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DON'T believe the fake 'Martin Lewis' or 'MSE' ads |
'I saved £600 a year and halved my APR by switching loan' If you're paying off a loan, don't think you've no options. Everyone with a loan, especially if it's costly, should check if you can get a new, cheaper loan to pay off the existing one. It can net big savings, as it did for Deborah who emailed us: "I tried your loan calculator. Pleased to say I halved my APR and saved £50/month with my new loan. Thanks." Yet as there can be repayment penalties, you need to be careful. Here's our step-by-step guide to do it right...
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New. Martin: 'Is it time to fix your energy bill or just stick on the price cap?' video. Martin's redone his key video explaining if you should fix. Plus we analyse the best 'existing customer deals' in our new Should I fix? page. Rare Pizza Express 50% off deal - not seen since 2019. Pizza Express deals like this used to be commonplace, but we've not seen any direct discounts this good from it for a few years. Full info in Pizza Express. Martin: 'Got a cash ISA? You should probably ditch it.' For why, see Martin's new Cash ISA isn't nicer blog. New. As well as a FREE £150 for switching, (joint highest) top-service bank First Direct now also offers a 3.5% regular saver. Newbies to First Direct, which rated 90% great for service in our last poll, can still get a free £150 for switching* or £20 just for opening* (call it later if you want to switch & get the rest), and many also get a £250 0% overdraft. Plus since last Thursday, new & existing account holders can open its linked 3.5% regular saver, and save up to £300/month. Alternatively, Halifax Reward gives accepted switchers a free £125 if they apply by Mon, plus a monthly reward by jumping through some hoops. Full help, crucial eligibility info & other options in Best bank accounts. Martin: Flight cancelled in recent weeks? You're likely due £100s in compensation ON TOP of a refund or new flight. Though you need to ask for it - full how-to in Flight rights. £39 Barbour prescription specs or sunnies (normally £120). MSE Blagged. Via code. SpeckyFourEyes Got first 2022/23 tax year payslip? Check your tax code. If it's wrong, you may be able to reclaim. A quick check using our free Tax Code Calculator could get you £1,000s back (or show you're underpaying and avoid a future nightmare). Related: 2022/23 Income Tax Calculator |
Water saving! Can you save £100s on the forgotten utility? Water is often the forgotten utility, with money leaking out of accounts. Yet it is possible to flush out big savings. Our Cut water costs guide is overflowing with tips to help you plug the gaps in your knowledge, particularly important amid the cost of living crunch. Here are a few to dip your toes into (and yes, we enjoyed tapping this out)...
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As the war in Ukraine continues, here's how you can donate money or help. Tesco to scrap paper Clubcard vouchers for some - opt in to keep them. Let the supermarket know by this Thursday if you still want vouchers (and statements) by post. See Clubcard paper voucher axe. 20,000 FREE Ideal Home Show Scotland tickets. For 26-29 May in Glasgow. See Free Ideal Home Show Scotland. Do you have one of £85m worth of unused cancelled package holiday credit notes? There's still a startling amount unused, and the clock's ticking as their value's only protected till 30 Sept if firms go bust. Holiday credit note warning. Ends today (Wed). 12GB Sim from BT's Plusnet, just '£5/month'. MSE Blagged. With this one-year deal, newbies to Plusnet* (uses EE's signal) get 12GB/month data and unlimited calls & texts if they sign up by 11.59pm tonight (Wed). You pay £7/month, but you're also sent a £25 prepaid Mastercard - factor that in and it's equivalent to £4.92/month over the year. Need more/less data? Use our powerful Cheap Mobile Finder tool. Pay £1 to get 50p off Pret & 25p off Starbucks drinks every time. Many cafes stopped accepting reusable cups during the height of Covid restrictions, but now you can use them again, see where to get reusable cup coffee/tea discounts. Are you an avid deals hunter? Or a web-developing whizz? Come and work at MSE. We've roles for a Deals Researcher/Writer and a Senior Developer open for applications. See MSE job opportunities. |
AT A GLANCE BEST BUYS
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THIS WEEK'S POLL When did you last switch your bank account? Competition's been fierce in recent months, with 'bribes' of up to £175 offered to those willing to switch. So whether you wanted better service, interest on your savings or just free cash - tell us when you last switched? Or if it's been a while or you've never done it, tell us why. Vote in this week's poll. Most MoneySavers have already switched off their heating. Last week, we asked whether or not you've switched off your central heating. Of the 11,000 people that responded, a whopping 79% said they've already switched it off, with 47% of those saying it's because they can't afford to use it - sadly, it was the main reason given. See full heating poll results. |
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MONEY MORAL DILEMMA Should we pay less for our holiday because our friend got cashback for booking it? I'm going on holiday with a large group of friends, and one of them volunteered to book it for all of us as he gets cashback on his card. Should we each reimburse him less so we benefit too, or just let it go and see it as a 'booker's benefit' for sorting the admin? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should we pay less for our holiday because of friend's cashback? | Suggest a Money Moral Dilemma |
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MARTIN'S APPEARANCES (WED 4 MAY ONWARDS) Wed 4 May - This Morning, phone-in, ITV, 10.55am MSE TEAM APPEARANCES (SUBJECTS TBC) Thu 5 May - BBC Radio Leicester, Morning with Summaya Mughal, from 10.30am |
CHARGER CABLES, OLD BOXES & MORE - WHAT CAN YOU JUST NOT SEEM TO GET RID OF? That's all for this week, but before we go... while many enjoy decluttering, there are some things MoneySavers just can't manage to throw out. Aside from the (hopefully) tongue-in-cheek answers of wives, husbands, and grown-up kids, MoneySavers found themselves hanging on to old boxes, children's toys, glasses, charger cables, paper receipts and suitcases, just in case they ever came in handy. Please tell us what stuff you just can't get rid of in our Facebook post. We hope you save some money, stay safe, |
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