Wednesday, November 6, 2013

£5/mth Sim, £20 Ramada rooms, car ins DOWN 12%, Nails Inc ‘freebie’, £23 FitFlops, £15 off £60 food shop, 5% Xmas cashback, 30mths 0% debt shift

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Martin Lewis

MoneySavingExpert.com weekly email

Cutting your costs, fighting your corner Martin's Money Tips Wed 6 Nov 2013
Cards Reclaim Shopping Deals Utilities Banking Travel Insurance Mortgages Income

This week

How to pay £5/mth for your mobile
Car ins DOWN 12% - jump ship
Use plastic? Are you losing £100s?
Reclaim PPI for FREE (5m templates)
£20 Ramada sale - incl Xmas/NY
Free £11 Nails Inc in £2 mag
HOT Tesco 'free' 6mth delivery deal
Ban payday loan ads on kids' TV
90% off books flash sale
Starbucks 2for1 Xmas drinks
Codes: Gap 25%, Jones Bootmaker 25%, Debenhams 20% & more
Longest EVER 30mths 0% debt shift
Cheap solicitor drafted wills
£15 off £60 on food shopping
Argos 3for2 toys sale
25% code gets £23 Fitflops
15% beauty code, incl YSL
Call of Duty: Ghosts £33 (RRP £54)
Vouchers Index: Restaurants / Shopping
Best Buys: 0% cards | Car insurance
Best Buys: Gas & Elec | Bank Accs

MARTIN'S QUICK BRIEFING: For more tips, alerts & awful puns, follow Martin on Twitter

WINTER IS COMING... prepare now!
10 urgent things to consider to keep winter chills and costs at bay

Don't wait until we're knee-deep in white stuff to sort winter bills. This is a Stark reminder to prepare now to stop your finances going to The Wall (apologies those who don't watch Game of Thrones). Here are the must-dos...

1. Free loft insulation and even boilers (for some). While the loft insulation free-for-all's ended; for some on sub £16k-ish incomes, income-related benefits or pension credit, energy providers give Free Boilers & Insulation (typically worth £2,000 & £300). You don't need to be their customer.

Alternatively, 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 Mythbuster to decide if it could help you.
2. Another cheap energy fix has been pulled - ACT NOW. Every energy customer who hasn't acted, check now. BG, Npower, Scottish Power & SSE have announced imminent 9%ish price hikes - the others are likely to follow, and since last week, another top cheap fix has been pulled.

- Why fix? Do a normal comparison and you'll likely switch to a provider that hasn't yet hiked. Instead, a fixed tariff locks down your rate so it can't be hiked. Many can do this, save £100s and get price certainty for the longer term. Swhiteley tweeted:

"Thanks, just saved over £300/yr on my energy - genius. #smug"


- Go for no exit fees for safety. On the rare off-chance that politicians deliver their promises to cut bills, a no-exit penalty tariff means you're free to leave if it's cheaper elsewhere.

- Always COMPARE (& get extra cashback). Your winner depends on location and use. Our special Cheap Energy Club Top Pick Fixes Comparison shows your prices for the top picks in the table below, and gives £30 cashback if it can fix you (more cashback options in Cheap Gas & Elec).

Top 'NO EXIT FEE FIXES' for typical usage. Not prepay.
Fixed until Exit fee Cost/yr
Estimated costs on standard tariff POST-hike - - £1,550
Typical standard tariff (pre-hike price) - - £1,420
Longest: Npower*
31 Dec 2017 None £1,370
Long & cheap: EDF*
31 Mar 2017 None £1,340
Cheapest: Npower* 30 April 2015 None £1,200
Cheapest variable (subject to price rises) - - £1,120
(1) Quarterly bills. Source: Ofgem. Others avg mthly direct debit. Varies by region.
3. winter is comingPaying energy bills by monthly direct debit up to 6% cheaper. If possible, this will mean discounted bills. Though always do regular meter readings for accuracy, as your bill is estimated. If too high, you have a right to ask for it to be lowered. See Direct Debit Rights.
4. Got electricity only or Economy 7? You can still save. With electricity only, all the fixed options above still work, see MSE Top Elec Fixes Comparison. With Economy 7, it's trickier, read our full Economy 7 - Is It Worth It? guide.
5. Can you find your stop 'male chicken'? If I used the correct term, this'd be in your spam box. Winter frozen pipe bursts can create an average £7,000 of damage, often worsened as many scrabble round searching for their stop-uh-hmm (the mains water off switch) for ages as their home floods. Don't wait for an emergency, ensure you know How To Turn Your Water Off.
6. Cut boiler cover costs by £100s. Many energy firms use our fear of losing heating to charge hefty insurance costs. Yet you needn't stick with your energy provider's boiler cover. Tips in our Cheap Boiler Cover guide incl...

