Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Free 1st time buyers’ guide, Sky 50% b’band code, free space trip…, sales on steroids, 30mths 0%, free Amzn Prime, 15% wine sale code, cheap Pampers, 60p earrings, 6% loan

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Martin Lewis

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Cutting your costs, fighting your corner Martin's Money Tips Wed 22 Jan 2014
Cards Reclaim Shopping Deals Utilities Banking Travel Insurance Mortgages Income

This week

Free first-time mortgage booklet
Save £200/yr b'band with Sky code
Home heating oil - can you save?
Get £1,000s in childcare help
15% off M'sons wine code, incl sale
Sales on steroids, incl L Ashley 70%
Free space trip... (kind of)
Free Amazon Prime for 3 months
Body Shop 40% code, incl sale
Dotcomgiftshop 10% off 90% sale
86 Pampers nappies £7.50
New cheap loan: 6% up to £7,500
106-page photo book for £19 code
Charles Tyrwhitt £20 for £40 code
£10 South West Trains returns
PizzaExp 40%, Yo Sushi £2.50, etc
Seven Nails Inc varnishes £23.50
P&O £23 car ferry return + wine
Two-week teen activity trip £50
£25 YHA family rooms
10% off at Co-op Food for students
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

30mths 0% debt shift & more cost-cutting tricks
10 need-to-knows to cut credit & store card, loan & payday loan costs

cut debt costsOnce you've got debts, you're stuck. So the most important thing is to cut the interest rate. This means more of your repayment clears the actual debt rather than servicing the interest, saving £100s or £1,000s so you're debt-free far quicker. Here's how....

1. Stop borrowing. You can't borrow your way out of debt. Borrowing more to make ends meet elongates the problem, making it costlier and longer-lived. Use our Free Budget Planner to ensure you spend within your means. If that's not enough, see point 10 for where to get help. The options below show you how to get a better product, instead of borrowing more.
   
2. CREDIT CARD DEBT: Shift to 30mths 0% or 6mths if you've poor credit. If you've debts on credit cards, aim for a balance transfer. Here, you get a new card that repays debts on the old card(s) for you, so you owe it instead, but at a lower rate. These are the top deals for new customers:

TOP PICK BALANCE TRANSFER CREDIT CARDS
Aim for the lowest fee possible, provided you're sure you can repay in that time.
Card Intro offer One-off fee (1) Rep APR after
Barclaycard* Longest 30mths 0% (2) 2.89% 18.9%
MBNA* Longest if got Barclaycard 29mths 0% 2.89% 20.9%
Barclaycard* Long lower fee 25mths 0% (2) 1.5% 18.9%
Lloyds* Long low fee if got Barclaycard 24mths 0% (2) 1.5% 17.9%
Fluid* Lowest fee 12mths 0% 0.75% 18.9%
Cap One Bal* Poor credit scorers 0% until Aug 3% 34.9%
MBNA* Long-term low rate 6.9% until repaid None 18.9%
FULL INFO: Best Balance Transfers (APR Examples) 1) % of the amount transferred. 2) With these cards, some get shorter 0%.

FREE tool shows which cards will accept you. To get a card, you must pass its credit score. Usually the only way to find out is to apply, which marks your credit file. To minimise apps, use our Balance Transfer Eligibility Checker.

Follow the golden rules... a) Repay at least the set monthly min, or you can lose special rates. b) Always plan to fully repay before 0% ends, or rates jump. c) Don't spend on 'em - it isn't usually at the same cheap rate.  d) See if you can use existing cards more efficiently with the Credit Card Shuffle.
   
3. LOAN: Can you cut the cost of existing deals?  This is more difficult, as you'll need a new loan to pay off the old one. Most old ones charge up to two months' interest to pay them off early, so that needs factoring in.

Who should try? Those who can get a substantially lower APR loan (eg, more than a fifth off, so from 10% to 8%), and have a while left to repay. Savings are especially good if your credit score's improved since getting a loan.

What are the cheapest loans?
For accepted customers getting £3,000 - £7,500, Santander* is 6% rep APR; for £7,500+, Sainsbury's* is 4.5% rep APR (over 1-3yrs). See Cheap Loans for full help. Some can even use a 0% card to do it. See Cheap 0% Credit Card Loans.

