23 April 2024: Beat mobile & broadband rip-offs

Martin: "Millions of homes have just had a kick in the teeth, as broadband & mobile providers increased bills by above inflation, typically 8%, even for those mid-contract, at the start of this month.

"Yet that does mean this is a great time to check if you're overpaying, as comparing now is a completely level playing field, giving a true comparison as you know there shouldn't be any price rises for a year.

"This isn't small potatoes. TSBear tweeted me about savings of £660/yr (in Jan): "I managed to get my phone bill down from £52/mth to Sim-only for £9. Plus my fibre broadband from £32/mth to £20. Well happy."

"And with 20m of you OUT OF CONTRACT and thus free to move, this is a no-brainer for many and only takes a few minutes. Below the team and I take you through top deals, first on mobiles, then broadband, and then, for those who don't want to switch, how to haggle..."

While existing customers have seen big hikes in mobile costs, prices for switchers continue to plummet. So it really is very easy to stop getting ripped off...

STEP 1: Check if you're one of 14m out of contract & free to switch by texting 'INFO' for free to 85075. This Ofcom scheme forces firms to reply telling you if you're out of contract (a few firms ask for your date of birth to validate it's you).

Occasionally it'll say it can't answer, usually because all the home's phones are on one contract. If so, then as a guide if you've not changed deal in the last two years, you're likely free to switch.

STEP 2: Out of contract and paying over £8/mth? Switch Sim & save. Right now you can get 100GB data for the equivalent of £8/mth - that easily covers most people's data use, so just use our Cheap Sim Finder to find the right deal for you (if you need to update your handset too, see best handset deals). Here are examples:

Unlimited mins & texts newbies' Sim-only deals
iD Mobile (Three's signal) 100GB/mth for '£7.92/mth'	£5/mth for three months, then £10/mth, but you can CLAIM (don't forget) a £10 Amazon voucher. Factor that in and it's equivalent to £7.92/mth over the 1yr contract.
TalkMobile (Vodafone's no-frills provider) 50GB/mth for '£6.29/mth'	£7.95/mth, but you can CLAIM (don't forget) a £20 Amazon voucher. Factored in, it's equivalent to £6.29/mth over the 1yr contract.
Lebara (Vodafone's signal) 15GB/mth for '£5.23/mth' MSE Blagged	5mths at £1.49/mth, then £7.90/mth. Over a year, it averages £5.23/mth. It's a one-month contract, so you can cancel any time.

Don't want to switch because you want to keep your signal? There are only four networks in the UK: Vodafone, Three, EE and O2. All the others use one of those four networks' signals (see who piggybacks on who). Our Cheap Sim Finder tool lets you filter by network to find the cheapest deal on that signal - and includes roaming info too.

Savings here are nifty, as Nigel emailed: "I texted EE as you recently suggested. I discovered I'd been out of contract for nearly 3 years, paying over £27/mth for 20GB of data. I just took out a new 12mth contract for 12GB data for £6/mth, saving me a whopping £21+/mth (over £252/year)."

STEP 3: To keep your number, text 'PAC' to 65075. Then you get a 'Porting Authorisation Code' you can send to your new provider, which'll transfer your number over, usually in one working day (it also tends to mean your existing firm will try to give you a better deal to keep you).

Key quick tips for switching Sim...

- Phone's locked to a network? It must be unlocked for free.
- Not sure how much data you use? Use our Data Calculator.

We continue fighting for a ban on above inflation...

Mid-contract price hikes

"Broadband & mobile firms usually write into their contracts that they'll increase the cost each April, by usually 3%, ABOVE inflation. This is bad for consumers. It feels unfair, as rises are fixed so can't directly link to costs, and it's by definition inflationary (ie, above inflation rises increase inflation, meaning bigger rises each year - a vicious circle). It shouldn't be allowed, and we, as well as Which? and Citizens Advice, have campaigned to stop it.

"In January, I pushed on this when I interviewed the Chancellor for my show, and he told me to write to him (I did) and he'd write to the Competitions and Markets Authority and Ofcom about it. I've now had confirmation that this has been done, but am trying to find out exactly what he asked.

