Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email
Over 50 ways to save, incl... Xmas refunds, hidden Amzn discounts, 29mths 0% + £20, 14p veg, Boxing Day sales on now, ‘£18’ FAST Virgin b’band, 50% savings boost, track Santa, travel goodies & baddies
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DON'T believe the fake 'Martin Lewis' or 'MSE' ads |
New. Shift debt to 29mths 0% (3% fee) and get a £20 Sainsbury's vch After weeks of top balance transfer deals being axed, there are some new deals to shout about, including Sainsbury's Bank launching the joint-longest 0% card which also comes with a £20 Sains vch. It's good news if you've card debt, as a balance transfer can save you £100s or £1,000s. With one, you get the new card to pay off balances on other cards, so you owe it instead, but at 0%, while all repayments clear the debt rather than servicing interest. The key is whether you'll be accepted, so go via our 0% Balance Transfer Eligibility Calc, which shows your acceptance chances for most top cards.
a) Never miss the min monthly repayment, or you could lose the 0% deal and it'll cost far more. |
Secret Amazon discounts on returned (often unused) items, eg, £84 toddler's trike for £44, £250 off an HP laptop. There's a hidden part of the giant retailer's site many haven't heard of called Amazon Warehouse. MSE Debs recently found a super-cheap trike there which prompted us to remind you of the bargain hunter's dream in our updated Amazon Warehouse guide. Ends Thu. 108Mb fibre (ie, MEGA-FAST) b'band AND line from Virgin for '£18.40/mth'. MSE Blagged. Till Thu, Virgin Media newbies can get this 108Mb-speed 18mth deal for £23.95/mth. With it, you're automatically given a £100 credit on the first bill (so you pay nothing for 4mths) and get 'free' weekend calls. Factor in the credit, and the price is equiv to £18.40/mth. As with many b'band providers, we've heard of service issues with Virgin, but if you want ultra-fast speeds at this sort of price there aren't many other options. Only 52% of homes can get Virgin, so the link takes you via our broadband comparison tool to check your eligibility, and from it you can check other deals. Martin: 'This is why I set up a charity...' Do you or does someone close to you have mental health issues? If so, Martin asks you to take 2mins to read his latest blog. It's about what the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute does, how you could help by joining its research community - and how it may help you. Read "This is why I set up a charity". New Govt first-time buyers' Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme. A reminder that last week the Govt launched a new scheme, where first-time buyers in England can get a new-build home with a 5% deposit. Full pros and cons in our Help to Buy Equity Loan guide. Lastminute.com, Teletext Holidays and Ryanair among the worst in major new MSE Covid travel refunds survey - action's needed. See the full travel survey results, incl Martin's plea to regulators to protect passengers. Eligible for a 50% bonus via Help to Save? 60,000+ have just got an avg £378 bonus - how it works. If you're on a low income and claim universal/tax credit, check if you're eligible for a Help to Save account. It lets you save up to £50/mth and, crucially, after 2yrs you get a 50% bonus of the max you had in it. You then get another 50% bonus two years later, though it's calculated slightly differently. In Dec, 60,000+ savers who had the account for two years got their first bonus, getting an average of £378 each. Full info and eligibility in Help to Save. |
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The sales season may be different this year - but here's what you need to know to bag a bargain
Before buying, always consider Martin's Money Mantras. Always ask yourself: Do I need it? Can I afford it? Have I checked prices elsewhere? If the answer is no to any of those questions, then DON'T BUY IT.
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Track Santa as he delivers presents on Christmas Eve. Hop online or download free app to track Santa. Furlough scheme extended till end of Apr. The state will cover up to 80% of wages, up to £2,500/mth, for employees on furlough for an extra month - see furlough explained. Plus small businesses have longer to apply for a bounce back loan. Got an Amigo guarantor loan? It wants to limit mis-selling payouts to avoid going bust - what it means for you. See Amigo news. SUCCESS OF THE WEEK: |
AT A GLANCE BEST BUYS
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THIS WEEK'S POLL How did you fare financially in 2020? Coronavirus has had a big impact on our finances - but it hasn't affected everyone equally. Many have struggled, but others have been able to pay down debts or save more than before. So with the year (finally) drawing to a close, tell us how your household finances have fared in this week's poll. Smaller energy providers beat big names on service. Last week, more than 6,500 of you told us what you thought of your energy provider's customer service. Of the firms that received 100+ votes, big names such as E.on and British Gas languished near the bottom, with Scottish Power even taking the wooden spoon. Smaller, gas-only provider Zog Energy once again topped the charts. Check how your energy firm scored. |
MONEY MORAL DILEMMA Who should pay for my daughter's broken phone? I bought my 11-year-old daughter a mobile phone for £100, which I didn't get insured. She smashed the screen when she was at her dad's house. Should he pay to repair the phone, as it happened while my daughter was with him? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Who should pay for my daughter's broken phone? | Suggest an MMD | View past MMDs |
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MSE TEAM APPEARANCES Fri 25 Dec - BBC Radio Shropshire, Mid-morning with Andy Martindale, from 10am, Guy Anker on present refund rights |
CHRISTMAS DINNER ON THE BBQ? That's all for this week, but before we go... disaster struck last Friday in MSE Becca's house as the oven broke - and it won't be fixed in time for Christmas. She's now planning to do Christmas dinner on the BBQ, but we wanted to know if you had any Christmas dinner rescue tips to help. Some of you have already told us about curry cooked near a fireplace, a turkey cooked one side at a time as half the oven didn't work and steaks on the BBQ. Let us know your unconventional Christmas dinner cooking stories on our Facebook post. We hope you save some money, stay safe, |
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