How much can I save? Someone 2yrs through a 5yr 12% loan for £5,000, paying it off with a 6% loan would save £250. Use our Cut Existing Loan Costs Calc to find out (need a settlement figure from your current lender).
   
4. STORE CARDS: Slash interest costs. Store cards are just credit cards locked to one retailer, but with usually much higher, 20%+, interest. Yet you can simply do a balance transfer from these to a cheap credit card to cut costs - see point 2 for full info and best deals. The savings are huge.
   
5. OVERDRAFTS / CATALOGUES: Shift to 0%. Two choices if you've a costly overdraft (the same tricks put money in your acc to pay off catalogues).

- Change bank:
First Direct's* won every cust service poll we've ever done. It offers a free £100 to newbies and a £250 0% overdraft (min pay-in £1000). Nationwide's* 0% overdraft may be bigger (credit score depending) but only for 12 mths (50p/day after). Use this as a respite to clear it. Full eligibility info: Best Bank Accounts

- Use a 0% money transfer card: For bigger amounts a few balance transfer cards let newbies 'money transfer' cash into your bank account, so you owe it instead. MBNA* offers accepted new custs 29mths 0% for a 4% fee, Fluid's* 28mths, 4% fee. Both are 22.9% rep APR after.

Use our free Money Transfer Eligibility Checker to see which you're most likely to get. IMPORTANT: Always follow the balance transfer golden rules in point 2 for money transfers too. Full help: Money Transfers
   
6. PAYDAY LOANS: How to cut costs. Avoid like the plague. But if it's too late, decent credit scorers can use money transfers (see pt 5) to clear.

If not, your best bet's a poor credit 0% spending card. Barclaycard Initial*  (check eligibility) lets accepted new customers spend on it at 0% for 5mths. Do normal spending on that, so income builds up in your bank, which you can use to repay payday loans.

Yet always meet the minimum repayments and ensure you focus on repaying before the 0% ends or it's a huge 34.9% APR - see Barclaycard Initial Help (even then it's still cheaper than payday loans though).

To future-proof, remember ANY credit card beats a payday loan, as if you fully pay it off within a month, it's interest-free. So if necessary, get one for emergencies and freeze it in water - so you need to smash the ice to use it, giving you time to think twice. More help in our Payday Loan Help guide.
   
7. Don't pay all debts equally, attack the highest APR. Once your debts are as cheap as possible, list them all, including overdrafts, in order of APRs. Focus all spare cash to clear the highest APR one as it grows fastest, and just pay the min on the others. Once that's clear, move to the next highest.

The only exception is if there are penalties for overpaying (there never are on credit cards, but there can be on loans). Once down to one debt, Beware Minimum Repayments. They're a percentage of debt, so they fall as your debt does, taking you longer to repay. Repay a fixed amount instead.
   
8. Set up a direct debit to protect your credit score. Forget or make late repayments and you risk losing 0% deals, a fine and a credit score hit. An easy tip to stop this happening is to set up a direct debit to cover at least the monthly minimum. Then pay more on top manually.
   
9. Don’t save if you’ve costly debts. If you've got both debts and savings, STOP. £1,000 credit card debt at 18% costs £180/year, while the same amount saved in top paying savings only earns you £16 before tax. Pay debts off with savings and you're over £120/year better off.

If you're saying "but I need some savings for emergencies", this is often false logic. Read my Repay Debts or Save? guide for full help.
   
10. Free debt crisis help. The solutions above are for cutting debt costs. But if you can't meet minimum payments, have non-mortgage debts bigger than a year's salary, or sleepless nights worrying, you're likely to be in debt crisis.

If so, the solution's totally different. Get free, one-on-one debt counselling help from Citizens AdviceStepChange, National Debtline, or, if you're struggling emotionally too, CAP. Full info in Debt Crisis Help.

These agencies are there to help, not judge. The most common thing I hear after is: "I finally got a good night's sleep." Read some inspiring stories in our Debt-Free Wannabe forum, plus take StepChange's quick test to help spot warning signs - part of its Debt Awareness Week.

