This week | MARTIN'S QUICK BRIEFING: For more tips, alerts & awful puns, follow Martin on Twitter PERMANENTLY cheapest gas & electricity
Brrr. It's cold, energy firms are rubbing their hands with glee. Fight back. It's nearly spring, but we're in the UK, so of course much of the country is covered with snow. Bad for us, great for energy firms' profits. Yet don't get angry, sort it out. It's now easier than ever to ensure you're permanently paying as little as possible - here are our 10 need-to-knows. | 1. | Join our FREE Cheap Energy Club for cheapest energy, permanently. Our unique Cheap Energy Club got 250,000 members in its first month. It's designed to keep you permanently on the cheapest tariff - fighting the fact most cheap deals only last 1-2 years, then the rate rises. It does this by...
1) Checking you're on the cheapest deal. If you are, great. If not, it'll help you switch and you get £30 cashback on top.
2) Then constantly monitoring your tariff. Each month, without you doing anything, we do a background comparison to check yours is still cheapest.
3) Alerts you when it's time to switch (again). If you can save money switching either because your rate's changed, or others have, we'll tell you.
We've been swamped with positive feedback, eg: "Watched the video on the website, saved £160. #boom #evenlazyblokescansavemoney"
| PS. Until 11.59pm Fri, we're donating £1 to Comic Relief for all new Cheap Energy Club members (up to £50k). |  |
| | | | | 2. | Ensure no price hikes for TWO winters, save £200+/yr. Neither Scottish Power Sept 2014* nor EDF Blue June 2014* quite top comparisons' results - but I wanted to highlight them as they're worth considering.
Both typically save those on a standard tariff £200+ a year, but as they're long fixes, they ensure no hikes during the term. Yet the real standout is neither have early exit penalties, so you can leave if things change.
Are they right for you? Select 'fixed tariffs' and scroll down the Cheap Energy Club results to see their cost for you. | | | | | 3. | Direct debit is 5%-10% cheaper. If possible, pay by fixed MONTHLY direct debit for a discount - though always do regular meter readings for accuracy, as your bill is estimated. See Energy Direct Debit Help. | | | | | 4. |  Prepaid (key or card) energy meter? You can switch & save. Prepaid comparisons are possible at Energyhelpline*, MoneySupermarket* and uSwitch* - it can be worth it, with £150/yr price differences for some. Better still, it's worth checking if you can move off prepay to a normal billed meter. Full help on this and more in our Cheap Prepaid Gas & Elec guide. | | | | | 5. | Extra cashback when switching. Our special comparison site links can get you extra cashback (takes c.3mths), providing they can actually switch you.
Up to £60: Energyhelpline normally gives £15 per switch, but for 2 weeks, it's 'Huge Switch*' means £25-£60 on some top dual fuel tariffs.
£30 dual fuel cashback: Both our Cheap Energy Club and MoneySupermarket* give £30 dual fuel / £15 for a gas or elec-only switch.
Crate of wine: uSwitch* gives six bottles of wine if you switch via this link.
Sometimes the Top Cashback Sites may be able to beat this for individual tariffs (though focus on getting the right deal more than cashback).
Warning: If you want to use Cheap Energy Club to monitor your tariff, but switch via a comparison site, you'll need to manually enter your switch info. | | | | | | | | | 6. | Mythbusting - is it cheaper to leave the heating on all day? This is a common urban myth, according to the Energy Saving Trust. It's better to use a timer, so your heating only comes on when needed. There's also little point painting radiators black. See our list of Energy Mythbusters. | | | | | 7. | Green Deal - is it worth it? Pay for double glazing, etc from energy savings. The Green Deal's designed to let you pay for energy-efficient home improvements such as underfloor heating, double glazing and solid wall insulation from the 'savings' you make on energy bills. It's complex, so see our Green Deal Mythbusting guide to decide if it could help you. | | | | | | | 8. | Free £150 insulation for some (quick). The days of free insulation for all have gone, but some pensioners and others on certain benefits can still get Loft & Cavity Wall Insulation for nothing. | | | | | 9. | Slash £100/yr off boiler cover costs. Don't mistakenly think you need to use your energy provider's cover. Use uSwitch's* comparison to cut costs, though there are a few it misses. For full info on those and whether you even need a policy, see our Cheap Boiler Cover guide. | | | | | 10. | Don't walk around in your boxers. Two things make bills cheaper, a better rate and using less energy. It's amazing how many pay heftily to chunk up the thermostat while barely dressed. Change your instincts. If it's cold, wear a jumper. Dropping the heat one degree can save £60/yr. Plus simple tips such as "make a sausage dog draft insulator" slash bills. | |
More info in the Cheap Gas & Elec guide. |
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Free help & templates: Reclaim PPI |
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| The Ones Not To Miss | Wed 13 Mar 2013 |
Free £100 now avail to MILLIONS more
First Direct, easily the top customer service bank (& offers switchers £100) slashes min income threshold Another week of banking dismality as NatWest/RBS again left many without cash. Others have rubbish records too, just think Libor & PPI. So why not ditch 'em as the bank switching price war's hotting up... All require a credit check.  £100 & top service now only needs £13,600/yr income. It's smashed every customer service poll we've ever done (91% great) and gives switchers £100. Yet First Direct's* always been exclusive, requiring £1,500+/mth income to get it free - equivalent to a £23,100/yr salary. Yesterday, it announced a big change.
