Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Soap&Glory £27, Converse 10% off sale, bad credit 0%, £10 champers, 'free' PAYG phone, 6% kids' savings, Thorntons 25% code, Bdy Shp 50% code

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Martin Lewis

MoneySavingExpert.com weekly email

Cutting your costs, fighting your corner Martin's Money Tips WED 11 DEC 2013
Cards Reclaim Shopping Deals Utilities Banking Travel Insurance Mortgages Income

This week

6m kids saving in defunct accounts
Bad credit 5mths 0%
Converse 10% off sale, £100 wine £40, free Tastecard, 15%off perfume
Young drivers' car ins DANGER
It's here: Soap & Glory £27 bundle
£10 champagne
Body Shop 50% code + freebie
Naked Wines £40 off £60 code
Free shortbread & Cadbury's
Shift debts to lower-fee 29mths 0%
'Free' Megabus
Kids' annuals £2.50, incl Beano
B'band+phone £14/mth get £50 vch
Thorntons 25% off EVERYTHING
Free PAYG mobile (needs £10 credit)
Student loan sale: should you worry?
Cheapest EVER loan 4.5% APR
Codes: Dotty P 25%, Brantano (incl Clarks, Nike) 30%, White Co 20%
Sainsbury's FLASH currency sale
£48 for a year's Thorpe Park
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

Switch energy now all big six have hiked
Urgently slash £100s off bills before winter cold fires up bills

On Friday, E.on became the last big six provider to announce price hikes, up an average 3.7% on 18 Jan. It joins SSE, British Gas, Scottish Power and Npower, whose rises have already hit, and EDF, which hikes on 3 Jan.

As ALL PRICE HIKES ARE NOW IN OUR ENERGY CLUB COMPARISON, compare now and it's mostly a level playing field. With winter hitting, the sooner you sort it, the sooner your prices are protected. Here's what you need to know...

1. Save £100s and prevent future hikes. A fixed tariff locks in your price for up to 4 years. Bizarrely, some of these are currently the cheapest deals. So check if one saves you and as long as it has no exit penalties, you've BOTH price certainty AND the ability to leave in the hoped-for, but unlikely, event prices drop one day.

- Always COMPARE (& get extra cashback). The table below is based on dual fuel averages, your winner depends on location and use. Use our Cheap Energy Club Top Fixes Comparison to see YOUR PRICE for the deals below. Plus £30 dual fuel cashback if it can switch you.

For inspiration, Mel Baxter emailed us: "Got to say thanks, I'll be saving £800 per year on my dual fuel bill after using Cheap Energy Club."

Top NO EXIT FEE FIXES for typical usage. Not prepay.
Fixed until Exit fee Cost/yr(1)
Estimated avg standard tariffs POST-hike cost - - £1,350
Longest fix: Npower*
31 Dec 2017 None £1,370
Long & cheaper fix : EDF*
31 Mar 2017 None £1,340
Cheap short fix: Npower* 30 April 2015 None £1,200
Cheapest short fix: Co-op* 31 Mar 2015 None £1,170
Fixes assume mthly direct debit. Varies by region. (1). It's not clear across all firms how green cuts will be incorporated, so all prices above DON'T factor it in. Cashback options: Cheap Gas & Elec

- Should I fix long or short? First look at how much you'd save with each fix. Then ask yourself "am I the type of person who'll be an energy tart?" - in other words, you'll keep on top of this and disloyally switch at the end of each deal.

If yes, then bias towards a shorter fix (our Cheap Energy Club will alert you when to switch again). The less likely you are to tart, the more you should hedge towards a long fix which'll stay relatively cheap even if you're inactive.

- Is there a cheaper variable tariff? Minnow Spark Energy has one. But it hasn't raised prices so costs may still jump, it needs paying upfront and service feedback ain't great, so we're ignoring it.

- Can I take a fix with me if I move house? All the fixes above except Co-op are 'portable', meaning you can take them with you if you move.
2. You're saying hikes, the Govt's saying cuts? Eh? The Govt's shouted large about its move to reduce the 'green levies' energy providers pay, but this max £50 saving (about 4% off a typical bill) just reduces the hikes.