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MSE News

Top story: Filing a tax return? Avoid self-assessment copycat sites
TalkTalk drops charges for call-blocking services
Boost your savings to 6%
Apple to refund US kids' iPhone app cash - but what about UK families?
Worried about energy bills? Six steps to help you cope
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Use the Money Mantras If you're skint If you're not skint
Jan Money Makeover Special Wed 22 Jan 2014
New. Free printed MSE first-time buyers' mortgage booklet
Our 56-page 2014 guide incl Help to Buy, boosting your chances of acceptance, finding your best deal & more

A mortgage is the biggest financial transaction you'll likely ever make, so arm yourself with core knowledge before taking the plunge. To help, Martin's written this totally free, impartial, detailed First-Time Buyers' Booklet that doesn't just show you how to get the best deal, it takes you through deciding whether buying's right, preparing your finances and more.

  • mortgage guideWho's the booklet for? Anyone, from those for whom buying is still just a twinkle in the eye, to people who've found their first home and need a mortgage right now.
  • How do I get the booklet? Very easy. You have a choice - either download an instant PDF or order a printed booklet (it'll take about two weeks to arrive).
  • What's in it? The market has shifted. Rates are lower, mortgages harder to get, so we've added huge amounts on how to secure a deal alongside ensuring it's the cheapest possible. The chapters are...


    1. Is a mortgage right for me? 2. Have you got a big enough deposit? (incl Help to Buy & shared ownership)
    3.
    Boost your chances of getting a mortgage 4. What type of mortgage to choose 5. Self-employed help
    6. Don't forget the fees 7. How to get a mortgage 8. Watch for the hard sell 9. Quick FAQs 10. Happy house-hunting

  • Already got a mortgage and want to cut costs? Then you need our Free Remortgage Booklet: Download instant PDF or order printed (this isn't the 2014 version yet - we're working on that, but it's got all you need in).
  • For more help, watch Martin's mortgage special. For first-time buyers and remortgages, watch The Martin Lewis Money Show, this Fri at 8pm on ITV.

15% off Morrisons wine code, valid on half-price sale too (min 6 btls). MSE Blagged. Till 11.59pm Fri, use code MSE15 at Morrisons Cellar*. Incl 12 mixed reds £51 (was £122), or six Pinot Grigio whites £23 (normally £54). Full info: Wine Deals, and please be Drinkaware.

Sales on steroids...
As retailers look to restock, they're pumping up discounts to clear shelves. See full 50+ January Sales list, incl...
Boosted sales: Laura Ashley fashion up to 70% (was 60%) | HoF up to 70% (was 50%) | Office up to 75% (was 70%)
Extra discounts: Levi's extra 20% off online | Dorothy Perkins extra 15% off code | Debenhams extra 10% off code (Wed)

Hitch a FREE round trip to the asteroid Bennu on the Osiris-Rex spacecraft. Well sorta... You don't blast off, but you can get your name engraved on the spaceship, plus a certificate. Kids will love it. Nasa Deals

THREE mths free Amazon Prime (free next-day del). Great trick, this. Newbies can grab a free Amazon Family trial, and you get 3 mths of Prime - sadly not if you've had a trial before. See Amazon Prime Trick.

Body Shop 40% off EVERYTHING code. Online and in-store, incl items in up to 50% sale. Ends Mon. Body Shop

Save £200+/year with Sky 50% off broadband codes
Switch for big savings. 2,000 codes get broadband AND line rent for less than you usually pay for line rent alone
Too many stick with their broadband provider through thick and thin. Yet unless you're on a cable line, if you're out of contract you can usually switch with ease, and savings are large. Our new Cheap Broadband guide has full help, incl...
  • sky broadbandDo you pay more than £300 a year? Add up what you pay, incl line rental as it's usually linked. Even before calls, folks on non-promo deals typically pay BT £350/yr, Virgin £490, Sky £300, etc. Yet our code gets it £152/yr (& service rating's OK).
  • Sky unlimited broadband AND line rent £12.70/mth. MSE Blagged. We've 2,000 codes giving Sky newbies (ie, not had it in last 12mths) 50% off a 1yr contract. You get unlimited download b'band, usually £10/mth, (avail to 90% of UK) AND line rent, usually £15.40/mth, for £12.70 all-in. If you need a new line, you pay a one-off £15 too. Full info: Sky Broadband 50% Code
  • Fibre optic superfast b'band AND line rent equiv £20/mth (incl £128 paid upfront). On an 18mth contract, get a) 30Mb fibre optic broadband: Virgin Media* newbies (avail to 50% of UK) pay £4/mth for a year, then £15.50 for the next 6 mths. b) Line rent (required): Free installation then £15.99/mth but, if you can, pay £128 for a year upfront. Total: Do this and you pay £365 for 18mths, equiv to £20.27/mth. Full info: Superfast B'band
  • £100 Amzn vch with equiv £14.50/mth b'band AND line rent (incl £132 paid upfront). MSE Blagged. EE mobile customers ONLY. On a 12mth contract, get a) Unltd broadband: EE broadband newbies (avail to 85% of UK) pay min £3/mth. b) Line rental (required): It's £15.40/mth, but you can opt to pay £132 for a year upfront. Total: You pay £168 for the year (+ £6 p&p), equiv £14.50/mth, plus we've a code to get you a £100 Amazon vch after 3mths. Full info: EE Broadband
  • Don't forget call costs: Many don't use a landline to make calls, but are held hostage as it's needed for b'band. Yet if you do make calls, see our Calls Cost-Cutting info, eg, cut daytime calls from 9p/min to 5p per CALL.

