MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

A warning... Christmas is on 25 December this year. January is debt counsellors' busiest month - ask people why they need help then and many reply: "Christmas, of course". Yet Christmas isn't unexpected, it's coming, so if you haven't started the financial prep yet, this is the moment (some fervent MoneySavers will already have done it all).

So here's my annual checklist of things to do now, to cut costs when the big day arrives (many also work if, like me, you celebrate Chanukah, or owt else). This isn't about early celebration - I hate Slade's festive tones played in shops in Sept (or Oct) as much as the next Scrooge - it's about preparation. See our 48 Christmas cost-cutters for far more...

1. Don't lust for a perfect Christmas, instead do a budget now and work out the best Christmas you can have on that. Many have a festive lust-list of what'd be a perfect Christmas, yet that's a risky mindset that can lead to debt or disappointment. Instead, let the finances lead. Spend a little time now to budget what you can comfortably afford on Christmas, then ask: "How do I have the best time on that amount?"

And if you're shouting back: "Yeah right, I can't afford anything", do listen to yourself (and follow some of the money making tips below), take a deep breath and consider going spending cold-turkey this year... Christmas is just one day, don't give yourself a New Year financial hangover because of it.

2. Grab a FREE £175 in time for Christmas. All banks, bar one, have turned off their switching bribes. I hope some will return, but there's no guarantee. Luckily, the one currently available is often a top pick, so it's worth considering.

First Direct FREE £175, top service, 0% overdraft, 7% linked saver. First Direct* pays newbies who use its switching service £175, so do it now and you can get the cash by 20 Nov, plenty of time for it to go towards your Christmas coffers. It's always been one of the top accounts for service, rated 90% great, and it also offers a linked 7% regular savings account you can put up to £300/mth in, an ongoing £250 interest-free overdraft for many, and its debit card gives perfect rates abroad. Full eligibility and 'who can get it' info in our First Direct review.

3. Now's the time to discuss with friends & family if you're all BANNING unnecessary Christmas presents. Many spend far too much money, time, effort and stress buying people things they don't want or need in a tit-for-tat (tat being the operative word) Christmas giving extravaganza, where too much just ends up in landfill.

Now to be clear, this isn't about gifts for kids or spouses. It's about agreeing with the ever-extending list of friends, colleagues, classmates and family to release each other from the obligation of buying, or just do a secret Santa, or donate to charity. Read the full theory in my Ban unnecessary Christmas gifts blog, or watch this video that I'm proud to say went viral, the biggest I've ever done, proving it ain't a niche idea...
4. Beware gift vouchers/cards. For some reason our British sensibilities struggle with giving cash, with many finding gift vouchers more socially acceptable. Yet there are buts bigger than a troop of baboons...

a) If the store goes bust, gift vouchers usually become worthless.
b) Many have expiry dates, which often aren't made that clear.

So think carefully about the likely financial strength of the retailer, and how quickly they'll be used. If in doubt, cash (or money in the bank) is the ultimate gift voucher - it's totally flexible and usable anywhere.

5. Make £100s with Christmas cashback...
Couple card and core cashback for a cracking combo

That's my year's alliteration allowance used up. If you're spending this festive season and beyond, why not get paid each time you do? Better still, combine different types of cashback to get paid more than once (just don't see it as an excuse to overspend).

i) THE BIG ONE. Get up to 5% off most pre-Christmas shopping spend. Spend on a cashback credit or debit card and it pays you each time you spend on it. There are full options in top cashback cards, but currently there are two standouts...

Top cashback credit card: Bigger spenders, BIG cashback. The fee-free Amex Everyday credit card currently pays Amex newbies 5% cashback up to a max £125 for the first 5mths (usually it's max £100 for 3mths) and up to 1% after. So apply now and the big cashback covers the main high spend pre- and post-Christmas period. Yet to get any cashback you need spend a minimum £3,000/yr on the card, and the cashback's paid each year on the anniversary of acceptance. Of course, as it's a credit card, only do this if you'll repay IN FULL each month. If not, it charges a hefty 31% rep APR, destroying any cashback gain.
Top cashback debit card: Easy to get 1% immediate cashback for EVERYONE. You can grab the Chase* debit card via its app, it doesn't do a hard credit-check (just an ID check) and you don't need to switch bank to get it, so it's easy to get. It pays 1% cashback up to £15/mth (so £180/yr max) on almost all normal daily debit card spending, and it's paid out almost as soon as you spend (you just need to transfer it to your main account). The debit card is a top pick for spending abroad too. So just grab it, load it with the cash you'll spend, spend it and get paid. See full info in Chase review.