"Separately, Ofcom has sought feedback on a 'pounds and pence' approach, where consumers will know exactly what the price will increase to each year (a definite improvement, but still frustratingly would allow prices to rise above inflation - something we pushed against in our response). We're expecting an announcement soon."

Unless you've a need for hyperspeed via a special broadband connection, you probably needn't be paying over £30/mth. Yet most people pay £40 to £60 monthly, with speeds less of a blur, more of a blah.

As long as you're out of contract (no easy tool here to check, but if you've not done owt for a while, you usually are), it's easy to ditch, switch and save. As usual, the cheapest broadband deals aren't available direct, they're short-lived switching promos via comparison sites. We amalgamate them in our Broadband Comparison tool (and we include social tariffs for those on Universal Credit).

Again it's real money, as Mikey tweeted Martin: "@MartinSLewis I've just saved £576 from switching my broadband. Thank you so much." So here are some of the top picks out there right now, but best to go via the tool to see all your options.

Some top newbies' broadband deals Postcode-dependent, so links go via our Broadband Finder tool
Deal & equiv cost (1)	Analysis
New. Virgin Media 132Mb fibre & line '£20.95/mth' 18mth contract. Customer service score: 5/10 (OK) (2)	Cheapest fast 132Mb fibre, 'OK' service, available to 60% of homes. You pay £26.50/mth and get an automatic £100 bill credit added to your first bill. Factor it all in over the 18mth contract, and it's equivalent to £20.95/mth (before calls).
Ends 11.59pm Thu. Vodafone 67Mb fibre & line '£21.84/mth' 24mth contract. Customer service score: 6.1/10 (Good) (2)	Cheap 67Mb fibre, with 'GOOD' service, available to 97% of homes. A new deal, but ends very quickly. You pay £26/mth and can CLAIM (don't forget) a £100 Amazon, Tesco, Sainsbury's or M&S voucher. Factor it all in over the 2yr contract, and it's equivalent to £21.84/mth (before calls).
Ends 11.59pm Thu. Sky 500Mb fibre to the premises (and digital line) '£26.45/mth' 18mth contract. Customer service score: 5.8/10 (OK) (2)	Cheapest superfast 500Mb deal, 'OK' service, available to 60% of homes. This Sky deal is £32/mth, but you can CLAIM (don't forget) a £100 Amazon / supermarket voucher within four months. Factor that in and it's equivalent to £26.45/mth (before calls) over the 18mth contract, a very good price for such a fast speed.
On Universal Credit or similar benefits?	Try a social tariff. Many providers offer special discounted social broadband tariffs, which give long-term cheap prices of usually £12.50 to £20/mth for 15Mb+ broadband. Click the link for a full rundown.
(1) Our 'equivalent costs' mean we add all costs, deducting promo credits and averaging over the contract so you can compare easily. (2) Broadband service ratings tend to be worse than other sectors, so all scores are lower. See our Broadband service poll results page.

Key quick tips for switching broadband...

At least 50% of customers must get the advertised speeds at peak times. The providers above also tell you the estimated max speed you're likely to get before you sign up.
Switching usually only means about two hours' downtime - whether an engineer comes depends on what you're getting. You're told the switch time, and most don't need an engineer to set it up. There are exceptions to this - if you're moving to or from Virgin you may need one (you're told before applying). Plus if you're getting fibre to the premises (FTTP), which is common for much faster broadband, then often they may need to send someone to look at the externals of the home.
A few areas may have cheaper hyper-local providers. We aim to cover as many of the major broadband providers as possible, yet the number of small local players is growing. We're working on trying to find a way to get them in our tool, but for now we just want to give you a heads-up in case you see others.
Bundling your broadband, TV and phone with one provider can work out cheaper - but there are drawbacks. While bundles can unlock cheaper prices - see Broadband and TV deals - you'll have fewer switchable options when you get to the end of your contract, and exit fees can be high if you need to cancel early, eg, if moving home. Plus many are paying for channels they don't use, so it's worth checking what you actually watch before committing. And because switching options are more limited with TV and broadband bundles, haggling with your current provider becomes all the more important...

It isn't all about switching. Many people can keep the service they're happy with and pay far less for it, but you usually have to push the firm to give you the better price.