Dotcomgiftshop code gets extra 10% off up to 90% sale (eg, 60p earrings). MSE Blagged. Homeware, jewellery, etc. Incl necklaces for £1, umbrellas for £1.20 and £8 embroidered cushions. P&P £2.95. Dotcomgiftshop Deals

Better than half-price (£7.49) Pampers nappies. 86 nappies. Go quick - stock likely to go fast. Nappy Deals

New. Cheap loan: 6% rep APR for £3,000+ (next cheapest 12%). In recent years, loans have cost the earth if borrowing under £5,000. Yet Santander's* now 6% rep APR for £3,000 - £7,500 (it says just for debt consolidation - it's not). Need more? Sainsbury's* is 4.5% rep APR, the cheapest EVER for up to £7,500 - £15,000 on 1-3yr loans (ends 31 Jan). Loan need-to knows: 1) Always budget, minimise and plan repayments. 2) You're credit checked, and rules say they need to give only 51% of accepted applicants headline rates. 3) Sometimes peer-to-peer lending and 0% plastic loans undercut even the best buys. Full help: Cheap Loans

106-page (RRP £80) photo book for £19 code. MSE Blagged. Great for Valentine's Day. Photo Deals

Home heating oil - can you save? New guide
Talk of cheap energy leaves those in the unregulated home heating oil market out in the cold. Time to change that

If you're one of the 1.5 million in the UK with a heating oil tank to warm your home, you may be overpaying. There's no slick solution, but our brand new Cheap Heating Oil guide includes what to try. Here's a starter...

  • heating oil Benchmark prices on the web. Use specialist comparisons and brokers to speedily find the type of prices to beat. Then carry on to skim costs further.
  • Try to haggle. There's no such thing as fixed prices, this is a haggling business. Be polite and charming, with no aggro. Full tips on finding suppliers in Tips To Haggle Down Heating Costs.
  • Time your purchase right. Prices fluctuate daily. Stock up when it's cheapest (summer's usually good) and avoid late delivery surcharges. Although interestingly, today's prices are as low as they were this summer.
  • Buy in bulk. Discounts are usually available if you buy more oil, whether this is buying ahead for yourself, pairing up with a neighbour or joining an oil-buying group. See how to Find Your Local Oil-Buying Groups.
  • Cut your electricity costs too. It's worth doing a Cheap Electricity-Only Fixes Comparison to see if you can cut bills, lock in, meaning no price hikes, with no penalties. Need more help? See our Cheap Energy guide.
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%, 2.89% fee

(18.9% rep APR)

Low fee 0%: Barclaycard*
25mths 0%, 1.5% fee

(18.9% rep APR)
Get quotes in this order...