From 1 April, this drops to £1,000/mth, which combined with April tax changes is equiv to a £13,600/yr salary. No need to delay though - it tells us there's no problem switching now, as the first pay-in won't be required till April. See the full First Direct review.- 5% interest and 0% overdraft from a BUILDING SOCIETY. Nationwide's FlexDirect* (min £1,000/mth) is taking on the banks, paying 5% in-credit interest (on first £2,500) with a year's 0% overdraft. Full FlexDirect review.
- Get 3% on savings and 3% cashback on bills. Santander 123* (min £500/mth) pays 3% AER on the whole balance if you've £3k-£20k. Plus pay by direct debit and it pays up to 3% cashback on many bills, earning many £10+/mth, dwarfing its £2 monthly fee (avoid its overdraft). Full Santander 123 review & all Top Bank Accounts.
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Say code word in Body Shop for £3 FREEBIES. Gets £3 no-min spend credit; so stuff under £3 is free. Body Shop Kindle Fire tablet £89. A full colour tablet (don't confuse with the e-reader), usually about £129. Kindle Deals Free Guinness or Baileys in March (for St Patrick's Day). Voucher valid at all Pitcher & Pianos. Free Guinness Huge HMV 2for1 sale predicted Fri. ALL "blue cross" items, incl Bose speakers. Updates: HMV 2for1 |
Top gold buying sites - 'I made £970 from old gold'
New MSE undercover investigation finds the best places to safely sell old gold for max cash TV ads yell "sell old gold for cash." Yet many are kicked in the crown jewels as they get a fraction of the promised price. Amid the scrap, though, are shining examples. Our updated Top Gold Selling Sites takes you through it. Here's a nugget.  'I got £970 for broken gold.' Sell the right way, and like forumite Happypig, you could strike, er, gold: "I sent some old chains, earrings & rings - mostly 9ct, mostly broken. Your top site offered £970, almost double my £520 high st quote."
- MSE undercover investigation. Horror stories abound in this unregulated industry. So we bought 10 identical 9ct gold bracelets, got prices, then sent them to 10 gold buyers. The offers ranged from £8 to £52. Worse, some delivered far less cash than they promised. See full results and our top picks in Gold Buying Sites - Who Pays Most.
- 5 tips for max ker-ching for your bling. 1) Rummage for your scrap. Even old gold tooth crowns can sell. 2) Don't send jewellery with gemstones - they only pay for gold. 3) Live in London or B'ham? Try specialist gold hubs. 4) Posh branded jewellery, gold coins & medals often get more eBayed or with specialists, than as scrap. 5) Beware gold parties - finance is best done sober. These are just the start - see the Gold Selling guide for more.
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| £2 for £10 mega-garden seed bundles, incl delivery. MSE Blagged. Herbs & veg or salad leaves. Cheap Seeds Is Tesco's new price promise better than Sainsbury's, Ocado and Asda? Tesco's big change is that you get the voucher automatically, without needing to claim. Full info in Supermarket Price Promises Compared. Up to 60% off in M&S, George, New Look, etc new spring sales
M&S up to 50% off | New Look up to 60% off | Burton up to 50% off | Oasis up to 50% off | George up to 50% off
Monsoon up to 50% off | Wallis up to 50% off | Dorothy Perkins up to 30% off | Full list: High Street Sales Brantano shoes 30% code - incl Clarks kids, Nike and more. Until Sunday, you're a shoe-in. Brantano Deals
Totally FREE £2 Amazon MP3 credit. Via limited number of codes. See TuneChecker. 2 x specs £23. Combine two deals for prescription specs, incl frames, lenses and delivery. See Cheap Glasses. 500 free Boots points with £1 spend. Code gets points worth £5 for new Treat Street customers. Boots Deals 500 pairs of 'free' £32 Cake & Bake Show tix (£2.50 p&p). MSE Blagged. Manchester. Cake & Bake Show |
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50 overseas travel tricks. New guide
Heading abroad or planning to? Don't wing it, we've combined all our tips in one speedy cost-slashing guide It's one of the great glories of MoneySaving: building up cash for sun, ski or cities overseas. Our new 50 Overseas Travel Tips checklist is built to land extra savings at every stage. Here's your starter for 10. Havana good trip...  - Free app turns phone into a local sat nav for 30 countries. Download before you go.
