Lock in ‘7%’ savings, Clubcard shake-up, NEW car ins trick, MSE busts PPI scam, £15 airport lounge, £380 Virgin TV save, ‘free’ cinema, London hacks

Urgent. Open 2%+ fixed savings TODAY but don't put money in yet, giving a get-out-of-jail-free card before Thursday's base rate decision

The Bank of England will announce tomorrow (Thu) whether it's raising its official borrowing rate, the base rate. In one poll in July, 80% of City analysts expected it WOULD rise, from 0.5% to 0.75% - a potential 9yr high. Fixed savings rates have already risen partly due to those predictions. If base rate does rise, new savings rates may edge up - but if it doesn't, the current crop could be pulled. So we've devised a way to hedge your bets, so whatever happens you're sorted.

PS: All above have full or shared £85,000 per person savings protection. For help, full info and more deals, see Top Savings. If base rate rises on Thu, in next week's email we'll guide you through how to make all the right decisions on savings, mortgages and more.

As yet another bank cuts payouts, switch to get PAID £185 in M&S vouchers, 3% bills cashback or FREE £170 headphones

Halifax has announced its Reward account customers will see their monthly cashback drop from £3 to £2 from Oct (it was £5 last year). This follows many banks dropping their free-cash switching incentives. But don't let 'em take your custom for granted - unless you're delighted with the service, and/or happy with the financial boons, disloyalty pays. So ditch and switch... All below require you to pass a not-too-harsh credit check.

M&S Bank - free £185 M&S vchs. New switchers to M&S Bank* get a £125 M&S gift card + £5/mth added to it for 1yr. You also get access to its 5% regular saver, and many get a £100 0% overdraft. For the £125, you must fully switch, incl 2+ active direct debits (ones that have paid out in the last 13mths) within 3mths of opening. For the £5/mth, pay in £1k+/mth and keep the direct debits active.

Santander - best for average/small bills or Santander mortgage holders. Santander 123 Lite* has a £1/mth fee yet pays 3% cashback on phone, broadband, mobile and TV bills; 2% on energy; and 1% on water, council tax and Santander residential mortgages (max £10/mth on mortgages) when you pay by direct debit. To get the cashback you must pay in £500+/mth, log on to online/mobile banking every 3mths and have at least two active direct debits - but you don't have to switch to it, so it could be an extra bills account. span>Without a Santander mortgage, with what we consider average bills it pays £72/yr after the fee. With high bills, it's £132/yr.

NatWest - best for high bills. For £2/mth the NatWest Reward account* gives 2% cashback on council tax, energy, water, mobile, landline, TV and broadband bills paid by direct debit. With what we consider average bills it pays £66/yr after the fee - with high bills, it's £135/yr. To get the cashback, log in to online/mobile banking every 3mths and pay in £1,500+/mth - like Santander, you d on't need to switch to it so it can be a 2nd bills account.

Switching's easy, takes 7 working days and the new bank moves all your payments across. Full info and more options in Best Bank Accounts.

'I've won 30+ holidays in 10 years' - master the art of comping

Some win £1,000s through this potentially profitable hobby - so we've a compendium of corking comping tips

Entering competitions can be rewarding - and while you shouldn't see it as a sure-fire way to make money, we see many big-cash, gadget or holiday wins, such as forumite Helga14's. She said: "I've won 30+ holidays since my first in 2008 to Panama via a radio competition, and then I was hooked. I've won trips to Rio, Hong Kong, Orlando, Valencia and three to the Bahamas (including my wedding). I've more later this year." So we've 42 comping tips - here are a few for starters:

100s of competitions in one place. You don't have to hunt 'em out - compers post hundreds of contests, share secrets and cheer the winners on our MSE comping forum board.

Turbo-charge your entries. These tricks will help you speedily and customise your keyboard.

Seek out social media comps. See how to find and enter legit comps on Facebook & Twitter. Plus try snap-sharing sites Instagram & Pinterest - forumites reckon these get fewer entries.

Try to win £100s in daily prizes. There's the free £500+ daily postcode prize draw and the free live trivia app with a £550+ twice-daily prize pot.