ii) Add in cashback sites. Buy from an online retailer or provider via one of these sites and they give you a cut of what they get paid by brands for generating sales. Yet as the cashback here is never 100% certain, always find the cheapest deal first then see the cashback as an added extra. For sites, pros, cons & boosts, see Top cashback sites. You can use this on top of cashback cards.

iii) Add on mobile rewards. The easy, free Airtime Rewards app tracks your spending at 200+ retailers and pays 1% to 15% cashback, which you can redeem as credit on your mobile bill (for O2, EE, Vodafone, Three and more). You CAN use this on top of cashback cards and sites for a treble win.

6. Urgent. Stock up on stamps for this (and future) Christmas's cards NOW. First-class stamp prices are going UP AGAIN, this time by an inflation-busting 22% on 7 October - but buy them in advance, and as long as they say "1st", you'll still be able to use them after the hike. See beat the stamps rise.

As Ms Beckster tweeted me last week: "@MartinSLewis. Thanks for the heads-up. As someone who still sends 40+ cards every Christmas, I'll buy pre-price rise and save myself £12+."

7. There's still time to spread the cost to ease the pain. Some reports have a typical family's Christmas spend at over £800. For most, that's totally unsustainable from just December's income. If you haven't put it aside yet, there's still time - you could try to squeeze a quarter of what's needed from your Sept, Oct and Nov income. Put it in a top savings account and you'll earn a little interest too.

8. Flog what you got! Time for a stock-take; walk around your home to look for owt unused since last Christmas. Shops don't just look at what's in their tills, they value their stock too - so should we. So why not do a personal stock check... if you've toys, prams, old coffee makers, mobile phones, gadgets or even clothes unused since the last festive season, ask yourself if you should flog them for cash. Or flog your rubbish for cash (even old loo rolls), which includes tips on selling perfume bottles, jam jars and more. More help in...

- eBay selling tips - best for pricey stuff, eg, designer goods or electronics
- Facebook selling tips - best for larger items, eg, wardrobes or sofas
- Vinted selling tips - best for clothes

9. Try to DemoHOHOtivate yourself...
Small sacrifices now may add up in time for Christmas, eg, even now, if you stopped buying a £5 vape every day, you'd have an extra £490 by Christmas. Try our DemoHOHOtivator tool, which lets you see how all YOUR little cuts add up.

10. Please don't borrow for Christmas... but if you will, at least ensure it's at 0%. Borrowing for Christmas is a bad idea - DON'T DO IT. Far better to cut your cloth accordingly. Yet I know people do it, and will do it anyway, so if that's you, or you feel you've no choice (really think carefully if that's true), at least try to keep it interest-free. There are two ways...

A 0% card. To find a 0% card you'll be accepted for, use our 0% Spending Card Eligibility Calculator - up to 21mths 0% is available. Normally with 0% cards, I'd say plan & budget to clear the debt or do a balance transfer before the 0% ends - or the rate jumps to the high APRs (around 25%), but for Christmas borrowing, try to clear it well before next Christmas or it'll make things even worse then. If you can't do that, then that's a big danger sign that you shouldn't be borrowing so much - it'll just compound your problems.

Always stick within the credit limit and never miss a minimum monthly repayment or you can lose the 0% rate.
Buy now, pay later. This pops up almost every time you pay these days, and lets you spread the cost over, usually, 3mths with no interest. Many don't think of it as a debt, but it is, though unlike credit cards, sadly safety regulation still hasn't been brought in (I'm hoping that'll change in October's Budget).

Be careful, don't do it willy-nilly, only do it if it's planned and budgeted for, not on a whim (people get into most trouble by just using it all the time and not thinking it needs repaying). Make sure you can afford to repay within the time. If not, you can still get yourself in trouble. More help in Buy now, pay later.