The time to do this is when you're out of contract or just about to be. Then you're holstering a powerful weapon - they are desperate to keep your business. So you want to make them treat you (nearly) as well as a new customer, whose business they are trying to win.

This is often a case of don't ask, don't get. In our December poll, the vast majority of those who'd tried haggling with the big telecom firms were successful...

- Over 80% success: Virgin Media, TalkTalk
- Over 70% success: Plusnet, Sky, BT, O2
- Over 60% success: Now Broadband, Three, EE

As Dawn emailed: "Thank you for the haggling information. I'm with Virgin Media and my bill was going to increase to £64 next month. After calling them and following the MSE tips, they've offered me a new price of £26/mth, saving me £684 over the contract term."

We have full Broadband haggling and Mobile haggling guides, but here are some key tips, though of course it's more art than science...

Step 1: Benchmark the cheapest price elsewhere. Tool yourself up on the best the competition is offering - both so you know what to ask for, and they may ask you about it. Use our Cheap Sim Finder and Broadband Comparison tools to find your top deals and ask it to beat/match them.

Step 2: Call up - and be polite and charming. Remember to use chutzpah, cheek and a smile. Tell them you like their service and want to stay but it's too expensive - and you can get it cheaper elsewhere. Ask them to help you. Win them onside. Aggression or anger won't help anyone. If you're nervous or not confident with this type of thing, here are a few phrases that may help (or maybe get a friend to do it with you):

'I've worked out my budget, and my absolute max is £[insert amount here] a month...'
'[BT/Sky/Virgin Media] can do it for less, I've got a quote from them for...'
'I need to think about it...'
'I think my other half/housemate/horse will go bonkers if I agree to pay that...'
'It's still a lot of money...'
'Is that the very best you can do?'

Step 3: If the deal isn't satisfactory for you, ask to be put through to disconnections (usually known internally as retentions). This department's the Holy Grail of haggling - where operators have serious discount-giving power. Then go through the process again, say you regret the fact you'll have to disconnect, but the price is so much more than elsewhere (do your research first) and you want them to help you stay.

Step 4: Don't panic if it calls your bluff and says it'll disconnect you. Some people worry and get nervous to try this in case they're disconnected. Martin's easy 'get out of jail free' card on this is the phrase: "Hold on, I'll call you back on that. I'd like to check with my wife / husband / dog / goldfish first."

You may then want to try again on another day - some call centre veterans recommend this in our Call centre staff insider secrets guide, as some call handlers may have a target of how many customers they need to 'save' each shift.

Step 5: If it really won't play ball, vote with your feet. If you don't get what you want, then you should seriously consider leaving. Why not ditch, switch and save? In fact, sometimes when people have cancelled, they get an email the next day offering them much better deals.

DON'T believe the fake 'Martin Lewis' or 'MSE' ads
Lots of scam ads litter social media and even newspaper websites - some of these lie that we or Martin promote Bitcoin, binary trading etc. See Fake ads warning.

Two new top 0% balance transfer cards. Shift existing debt to 'up to' 28mths INTEREST-FREE. Save £100s or £1,000s?

Can't afford to clear debt? Check your eligibility to shift to 0%, especially as standard APRs are now a horrific 35%

The average credit card interest rate for purchases has jumped four percentage points over the last year - now it's a shocking 34.7% (so £347 interest on £1,000 static debt over a year) according to financial information site Moneyfacts. So check what you're paying now - frankly if it isn't 0%, you need to see if you can fight it. The core weapon is a balance transfer, that's when you get a new card that pays off debt on your existing card(s), so you owe it instead but at 0% interest - this means your repayments clear the actual debt, not just mostly cover interest. Two tips first...

1. Don't 'just apply', as that can hit your ability to access credit. Go via an eligibility calc. In two minutes, our 0% eligibility checker shows your card-by-card acceptance odds, and some get pre-approved for top cards, so you can home in on those most likely to accept you without impacting your ability to access credit.

2. If you've a choice, go for the LOWEST FEE within a 0% time long enough to clear your debt. Generally, the longer the balance transfer, the bigger the fee, eg, a one-off 3% of the amount transferred (£30 per £1,000). So if you can clear your debt quicker, go for a shorter deal to minimise fees. Unsure? Play safe, go long.