Those energy firms who've already raised are up 8-10%, so even after the green cut, they're way UP. EDF & E.on's hikes already include the changes, and they're both still UP 4%-ish.
3. Who's passing on the green cuts? Sadly, not all providers are doing this in full. So if you're comparing, the playing field's not yet fully level. Yet for most, it doesn't skew things enough to delay. Here's what we know so far...

- British Gas: All fixed and variable custs get full £50 cut on 1 Jan (bravo).
- EDF & E.on: Both haven't hiked yet, and say they reduced increases to incorporate the cuts. Those on fixes only likely to drop £12 - dates tbc.
- Npower: Likely to pass on whole £50. Timing undecided - could be a while.
- Scot Power: Full cut passed to new custs. Existing not confirmed.
- SSE. Most of £50 cut passed to variable custs by 31 Mar. Fixed custs tbc.
4. energy billsPrepaid energy meter? You can switch & save. Prepay customers' bills (where you've a key or card) are rising on a par with those on standard meters. While the market's less competitive, some can still save up to £100 a year. Compare at Energyhelpline*, MoneySupermarket* or uSwitch*. Full help including how to move to a 'normal' credit meter in Cut Prepay Costs.
5. Got electricity only? You can still save. With electricity only, all the fixed options above still work, so follow the info in point 1 and use our Top Electricity-Only Fixes Comparison.
6. Monthly direct debit's up to 6% cheaper. This is the cheapest way to pay. Yet it's important to understand what this means. People often confuse the direct debit with the price.

- The price:
This is how much you pay for your standing charge (energy's equivalent of phone line rental) and for each unit of energy used. When you fix, it's these two rates that are locked in.

- The direct debit: This is the amount you pay each month, based on an estimate of your annual usage divided by 12. If the energy firm thinks it's under or over-estimated it can change it, even if you're on a fix. The best way to keep it accurate is to do regular meter readings.

If the direct debit's set too high, you have a right to ask for it to be lowered. See Direct Debit Rights. Yet as we're at the start of winter, you'd currently expect to be somewhat in credit.
7. Got Economy 7 or Economy 10? Is it worth it? If you don't know what Eco 7 is, then it's unlikely you have it. If you're on it, the rough rule of thumb is you need to use 40% of electricity in the cheap period to be worth it.

Our Economy 7 - Is It Worth It? guide will take you through the logic and how to compare. Plus, if you're on Economy 10, having been faced with helping a couple on this during filming for a TV show, I managed to come up with a convoluted but doable way to compare (it's in the Eco 7 guide).
8. Free loft insulation and even £2,000 boilers (for some). For some on sub £16k-ish incomes, income-related benefits or pension credit, energy providers give Free Boilers & Insulation (typically worth £2,000 & £500).

Alternatively, the Green Deal's designed to let you pay for energy-efficient improvements such as underfloor heating and double glazing from the 'savings' you make on energy bills. See our Green Deal Mythbuster.

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 and Debt Help guides.
9. Been shoddily sold an energy tariff? Get £100s back. Scottish Power's been forced to pay £8.5 million to 190,000 customers after telesales and doorstep sales reps mis-sold tariffs. See if you're due money back, then complain via our Energy Mis-selling Compensation guide.
10. 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. Full help in Cheap Boiler Cover including...

a) If you rent, your landlord's likely to be responsible, so check.
b) Decide if you want boiler-only, or central heating cover too. Compare via uSwitch* then add Energyhelpline* and MoneySupermarket* if time.
c) Then add the missed Green Insurance, E.on, Direct Line & Swinton*.

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: Giving gift cards for Christmas? Know your rights
Buying a tablet for Christmas? Don't spend more than you need to
Affected by the UK floods? Tips for claiming on your insurance
Rail fare hike pegged back to 3.1%
Married couples to get tax break
Spread the (MoneySaving) love
If this email's ever helped you, please forward it to friends and suggest they get it via moneysavingexpert.com/tips
Use the Money Mantras If you're skint If you're not skint
The Ones Not To Miss Wed 11 Dec 2013
Is your child's money in a defunct account? Get 3%
Six million kids have now-obsolete Child Trust Funds (CTFs). The Chancellor failed to help, so we're going to try

In last week's Autumn Statement, George Osborne ignored many requests to allow CTFs to be converted into their replacement - junior ISAs. This left millions of children's cash forcibly languishing in uncompetitive accounts, in a market with no innovation. Yet there are still opportunities. All accounts listed below have UK £85k savings safety.