11. Sort your shopping list now, use a Christmas cupboard, then POUNCE when things are cheapest. Prices fluctuate (just look at online Amazon price tracker CamelCamelCamel) - so your aim should be to create a list of things needed for Christmas and buy when they're cheapest. Some even have a cupboard ready, so when they buy, they can wrap it, tag it and store it in advance. As for how to find when it's cheaper...

12. Power down prezzie prices. You're already doing well reading this email, keep doing so and check the daily updated MSE Deals page, where from Nov, we'll include the famous Christmas Deals Predictor. Here are a few more quickies:

Use shopping price-comparisons. PriceRunner and Google Shopping.
Abandon ye shopping basket. Log in to your online shopping account, add what you want in the basket, then fail to finish. Firms often send codes to tempt you back. See our abandoned basket retailers list.
Find out when it gets cheaper. Tell PriceSpy what you want and the price you're willing to pay, and it emails when (if) the item drops to that price.
Check the min free delivery spend. If you're just below it, it can be cheaper to add a small extra item than pay for delivery. The Amazon free delivery tool finds it for you if shopping at the e-giant (see our 30+ Amazon tricks for more).

13. Bigger spenders... FREE £115 plus £10/mth Deliveroo cashback & four airport lounge passes. A lucrative alternative to the Amex cashback cards above, newbies signing up to the Amex Preferred Rewards Gold credit card get their rewards quicker here, though it's still a credit card, so only do it if you'll pay off IN FULL each month to avoid interest. You get...

- 23,000 Amex points. The card gives 1 reward point per £1 spent, plus 20,000 bonus pts if you spend £3,000+ within the first 3mths. While hefty, that's doable for many in the Christmas run-up, if you put all normal family spending on it (though it's not an excuse to overspend).

A graphic showing that 23,000 Amex points equals £115 to spend at Amazon, M&S, Currys, Sainsbury's and more retailers.

Hit that and you've 23,000 pts, enough for £115 of Amazon, M&S or Sainsbury's, and there are other rewards too.

- Deliveroo and airport lounge passes. You also get 2 x £5 Deliveroo cashbacks a month (worth up to £120/yr) and four free airport lounge passes a year (usually worth over £50 each).

Warning: The card is fee-free in year one, but £195 a year after, so diarise to cancel before year two if you don't want to pay, and remember to pay it off in full or it's 31% rep APR (and that's before the fee). Full help, eligibility info and more options in Credit card rewards.

14. Get an instant up-to 6% BOOST on your Christmas supermarket spending. Supermarket (now digital) saving stamp schemes offered by Tesco, Asda, Iceland, Sainsbury's, Co-op and Morrisons aim to encourage year-long saving for Christmas (see full scheme-by-scheme info). Yet the way they're usually structured means there's a loophole that lets you get a year's bonus in a day.

So you're better to save and earn interest in normal top easy-access savings, then just dunk what you'll spend in that store into most schemes the day before their 'bonus day' and they add the bonus anyway. Of course, this must all then be spent in that store, so it's only a winner if that's what you'd do anyway.

15. Train-ing home for Christmas? Don't wait to book fares. Advance tickets usually go on sale 12 weeks before the date of travel, and that's the best time to grab the cheapest fares. So if you know when you want to travel, be ready to pounce in a couple of weeks - and we've a way to ensure you're at the head of the queue. See our Cheap train ticket tricks.

16. Earn a £30 Amazon voucher by doing quick online activities and lots more side hustles. To earn some extra cash from the comfort of your own home, Swagbucks rewards you for simply playing games or filling out surveys. See how to get your Amazon voucher. Plus our Boost your income guide has 60+ side hustles, though not all will make you cash in time for Christmas.

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.

150Mb fibre broadband from just £14/mth - most people pay well over double that for half the speed
New. Easier broadband switching, now just 'one touch' for everyone

The playing field is levelling on broadband, making it far easier to switch to the new local 'alt-nets' that set up their own networks rather than relying on BT in the background. And as many of them undercut big providers, we're trying to add more into our broadband comparison, which now covers 25 firms. If you've not switched broadband for years, you're almost certainly out of contract, and can SAVE LARGE by taking advantage of short-lived promo deals...

The latest big change is that, until now, switch broadband and with some of these providers (as well as Virgin), you've had to contact both your new and old provider to do it (sometimes leaving you paying for both during the overlap). Now, regulator Ofcom has changed the rules, rolling out a 'One Touch Switch' service that means the new firm should seamlessly sort it for you (all providers below are on it now, some others may not be for a few weeks).

