Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

Massive 5% AER fixed 3 year savings
Almost 1% above next best, beats best 5 year fix! Plus new 4% for 18 months fix

Launched today, a new deal whacks the whole savings market over the head if you've big savings, with two fixed rate deals that demolish previous best buys in which you had to lock away cash for longer. All of these accounts have the full £85,000 UK safety.

• 5% fixed for 3 years. A limited offer lets you lock cash away in Close Savings'* Premium Gold at 5% AER for 3 yrs. The previous top rate was 4.15%, and even over five years the next best is only 4.85% AER, so this is a corker. You need a minimum of £10k to open it, by post or phone.
• 4% fixed for 18 months: If you'd prefer not to give up access for so long, Close Savings* also offers 4% AER for a shorter 18 month fixed period, which trounces the best buys for one and two years. Again it's min £10k and postal/phone applications.
• Top Easy-Access: If you don't want to lock the cash away and may need access, Nationwide* MySave Online Plus (min £1,000) lets you take money out without notice and pays 2.95% AER but only allows one penalty free withdrawal/year. Alternatively Santander* eSaver is 2.9% AER (min £1) and has unlimited penalty free withdrawals. Though both include short term bonuses, so after a year ditch and switch.
  

For more details, and alternative accounts including RPI+1.5% for five years, read the Updated Guide: Top Savings, Safe Savings

Urgent! Get £1,000s state pension rebate. New Calc
Those short of NI years could buy some back, to boost pension & get a rebate

Only those who've paid enough national insurance (NI) get the full basic state pension (£97.65 a week) once they hit the official retirement age. If you're short, making a top-up payment for missed years can mean a bigger future pension & a possible backdated payout for some who've already retired. To help, we've a brand new guide and calculator with all the info.

• Why it's urgent. The last chance to get a backdated payout, if you're eligible, is 5 April this year. For everyone else the price of buying extra years may rise after this date too. Doing this takes time so get your skates on.
• New Pension Boost Calculator: The State Pension Boost Calculator estimates how much it'll cost to boost your pension and how long you need live to recoup the cash. Eg, a woman who retired in April 2008 with 30 NI years who buys another five (at a £3,133 cost) will get £1,840 backdated and roughly £650 more a year (in today's prices). If she lives 20 years and she's almost £15,000 up!
• Who should try? You need to be short on years to make it worthwhile. However, if you're eligible for pension credit the state will top-up what you get, so there's usually no point paying for it.
  

Full step-by-step info in the New Guide & Calculator: State Pensions Boosting Related: State Pensions for beginners

Is the crunch over? Another new longest ever 0% deal's launched, this one for new spending, but only use it if you're to repay or shift all debts before the 0% ends. Interest free cards are great for planned purchases, but if you're using it to fill a gap in your income, that's dangerous, instead do a budget.

• 15mths 0% + M&S points. New M&S credit cardholders passing its credit score get 0% for 15 months (15.9% rep APR after), plus usually earn 50p of M&S vouchers per £100 spent.
• 13mths 0% + Urgent Tesco points. Tesco's* credit card gives new cardholders 13 months 0% on new borrowing. Plus, apply by 3 March for 500 bonus Clubcard points (worth £15 in Clubcard Rewards) if you spend £300+ within 2 months, plus the usual 25pts per £100 spent (75p in Rewards). 16.9% representative APR after.
• 6mths 0% + 5% intro cashback. Repay sooner and Amex Platinum* card pays 5% cashback (£5 per £100) for the first 3 mths (max £100) then tiered rates up to 1.25% after (min £30k household income). 19.9% rep APR.
• 18mths 0% on BALANCE TRANSFERS: To shift old debts to cut costs, Barclaycard Plat* gives accepted new customers 18mths 0% with a 2.9% fee (16.9% rep APR after), Nationwide's* 17mths at 0% with 2.95% fee (15.9% rep APR after). For full info & warnings see the best balance transfers guide.

For FULL info see the 0% spending credit cards guide (and Official APR examples). Savvy MoneySavers can also deliberately use 0% cards and save the money they're not spending at high interest, see the stoozing guide for more.