  • children's savingsBoost Child Trust Fund interest to 3% AER. Many CTF savings now pay dismal interest. If your child has one, check now. Money's locked in CTFs until they're 18, but you can transfer it to earn more. The top payer's Yorkshire BS at 3% AER (incl a year's 0.7% bonus). Full help, best buys and how to transfer in Child Trust Funds.
  • Tweet the Chancellor to tell him to sort it. Annoyed your child's cash is in a defunct account? Tweet @George_Osborne about the no-brainer move of allowing them to roll into junior ISAs.
  • Top paying junior ISAs. Under-18s born before Sep 2002 or on or after 3 Jan 2011 can save £3,720 tax-free in junior ISAs during the 2013/14 tax year. Top pick Coventry BS pays 3.25% AER. Full info in Top Junior ISAs.
  • Earn 6% in the top kids' savings account. The best-paying children's account is Halifax's Kids' Regular Saver at a fixed 6% AER, if you pay in £10-£100/mth for a year. While it's not a tax-free account, as most kids don't earn enough to pay tax, that's rarely an issue. Full help and kids' tax explanation in the Top Kids' Savings guide.

Soap & Glory bundle £27 (RRP £60). Starts FRI. You've asked us "when, when, when?" for ages. Now we know. 9 products, incl body lotion & mascara. Boots Soap & Glory. PS. Showing off - our Xmas Deals Predictor nailed it.

£10 champagne. Full best bubbly buys if you're stocking up for New Year. Champagne Deals. Please be Drinkaware.

Body Shop 50% off code + free vitamin E cream Ends Mon. Min spend £10. Body Shop Deals

Naked Wines newbies £40 off £60 code. Cheapest crate's £60 (£5 del). Wine Deals. Be Drinkaware.

Bad credit 5mths 0% card
New short-term interest-free borrowing. Can be used for respite from payday loans and hideous overdraft charges

We've been warning of the danger of Christmas borrowing. Yet being realistic, millions still will. If you must, avoid hideous 5,000%+ APR payday loans or busting your overdraft. Instead: plan carefully, don't overborrow, work out repayments.

  • bad credit cardsTop 0% bad credit cards. The Cap One Classic Complete* gives accepted new cardholders 0% on spending (and for a 3% fee, shifts other card debts) until May. The new Barclaycard Initial* gives 3mths 0% spending and £15 cashback (via this link) if you spend £150 within 3 mths. Both soar to 34.9% rep APR after, so clear by then.

    Will you get one?
    They're designed for those with credit problems, eg, past CCJs, defaults. Our 0% Eligibility Checker shows your odds of getting these & longer deals.
  • How to use them? Cards usually arrive in 7 working days. If you've bad credit, try to avoid new borrowing.

    Use 1: (Re)build credit history. If you've a poor credit history, responsible card use can help rebuild that. Do, say, £50/month of normal spending on the Barclaycard Initial* which will qualify you for the £15 cashback, but preferably repaying IN FULL (certainly from month 3). Full help and alternatives in Credit Rebuild Cards.

    Use 2: Respite from payday loans/overdraft charges. Do normal spending, rather than from your bank account. Money will build in your bank account you can use to reduce an overdraft or meet payday loans. Yet you must carefully budget to clear within 3 months. If trying, please read full Cap One or Barclaycard Initial tips.

    Use 3: Shift other card debts. Only Classic Complete* (of the two) can be used for this. Use the Balance Transfer Eligibility Checker to see if you can get longer deals. After the 0% ends, it's 34.9% rep APR. So if shifting from a cheaper card, either only move what you can afford to repay in the time, or ensure you can shift back after.
  • 0% golden rules. a) Always pay at least the monthly min, else you can lose 0% deals. b) Clear card before the 0% ends. c) Beware withdrawing cash - that's costly, can have extra fees and hit credit scores. See APR Examples.

Also see: Payday Loan Borrowers' Help | Top 0% Spending Credit Cards | Debt Crisis Help | Shift Debts 29mths 0%.

