Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email
Over 50 ways to save, incl... free £125, MSE energy deal, WFH tax back, Adidas code, 29mths 0%, EE & BT warning, birthday freebies, Clubcard deals, Next sale
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New MSE special energy tariff Energy prices for switchers have been rising due to an increase in the wholesale prices suppliers pay. In the last week, the three cheapest deals (all from tiddlers) have been pulled. And replacements aren't coming soon. Yet millions of people are overpaying, and winter's on its way, even if it doesn't feel it this week, so act quick. To help you get it sorted, we've blagged what on average is the UK's cheapest deal (it varies regionally). It's a fix, so the rate is locked in for the next year too. Here's how it rates among other hot deals - all for new customers only and all include £25 MSE dual-fuel cashback...
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Update. Work from home, EVEN just part of the week? Claim tax back on additional expenses. We've had a huge response since Martin first blogged this. Now he's updated it with news that even those back at their workplaces for part of the working week may still be able to claim for the rest. Full info in Martin's claim tax back for working from home blog. Adidas code - rare 30% off full-price items OR 15% off its already discounted outlet. Works on most of its stock online. Adidas code Warning if renewing or signing a new BT or EE deal - it plans inflation-busting hikes. See full BT and EE hike help and your rights. 40+ FREEBIES for your birthday, incl Krispy Kreme/Greggs doughnuts and free Body Shop £5. Sep is the most common birthday month (it's, er, 9mths after Christmas/New Year), and some brands let you claim freebies on your big day, while a few let you backdate it if your birthday was in early lockdown. Here are 40+ birthday freebies. It's 100 days till Christmas TODAY (Wed) - act now to save then. Sadly, it's likely Christmas will be different this year - smaller, but maybe less costly and with less pressure. Either way, early preparation (not early celebration) saves. Our Christmas MoneySaving Tips guide has scores of ways to prepare - here are three as a tease... 1) Agree to not give unnecessary presents, even if you're not struggling - it stops others who are needing to buy back. 2) If you will spend, earn 5% cashback on Christmas shopping. 3) Become a tactical shopper and set up a Christmas cupboard. New mortgage deals specifically for mortgage prisoners - MSE campaign victory. A building society has just launched two mortgages based on the affordability assessment changes we lobbied for. It's far from a cure-all, but it will help some trapped in mortgage misery with inactive lenders. Mortgage prisoner help |
Back to uni? It's a new year but all change, incl... Whether you (or your kids) are heading off to uni this autumn for the first time or continuing your studies, things are likely to be quite different this year. Here's the important financial information you need to know:
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Tesco 'Clubcard Prices' are back - up to 50% off 200 frozen food items, but is it any good? See Clubcard Prices analysis. Holland & Barrett 25% off code, incl free delivery. MSE Blagged. Works on most items, and you can stack it with other offers, eg, its 'up to half-price' sale. Ends Sun. Holland & Barrett Next 50% off sale rumour. Unconfirmed, but we've done some digging and we're almost certain it's this week. See Next sale updates. Insurers must pay out for coronavirus cover - test case WIN(ish). In a complex judgment, the courts said many business insurers should pay out for coronavirus interruption, though it depends on the wording of policies. This may have an impact on similar insurance, eg, weddings. See insurance test case news. £60 Boots beauty box for £20 (sold out online), incl No7, Soap & Glory, L'Oreal etc - can you find it? This six-piece set also includes Burt's Bees, Garnier and Face Halo items - eg, lip balm, clay mask and vitamin C cream. But stock is VERY limited. Boots set |
AT A GLANCE BEST BUYS
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6 new CORONAVIRUS financial need-to-knows, incl... Mortgage help extended, but... | Refunds if 'rule of six' stymies your plans | Rental evictions ban ends | Virgin to PAY OUT | And more... Alongside worrying reports of rising case numbers, there have been a slew of financial and consumer coronavirus-related developments. So as always, here's our round-up of this week's need-to-knows... Remember, there's lots more help in our constantly updated coronavirus guides:
