Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

TWO YEAR 0%! Longest ever interest-free balance transfer
Mammoth 24 months for shifted debts with a lower 2.8% fee & £20 off if you transfer £3,000+
This may be an unbeatable final blast in the balance transfer rate war. Barclaycard's letting new customers with existing debts shift them to it at an unprecedented 0% for 2 years, so it'll still be going when the Olympics are a distant memory. All cards require you to pass a credit check & you should always try to clear the debt or shift again before 0% ends.

• New! Two-year 0% with 2.8% fee. A big boost to Barclaycard's* already longest ever deal, it's increased the 0% period for accepted new cardholders shifting debt to it from 20 to 24 mths and cut the one-off fee from 3.2% to 2.8%. When the 0% ends it jumps to 17.9% representative APR. Plus shift over £3,000 and you get a £20 fee refund (effectively reducing it to 2.1% on a £3,000 debt).
• Plan to repay quicker or already got a Barclaycard? 19 mth 0% with 2.4% fee. Another Barclaycard* offers 19 mths 0% for a lower 2.4% fee (16.9% rep APR after), so it's cheaper if you can repay quicker. If you've already got a Barclaycard, then Virgin* (and sister MBNA*) gives new cardholders 0% for 19 months with a 2.49% fee (2.5% on MBNA). After the 0% ends, the representative APR is 18.9% (18.8%).
• Got both Barclaycard and MBNA? These two have dominated the balance transfer market for years and don't let you transfer between cards from one family. If you need a different provider, Halifax* is 20mths 0% with a 3% fee (only allows sub-£3,000 transfers), Natwest* & RBS* are 18mths 0% with a 2.8% fee, and Nationwide* is 0% for 17 mths with a 2.95% fee. After 0%s end, rates jump to 16.9%, 16.6% or 15.9% representative APR respectively.
  

For full details and our 'Which card's your cheapest?', see the Updated Guide: Balance Transfers (see Official APR Examples). Related: 15 mths 0% Spending, 6.6% Loans

Urgent! Only 1 super-cheap energy fix left
The other was pulled last week | The clock's ticking, so if you want to fix, the time's NOW

Big energy price rises are coming: Scottish Power and British Gas have announced hikes of up to 19%, with the rest of the big six likely to follow soon. Yet solutions are fast disappearing. The Cheap Gas & Elec guide has full info. Here's a summary.

• Fix NOW if you can't afford rises. A fix gives peace of mind your rate can't rise, plus the millions on standard tariffs can save £150/yr fixing, compared to even PRE-hike prices. You can get cheaper variable deals, but they're susceptible to price rises. For full help, incl what to do for those who'll pay more by fixing, see full Fixing FAQ.

• Cheap fixes disappearing like Penn & Teller's bunnies. Last Fri Npower pulled its cheap short fix, leaving only one, based on pre-rise rates, left. Even so, cheap fix rates are now £100/year higher than 6mths ago, and the rest may close to newbies soon.
• How long to fix for? While over the long term (5-20yrs) prices will almost certainly rise, in the near term it's all about fickle worldwide energy markets. That means your attitude to risk is key. For longer fixes, balance the fact prices could drop, so you may need to pay an early exit penalty (£40-£100) to switch away, against the safety of long-term lock-in, in case there are more price hikes after the current round. Here are the main cheap contenders:
  
  As a benchmark, a typical home on a standard tariff pays about £1,150/yr now - £1,300 after price hikes.
  

  - Short (1yr) fix: - Longer fixes:	EDF has a fix until 30 Sept 2012. Typical home c. £1,010/yr EDF also has a fix until 31 Mar 2014. Typical home c. £1,090/yr Scottish Power has a fix until Jan 15. Typical home c. £1,220/yr

• ALWAYS do a comparison, don't go direct (plus gets you added cashback). We've listed the contenders to help explain, but your choice and exact price depends on your current tariff, region and usage. So use a comparison site to check prices. Just plug in your details (for fixes click the 'show only fixed tariffs' tabs): Top Comparison: Energyhelpline* pays £15 cashback per switch, whether to gas, electricity or both. Dual fuel: MoneySupermarket* pays £30 cash, Uswitch* a crate of wine, SimplySwitch* £40 cash (cashback only via these links, not direct).
  

Full info, help for pre-pay customers, plus more cashback info & options in the Updated Guide: Cheap Gas & Elec Related: Free Solar Panels, Energy Grants, plus Martin's Massive price rise after fix ends blog

Current accounts are the building blocks of finance, so banks offer big cash upfront so they can later cross-sell us credit cards, insurance & more. Yet don't fall for it, instead pocket their cash. All require a credit check and a minimum paid-in monthly (which we've converted to equiv. min salary below).

• New! Free £125 on top customer service account. First Direct's* just boosted its switcher bonus to £125 from £100 (min. salary £23,500) and a £250 0% overdraft (15.9% EAR above). Its top customer service record remains undimmed, with a huge 91% voting it 'good' in our Feb poll. However, there's no in-credit interest and if your salary drops below the min, you're hit with a £10/mth fee.
• Free £100 + 5% interest & 0% overdraft. Those who switch to Santander* (min. salary £14,200) get £100, plus a year's 0% overdraft (then 50p/day - max £5/mth), plus it pays 5% in-credit interest on up to £2,500 for a year - but, sadly, 41% rate its service poor.
  