Find the cheapest broadband deal for YOUR postcode... All go via our revamped broadband comparison so you can see what's available at your address
New. Hyperoptic. '£13.83 a month' for 158Mb fibre to the premises (2yr contract)	Local Mainly larger towns/cities, incl London, Manc & Birm. Via this Hyperoptic 158Mb link, you pay £17.99/mth for broadband (no line) & can CLAIM a £100 Amazon/M&S voucher (don't forget). Factored in, that's equivalent to £13.83/mth over 2yrs. Service rating: N/A.
Gigaclear. £19 a month for 300Mb fibre to the premises (18mth contract)	Local Mid/south England towns & cities, eg, Gloucestershire & Berkshire. Via this Gigaclear 300Mb link, you pay a straight £19/mth for 18mths, with no vouchers to claim. Service rating: N/A.
Community Fibre. '£19.75 a month' for 920Mb fibre to the premises (2yr contract)	Local In London & the south-east of England. Via this Community Fibre 920Mb link, you pay £26/mth for broadband only (no line), but can CLAIM a £150 shopping voucher (don't forget). Factor that in & it's equivalent to £19.75/mth over the 2yrs. Community Fibre was rated 'Good' in our last service poll (1).
New. Virgin Media. '£22.45 a month' for 264Mb fibre & line (18mth contract)	National Available to 60% of homes. Via this Virgin 264Mb link, you pay £28/mth for broadband & line (incl weekend calls) & get £100 bill credit on your 1st bill automatically, so there's nowt to pay for 3mths (excl calls). That's equivalent to £22.45/mth before call costs. Virgin was rated 'OK' in our last service poll (1).
New. Vodafone. '£22.55 a month' for 67Mb fibre & phone line (2yr contract)	National Available to 97% of homes. This Vodafone 67Mb deal's more widely available. You pay £24/mth, but CLAIM (don't forget) a £35 Amazon, Tesco, Sainsbury's or M&S voucher. Equivalent to £22.55/mth before call costs. Vodafone was rated 'OK'* in our last service poll (1).*
Ends Fri. Vodafone. '£27.50 a month' for 500Mb fibre to the premises & line (2yr contract)	National Available to 40% of homes. Via this Vodafone 500Mb link, you pay £30/mth, but CLAIM (don't forget) a £60 Amazon, Tesco, Sainsbury's or M&S voucher within 4mths. Factor that in & it's equivalent to £27.50/mth before call costs. Vodafone's rated 'OK' for service (1).
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 £13/mth to £20/mth for 30Mb+. Add your postcode via the link above and, within your search results, you'll see the social tariffs local to you.
To compare, we use 'equivalent costs' - adding all costs, except calls, deducting promo credits & averaging over the contract. (1) Broadband service ratings tend to be worse than other sectors, so all scores are lower, and feedback's relative. For some smaller providers, we don't have enough data to give a rating. For full results, see our broadband service poll.

Slow broadband? Before switching, test your speed - is it the Wi-Fi or the connection? Do a speed check - first via Wi-Fi, then by plugging your device into the router (if you can). If Wi-Fi's a lot slower, try our speed-boosters.
What's the difference between fibre to the premises (FTTP) and fibre? Most older fibre broadband is 'fibre to the cabinet' connection (FTTC), where there's fibre to a junction in your street, but a slower copper line to get it from there to your house and that's what limits the speed. Fibre to the premises (FTTP), also known as 'full fibre', is where you have a fibre cable fitted to bring the connection into your home too, allowing speeds of up to 1,000Mbps.
Don't want to switch? Haggle. In our December poll, the vast majority of those who'd haggled with the big broadband firms were successful. Use the deals above as a benchmark to help you get your costs down. Not sure how? Read full Broadband haggling tips.
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 FTTP, which is common for much faster broadband, often they may need to send someone to look at the externals of the home.
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.
Members of cashback sites can sometimes undercut deals. In some cases, the cashback can mean these sites undercut promos elsewhere, though sometimes the deal differs - so check carefully. More in Top cashback sites.

Free Lucky Saint 0.5% beer, free Kenco latte, free Coke Zero & more. See 50+ Sept supermarket coupons.