- If you go away 2+ times a year, it's often cheaper to get annual travel ins from £16.
- To grab the best plane seats, use special sites to discover if 18E beats 19C.
- Think early about travel plugs/accessories. Buy at pound shops, not at costly airport prices.
- Don't trust the hotel star system. It isn't standardised worldwide and is often based on facilities rather than quality, so check independent reviews.
- For PERFECT exchange rates in every country, regular holidaymakers should bag the top overseas spending card.
- Always take a VALID free EHIC in the EU. Check your card's expiry date and NEVER pay.
- Don't be confused. Only liquid's banned through airport security, not food, so you can take a plane picnic.
- Never change cash at airports. Rates plummet as you're a captive customer. Use our TravelMoneyMax comparison.
- Don't needlessly buy new suncream, open ones can still work for up to two years. Check how long yours lasts.
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| Charles Tyrwhitt shirts £10 off £30 | Ruby & Ed 15% with free del. MSE Blagged. See all Discount Codes. New joint top easy access cash ISA. Now both Cheshire BS and Santander Direct ISA pay 2.5% easy access variable. Full info & more options in Best Cash ISAs. Coming next week: Full top 10 cash ISA tips, before the tax year ends. 5 Plain Lazy t-shirts for £30. MSE Blagged. Mix 'n' match men's, women's & kids' tees. RRP £65-£110. Plain Lazy |
NEW rights to cancel gym contracts
Do you pay for a gym? When did you last go? Save pounds if you can't lose them - don't waste £100s or £1,000s Many January gym starters don't last as long as the Christmas turkey - but keep paying. Take this confessional tweet we got: "Paid for 3 yrs' gym at £69/mth. I went twice." That's £1,240 a workout. Yet thankfully, it's just got easier to cancel...  Be honest, do you use it? Many keep unused membership out of guilt. If you never go, either start, or stop wasting cash. Use the Demotivator to see its real cost.- New cancellation rights. After an OFT probe, David Lloyd, Fitness First and Bannatyne's now let you cancel mid-contract if you CAN'T use the gym (eg, illness/redundancy/moving home) - but they could still slap you with a charge. They should also be upfront about 'rolling contracts', so you know when you can exit. Other gyms are expected to follow. See Gym Cancellation Rights.
- Want to use the gym? You needn't lock in. Always try your gym first - see our full list of up to 7-day free gym passes. Then there are pay-as-you-go gym passes, even for posh gyms. Or if you don't need a sauna, jacuzzi or a toned instructor, there are now many £10/mth no-frills gyms, with good MoneySavers' feedback.
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| £19.50 Great Expectations tix (usually £45ish). MSE Blagged. Play in London's West End. Great Expectations Forum Hottie. Viners 16pc cutlery sets £5. RRP up to £60, del £4. Forumites say it's a cut-lery above. Viners Deals Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam £14 coach return. Mon-Thu & Sat, travel till 30 May. See Cheap Coach Deals.
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Restaurant vouchers | Discount vouchers & sales | Top deals |
| The Moneysaving community |
 CAMPAIGN OF THE WEEK:
Swap Fags for Swag on No Smoking Day
Today (Weds) is No Smoking Day. Find out how you can save (poss £10,000s over a lifetime), check for local offers & get quitting tips on the British Heart Foundation's WeQuit website. Related: Stop Smoking, 'I Quit' blog. Suggest a campaign: This is for MSE to support work by other charities, groups and campaigners. Send your campaign of the week suggestion. BOOK GIVEAWAY RESULT:
How to be an Everyday Kitchen Magician. 25 blagged for MoneySavers. Find out if you got one. MONEY MORAL DILEMMA:
Boarding pass blunder - who should pay?
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... I recently went abroad with friends. One booked and printed all the boarding passes, but didn't realise mine had my initial, not full name. I didn't notice either, but was stopped at the gate and couldn't fly. I was left alone to book and pay for the next flight. Should my friend pay half the cost? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should my friend pay for my new flight? | Suggest an MMD | View Past MMDs THE GREAT HUNT:
What are your easy MoneySaving DIY tips?
Masking tape on skirting boards is an obvious one, but what other tricks do you use to make DIY easier, cheaper and less time-consuming? We want MoneySavers' collective knowledge to help those wishing to spruce up, add value to or revamp their homes. Share yours/read others': Top tips for DIY Past topics: View all CHEAP FLIGHT SALES ALERT:
Airline: Aer Lingus Sale: Up to 25% off Ends: Thu 21 Mar 2013
Our pick this week is Aer Lingus's up to 25% off sale. It's for flights from 14 UK airports to Ireland between Mon 1 Apr and Wed 23 Oct 2013. The discount is applied before taxes and charges. We found flights from Edinburgh to Dublin for £34.99. To find flights quickly, use the FlightChecker on a £50 one-way max search. Extra charges warning: Avoid payment and check-in charges - see the Budget Airline Fee Fighting guide. Related: Cheap Flights, Cheap Hotels, Spending Abroad, Cheap Currency, Travel Insurance back to top ↑ |
Quick forum tips | Freebies |
Martin's blogs | Martin's appearances 14 March
Daybreak, ITV, 7.35-7.45am.
