Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

16 MoneySaving lessons from lockdown - incl learn new skills for free, cut debt to 0%, TV tricks & how to be tight (in a good way)

The pandemic has changed our way of life. And as we've had to adapt, so too have our MoneySaving skills while we try to stay safe, healthy, entertained and keep our bills down amid shifting habits. 

As restrictions are still in place and many are wary of getting back to old ways too soon, we've rounded up our top MoneySaving lessons from lockdown to help you save cash in this new world. They're worth knowing whether everything's rosy, or you're one of millions struggling financially. Here goes...

1) 12 FREE ways to learn a new skill, eg, play an instrument, gain a qualification or learn a language. If you're spending more time at home, you can use it to gain some impressive know-how. See how to learn skills for free.

2) 42 easy ways to be tight (in a good way). Eg, bulldog clips to eke out the last of the toothpaste. If money's tight, you want to cut waste or you simply don't want to have to go shopping as often, see tips from the MSE team and our Forumites. 42 household hacks

3) Paying card or loan interest? Shifting to 0% or cheap rates is key. Yet acceptance is tougher, so first use our eligibility calculators to check your chances. If you've manageable existing debt, it's vital to ensure the interest rate is as low as possible. Sadly our eligibility data shows far fewer people are getting accepted for new cheaper cards and loans now, likely due to a mix of tighter credit scoring, and worsening finances:

- Credit cards: The number not eligible for any cards has jumped to 20% from 7% pre-coronavirus, while those offered at least one pre-approved card has dropped from a half to a third.

If you pay interest on any existing credit card, a balance transfer - where you shift debt from one card to another, often at 0% - could be your key weapon. Use our Balance Transfer Eligibility Calc to see which 0% cards are most likely to accept you, without harming your creditworthiness.

- Loans: The number not eligible for any loans has jumped from 3% pre-coronavirus to 45% now. Sometimes a cheap loan can help you slash interest costs compared with existing debt. If you want one, it's best to use our Loans Eligibility Calc to see which providers are most likely to accept you, without harming your creditworthiness. Also see our Cut loan costs guide for more help on switching.

Those in dire straits should consider a credit card or loan payment holiday, though only do that in an emergency, as interest still racks up.

4) 23 TV tricks, incl free box sets (eg, Fleabag, ER & 90210), and when you do (and don't) need a TV licence. With many on the sofa for longer, we've rounded up top TV MoneySaving Tricks. 

5) 18 Netflix hacks - can you save up to £72/yr? As it's arguably the box-set biggie, we've specific Netflix MoneySaving. 

6) 14 cycling MoneySaving tips, incl work-based discounts, try-before-you-buy & DIY repairs. There's been a wheely big rise in cycling in lockdown, to get around and to keep fit, so we've recently launched our 14 MoneySaving Cycling Tips to help.

7) Save £100s on broadband & line bills while getting a speed boost to boot. With many of us working at home and with families also online more, fast broadband has become even more important - no one wants their Teams or Zoom calls dropping out.

Yet millions overpay for their connection, sometimes shelling out £45/mth for slow speeds. The secret to slashing costs is to pounce on short-lived promos, so here are the top deals - fastest first...
 
- Ends Wed (today). 63Mb fibre (ie, V FAST) b'band & line: TalkTalk '£20.56/mth' - though it scores worst of the biggies on service
- Ends Mon. 35Mb (FAST) b'band & line: Shell '£17.74/mth'
- Ends Mon. 11Mb (standard) b'band & line: Shell '£15.83/mth'

Links take you via our Broadband Unbundled tool to check eligibility, as not all deals will be available in your area. It shows other offers if you can't get these and it includes lots more switching help.

8) Check what you'll save by quitting smoking, dumping the latte habit etc. Many people have had to cut back with money tighter, eg, 1m+ have quit smoking since lockdown started. Our fun Demotivator tool shows how much a £10 pack of cigs or a £3 daily coffee costs you in the long-run, to give you that push to keep saving.

9) Don't want to go abroad? Top UK bargain-break tips, incl £25/night hotels & cottage deals. With many restrictions still in place on overseas travel, many of us are staying closer to home - read our bundle of UK bargain-break tips.

10) Uncomfortable going to the hairdressers? Our home haircut dos & don'ts. While many salons and barbers are now open, nearly 40% of you told us in our July poll you'd prefer not to go to one yet.

Of course, MoneySaving, not grooming, is our forte but to help we've collected fun tips from those who have tried a DIY haircut (or who have done someone else's hair) - plus the pitfalls to avoid so you don't end up looking like Chewbacca. Home haircutting tips

11) How to make face masks with spare fabric. With coverings now mandatory on all public transport, plus in shops in Eng and Scot, we show how to craft them from spare fabric + we've the cheapest ready-made masks. See homemade face masks.

12) Many gyms are open... but you can keep fit for free. This is actually a useful tip at any time, not just in lockdown, given many waste £100s paying for memberships they don't use. Yet it's particularly pertinent now given more than 60% of you told us last month there was no way you're going back to the gym yet.

While new sessions of the popular free 'PE with Joe' may be finished, you can still watch all the videos back - our 13 ways to keep fit for free blog includes this tip and other top online/app workouts.

13) Create a magical summer for kids on a budget, eg, fruit picking & beaming a T-Rex into your home. Often it's the little things that make the best childhood memories. So we've updated our blog with more creative ideas to wow kids in these new ways of living. See our 21 free (or cheap) ways to create safe summer magic for little 'uns.

14) Stream live music from Little Mix, Elton John, Oasis, R.E.M. & more for free. Some venues were supposed to reopen last weekend, but now won't for at least two weeks. Thankfully, you can still get your live music fix online via virtual gigs, classic performances and more for free - plus the world's tallest person won't be standing in front of you. See what's on with our Free live music online blog.

15) Watch out for coronavirus scams. Lockdown has brought out the best in many, but sadly some lowlife criminals have used the pandemic to prey on people's pockets - we've seen NHS Test and Trace scams, fake HMRC emails and more. Full info and what to do in our 20+ coronavirus scams to watch out for blog.

16) Save £300+/yr by switching energy - crucial as we spend more time at home. With more of us working at home and going out less, bills have risen. And with 11m overpaying on expensive standard tariffs anyway, do a full Cheap Energy Club comparison to find your best deal. Plus we've a full rundown on the top deals below, which are all currently green tariffs too.