Tuesday, June 10, 2014

£10 J Lewis with Now TV, R Lauren 50% sale code, 6.5% for life, tax credits, cheap England shirts, Wagyu beef £7, beat overdraft hikes, hot b'band

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Martin Lewis

MoneySavingExpert.com weekly email

Cutting your costs, fighting your corner Martin's Money Tips wed 11 jun 2014
Cards Reclaim Shopping Deals Utilities Banking Travel Insurance Mortgages Income

This week

Shift debt to 6.5% for LIFE
£50 back on hot phone/b'band deal
New pimped-up Cheap Energy Club
Avoid tax credits repayment hell
£10 John Lewis vch with Now TV
Ralph Lauren up to 50% code
Codes: 30% off Levi's, 13% off Topman sale, 15% off Thorntons
Cheapest-ever 4.1% APR loan
1,500 Tesco pts on £60 (newbies)
£20+ Wagyu beef £7. No bull
Beat GameOver Zeus: free antivirus
Summer hols travel ins from £6
World Cup deals incl England shirts
'Free' £36 photo canvas code
Free Yo! Sushi roll
Father's Day deals: free card, £11 whisky, free zoo tix
Hot home ins deals incl £50 Amzn
Earn £15 Amzn/M&S vch on surveys
Ends Thu: flash currency sale
Orange/EE Weds cinema tix trick
Vouchers Index: Restaurants / Shopping
Best Buys: 0% cards | Car insurance
Best Buys: Gas & Elec | Bank Accs
Advice and support for Carers Week

10 ways to beat overdraft cost hikes
Barclays is the latest to raise charges, yet you can still save large

Overdrafts are a debt like any other and need to be managed. The key is to cut the cost, start repaying money owed and avoid dreaded bank charges for going over your limit. Full info in Best Bank Accounts, here are the key points...

1. overdraft costs Warning. Are you about to be clobbered by huge overdraft hikes? From Mon, Barclays customers will pay a daily overdraft charge of 75p-£3/day, instead of 19.3% AER interest. While it's easier to understand - and that's partly the justification - someone on a constant £2,001 overdraft will pay a whopping £1,095/yr, compared to £386 now.

All figures and analysis in our Barclays hike news story - see below to beat the hikes. Overall, Barclays says 30% will pay more, though it's not too bad for those just dipping into their overdraft. Other banks, such as Halifax and Santander, already operate daily charges.
2. Get paid £125 and get a 0% overdraft instead. There are two big players which offer decent options for cheaper overdrafts.

- Free £125 and long-term £250 0% overdraft. First Direct* gives accepted switchers £125 - which should help clear some debt. It also gives a £250 0% overdraft. Above that, it's 15.9% EAR, always cheaper than Barclays.

You need to pay in at least £1,000/mth to get the bonus & stay fee-free. It's also top-rated for customer service in every bank service index we've done.

- 1yr no-fee overdraft & possibly bigger limit. Accepted Nationwide FlexDirect* switchers get a year's no-fee overdraft, giving time to clear it.

After, it's 50p/day - far less than many daily chargers. For ease, that's £15/mth, assuming a constant £2,500 overdraft (if allowed - it's credit score-dependent). The same with Barclays costs £90/mth.

You must pass a credit check for both. Eligibility: Best Bank Accounts
3. Or for bigger overdrafts, shift to a 31-mth 0% credit card. There are a few specialist money transfer credit cards which let you pay cash into your bank, so you can pay off your overdraft, then you owe it instead.

The top pick is MBNA*, which lets accepted customers do it at 0% for 31mths for a one-off 4% fee. For more options and your chances of getting it (or if you've better odds elsewhere), use our Free Eligibility Checker.

Golden rules: a) Most cards don't allow this cheaply, so know what you're doing. b) Always repay the monthly minimum or you'll lose the 0% deal. c) Plan to clear by the end of the 0% period or it jumps to the full rate - with MBNA that's 22.9% rep APR. (See APR Examples.) d) Get step-by-step help in Money Transfers.
4. Poor credit? Get 0% respite from bank charges. The options above won't help if your score's poor, but two cards have 0% spending for those with a poor history (CCJs or defaults 1yr+ ago). Used carefully, these can help. Luma* is 0% till Oct, Barclaycard Initial* gives 0% for 3mths.

Do normal spending (after budgeting) on the card, instead of via your bank account, and money built up there reduces your overdraft. Clear the card before the 0% ends or rep APRs jump to 35.9% & 34.9% respectively.

Up to 18mths 0% spending is available if your credit score's better. Our Eligibility Checker shows your likelihood of getting Top 0% Cards.