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

Santander* (£5k - £7.5k)
6% rep APR



Sainsbury's* (£7.5k - £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

Charles Tyrwhitt shirts, pay £20 for £40 voucher. Posh shirts offer, via a daily deals site. Charles Tyrwhitt

South West Trains £10 rtn incl Ldn-So'ton, B'mouth, W'mouth. Wknd day rtns till 23 Feb. Cheap Trains

PizzaExp 40% vch, Yo Sushi £2.50 plates, Carluccio's 2for1...
Jan's 'diet' month, so restaurants are desperate for business. Flash the BIG vouchers...
Carluccio's 2for1 mains (every day) | Zizzi 50% off mains (varies) | PizzaExpress 40% off food (Sun-Thu)
Ask 40% off food (varies) | Yo Sushi £2.50 plates (Mon-Fri) | Harvester 20% off (every day) | Full list: Restaurant Vchers

SEVEN Nails Inc varnishes £23.50 all-in. Starts Thurs. 3 varieties of lucky dip (random colours) avail. Nails Inc

Childcare costs up 19%. Are you missing £1,000s of help?
If you pay for childcare, there's big money available to ease the burden, yet many unnecessarily miss out

Childcare costs have soared in a year, according to Findababysitter.com. This cracks many families' finances, forcing grandparents to fill the gap & makes work unaffordable for some. Yet help may be available, if you know where to look...

  • childcare costsWhat counts as childcare? Whether it's nursery/childminder/nanny for babes in arms or after-school clubs for hairy 6ft rugby-playing 15-year-olds (that's just the girls), if it's Ofsted-registered (Care Inspectorate in Scot), it counts for this help.
  • Are you due up to £3,000 in childcare tax credits? While it sounds confusing, tax credits are just a payment made to your bank account. The eligibility criteria are complex, so we've a rule of thumb: "If you pay for childcare and work 16+hrs a week, or are a couple both working 16+hrs; with family income under £41,000, you should definitely check if you're eligible."

    Note - we're not saying you're eligible, just that you should definitely check (see Childcare Tax Credits help for how) as this is big money. It can pay up to 70% of your childcare and the average annual payout is £3,000 a year.
  • Save nearly £1,000/yr with childcare vouchers. If you're not due tax credits, see if your employer offers the Govt childcare vouchers scheme, letting you pay for childcare from PRE-tax income. It usually works by 'salary sacrifice', eg, to get £1,000 of vouchers, you give up £1,000 of salary, worth just c.£700 in a pay packet, so you're £300 up. Full explanation, including how to persuade your employer to set it up, in Childcare Vouchers.
  • Book Easter & summer clubs now (& free early learning classes). School hols childcare can be a nightmare, so start booking popular Easter & summer school places from local authorities now. Some cost nowt, many are subsidised, but even if this is the only thing you pay for, you can still be eligible for tax credits or use vouchers. Plus all 3/4- year-olds are entitled to 38 weeks of 15hrs/wk early learning childcare. Full help in School Clubs.

P&O Ferries £23 car day return PLUS 6 bottles of wine. For Jan/Feb travel from Dover to Calais. France Trips

Two-week residential activity trip (16-17 year-olds) £50. Govt scheme gets 'em abseiling, canoeing & learning life skills for £50 (free for some) Jun-Aug. Eng & N I only. Plus certificate signed by the PM. National Citizen

£25 YHA half-term family rooms. Cheap stays in 18 Eng & Wales hostels (plus kids eat 'free'). See Hotel Sales.

STUDENTS: Permanent 10% off Co-op food shopping. Just show your NUS Extra card in-store. Co-op Deals


Click the titles for full info and all our top picks
Gas & Electricity Bank Accounts Home Insurance Landlines
Get permanently cheap energy.

Our club ensures you're always on the cheapest tariff.

Join free: Cheap Energy Club

Up to £30 cashback for dual fuel, £15 for single switches.

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 £13 Travel Insurance

Restaurant vouchers

Discount vouchers

Top deals

The Moneysaving community
The MoneySaving Community

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

MONEY MORAL DILEMMA
Should gamers pay for faster broadband?

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... I live in a student house with five others, three of whom spend a lot of time gaming. We already have expensive broadband, but the internet is still slow, so the gamers have suggested we get an even more costly package. I'd welcome faster internet, but I resent having to pay more because they use up most of the bandwidth. I'd like to suggest they pay the difference, but I worry we'll argue. Should I keep quiet and pay up? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should gamers pay for faster broadband? | Suggest an MMD | View Past MMDs

THE GREAT HUNT
What are your ideas for summer getaways?
It's January, it's rainy, and many are feeling the pinch in their pockets and their waistlines. What better time to start thinking about a summer getaway? Whether they're bargain last-minute deals leaving next week or cheap summer destinations, we want to hear about 'em. Share yours/read others': Holiday inspiration Past topics: View all