  Alternatively, new Natwest* & RBS* Select switchers (min. salary £14,200) get 2% cashback on debit card spending for 6 mths (max £125) with middling service (42% good). It has a £100 0% overdraft (19.9% EAR above).
  
  Or Halifax's* Reward account pays a flat £5 each month you pay in £1,000 (ie, pay in min salary £14,200). It says it's got no plans to ditch this feature, though there's no guarantee. DO NOT use this account if you're even slightly likely to go overdrawn, as, at £1 a day, the charges can be huge.

With all these, ensure you don't step beyond your overdraft limit or the costs rocket. Full info & best-buys in Updated Guide: Best Bank Accounts Related: Cashback Credit Cards, Basic Bank Accounts

40+ UK summer holidays savings
New guide. Deals, tips, tricks and more to keep the family entertained cheaply during school hols

Summer is here (even though the weather's miserable). It's a boon for the kids, but with childcare costs, demands for outings or just keeping them entertained, it can be a costly and stressful time for parents. To help, try our new jam-packed Summer Trip Deals guide. Here's a summary:

• 2for1 vouchers for Thorpe Park, Alton Towers etc. Lots of ways to get 'em, plus Chessington, Drayton Manor, Churchill War Rooms, Madame Tussauds and more (see Theme Park Vouchers).
• Cheap UK-wide travel. Incl £9 National Express coach tix anywhere/time, £1 Megatrain & bus, 1/3 off with Family Railcards and 66% cheaper with Tesco Clubcard vouchers.
• Save £100s on summer childcare. It's not just babes in arms who need looking after - it can be 6ft, hairy 15-year-olds too. Slash the cost by £100s with free/subsidised summer clubs, childcare tax credits and childcare vouchers (see Childcare Savings).
• Free museums. It ain't always sunny, so try over 150 UK Free Museums from biggies, eg, London Natural History or Manchester Imperial War museum, to local treasures such as the Dumfries Savings Banks Museum.
• Slash kids' cinema costs. There are a host of discounted tickets, including £1.25 morning tickets at Vue, free adult tickets with £1 kids' tickets at Odeon, and Orange 2for1 Weds for non-Orange customers. See Cheap Cinema Tickets for a full list.

These are just the start. There are also cheap theatre trips, day camps and even geocaching in our New Compendium: Summer Deals Related: Free Museums, 2for1 Theme Parks, Cheap Cinema Tickets

If it weren't for the Murdochs, some European countries' debts would be leading the news. Financial contagion is in the wind, so savers should take a few minutes to ensure their cash is as safe as possible. The rule's simple: 100% of the first £85,000 you have saved per UK-regulated financial institution is protected, yet this has more potholes than the M1. Full help in the Are my savings safe? guide, but here are the key points.

• What counts as a financial institution? It isn't £85,000 per account, or per bank but per INSTITUTION, which depends on its banking licence. Confusingly, while you get one combined £85,000 for sister banks Halifax and Bank of Scotland, it's £85,000 each for other sister banks Natwest & RBS. Check yours in the 'Is my bank linked?' tool.
• Spread any big savings. Spread large savings, perhaps from a house sale, in £85,000 lumps in a number of different institutions for perfect safety. If you've huge savings, which'd mean too many accounts, even some spreading mitigates the risk. See Top Savings for full best buys.
  
• How are foreign banks protected? Many overseas-owned banks operate in Britain. Provided they're UK-regulated like Santander, Citibank and Yorkshire Bank, you get the full £85k per person UK govt protection. Yet some EU banks opt for their home nation's compensation scheme - if they went bust, you're reliant on a foreign govt for money back. These incl ING Direct (Dutch) and Bank of Cyprus - see full foreign banks list.
• The amount's doubled in joint accounts. Cash in joint accounts gets a total of £170,000 protection. If you've also got an individual account with the same bank, half the joint savings count towards your total exposure and anything over £85,000 isn't protected.

For full details, including a few extra ways to bag 100% safety, read the Guide: Savings Safety. For the top accounts to spread your cash, see Top Savings

Car hire costs have rocketed this year, yet bargains are possible if you book soon, eg, Tenerife £15/day (can be £30+ a day if done there). We've updated our Cheap Car Hire guide; here's a summary.

• Speedily compare to find cheapest. There are massive price differences depending where you're going and no single company is universally cheapest, so use comparison sites Kayak*, Travelsupermarket* & Car Rentals* (all three if poss) to scour providers for cheapest prices.
• Pick up from the airport. If possible, pick up from the airport as it's usually much cheaper than from a resort, as the car hire companies often have more capacity there. It can also save transfer costs.
• Beat 'excess' insurance traps. Car hire companies often use scare tactics, saying: "you must pay the first £500 of any claim so buy our excess insurance." This can cost more than the hire itself. Yet you can pre-buy a standalone excess policy for a fraction (and even get annual policies). Compare price & cover via MoneyMaxim*.
• Watch for petrol tricks and other costs. Even when going east it can be the wild west. Check out the 'refill petrol scenario', check the car thoroughly before taking it out, pay on a credit card if it costs over £100 for extra protection and always check you're not charged for damage after returning the car. Full checklist in the guide.

For more info, including overseas driving rules to beware of, see the Updated Guide: Cheap Car Hire Related: Cheap Flights, Cheap Hotels, Package Holidays