FREE £3 shortbread and (newbies) £2 Cadbury selection box. Via phone app & Co-op. Shop Scan Save

Shift debts to lower fee 29mths 0%. Accepted new Barclaycard Plat* customers can transfer a balance to it for a market-longest 29mths 0%, with a 2.79% fee (lower than it typically has). If you can repay quicker, Lloyds* gives 24mths 0% (1.5% fee). Repay before the 0% ends or they jump to 18.9% and 17.9% rep APR. FULL help and options in Best Balance Transfers (APR Examples).

10,000ish 'free' Mon-Thu Megabus tix. 50p booking fee. Eng and Wales only. Can you find 'em? Cheap Travel

Up to 70% off kids' 2014 annuals. Incl £2.40 Beano, Horrible Histories and Angry Birds (were £8). Stocking Filler

Broadband + line rent equiv £14/mth PLUS £50 high street voucher. MSE Blagged. If you pay £132 upfront. Plusnet newbies only (if need new line, you pay £50). Here's how: a) Broadband: Via this Plusnet* link, £2.75/mth on a 12-mth contract (avail to 90% of UK). b) Line rental: Normally £14.50/mth, you can opt to pay £132 for a year upfront (excludes calls). c) £50 Love2Shop voucher: for Argos, Boots, etc (arrives after c.60 days). Cheap Broadband

Thorntons 25% off EVERYTHING code. Ends Sun. Discount on all items, including existing offers. Thorntons Deals

Converse 10% off sale, free Tastecard, 15% off perfume, £74 Kindle
It's Christmas time - deals, discounts and wine. The third and final week of our MSE Blagged Advent Calendar

No chocs in our advent calendar, just MSE Blagged deals. It's week 3 - and this week has two newbies and three best-ofs...

  • The MSE Blagged Deals Advent Calendar. We blagged 12 deals for you. The final two are out now, plus three corkers are still available. Each are best-in-class from that retailer. See our full Deals Advent Calendar.

MSE's advent calendar The top two deals start at 10am and end 24 hours later.
See full calendar
1

Day 11 - Wed 11 Dec
10% off Converse sale at Rubbersole: Many styles already 15%-30% off, code gets extra 10% off, some from £27. Limited stock.

2

Day 12 - Thu 12 Dec
Fragrance Shop 15% code/vch: 15% off including on sales items. Includes Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss and more.

3

Still available until Tue 31 Dec
Virgin Wines 12 bottles £40: Case usually £106, reduced to £40 incl del. Equiv £3.33/bottle. 6 red, 6 white.

4

Still avail until Sun 15 Dec
Free 3-month Tastecard: Even if you've had one free before. Plus £30 for a 12-month gift card.

5

Still avail until Wed 18 Dec
Amazon Kindle Fire £74: Usually £99. Code gets refurb 2012 model (warrantied & in near-mint condition).

Reminders via @MoneySavingExp.

  • Ban Unnecessary Presents. We aim to find you the cheapest prices. Yet please don't buy if you can't afford it. So do a budget, read Martin's Ban Unnecessary Presents blog and why not sign up to a pre-NUPP?

Free 'granny in the glovebox' mobile if you buy £10 credit. Cheap PAYG handset via T-Mobile Deals.

Student loan sell off - should you be worried? Read Martin's new student loan sell off worries blog.

Click the titles for full info and all our top picks
Balance Transfers Car Insurance Cheap Loans Top Cash ISAs
Longest 0%: Barclaycard*
29mths 0%, 2.79% 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*

Santander* (£5k - £7.5k)
6% rep APR



Santander* (£9k - £15k)
4.5% 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

Cheapest EVER loan - 4.5% APR. For larger borrowing of £9,000 - £15,000, Santander* offers 4.5% rep APR till 18 Dec. If you need to borrow, ensure you've budgeted and can afford repayments. Full help & best buys: Cheap Loans

Codes: Dorothy Perkins 25%, Brantano 30% (incl Clarks, Nike) & more
The White Company 20% off code | Dorothy Perkins 25% in-store vch | Aldi £5 off £40 vch in 50p paper
Brantano Shoes 30% off code & vch | La Redoute £50 off £100 code | Topman 10% off code | Full list: Discount Vouchers

Sainsbury's currency FLASH sale - till 9.30am Thu. Boosted rates. See how it compares at TravelMoneyMax.