Top-pick newbies' 0% balance transfers (longest first)
Barclaycard Link goes via eligibility or apply direct*	- Up to 28mths 0% (some get 14mths) - 3.45% fee - 24.9% rep APR after	Longest 0%, but it's an 'up to'. Whether you get the full 28mths 0% depends on your credit history (if our eligibility calc shows you're pre-approved, you WILL get the full 28mths). If not, you could get just 14mths, though it says only about one in five of those accepted get this.
New. Lloyds Bank Link goes via eligibility (not available direct)	- Up to 27mths 0% (some get 14mths) - 3.2% OR 3.49% fee - 24.9% rep APR after	A possibly lower fee, but another 'up to'. However, if you're pre-approved in our eligibility calc, you'll definitely get 27mths with a lower 3.2% fee than Barclaycard. If not, you could get just 14mths and/or a higher 3.49% fee.
Boosted on Thu. Virgin Money Link goes via eligibility or apply direct*	- 27mths 0% - 3.25% fee cut to 3% from 9am Thu - 24.9% rep APR after	Longest DEFINITE 0% - all accepted get 27mths. If you've a decent eligibility chance and aren't pre-approved for either card above, it's a decent option, as if you're accepted you know exactly the 0% length and fee. And from Thursday, it'll arguably be the best of the longer cards, both as it's a definite 0% period and the fee is cut to the lowest of the long cards.
NatWest Link goes via eligibility or apply direct*	- 13mths 0% - NO fee - 24.9% rep APR after	Longest NO-FEE 0%. If you can clear the debt within 13mths, this NatWest card (also offered by sister banks RBS* and Ulster) will cost absolutely nothing, and if accepted you'll definitely get this deal.

ALWAYS follow the Balance Transfer Golden Rules:
a) Never miss the minimum monthly repayment, or you could lose the 0% deal and it'll cost far more.
b) Aim to clear the card (or balance-transfer again) before the 0% ends, or the rate rockets to the higher APR.
c) Don't spend or withdraw cash. It usually isn't at the cheap rate and withdrawals may hit your ability to get future credit.
d) If you don't transfer at application, you've usually only 60 to 90 days to get the 0%. Do check with your card.

Quick balance transfer FAQs (click links for Martin's answers)
Q. Is it worth applying if my eligibility odds are low? | Q. What if my credit limit isn't big enough? | Q. Can I shift debt to existing cards too? | Q. Should I try to pay off my biggest debt first? SPOILER: NO.
Full help and info, including options for poorer credit scorers, in Best balance transfers.

Barclaycard customer? You could be in debt YEARS longer paying DOUBLE the interest. The minimum most have to repay will drop from July, and if you pay interest and are not careful, the impact could be very costly - see help, what to do and Martin's analysis in Barclaycard customer min payment change help.

Secret Sales code: Extra 20% off reduced Nike, Calvin Klein, Asos and more - we even found a £160 dress £13. MSE Blagged. High-street & designer stock at reduced prices. 4,000 codes available. Secret Sales

New. Top savings if you've £10,000+, 5% 'easy access' plus £50. Savings marketplace Raisin lets you save and move money via different banks after filling in just one form. Right now, newbies to it who open Paragon's 5% AER* easy-access savings via it (link takes you there) and use code MSMG5024 by 30 April get £50 cashback after six months as long as you've kept £10,000+ in (so it is easy access, but cashback needs a min balance). The next top equivalent is Kent Reliance 4.96% AER (min £1,000). Full info in our Raisin write-up. For far more choice, including top fixes, see Top savings and Top cash ISAs - the top easy-access there pays 5.17% right now. All accounts have full UK £85,000 savings safety protection.

Grüum face, body & hair bundle £4 delivered (normally £29). MSE Blagged. Just pay for postage. Includes shampoo bar, facewash bar and body butter bar. 15,000 available. Grüum

'I saved nearly £2,000 using your car insurance tool.' Our success of the week comes from Dawn: "Thanks to your Compare+ tool, I saved nearly £2,000 this year. My renewal came in at £2,947, but I followed your guidelines and got a quote for £1,027. Then I remembered Martin's advice about checking Direct Line, and it gave me a £1,946 saving. Thanks everyone, we need more sites like yours and I think Martin should be Chancellor." [Ta but nooooo - Martin.] If we've helped you reclaim or save (on this, or owt else), send us your successes.