STOP PRESS: Time to fix as E.on, British Gas & Outfox launch CHEAPER 1yr energy fixes. All three have shaved down prices since last week, so they're now up to 7% LESS than the October Price Cap (though that's still slightly more than most pay now). For many who are risk averse, it's a good time to fix as the Price Cap's currently predicted to stay near that higher October level for the next year. Who's your cheapest depends on where you live and what you use - our Cheap Energy Club comparison does it for you, and includes cheap trackers and other options too.

Pizza Express dine-in 2for1 pizza for £1 - valid ANY day. Its vouchers used to be ubiquitous, but have been harder to come by recently, so it's nice to see an easy one out there. Grab a code to slice the price. Pizza Express

New. Top 5.07% easy-access savings (up to £20,000). A cash ISA's just a savings account you never pay tax on. And current top rates clearly beat the top normal easy-access savings. The standout is Chip's easy-access 5.07% AER cash ISA*, which newbies to app-only Chip can get by opening an account, depositing £1+ and entering code ISABOOST by Sun 22 Sept. You can put up to £20,000 in it, it allows unlimited withdrawals, and allows you to transfer (without limit) existing cash ISAs in too. It's worth noting that it has a slightly complex structure. More options in Top savings and Top cash ISAs.

Cheap medical insurance - when private cover can pay for itself. Last week's How do I get the cheapest private medical insurance or pay for NHS costs? was far bigger than we expected. If you missed it, it's worth a look.

'I thought mum was over the Pension Credit limit, but she IS eligible & WILL get Winter Fuel Payment.' Lucinda's our success of the week. She emailed: "Thanks so much for Martin's Pension Credit email. My mum was just over the threshold, so we didn't apply, but worried about the Winter Fuel Payment, no free TV licence, cheaper broadband etc. Then I saw Martin's email saying: 'If you're only just over, try it anyway.' A (long) call to the DWP later and mum told me she'll get Pension Credit. My dad died earlier on this year, so not only has mum been going through it, but money is much tighter. I can't thank you enough. She's both relieved and thrilled." If we've helped you save (on this, or owt else), send us your successes.

Martin: 'Too many energy smart meters are broken, they need fixing, the Govt needs to change its targets.' Read Martin's smart meter open letter to the Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.

Cheapest ever iPhone 15 '£30/mth'. As the iPhone 16 goes on sale later this week, prices are starting to drop for its predecessor. Newbies to iD Mobile (uses Three's signal) can get an iPhone 15 (128GB) on a 24mth contract with 10GB data via Carphone Warehouse. It's £9 upfront, then £29.99/mth, making it £729 in total, equivalent to £30.37/mth. Buying just the handset from Apple is £699, so this is a decent deal. The retailer is responsible for the handset, iD Mobile for the contract. Want more options? Use our Cheap Mobile Finder.

Warning: On Tax Credits, Housing Benefit, ESA or similar? Don't ignore crucial letter - you could lose your benefits. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is sending letters to many people saying you MUST now apply to switch to Universal Credit. DON'T ignore it - tragically, DWP stats show a third have had benefits cut off after not applying. Full help in our Benefits switch-over guide.

New. Wondering what to do with energy bills with big hikes coming? | Warning for anyone who pays council tax | How some make £1,000s out of stamp price rises. Martin's podcast is back - listen to him talk through what you should do about the big issues, especially those impacting energy bills right now (fixing, standing charges, winter fuel payments and more). All this and more via BBC Sounds | Spotify | Apple or wherever you like to get your Martin fix.

BLAGGED FOR MSE

- Grind coffee 30% off code Ends Mon

DID YOU MISS?

- £65 Boots beauty Advent calendar gives £221 of skincare
- Easy FREE Coca-Cola Zero Sugar (normally £2 to £4)
- Nationwide to hike FlexPlus fee by £60/yr - ditch & switch?
- Martin: Aggressive council tax debt collection warning
- Martin tells MPs 'we need financial education for EVERY child'

New. Flight delayed or cancelled this summer (or years ago)?
You could be due money back even if you CHOSE to cancel, or you missed a flight

The summer holidays are sadly already starting to feel like a distant memory. Yet if you were one of many whose flight didn't go to plan, don't push it out of your mind until you've checked whether you're due £100s. This isn't just for the summer just gone, you can often go back years. And while we've long explained that regulations mean you're often due COMPENSATION on top of a refund if your flight was delayed or the airline cancelled, now we've added a new guide, showing how you may also be owed money even if you choose to cancel or miss a flight. Let's fly through both...