Young drivers' car insurance DANGER
Beware - legit-looking fraudulent 'ghost brokers' are selling fake policies. Bag £100s off cheap REAL cover

Police warn of illegal "ghost brokers" operating in person & online, often targeting students. They flaunt 'cheap' deals but leave drivers uninsured, risking victims' cars being seized & huge accident bills. For max savings on real deals:

  • car insurance Step 1: Combine comparison sites for cheapest quotes. Not all comparison sites are equal, they look at different insurers. Combine as many as you've time for. This month's order: a) MoneySup* b) Gocompare* c) Google* and d) Compare TM*. Check the big 'uns they miss. Aviva* and Direct Line* can be competitive, so check them too.
  • Step 2: Know the tricks of the trade. Choosing the right policy type can slash costs..

    - Try adding a 2nd driver. Putting an older driver with a good history on your policy, even if they won't oft drive your car, can lower the risk average. Mazzyb5 tweeted us: "Took your advice, added my mum to my car insurance and saved £500."
    - 2+ cars in the home? Comparisons only search one car, so miss multi-car discounts. These can be (but aren't always) big savers. So manually check Admiral MultiCar* plus Churchill*, Direct Line* and Privilege*.
    - Don't pimp your ride. Tempted by tinted windows? Your car may look better but your bank balance won't - changes, barring for security, hike the cost. If you've already done it, tell your insurer or it can invalidate policies.
    - Don't assume 3rd party's cheapest. Picking fully comp makes some insurers consider you lower risk. Check both.

    FULL info in the Cheap 17-25 Car Insurance guide. Also see the main Cheap Car Insurance guide.
  • Step 3: Will a black box cut your price? If you can't get a cheap standard price, consider getting a telematics 'black box' tracker fitted to your car - so you either 'pay as you drive' or 'pay how you drive'. See Top Telematics.

£48 unlimited Thorpe Park entry. Likely a short-term, out-of-season offer. Even if you only plan to visit twice in 2014, you'll save with an annual pass. Park re-opens in March. Theme Parks

Reminder. £10-£40 West End theatre tix. Up to 55% off 48 shows, incl Lion King in Jan & Feb. Book quick

LAST ORDERS. Online delivery time, ladies & gents, please. The last free or cheapest pre-Xmas order dates loom, eg, Sun 15 Dec: Early Learning Centre*, Mothercare* Wed 18: Amazon*, Asos, H of Fraser*. Full list: Last Order Dates


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 £14 Travel Insurance

Restaurant vouchers

Discount vouchers & sales

Top deals

The Moneysaving community
The MoneySaving Community

CAMPAIGN OF THE WEEK
Tell the regulator your view on peer-to-peer lending

The Financial Conduct Authority wants your views on its new rules for peer-to-peer lending & investment-based crowdfunding. Read the suggestions in the crowdfunding consultation - have your say before Thu 19 Dec. Tell us on the MSE Forum if you think crowdfunding is clear.

BOOK GIVEAWAY
The Little Book of Jokes for Kids of All Ages.
25 blagged for MoneySavers. Want one?

MONEY MORAL DILEMMA
Should I claim for train delay even if due to accident?

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... My train journey was delayed by more than half an hour after someone was hit by a previous train. Under the delay repay scheme, I'm entitled to apply for a part-refund of my ticket, getting me about £10 back. Given the circumstances though, I feel like doing it might be morally wrong. Should I claim? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should I claim for train delay? | Suggest an MMD | View Past MMDs

THE GREAT HUNT
Cheap Christmas wrapping ideas (no beat-box needed)
Forget Eminem, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar and John Barnes, we know you're the best wrappers in town. So we want your collective wisdom on cheap top ways to sauce up presents to make 'em look stunning at little or no cost. Share yours/read others': Cheap Christmas wrapping ideas Past topics: View all

CHEAP FLIGHT SALES ALERT
Airline: Thomson Offer: £30 off Ends: Ongoing
This week's pick is Thomson's £30 off returns. It's valid on selected flights until 30 Apr 2014 and includes some taxes & charges. The discount's automatically applied. we found B'ham-Alicante flights for £48.98. To find flights quickly, use FlightChecker on a max £60 return 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

THE GREAT HUNT... REVEALED
Your cheap Christmas recipes

As well as some great cheap recipes, including a DIY Baileys and a delicious-looking mincemeat strudel (warning - the pic might make your mouth water), MoneySavers posted tips on cheap Christmas food in general. One of the best was starting to look for leftover recipes now, so you can plan your food shop better.