a) If you rent, your landlord's likely to be responsible for the boiler. Check.
b) Decide if you want boiler-only, or central heating cover too. Compare via uSwitch* and add Energyhelpline* & MoneySupermarket* if time.
c) Add in Green Insurance, E.on, Direct Line & Swinton* that they miss.
7. Choosing between heating and eating? Get help now. Energy price hikes mean more homes will face this desperate choice. If that's you...

a). If anyone in your home was born pre 5 Jan 1952, you're due up to £300 tax-free winter fuel payments (newbies may need to register). Plus ANYONE on specific income support/jobseekers' allowances or pension credit gets £25 for every 7 days it's sub-0 C. See Winter Fuel & Cold Weather.

b) If you're seriously behind, or in general financial hardship, you may be eligible for special tariffs/help. Try the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99 and also our Housing & Energy Grants & Debt Help guides.
8.
Got a car? Do you need breakdown assistance? The consequences of winter breakdowns are much worse than the rest of the year, but modern cars are pretty reliable. For peace of mind, if you're on the road a lot, you can get breakdown cover for £21 or £39 full cover.
9. Myth-busting: Is it cheaper to leave the heating on all day? Not according to the Energy Saving Trust. It says it's far better to have your heating on only when needed. There's also little point painting radiators black. See full 15 Energy Saving Mythbusters.
10. Don't walk around in your knickers. Obviously using less energy cuts bills too. Many pay heftily by notching up the thermostat while barely dressed. So check out the Energy Saving Trust plus these forum discussions...

- Winter Prep: Swap tips with forum Old-Stylers on getting ready thriftily.
- Thrifty Ways To Keep Homes Warm, eg, DIY sausage dog draft excluders.
- Energy Saving Hunt: Read our forumites' top energy saving tips.

PS. Next Tuesday I've what we think's TV's earliest ever Xmas special. It's not about early celebrations, but most of the serious ways to have a better day for less are long gone by Dec. The Martin Lewis Money Show, ITV, 8pm 12 Nov.

Blagged for MoneySavers

Did you miss?

Get permanently cheap energy
Our club ensures you're always on the cheapest tariff.
Join free: Cheap Energy Club
Reclaim PPI for FREE
Claims handlers aren't more successful.
Free help & templates: Reclaim PPI

MSE News

Top story Payday lenders slammed at Select Committee
Do British Airways' hand luggage-only fares beat Easyjet and Ryanair?
Ryanair to charge £5 to pick a seat as it ends free-for-all
Women face missing out on mortgages over child support rules
iPad Air hits the shops - where can Apple fans get deals?
Get friends on board the MoneySaving bandwagon
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Use the Money Mantras If you're skint If you're not skint
The Ones Not To Miss Wed 6 Nov 2013
Pay '£5/mth', get 500 mins, unlimited texts & 1GB data
New hot Sim-only deals. Or £15/mth for unlimited mins, texts and data. Slash mobile costs if out of contract

Mobile firms' 'free handset' deals lure in new customers. Yet if you don't need a new phone and are out of contract, Sim-only deals (you get a Sim card to pop in your existing handset) can be far cheaper. Full help: Cheap Mobiles. Some titbits:

  • sim only Hot Sim-only deals. Match the mins, texts & data to your usage. Get too many & you're paying too much, too few and you risk pricey out-of-bundle costs.

    - £11/mth but get FREE £70 Amazon voucher makes it equiv '£5/mth'. T-Mobile* charges £11/mth for 500 mins, unltd texts, 1GB data & unltd London Tube wi-fi access. It's a 12mth contract. Yet we've blagged a corking code, MSESIMO (live Wed - Sun), which means you get a £70 Amazon voucher on top (excludes T-Mobile custs). Factor as cash and it's equivalent to £5/mth all in.