Updated. Are solar panels worth it? New figures from the Energy Saving Trust, and the new Price Cap, mean the numbers have changed if you're thinking of getting them. See our Are solar panels worth it? guide.

Don't put bananas in the fridge... It's Stop Food Waste Day tomorrow (Wed). See 13 ways to stop wasting food.

Please report 'sorry, we're experiencing unusually high call volumes' messages. So far, we've had 20,000 reports to our unusual call volumes tool (please bookmark it), where you tell us when firms (banks, broadband, mobile, energy, water etc) use these messages. We need a few more weeks' worth to establish if the pattern is consistent, ie, they're lying by having it for every call. So please take 30 seconds to report them.

Martin's new podcast: Should you save or overpay your mortgage? | Shop-staff insider secrets | 100,000s need restart Child Benefit claims These and more in the new The Martin Lewis Podcast. Listen via BBC Sounds | Spotify | Apple or wherever you like to get your Martin fix.

BLAGGED FOR MSE

- 15GB Lebara Sim for '£5.23/mth' Ends 9 May
- Extra 20% off Nike, Calvin Klein & more Ends Fri
- Grüum face, body & hair bundle £4 15,000 available
- Tails.com 90% off 'tailored' dog food Ends 30 Jun
- £25 cashback when you spend £5+ 10,000 available

DID YOU MISS?

- Can you find an 80% off Boots bargain?
- Chase customers - can you get boosted 5.1% savings?
- Free car finance complaints tool - DO IT NOW
- Achoo! 180 hay fever tablets for £5.95
- Latest coupons: 'free' £2.50 vegan burger & more

Martin: 'The minimum wage is now £11.44/hr, yet 350,000+ are still UNDERPAID. Check & recover what you're due'

Even M&S, WHSmith and employment agencies get it wrong. Pls help SPREAD WORD

At the start of this month, UK minimum wage rates were increased - forcing employers to boost incomes for the lowest-paid workers. Yet the Low Pay Commission says 365,000 are being underpaid, ie, paid LESS than they legally should be. So if you're on or just above minimum wage, I want to tool you up to detect if you may be being short-changed and, if you are, how to be paid what you're legally entitled to...

The current UK statutory minimum wage rates (in place since 1 Apr 24)
Apprentices & under-18s: £6.40/hr	Aged 18 to 20: £8.60/hr	Aged 21+: £11.44/hr
Applies to all workers, even if not paid hourly. Eg, aged 21+, working 35hrs/wk, salary must be £20,820+/yr.

The main ways you may be being underpaid when on/near minimum wage. Scan through my summary list here and if any may be you, read the full info in our Minimum wage: Are you being paid enough? guide.

UNIFORM, TOOLS & SAFETY CLOTHING. If you must buy them, the cost shouldn't take what you get below the equivalent minimum wage over your pay period (eg, monthly, if paid monthly). This is the most common failing.
YOU SHOULD BE PAID FOR ALL WORKING TIME. Including overtime, security checks, handover meetings, opening up, being on call & more. So if you get less than minimum wage once these are factored in, you're owed.
CAN'T 'TOP UP' WITH TIPS OR OVERTIME. These must be on top of minimum wage.
COMMISSION ONLY? Employers must top up with a salary to meet the minimum wage if you don't earn it.
ACCOMMODATION COSTS. Pay can only be reduced by a maximum £69.93/wk below minimum wage if your employer provides accommodation. This includes charges such as rent, gas, electricity, furniture and laundry.
NOT 'REAL' APPRENTICESHIPS. 18+ & apprenticeship has no structured training? You may be on the wrong rate.
ENSURE YOU GET THE MIN WAGE RISES. It should have just increased, as it does every April, plus it should increase on your 18th and 21st birthdays, taking effect in your first full pay period after the change.

Again, if any ring possibly true, jump to our Are you being paid enough? guide, and if you think you aren't (or weren't based on old rates), you've a legal right to be paid more and to back pay. It can be, though isn't always, simple to do and you can remain anonymous when complaining, as explained in how to claim back underpaid minimum wage.