1) Flight delayed by 3hrs+ or airline cancelled it? You could be due £500+. Many are unaware of their legal right to up to £520 per person compensation if the airline is at fault, ON TOP of any refund, alternative flight or food reimbursement. Celia emailed three weeks ago: "My Heathrow to Barcelona flight was cancelled at 9pm the day before due to 'operational constraints'. We were put on the next flight. I used your tool, and have received an email today confirming a successful claim totalling £440 for me and my son. Thank you very much, I am delighted."

These rules apply to any UK or EU 'regulated' flight within the last six years (five in Scotland). That's ANY FLIGHT leaving a UK/EU airport and any UK or EU AIRLINE arriving at a UK/EU airport. See which flights count and also what to do if your flight wasn't UK/EU.
For DELAY compensation: the flight must have arrived over three hours late. What counts is when the doors open on arrival. See how to check delay lengths and how much you can claim.
For CANCELLATION compensation: what counts is when it was cancelled & how late or early the alternative flight was. If airlines cancel, you're always entitled to a choice of a refund or alternative flight plus compensation, but only if the cancellation was within 2wks before departure and the alternative flight offered takes off earlier or later than the original (this dictates when you're due cancellation compensation). This applies even if you opted for a refund - the compensation's still based on the time of the alternative flight offered (even though you didn't take it).
You're ONLY due compensation if it was the airline's fault. Most issues are defined as the airline's fault - for example, staff shortages (including due to illness), or knock-on issues due to the prior flight being delayed. But if it's an extraordinary circumstance, like extreme weather, or problems directly caused by 3rd parties such as the airport or air traffic control, it isn't. See what counts as the airline's fault.
Use our FREE letter templates - DON'T pay to claim. Our flight delay and flight cancellation reclaim tools draft your complaint and help to escalate it to the relevant resolution scheme if rejected - and as it's totally free, you keep ALL the compensation. Though if it gets tricky, there's some decent no win, no fee help available as a last resort.
Should I always claim if I'm eligible? It's up to you, but if the flight cost £20, is it fair to claim back £100s? See Martin's legal vs moral concerns where he talks you through it.

PS: If you're significantly delayed at the airport, the airline must pay (or reimburse you) for food, drink and, if necessary, overnight accommodation - so keep receipts. See rights if delayed at the airport.

2) New. Have you ever cancelled or missed a flight taking off from the UK? You may be due £100s back in airport tax, even from years ago (eg, during Covid). If you take a flight from a UK airport to anywhere worldwide, it includes air passenger duty (APD) tax of up to £202 per person, yet this isn't paid by the airline to HM Revenue & Customs till you fly. So if you don't fly, it's not paid. This applies even if you're cancelling, or miss a non-refundable flight.

As our own MSE Clare recently found: "My in-laws, visiting from Australia, needed to change their flight home and assumed they'd lose the money due to non-refundable tickets. Yet after a chat with Singapore Airlines, they learned they were entitled to an APD refund plus other similar fees for other countries totalling £338. Better than nothing." Full help in our new Missed or cancelled a flight guide, yet here's a fly-past...

There's NO DEADLINE to claim, even going back decades, but... Airlines don't have to give the money back, though most have it in their T&Cs that they will upon request. Many don't impose claiming back deadlines, though some (eg, Qantas) do - see airline-by-airline help.
Payouts are up to £202 per traveller. The further you're flying and the higher the class of seat, the bigger the amount. For example, miss an economy flight to Spain, the APD is £13pp, whereas a business flight to Australia would mean a potential £202pp refunded. A few airlines charge admin fees when you ask for a refund, which can wipe out the smaller amount, yet it's still worth a quick check. See how much could I get back?
It's usually NOT automatic, you need to claim. APD refunds aren't a legal right - see our airline-by-airline how to claim.
Similar rules may apply if you're flying from elsewhere too. These rules apply to flights from UK airports, so if you're returning to the UK, you're subject to the rules of the departure country - and many have their own departure taxes which may be due refunds. See reclaim departure taxes from other countries.