    - Unlimited for £15/mth: Virgin Mobile (piggybacks on EE network) 99p VIP Sim gives unltd mins, texts & data (though use a huge amount & it slows you) for £15/mth plus it's a rolling 30-day contract. Alternatively, Three*'s £15/mth plan is 2,000 mins, 5,000 texts and unltd data on a 12mth contract and includes free tethering, and 4G from Dec if you've a compatible handset. Also popular for buying bespoke bundles is Giffgaff*.
  • Switching network? Unlock your phone. 1) Pop in a different network's Sim; if it works, great, if there's an error message you need to unlock it. 2) It is TOTALLY LEGAL, it just means it can use any Sim. 3) To do, you'll oft need a code. These are usually free for old phones but you may need to pay £15-£20. Full help: Mobile Unlocking
  • Don't worry - you can keep your number. To transfer or 'port' your old mobile number, just ask for your PAC (Porting Authorisation Code) from your existing provider, then give it to your new one.

Ramada £20 UK rooms (incl Xmas/NY). From Fri. 50k Dec-Jun stays with newspaper vch, can be £150. Ramada

Free £11 Nails Inc + Body Shop £3 gift card in £2 mag
£11 Nails Inc polish & £3 min Body Shop gift card (£2 mag) | £6ish Benefit lipgloss & Kurt Geiger 25% off (£4 mag)
£5 Orly nail polish (£3.60 mag) | £10 Rituals scrub (£3.90 mag) | See all Beauty Deals

Tesco 6mth free deliv pass, costs £60, gets 1,500 pts (worth up to £60). Anytime grocery deliv. Tesco

Ban payday loans from kids' TV. Lenders are grooming a new generation, trying to normalise these loans. 30% of under-10s sing the jingles, 14% nag parents to get them. We're calling on the Govt to Ban Payday Loans From Kids' TV.

Car insurance DOWN more than 12% - jump ship & save!
Big savings possible even if you're not at renewal. Especially for many under-40s and those who auto-renewed

Car insurance premiums have dropped 12.4% in a year according to the AA Index, more for those aged 23 to 39. So whether you're at renewal or not, check now if you can save like forumite khsaunderson - "Checked as suggested, and my car insurance fell by over £400. THANKS!".

  • Car InsurancePaying too much? Find cheapest NOW, even if not at renewal. If the tips show you can insure for less, provided you've not claimed since you renewed/got the policy, you're usually due a pro-rata refund for the rest of the policy, though you'll usually pay a £25-£50 exit fee (so check) and won't earn your no claims for the year. Yet if the saving is large, it can be worth it.
  • Step 1: Get the cheapest quote at speed. Not all comparison sites are equal, they look at different insurers. Combine as many as you've time for. This month's order: a) Gocompare*, Google*, & MoneySup*. Full info in our Cheap Car Insurance guide.
  • Step 2: Check the deals comparison sites miss. Two big, sometimes competitive, insurers aren't included by comparisons, so check Aviva* & Direct Line* too. Plus use code PMWTDR663 to get £40 cashback with Swinton*.
  • Step 3: Tricks to cut costs further. It isn't just about the policy, what you quote for counts too, including:
    a) Try adding a responsible older driver as 2nd driver. Faevouritexox tweeted us: As a new driver, my insurance wanted £5,000. Adding mum & dad dropped it to £1,900." It doesn't always work, so use trial and error.
    b) Don't assume 3rd party's cheapest. Selecting comp makes some insurers consider you lower risk. Check both.
    c) More than one car in the home? Comparison sites can't deal with this, so manually check Admiral MultiCar* plus Churchill*, Direct Line* and Privilege*, which also do multi-car discounts.
    d) For young drivers, if all else fails, try pay-as-you-go telematics policies. See the Young Drivers' Car Ins guide.

Up to 90% off books 1wk FLASH sale & more. Starts Fri. It's hush-hush, but titles incl 75% off Mary Berry & Jamie Oliver. Book People

Starbucks 2for1 Xmas drinks. On festive coffees (2pm-5pm, Fri-Mon), no voucher needed. Starbucks

CODES... Gap 25% code, Jones Bootmaker 25%, Debenhams 20%, etc...
Gap 25% off code | Jones Bootmaker 25% off + free del | Kurt Geiger 25% off in mag
Debenhams 20% off | Tesco F&F Clothing £5 off £25 | Karen Millen 20% off | Full list: Discount Vouchers

Reminder. New largest ever 30mth 0% debt shift. Accepted new Barclaycard Plat* customers can shift an existing balance to it and pay 0% for 30mths, with a 2.9% fee. If you can repay quicker, Lloyds* gives 24mths 0% with just a 1.5% fee. Repay before 0% ends or they're 18.9% & 17.9% rep APR. FULL options in Best Balance Transfers, plus Will You Get It? tools. (APR Examples).

