old ISA rates Halifax* & BoS* ISA Direct pay 2.8% AER (3% for some existing customers). See ISA Transfers.
-
Nationwide customers: The new Nationwide* e-ISA pays 2.9% AER, but you need one of its card-based current accounts. Transfers are allowed.
All these include short term interest rate bonuses: Santander & Halifax a year; Nationwide until July '12. So diarise, ditch & transfer to switch then.
Lock your cash ISA away at up to 4%
If you're putting money away for the long term, with a fix, the rate's guaranteed. Plus, ISA rules mean providers must allow access to your cash, though they can change penalties, so only fix if you won't need early access.
-
1 yr 3.05% fix: Northern Rock* pays 3.05% AER (min. £500). Withdraw early and there's a 60 days' interest penalty.
-
2 yr 3.5% fix: Yorkshire BS pays 3.5% until 30 April 2013 (min £100) and you can add additional deposits (within the limits) whenever. There's a 120 days' interest penalty for early closure.
-
3 yr 4.01% fix: Aldermore pays 4.01% (min £1,000). You lose 180 days' interest on any withdrawals.
More options and full help in the Updated Guides: Top Cash ISAs, ISA guide Related: 2.9% Top Savings. All the accounts above have the full £85,000 UK Savings Protection. |
| We need your help!
Please forward this email to friends and suggest they
get it themselves via moneysavingexpert.com/tips |
|
 |
|
The PERFECT time to switch - save £300/year
EDF 7% hike means the playing field's level | Cheap online energy deals ending
EDF was the last big six energy company to announce price hikes. From 2 March its gas standard tariff's up an avg. 6.5%, elec 7.5%. Yet at least for the first time since Oct, all suppliers are on the same leg of the price rise relay, so compare and the cheapest really is the cheapest.
-
Compare & switch in under 3mins + cashback (only via MSE links): Top Pick: Energyhelpline* £15 cashback per switch. Dual Fuel: MoneySupermarket* £30 in cash, Uswitch* gives a crate of wine, SimplySwitch* £35 Amazon vouchers.
-
TV presenter saved £480. The potential savings if you've not switched recently are huge. Just for salaciousness, among the many successes is a famous broadcaster (who wants to stay anon) who emailed Martin after a comparison cut costs from £1,950/yr to £1,480. "Just did this, amazingly simple! Can't believe it. Thanks for nagging." Most will save £200-£300/yr.
-
Hurry! Super-cheap online tariffs ending. The cheapest online tariff costs £880/yr for usage that costs £1,100 on a standard tariff. Yet with online tariffs, suppliers don't change prices, they simply pull the plug on cheap deals and relaunch with higher costs. Many very cheap ones have gone, leaving only a few, which'll probably go soon.
FULL info & more cashback options in the Updated Guide: Cashback Energy Comparisons Related: Boiler Cover
|
|
Tax Credits! TELL 'EM if owt's changed
Avoid overpayment hell | Get what you're due (can be £1,000s)
We're six months through the tax credit year, and the one thing everyone who gets tax credits needs to know is if anything changed, tell 'em, tell 'em, tell 'em' (HMRC). Why so important. Your credits are based on the info from 31 July's tax credit renewal. If anything's changed you could be being underpaid or overpaid. Avoid overpayments. While it sounds good, being overpaid means you're getting cash you shouldn't, and come July you'll be asked to repay it even if you've spent it - hell for many. Yet if you declare any changes (always note who you spoke to, when & what you said), and HMRC still overpays it can't ask for it back. What to tell 'em. Any changes to income, hours, whether you move in/out with a partner, marriage, divorce, death, childcare costs, childcare voucher use, house move or contract details changes - just call 0845 300 3900. Is it worth it? We're talking serious cash. The avg. childcare payout alone is £3,500 a year, so even with the hassle it's huge. Step-by-step help inc. fighting overpayment clawback & getting what you're due in the Updated guide: Tax Credits & Overpayments Related: £1,000s in Childcare Costs, Benefit Check-up, Tax Code Calc
|
Book holiday car hire NOW - from £5/day
Halve costs by booking early | Plus urgent 10% off code until 14 Feb
 Car hire prices fluctuate with demand, so if you're travelling in peak time, booking in advance usually saves a fortune, especially if you're after a specific vehicle.
-
Step 1: Speedily Compare. Use top pick comparison sites Kayak*, Travelsupermarket* & Car Rentals* to quickly scour worldwide for deals.
-
Step 2: See if 10% code beats it. Use the code HAMSE10 by 14 Feb at HolidayAutos* to get 10% off until 31 March.
-
Step 3: Beat excess insurance traps. Most standard car hire insurance makes you pay £500ish towards any claim and sometimes they see necessary repairs where you don't. Hire companies use this to flog expensive additional policies; if you want that instead, try MoneyMaxim* to compare standalone policies.
-
How much? Using this technique you can get a week's hire in Feb half term in Majorca for £30, Malaga airport £48 (same as a one way cab to Marbella). In peak summer, Tenerife, Malaga & Miami are around £111/week.
These are the tip of the iceberg. FULL best buys, tricks and cashback info in the Guide: Cheap Car Hire Related Guides: Cheap Flights, Cheap Hotels, Package Holiday, Car Insurance
|
|
Free anti-virus - Scamnesty month
MBNA cardholders now get £60 McAfee | Free downloads for everyone else
'Scamnesty' month is being run by the OFT to highlight scams - and nowt's more important than ensuring your computer's properly protected. If not, you risk being liable if defrauded.
-
MBNA cardholders. All MBNA cardholders can now get a year's free McAfee Online Banking Suite access, including spyware, adware and a firewall at no cost, usual RRP £60.
-
Free anti-virus for all. Giants Microsoft, Avast & AVG, offer free anti-virus for PCs & Macs. These include the crucial regular 'virus bank' updates, but without some bells & whistles. Full info: Free Anti-Virus guide.
-
Don't forget anti-spyware. Viruses aren't the only danger. Spyware monitors your computer's use; it's not always bad, sometimes just providing quicker or bespoke searches, yet nasty spyware can monitor keystrokes when entering passwords. Free Anti-Spyware tells you when you're being watched.
See the full Free Anti-Virus & Safety Software Related: Free Office Software, Cheap Broadband, Free ID Fraud Protect
|
|
Urgent! Male annuity rates could plummet. Free Booklet
Act now for best deals - or risk getting £1,000s less every year in retirement 
It's life's biggest single financial decision. Converting a private pension into an annuity is a one-shot affair. Get it wrong & you miss out year-after-year. What's an annuity? It's a product most people need to buy with their pension fund that pays a regular income until death. What's happening? The European court will rule on outlawing insurance 'gender pricing' on 1 March. If it forbids price differences between men & women (it may not) insiders expect it'll hit immediately. Why men should take note. Men get better rates as they die younger, so their annuities don't need pay out as long. Eg, a 65-year-old man gets about £6,500 a year per £100,000 pension, a woman £6,200 year - £6,000 more over 20 years. It's this difference that could go. What should men do? Annuity advisers say consider locking in now, though the change may not happen. And women? It's thought there'll be little impact. Men's rates will drop in line, women's won't rise. If you are planning on getting an annuity see the Free Printed Booklet: Getting an Annuity News: Male retirement income drop?
More Free Printed Guides: Remortgaging, New Mortgages
|
|
|
Latest weekly email