Disney+ £2/mth for three months (normally £5/mth). For both new & returning subscribers. Disney+ deals

Find if you're eligible for a free flu jab - or where to get it for £10 if not. See free & cheap flu jabs.

University is back, your starter for six...

5 things everyone needs to know about student finance. Lots of nonsense is spoken about it, so be careful. Martin's 5 need-to-knows gives a speedy run through, or see the BIG guides for Eng | Scot | Wales | N Ire
Find out how much PARENTS are expected to contribute. See our parental contribution calc.
Top student bank accounts for this year. They include a £1,500 interest-free overdraft and a 4-year railcard. See top student bank accounts.
Student house tips. Students usually don't pay council tax, but do need to let the council now | Some can legally avoid paying the TV licence fee | Consider taking out contents insurance (but do first check parents' polices).
Student discounts. Incl £10 off Ikea, Apple gift cards and more. See our student deals round-up.
You shouldn't spend more than... Lots of parents rightly tell their student offspring to budget - but don't define their 'income'. For what you should include, see our student budgeting tips.

The £150 Warm Home Discount scheme's open in Scotland - check NOW. While some in Scotland get it automatically (as in Eng/Wal), others need to apply. Don't delay, as it's first come, first served. See Warm Home Discount.

Grind coffee 30% off code. MSE Blagged. Valid on coffee, beans and pods. Grind

FREE Grand Designs Live Birmingham tickets. For 2 to 6 October, normally £13 to £16 each. Grand Designs

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AT A GLANCE BEST BUYS

Longest 0%: MBNA (check eligibility, MBNA's asked us to link only to our eligibility calc) up to 29mths 0%, 3.48% fee (24.9% rep APR)
No-fee 0%: NatWest (check eligibility, NatWest's asked us to link only to our eligibility calc) 13mths 0% (24.9% rep APR)

Free £175 + top service: First Direct
1% cashback on bills and spending (£3/mth fee): Santander

Fast fibre (100Mb+): Virgin '£21.23/mth'
Superfast fibre (500Mb+): Vodafone '£27.50/mth'

On Universal Credit or similar? Check all discounted social tariffs

Try our Compare+ Car Insurance tool

Cheapest for £5,000 to £7,499: Santander (check eligibility / apply*), 7.2% rep APR
Cheapest for £7,500 to £15,000: Tesco Bank (check eligibility / apply*), 6.1% rep APR (for Clubcard holders)

Top easy access: Santander-owned Cahoot's 4.85%, min £1
Top cash ISA: Chip 5.07%, min £1
Top one-year fix: Atom 4.85%, min £50

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THIS WEEK'S POLL

Were you delayed on your last holiday flight, and if so, did you claim compensation? Now the summer holidays have been and gone, we want to know if you were one of many whose flight didn't go to plan. And if you arrived at your destination more than three hours late (the threshold for flight compensation), have you claimed? Vote in this week's poll.

More than half of MoneySavers spent over £100 on their child's school uniform this summer. In last week's poll, we asked how much you spent on school uniform for your child this summer. More than 1,900 people responded, with the majority (38%) spending between £101 and £250, while 19% spent £251 to £500. See the full poll results.

MSE NEWS

- Top story: Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to close 55 more branches in 2024/25

MONEY MORAL DILEMMA

Should I refund my friend for the personal training sessions she booked with me? I've qualified as a personal trainer and set up my own business. A close friend asked for eight sessions at mates' rates, so I booked her in at half-price, and she paid upfront. With three sessions to go, she said it was too much hassle for her to get to them, as she has to arrange childcare, and asked for her money back for the remainder of the sessions. I've already put what she paid back into my business, and I feel it's pretty offhand after I gave her a discount. Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should I refund my friend for cancelled personal training sessions? | Suggest a Money Moral Dilemma (MMD) | View past MMDs

MSE TEAM BLOG

- MSE Forum highlights: Cat fur, childhood favourites & cooling vests

MARTIN'S APPEARANCES (TUE 17 SEPT ONWARDS)

Thu 19 Sept - Ask Martin Lewis, BBC Radio 5 Live, 1pm
Tue 24 Sept - This Morning, phone-in, ITV1, 10.30am

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