Do you pay with plastic? It could cost you £100s
Millions throw cash away using credit or debit cards that don't reward them. Now's the PERFECT TIME to change

If you use bog-standard cards, cash or cheques, you're missing out. Credit card firms earn from retailers when you use 'em - some pay it as cashback, so repay IN FULL to avoid interest and you may gain £100s a year plus extra protection.

  • cashback cardsTop card: 5% cashback on ALL Christmas & sales spend. The Amex Plat Everyday* card (no fee) pays 5% on everything for 3 mths (max £100 back) and up to 1.25% after. So apply now and the big cashback's in the high-spend Xmas & NY sales period. Fail to fully repay and it's 19.9% rep APR. See Top Cashback Cards.
  • Top for drivers: 3% fuel cashback. Santander 123* pays 3% on up to £300/mth petrol, diesel, rail & Tube spending; 2% in dept stores; 1% supermarkets & till 31 Jan, 1% at Amazon. There's a £24/yr fee (refunded if you've a 123 bank account - gives cashback on bills), but it can pay large if you've decent petrol spend. Fail to fully repay & it's 18.9% interest on spending (22.8% rep APR).
  • Can you get one? Use our Cashback Cards Eligibility Checker. It shows your likelihood of being accepted for each card using a 'soft search' which, unlike applying, doesn't leave a mark on your credit file that lenders can see.
  • New. 4% cashback poor-credit card. Two credit cards allow some with past CCJs/defaults to get them too. Luma (not in Eligibility Checker) is good, giving 4% on fuel & supermarket spends, but it caps cashback at £9/mth. Cap One Classic Extra* is 0.5% on everything, plus £10/yr if well managed. Yet at hideous 35.9% and 34.9% rep APRs respectively, please repay IN FULL or gains are wiped. Full info: Credit Rebuild Cards
  • The golden rules. 1) Always repay IN FULL, pref by direct debit to avoid interest. 2) Never withdraw cash. 3) Use for ALL spending to max gain but it's not an excuse to overspend. See Cashback Cards & APR Examples.

Bag a cheap, solicitor-drafted will. Nov is Will Aid month, so anyone can get a solicitor-drafted will by donating a suggested £90 (far cheaper than it'd normally cost) to one of 9 charities, but it gets booked fast. See Free & Cheap Wills.

£15 off £60 weekly food shopping code. Unless you're already a Sainsbury's online shopper, use this code to get a whack off this week's food shopping - then you could just go back to your normal supermarket. See Grocery Code.

Argos 3for2 toys. Over 5,000 toys, including bikes, in the sale. Starts today (Wed). See Argos Deals.

Click the titles for full info and all our top picks
Balance Transfers Car Insurance Cheap Loans Top Cash ISAs
Longest 0%: Barclaycard*
30mths 0%, 2.9% fee

(18.9% rep APR)

Low fee 0%: Lloyds*
24mths 0%, 1.5% fee

(17.9% rep APR)
Get quotes in this order...

Gocompare*
Google*
Direct Line*
Aviva*
Admiral MultiCar*

Sainsbury's* (£5k - £7.5k)
6.3% rep APR



Sainsbury's* (£7.5k - £15k)
4.9% rep APR

Post Office* 1.8% AER
Min £100, incl bonus
Post/branch. Transfers allowed

Virgin Money 1.75% AER
Min £1, no bonus
Online. Transfers allowed

See Card APR Examples & Loan APR Examples

25% code on reduced footwear, eg, £23 FitFlops, £30 Converse. MSE Blagged. Discount at Cloggs.

15% code on beauty brands, eg, Lancome, YSL. MSE Blagged. Feel Unique code gets reductions. Feel Unique

Reclaim PPI for FREE
A milestone: our 5 millionth template's been downloaded. People have got £billions back at no cost. Are you due?

Banks have set aside a gargantuan amount (Lloyds alone's now £8bn) to repay money gained through systemic lies and mis-selling. It's boosted the economy by putting money in people's hands. Can you Reclaim PPI For Free? Here's how...