2) New 'rule of six' limits social gatherings - if you have to cancel a UK holiday, you should get a full refund. Groups of more than six people are no longer allowed to meet socially in most of the UK (who counts as part of the six varies), which means some will have to cancel, say, a trip if two families of four had a holiday cottage booked. If so, you should be due a full refund, and big firms we've checked with so far say they WILL pay up. Full info in 'rule of six' refunds. 3) Rental evictions ban in Eng & Wal ends Sun - but landlords must now usually give 6mths' notice. The ban on court eviction hearings in Eng & Wal is ending, but some other protections have been put in place. In most cases landlords must now give 6mths' warning that they wish to terminate your contract, plus you can't be evicted between 11 Dec 2020 and 11 Jan 2021 as part of a "winter truce". Full details of what's happening across the UK and what to do if behind on payments in rental evictions to restart. 4) Run a business forced to close by a local lockdown in Eng? Get up to £1,500 every 3wks. New payments have been announced for businesses in England that are forced to close due to local lockdowns, in addition to existing support available - you can claim up to £1,500 per premises for every 3wk period your business has to shut. See How do I claim my lockdown grant? 5) Virgin promises to pay outstanding refunds by end of October. It's said Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays customers with outstanding claims should be paid by then, while those who make a new claim by the end of Sep should be refunded within 60 days. See Virgin refunds latest. 6) Portugal's joined the quarantine list in Eng & NI - travel restrictions latest. The rules on overseas travel continue to change every week. See the latest developments and your refund rights if you have a booking or need to quarantine in travel disruption help. |
'Free' £25 Amazon vch if you book a plumber, electrician or other tradesperson via British Gas-backed site. MSE Blagged. We can't vouch for the quality of the work, but the site has 7,000+ vetted and reviewed tradespeople in Eng, Scot & Wal. And we've blagged the bonus for 600 newbies. Tradesperson voucher SUCCESS OF THE WEEK: |
THE GREAT HUNT Are you commuting part-time due to the pandemic? Tell us your MoneySaving tips. If you're only travelling to work for part of the week at the moment, we want to know how you've cut the cost - especially as usual methods such as season tickets may no longer be cost-effective. Have you found a cheaper way to pay for train tickets or parking, or switched to a different form of transport? Please let us know your part-time commuting cost-cutters. |
THIS WEEK'S POLL Have you changed your pension contributions during the pandemic? Coronavirus has had a significant impact - sometimes negative, sometimes positive - on many people's finances. This week, we want to know how pension contributions may have changed as a result. So have you altered what you put in, and if so, how? Online shopping has surged in popularity - among MoneySavers of all ages. Last week, we asked you how much of your shopping (excl groceries) you do online vs in store, to see how habits have changed during the pandemic. Almost 6,500 responded, and 70% say they now do the majority of shopping online - a huge jump from 44% a year ago. And while younger MoneySavers then were keenest on buying online, this time round it beat buying on the high street in EVERY age group. See full online shopping results. |
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MONEY MORAL DILEMMA Should I pay to replace the sink I damaged? A friend was replacing their bathroom basin and, having recently done the same myself, I offered my (amateur) assistance. I successfully completed all the plumbing and so on, but when it came to fitting the basin, I dropped and chipped it. It'll cost £70 to replace, and while I'm sorry to have damaged it, I don't think it's right that I should be out of pocket for trying to help. Should I pay for it? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should I pay to replace the sink I damaged? | Suggest an MMD | View past MMDs |
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MARTIN'S APPEARANCES (WED 16 SEP ONWARDS) Thu 17 Sep - This Morning, phone-in, ITV, 10.55am MSE TEAM APPEARANCES (SUBJECTS TBC) Thu 17 Sep - BBC Three Counties Radio, Mid-morning with Jonathan Vernon-Smith, from 11.45am |
HOW SOON IS TOO SOON FOR CHRISTMAS ON THE HIGH STREET? That's all for this week, but before we go... we know Christmas may not be the same this year but we've spotted shops already selling Christmas goodies - and it's caused quite a stir on our social channels. While some welcome it and say it's a good chance for those who are buying presents to stock up gradually to spread the cost and help them budget, others want the 'C' word banned until after Bonfire Night (especially this year). Join the debate in our Is it too early for Christmas? Facebook post. We hope you save some money, stay safe, |
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