Quick forum tips

Freebies

Martin's blogs

Martin's appearances

12 December
Daybreak, ITV, 7.35am-7.45am.
Deals of the Week.
12 December
Shelagh Fogarty, Radio 5 Live, 12pm-1pm.
Consumer Panel.
Listen to past shows.
16 December
This Morning, ITV, 11am-12pm.
Last-ditch Christmas shopping tips.

MSE team corner

Discussion of the week

Advent calendars

Forumite WantToBeSE forgot to buy advent calendars for her children - and after 1 Dec, it's difficult to hunt them down... Know where to pick up a last-minute calendar? Join the I am a bad, bad mother discussion.

Cheap travel money

UK's Best Currency Rates
£100 will buy you:
Best Worst
Euro Flag 118.70 108.25
US Flag $ 163.10 148.87
Turkish Flag TL 324.60 291.73
Rates correct at 4pm Tue
Find all top currency rates
Compare travel cash

This week's poll: How much will this year's Christmas cost you?

Christmas and the holiday season is an expensive time of year.

So how much do you plan to spend on presents, food, and transport to see friends and family?

I don't celebrate £401-600
Under £50 £601-800
£51-200 £801-1,000
£201-400 £1,000+

Poll results

Should Scotland be an independent country?
We had huge numbers voting from Scotland - it's likely there were email/social media campaigns on both sides to drum up voters.

- 56% from Scotland said yes.
- 40% from N Ireland said yes.
- 38% from England said yes.
- 37% from Wales said yes.

24,829 voted. See the full results.

Question of the week

Q: If you have a TV but don't watch live programmes, do you need a TV licence? Do they have technology that tells them if a household is watching live programmes? Jan, by email.

MSE Rose's A: Everyone in the UK who watches or records 'live TV' (content as it's broadcast) needs to be covered by a TV licence, regardless of what or how you're watching. You also need a licence if you record live TV at the time it's broadcast, eg, if you're using a digital recorder such as Sky+ or TiVo.

Yet you don't need a TV licence if you only watch content after it's been shown on television. This includes TV programmes downloaded or streamed after broadcast using a catch-up service. So, if you have a TV but only use it to watch DVDs, for gaming or for watching catch-up TV (eg, BBC iPlayer, 4oD), then you don't need a licence.

We asked TV Licensing how it knows whether you're watching live TV or not. It told us: "We can and do prosecute people watching TV without a licence, whatever equipment they are using, as our enforcement approach enables us to catch people watching on any device. However, we don't go into detail about how detection works, as this information could be useful to those seeking to evade the fee."

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

 Debs' free game of the week: Ice Panic

A Christmas Carol in 50 words

That's it for this week, but check out these Ultra-condensed classics. In 50 words or less you get the (almost) full story - our favourite is Ebenezer's ending: "Ah, at last I have seen the light. Let's dance in the street. Here, have some money."

We hope you save some money,

Martin & the MSE team

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Unaffiliated web-addresses for links in this email

npower.com, edfenergy.com, cooperativeenergy.coop, energyhelpline.com, moneysupermarket.com, uswitch.com, swinton.co.uk, barclaycard.co.uk, lloydsbank.com, plus.net, gocompare.com, google.co.uk, directline.com, aviva.co.uk, admiral.com, santander-products.co.uk, postoffice.co.uk, comparethemarket.com, churchill.com, privilege.com, houseoffraser.co.uk, firstdirect.com, confused.com, elc.co.uk, mothercare.com, amazon.co.uk, capitalone.co.uk.

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Note

Referring people to insurers or insurance intermediaries can in some circumstances constitute an FCA regulated activity. For this reason, pages with links which take you to the sites of insurers or insurance intermediaries are hosted by MoneySavingExpert.com Limited on behalf of MoneySupermarket.com Group PLC. MoneySupermarket.com Financial Group Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 303190). The registered office address of both MoneySupermarket.com Group PLC and MoneySupermarket.com Financial Group Limited is MoneySupermarket House, St. David’s Park, Ewloe, Chester, CH5 3UZ.

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