  • reclaim ppi Check all loans, credit cards, overdrafts & even mortgages. While cards and loans are the big ones, some were mis-sold PPI on a raft of products including overdrafts, car loans, catalogue debt or even paid-monthly insurance. Andy tweeted us: "I never knew it was on current accounts, but my bank paid £5,000." It's worth checking.
  • What counts as mis-selling? They needed to ensure it was right for you when you got it. Common mis-selling techniques: 1) They lied that it was compulsory. 2) They added it without asking. 3) They sold unemployment cover when you were self-employed/a student/retired. 4) They failed to warn of pre-existing conditions that were excluded. See our Mis-selling Checklist.
  • How to claim for free. Avoid using a claims company, or you lose typically 30% of your cash. Remember two things: 1) First complain by letter/phone to your bank explaining in plain, normal language why you were mis-sold. 2) If they reject you - don't worry, you've a right to go to the FREE Financial Ombudsman Service, which upholds 70% of PPI claims (remember, those are ones banks have turned down). See How To Reclaim.
  • Got a question? We've answered it. Almost every question we're ever asked is already answered in 60 PPI Q&As. Give it a go, including: 1) I've no paperwork. 2) Can I claim if the debt's repaid? 3) Can I claim for a deceased relative? 4) Can bank use my payout to clear my debts? 5) Do I pay tax?, and many more. Give it a try.

Cheapest Call of Duty: Ghosts £33. RRP £54. Full round-up of how to get the cheapest deals: Call of Duty

FREE pint for forces personnel/veterans | 2,000 poppies £2. Remembrance Day: Forces personnel going to Ember Inns on Sun get a pint (not Scot). And a Poppy-ular Deal: 2,000 poppy seeds £2 all-in & 30p to British Legion.

60-piece Ferrero Rocher pyramid £12.50 (usually £25). Now we're really spoiling you. Ooh, ambassador.

MSE job opp: Deals researcher. Full time role, based in London. See MSE Jobs.

Click the titles for full info and all our top picks
Gas & Electricity Bank Accounts Home Insurance Landlines
Compare, switch & get cashback

Cheap Energy Club
£30 dual fuel

Energyhelpline*
£15 per switch

MoneySupermarket*
£30 dual fuel

uSwitch*
£40 wine voucher

First Direct*
£100 bonus and top cust service


Santander 123*
Up to 3% cashback on bills

(£2 per month fee)
Get quotes in this order...

Confused.com*
Compare The Market*
Direct Line*
Aviva*

Post Office*
with weekend calls
£10/mth (pay a yr upfront)



BT Line Rental Saver*
£11.75/mth (pay a yr upfront)
Do a Money Makeover Budget Planner MSE car sticker £15 Travel Insurance

Restaurant vouchers

Discount vouchers

Top deals

The Moneysaving community
The MoneySaving Community

CAMPAIGN OF THE WEEK
'Check it, don't regret it' when you buy a used car

Used cars are the single biggest problem reported to Citizens Advice's consumer service. For National Consumer Week, it's teaming up with Trading Standards to warn: if you're buying a used car, check it, don't regret it. Ask before buying - is it safe? Is it legal? Is it what you want? Tell us your used car catastrophes: Driving Me Crazy

BOOK GIVEAWAY
Rome travel guide.
25 blagged for MoneySavers. Find out if you got one.

MONEY MORAL DILEMMA
Dogs destroyed neighbour's signed ball. Should we replace it?
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... Our neighbour's son kicked his football into our garden and our three dogs destroyed it. Apparently the ball was signed by Wayne Rooney and valuable. We were out, our dogs get into the back garden via a dog flap. The neighbour's threatened us with court unless we pay for a new signed ball. Yet we've 6ft fences and the dogs are contained. I'd happily pay for a replacement (but unsigned) ball. But as he's threatening, I feel like ignoring him. Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should I replace signed football? | Suggest an MMD | View Past MMDs

THE GREAT HUNT
Bit on the side... revisited
No, not THAT - we mean your income. In 2006, we tapped MoneySavers for legal ways to make a bit of extra cash (eg, eBay, second jobs, etc). So much has changed since then, we want to find out how you top up your income now. Share yours/read others': Income boosts Past topics: View all

CHEAP FLIGHT SALES ALERT
Airline: Aer Lingus Price: From £26.99 Ends: 30 Apr 2014
This week's pick is Aer Lingus's from £26.99 sale. It's for flights to Ireland from 15 UK airports between 1 Dec 2013 and 30 Apr 2014, incl some taxes & charges. We found Newcastle-Dublin flights for £29.99. To find flights quickly, use the FlightChecker on a £30 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 Ins

THE GREAT HUNT... REVEALED
Tips for travelling solo... revisited

Outrageously, some hotels have refused forumites double rooms to stay in on their own. But you can avoid this by staying at hostels where possible and booking with tour companies that don't enforce a surcharge. Most recommend steering clear of package holidays, and booking travel and accommodation separately instead.