Deals of the Week. | 14 March
Shelagh Fogarty, Radio 5, 12-1pm.
Consumer Panel.
Listen to past shows. | 18 March
This Morning, ITV, 11am-12pm.
Green Deal. | 15, 17, 18 March
Ideal Home Show, 12pm on 15 & 17 Mar, 2pm on 18 Mar, at Earl's Court, London.
Martin giving a talk. |
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MSE team corner - Team appearances:
- No team appearances this week
| Board of the week The In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving Board Share advice and tips on MoneySaving around the home. Discussions include How to dispose of unneeded detergent, Bed length and Getting previous owners' letters - 3 years on. | Cheap travel money | UK's Best Currency Rates |
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| £100 will buy you: |
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| Best | Worst |
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 | € | 113.51 | 103.73 |  | $ | 147.76 | 135.20 |  | TL | 261.00 | 239.29 | | Rates correct at 4pm Tue | Find all top currency rates
Compare travel cash |
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This week's poll: Which are the best airlines? If you've used any of these major airlines that operate from the UK in the past TWO YEARS, please rate them great, OK or poor for customer service.
Select as many or as few as you want to rate by following these links: | Poll resultsWhich TV ads should be banned?
You thought payday loan and gambling ads were more harmful than tobacco ads, which have been banned for decades.
- 94% think payday loan ads should be banned altogether.
- 87% think gambling ads should be banned altogether.
- 86% think tobacco ads should remain banned everywhere.
9,976 voted. See the full results. |
Question of the week Q: I have purchased and loaded up a prepaid Mastercard from Thomas Cook for my holiday in Florida this September. It's a good way to save up money, but is it safe if the firm goes bust before I go? Emma, by email. MSE Sally's A: Many prepaid cards are backed by a bank or building society. If the company providing the card goes bust, then the issuing bank or building society is liable for your cash. If Thomas Cook goes bust, as the card is issued by UK-registered Raphaels Bank, a small private bank, it'd have to pay up. However, if the bank or building society providing the card goes bust - Raphaels in this instance - your money is NOT protected (it doesn't count as savings). For alternative ways to pay abroad, see the Top Overseas Spending guide. Please suggest a question of the week (we can't reply to individual emails). |
 Archna's free game of the week: Colour Tanks |
How many words can you type per minute - can you beat Martin? We've found a Fast Fingers Typing Test and Martin's been boasting he's the fastest typist in MSE Towers at 90 words per minute, but he's disqualified touch-typers saying that's cheating (perks of being the boss). Can you beat him? We hope you save some money, Martin & the MSE team |
| Important. Please read how MoneySavingExpert.com works We think it's important you understand the strengths and limitations of this email and the site. We're a journalistic website, and aim to provide the best MoneySaving guides, tips, tools and techniques - but can't promise to be perfect, so do note you use the information at your own risk and we can't accept liability if things go wrong.
What you need to know This info does not constitute financial advice, always do your own research on top to ensure it's right for your specific circumstances - and remember we focus on rates not service. We don't as a general policy investigate the solvency of companies mentioned, how likely they are to go bust, but there is a risk any company can struggle and it's rarely made public until it's too late (see the section 75 guide for protection tips). We often link to other websites, but we can't be responsible for their content. Always remember anyone can post on the MSE forums, so it can be very different from our opinion.
Please read the Full Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, how this site is financed and Editorial Code. Martin Lewis is a registered trade mark belonging to Martin S Lewis. MSE, Money Saving Expert, MoneySavingExpert and Moneysavingexpert.com are registered trade marks belonging to MoneySavingExpert.com Limited. More about MoneySaving Expert and Martin Lewis What is MoneySavingExpert.com?
Founded in February 2003, it's now the UK's biggest consumer help website with over 6 million people getting this email and nearly 10m using the site. In September 2012 it became part of the MoneySupermarket Group PLC. Its focus is simple: how to save cash and fight for financial justice on anything and everything. The site has over 30 full time staff about half 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 set up and runs MSE, he's an ultra-focused money saving journalist and consumer campaigner. He has regular slots on Daybreak, Lorraine, Radio 2 Vine, BBC1 Watchdog, Radio 5 Consumer panel and presents ITV Tonight. He is a columnist for amongst others the Sunday Post as well as an author. More info: See Martin Lewis' biog What do the links with a * mean? Any links with a * 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 product at all and the editorial line (the things we write) isn't changed due to it. 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:
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