CHEAP FLIGHT SALES ALERT
Airline: Monarch Price: from £29.99 each way Ends: Ongoing
Our pick this week is Monarch's ongoing sale, which includes taxes & charges. It's for flights until Mon 31 Mar to destinations across Europe from six UK airports. To find flights quickly, use FlightChecker on a £50 return max search. We found Manchester-Innsbruck flights for £29.99. Extra charges warning: Avoid payment and check-in charges - see Budget Airline Fee Fighting. Related: Cheap Flights, Cheap Hotels, Spending Abroad, Cheap Currency, Travel Insurance

THE GREAT HUNT... REVEALED
Help if you're thinking about working for yourself

Thinking about giving up your day job? Self-employed MoneySavers suggested some great tips. Pointers included getting familiar with tax rules and regulations and establishing a work/life balance early on. One really important piece of advice - be realistic, and prepare yourself for a hard first year.

Quick forum tips

Freebies

Martin's blogs

Martin's appearances

23 January
Daybreak, ITV, 7.35am-7.45am.
Deals of the Week.
Watch last week's show
23 January
Shelagh Fogarty, Radio 5 Live, 12pm-1pm.
Consumer Panel.
Listen to last week's show
24 January
This Morning, ITV, 10.30am-12.30pm.
The Money Vault with Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards.
Watch last week's with Callum Best
24 January
The Martin Lewis Money Show, ITV, 8pm-8.30pm.
Mortgages special.
Watch last week's savings & flight delays
27 January
This Morning, ITV, 11am-12pm.
Subject tbc.
Watch this week's Childcare savings
Watch Martin's Consumer Crew roadshow video

MSE team corner

Discussion of the week

Saying no to being a bridesmaid without ruining a friendship

Forumite WantToBeSE thinks her friend's picked the wrong man. What would you do? Suggestions so far include making an excuse, politely declining and doing it to support her friend, not the marriage.

Cheap travel money

UK's Best Currency Rates
£100 will buy you:
Best Worst
Euro Flag 120.70 108.50
US Flag $ 163.90 147.39
Turkish Flag TL 359.50 322.94
Rates correct at 4pm Tue
Find all top currency rates
Compare travel cash

This week's poll: Should parents be allowed to take kids out of school for a holiday during term time?

Poll results

Which money issues do you hide from your partner?
Married women are more likely to hide them from their partners than married men - with plenty keeping quiet on some of their spending.

- 19% of married men hide some money issue.
- 33% of married women hide a money issue.
- 18% of married women hide how much they spend on non-essential items.

8,485 voted. See the full results.

Question of the week

Q: What will happen with student loan repayments if I become self-employed? Sophie, by email.

MSE Amy’s A: If you're self-employed after you graduate, your student loan repayments will come under the self-assessment tax system.

As part of this system, each year you'll have to complete a tax return telling HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) about any profits and expenses you've made, from which it'll work out how much tax and National Insurance you'll have to pay. HMRC uses this to work out your student loan repayments.

You'll be asked to make your student loan repayment at the same time as you pay your tax - usually 31 Jan of the following year. You won't have to make any repayments if, in the tax year, your relevant income is less than £16,365.

Therefore, just as it’s important to put tax away when you’re self-employed (see Martin’s self-employed warning blog), if you earn over the threshold to pay student loans (9% over £16,365, assuming you went between 1998-2012), then you should put that away each month when you earn it, as you'll be asked to pay it later.

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

 Debs' free game of the week: Bowman

Kids that completely fail at hide-and-seek

That's it for this week, but before you go, take a look at these adorable children who aren't quite old enough to realise that even though they can't see you, you can still see them. Kids that fail at hide-and-seek.

We hope you save some money,

Martin & the MSE team

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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:

Unaffiliated web-addresses for links in this email

barclaycard.co.uk, mbna.co.uk, lloydsbank.com, fluid.co.uk, capitalone.co.uk, santander-products.co.uk, sainsburysbank.co.uk, virginmedia.com, firstdirect.com, nationwide.co.uk, gocompare.com, google.co.uk, directline.com, aviva.co.uk, admiral.com, confused.com, comparethemarket.com, postoffice.co.uk, productsandservices.bt.com, morrisonscellar.com.

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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