In June 2023, even M&S was named & shamed, so don't think: 'I work for a big firm, so it must be correct'. Last year, over 200 companies - including M&S, WHSmith, Lloyds Pharmacy and Argos - were named and shamed by the Govt for minimum wage failings. Some explained why and talk about complexities, but even so, it shows no matter who the company or employment agency is, don't assume it got it right...

The real living wage is different! Each year, a panel of professionals for the Living Wage Foundation calculate the minimum workers aged 18+ should be paid for a basic standard of living. It's currently £12/hr (£13.15/hr in London), so higher than the state minimum wage. 14,000+ businesses have volunteered to sign up to the scheme, so all their employees aged 18+ must earn at least this. I'm a supporter of this scheme - see my vid on why employers should sign up.

You may be thinking: 'Doesn't the state have a national living wage?' Yes, BUT... in 2015, then-Chancellor George Osborne nicked the name and rebranded the over-25s' (now over-21s') minimum wage the 'national living wage', but he didn't choose to follow the amount, nor ensure it's calculated based on living standards, so on MSE I've made the call that we won't use that name - we will still call it what it is, the minimum wage.

A month's 'tailored' dog food £3.60 (normally £36) via 90% off code. MSE Blagged. Newbies only. Tails

B&M 20% off all toys, in store only. Includes brands such as Hot Wheels, Lego and Pokemon. B&M toys

FREE Grand Designs Live London tickets. For 4 to 12 May, normally £13 to £16. Grand Designs

FREE £25 when you spend £5+ online. MSE Blagged. Topcashback is bettering the recent bonus from rival Quidco by offering £25 extra cashback to newbies who sign up via our special link and spend £5 or more. Cashback boost

PS: It's the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation week at Tesco. Natasha Ednan-Laperouse died from a severe allergy after eating inadequately labelled food. This week (22 to 28 April), Tesco will donate 10p per 'Free From' range item to the foundation set up in her name that campaigns for allergy research. So if you buy these, do time it right. Free From donation

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AT A GLANCE BEST BUYS

Longest 0%: Barclaycard (check eligibility / apply*) - up to 28mths 0%, 3.45% fee (24.9% rep APR interest)
No-fee 0%: NatWest (check eligibility / apply*) - 13mths 0% (24.9% rep APR interest)

Fast fibre (100Mb+): Virgin Media '£20.95/mth'
Fibre (30Mb+): Vodafone '£21.84/mth'
Superfast fibre (500Mb+): Sky '£26.45/mth'

On Universal Credit or similar? Check all discounted social tariffs

Top easy-access: Monument Bank 5.01%, min £25,000
Top one-year fix: Allica Bank 5.17%, min £10,000

Try our Compare+ Car Insurance tool

Cheapest for £5,000 to £7,499: Santander (check eligibility / apply*), 7.3% rep APR
Cheapest for £7,500 to £15,000: TSB (check eligibility, TSB has asked us to link only to our calculator), 5.9% rep APR

Try our relaunched Cheap Energy Club

1% cashback on bills & travel: Santander Edge
1% cashback on most spending: Chase

Up to 3GB data: Lebara, '£3.40/mth' for 3GB
4GB to 9GB data: Lebara, '£3.65/mth' for 5GB
10GB to 30GB data: iD Mobile, '£5.34/mth' for 30GB
31GB+ data: iD Mobile, '£7.92/mth' for 100GB

THIS WEEK'S POLL

How much credit card debt do you have? The cost of living crisis has resulted in many taking on extra credit card debt - in some cases just to cover basic necessities. So this week, we want to know how much credit card debt you have in total and whether this has increased in the past 12 months. Vote in this week's poll.

More than a third of MoneySavers buy the majority of their clothes preowned. Last week, we asked where you buy the majority of your clothes from - more than 5,500 of you answered. The high street is still king for the majority of people, with 46% buying most of their clothes there. However, plenty of MoneySavers buy mainly preowned clothes - 20% from online sites such as Vinted and 18% from charity shops. See the full poll results.