Quick forum tips

Freebies

Martin's blogs

Martin's appearances

7 November
Daybreak, ITV, 7.35am-7.45am.
Deals of the Week.
7 November
Shelagh Fogarty, Radio 5 Live, 12pm-1pm.
Consumer Panel.
Listen to past shows.
8 November
This Morning, ITV, 10.30am-12.30pm.
Money Talks with Martin Lewis.
Bez faces Martin in the vault.
11 November
This Morning, ITV, 11am-12pm.
Subject tbc.
12 November
The Martin Lewis Money Show Christmas Special, ITV, 8pm-9pm.
The Twelve Saves of Christmas.

MSE team corner

Discussion of the week

How do you wash up?

Even the most ardent MoneySavers need a helping hand from time to time. We're talking washing-up in the How do you do things? discussion - how do you get it done while minimising waste? Join the forum to have your say.

Cheap travel money

UK's Best Currency Rates
£100 will buy you:
Best Worst
Euro Flag 117.90 107.07
US Flag $ 159.01 145.13
Turkish Flag TL 314.06 283.97
Rates correct at 4pm Tue
Find all top currency rates
Compare travel cash

This week's poll: Which firms have you haggled best with on the phone?

Digital TV, broadband, credit cards, insurance and more. It's possible to haggle with call centres across the UK - whether for cheaper prices, better deals or reduced interest.

Which firms have you tried to haggle with IN THE LAST YEAR? (Below is a selection of major providers. Click through to see the full list and vote.)


BT Vodafone
Sky AA
EE HSBC
O2 Lloyds
T-Mobile NatWest/ RBS
Three Santander

Poll results

Should the TV licence fee be scrapped?
Just over 40% of voters would happily see the BBC funded by ads, while just under a third think the licence fee should be kept as it is.

- 42% would have the BBC take ads.
- 31% think the licence fee should be left alone.
- 14% support it, but think it's too costly.
- 7% think the BBC should be on subscription.

20,725 voted. See the full results.

Question of the week

Q: I've just cleared one of my credit cards, but I've debts on others. Would it be better for my credit rating to close it, keep it open and unused, or use it instead of my debit card and pay it off monthly? Quidsy, via forum.

MSE Helen S's A: This question is complicated by the fact you have debts on other cards. Most lenders these days are looking for two main things when they assess someone's credit rating. The first is that you're making regular repayments of what you owe, on time. The second is whether you have 'spare borrowing capacity'.

Lenders don't like to lend to applicants maxed out on other credit. They take it as a sign you're desperate, and perhaps struggling to keep control of your finances. You're paying off other debts, so you're already taking care of a good schedule of repayments.

Therefore, it's likely to be best you keep the paid-off card open and unused. This'll keep you further away from maxing out your total available credit. It's best to be using 25% or less of the credit available to you, so aim for this. Find out more in Should I Cancel Old Cards?

Please suggest a question of the week (we can't reply to individual emails).

 Debs' free game of the week: Stacko

Disembodied Barbie jewellery - creative or weird?

That's it for this week, but before you go, check out this interesting jewellery collection. Our forumites are renowned for reusing old or tired items in new and imaginative ways, but we don't think anyone's ever had the clever (if slightly weird) idea to make jewellery from Barbie's body parts.

We hope you save some money,

Martin & the MSE team

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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

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npower.com, my.edfenergy.com, uswitch.com, energyhelpline.com, moneysupermarket.com, greeninsurancecompany.co.uk, homeenergyservices.co.uk, directline.comswinton.co.uk, store.three.co.uk, giffgaff.com, gocompare.com, google.co.uk, aviva.co.uk, admiral.com, churchill.com, privilege.com, barclaycard.co.uk, lloydsbank.com, americanexpress.com/uk, santander-products.co.uk, capitalone.co.uk, sainsburysbank.co.uk, bank.virginmoney.com, discover.firstdirect.com, confused.com, comparethemarket.com, productsandservices.bt.com.

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