MSE NEWS

- Top story: Got a text, email or letter from the Met Police about scams? Don't ignore it
- Co-op Bank customer? You could be moved to Coventry Building Society in future
- NatWest, RBS and Ulster Bank to close at least 100 branches in 2024/25

MONEY MORAL DILEMMA

Should I pay to have the bike my ex-husband got our son serviced? My ex-husband bought our son a second-hand bike that cost £180 for Christmas the year before last. Since then it's been badly damaged a couple of times, and I've paid for it to be fixed professionally. My ex now wants the bike back to sell, saying the money he gets will go into a savings account he's set up for our son. Yet he wants me to pay to have the bike serviced again so it can be sold - should I do it? I've probably paid more for the bike now than my ex did. Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should I pay to have the bike my ex got our son serviced? | Suggest a Money Moral Dilemma (MMD) | View past MMDs

MSE TEAM BLOG

- MSE Forum highlights: Banking hubs, the Bard & garden borders
- MoneySaving tips for festival-goers - from food and camping to clothes and sequins

MARTIN'S APPEARANCES (TUE 23 APR ONWARDS)

Wed 24 Apr - Ask Martin Lewis, BBC Radio 5 Live, 1pm
Tue 30 Apr - This Morning, phone-in, ITV1, 10.30am

MSE TEAM APPEARANCES (SUBJECT TBC)

Wed 24 Apr - BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Mid-morning with Nicky Price and MSE's Petar, from 11.05am

WWII ERA SILKS AND A 72-YEAR-OLD COAT - WHAT'S THE OLDEST ITEM OF CLOTHING YOU STILL USE?

That's all for this week, but before we go... from ancient anoraks to senior socks, last week we asked our social followers about the oldest items of clothing they still wear. The earliest discovery was on Facebook, where one MoneySaver still wears a nightdress inherited from her mother which is made from parachute silk dating back to World War II. There were plenty of 1950s items that are à la mode today - one person has a suede coat purchased in 1952 and struggles to find a cleaner with the know-how to look after it. We heard about a kaftan ordered from the Kays catalogue (what a throwback) 52 years ago and a pair of waterproof trousers bought for a Duke of Edinburgh expedition in 1982, while one MoneySaver is still getting use from their 44-year-old hiking boots. But our favourite is the T-shirt one Twitter follower bought for her husband 26 years ago, which he wore for the births of all three of his children - a good luck charm that may need to be dusted off for grandbabies. Tell us about your oldest outfits in our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram conversations.

We hope you save some money,
The MSE team

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Founded in February 2003, it is now the UK's biggest consumer help website, with more than 12 million users each month and about 8.5 million receiving this email. In September 2012 it became part of the MoneySupermarket Group PLC. Its focus is simple - saving cash and fighting for financial justice on anything and everything. The site has over 80 full-time staff, more than a third of whom are editorial - researching, analysing and writing to continually find ways to save money. More info: See About MSE.

Who is Martin Lewis?
Martin Lewis CBE is the founder and executive chair of MSE, as well as the founder of the MMHPI charity. He's an ultra-focused MoneySaving journalist and consumer campaigner with his own prime-time ITV programme The Martin Lewis Money Show, Radio 5 Live Wednesday show Ask Martin Lewis and weekly slot on This Morning, among others. More info: See Martin Lewis' biography.

What do the links with an * mean?

Any links with an * by them are affiliated, which means get a product via this link and a contribution may be made to MoneySavingExpert.com, which helps it stay free to use. You shouldn't notice any difference; the links don't impact the products at all and the editorial line (the things we write) isn't changed due to them. If it isn't possible to get an affiliate link for the best product, it's still included in the same way. More info: See How This Site is Financed.

As we believe transparency is important, we're including the following 'un-affiliated' web-addresses for content too:

Unaffiliated web-addresses for links in this email

santander.co.uk, barclaycard.co.uk, natwest.com, uk.virginmoney.com, rbs.co.uk, raisin.co.uk

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Note

MoneySupermarket.com Financial Group Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 303190). MoneySavingExpert.com Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales. Company Registration Number: 8021764. Registered office: One Dean Street, London, W1D 3RB. MoneySavingExpert.com Limited is an appointed representative of MoneySupermarket.com Financial Group Limited.

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