Golden rules: a) Always pay at least the monthly min & keep within your limit, or you lose the 0%. b) Clear debt before the 0% ends, or you pay hefty interest. c) Don't balance transfer/withdraw cash - it's not usually at the cheap rate. d) Full tips: Luma Help, Barclaycard Initial Help. (APR Examples).
5. Repay highest rate debts first. Many often forget their overdraft is a debt too. If you've multiple debts, write a list of what you owe, then see which costs most, adding up interest and fees for true costs.

If your overdraft's the priciest, make min payments on other debts to focus incoming cash on your overdraft. You could open a basic account for day-to day-banking, then repay your overdraft like a credit card.

Once the most expensive debt is cleared, you're ready to tackle the next, and so on. See full Debt Repayments info.
6. "I got £1,560 in unfair bank charges back." By far the most expensive overdraft is exceeding your limit - with up to £6/day or £25/transaction fees that easily mount up to £100s or £1,000s a year. Budget to avoid, but if hit...

Reports of the death of unfair bank charges reclaiming have been exaggerated. Now it's mainly for those where charges put you into financial difficulties. Alice, who emailed, said: "I sent your template... a day later the bank refunded £1,560. Thanks."

Full info & template letters in Reclaim Bank Charges. If in dire straits, try extending your authorised overdraft and see our Debt Help guide.
7. Use savings (if you've any). Having overdrafts and savings isn't sensible.

Think about it: a £1,000 overdraft at £20/mth equals £240/yr, but the same in easy access savings, after tax, earns a paltry £13 at best. So repay debt with savings and you're £227 per £1,000 up each year. Once the overdraft's paid off, you can save more freely.

You may think: "But I'll have no savings if the boiler packs up or the roof falls in." True, but in an emergency, use the overdraft you've paid off and you'll be no worse off. To beat the fear, read Repay Debt With Savings?
8. Manage your way back into credit. It's always better to be in credit...

a) Minimise fees. Ask companies you pay to shift direct debits to the end of your working month. If paid on the 25th, aim for the 20th. This artificially boosts your balance so you're in the red less - but don't spend the cash.

b) Budget. Moving bill dates cuts fees, but won't tackle the overdraft. So sit down and do a budget to find out where you can cut back.

c) Try piggybanking. Organise incoming cash and move it into bill pots at the start of the month so you're not tempted to spend unnecessarily. Use this technique to make payments - eg, £100/mth - to your overdraft, treating it like any other bill. Read the full Piggybanking Technique.
9. Avoid the risk with a no-overdraft account. Basic bank accounts provide a no-frills, no-overdraft current account service. They don't credit-check, but you still need ID. Full info & best buys, in Basic Bank Accounts, incl...

a) Beware fees. Even though there's no overdraft, if you try to spend more than you've got, you'll be hit with a penalty. Manage carefully and if there's a risk of fees, consider sticking with your existing account.

b) Get the name right. Specify the account name - top picks include Barclays Cash Card & Co-op Bank Cashminder - so you get the right forms.
10. Paying account fees for an overdraft? Do you need to? Some people pay a monthly fee because 'premier banking' gives a large overdraft. But add up the costs. If you could shift the overdraft elsewhere, you could get a no-fee account and use the savings to help clear the debt.

Check if you can money transfer your overdraft. If your overdraft's small, you may be able to switch account. If not, you may already have the best deal, and should work to budget & pay off the overdraft.

If you were told the only way to get an overdraft was with a paid-for account, this could be mis-selling. See Reclaim Packaged Account Fees.

PS. Tesco launched a new current account this week. To see how it stacks up, see the Tesco current account news story.

PPS. I'm taking the week off, so this week's Martin's Money Tips email is in the more than capable hands of the MSE Team - Martin.

Blagged for MoneySavers

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MSE News

Top story: Npower agrees to some of MSE's calls to wipe bills
Tesco launches its first bank account
Jetting off this summer? Cut costly mobile roaming bills
New Green Deal Home Improvement Fund begins
An end to line rental? No-landline broadband service launches
Saved cash? Shout it from the rooftops.
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 Jun 2014
Shift debts to 6.5% FOR LIFE (or get 32mths 0%)
New. Top deal lets you lock in your credit card debts at a low rate - great if you need time to repay

If you've costly credit card debt, a balance transfer means you get a new card that repays your existing one(s), so you owe it instead. Normally they're short-term offers, but a new deal is perfect for those who need long-term cheap rate certainty.

  • New. 6.5% for LIFE of balance, no fee. 0% debt shifts are great if you KNOW you can repay in that time. If not, MBNA's Low Rate* card is safer. Accepted customers can move debts from other cards to it at 6.5% - a third of a typical card's costs (poorer credit scorers may get 8.9% or 11.9% APRs - not such a good deal).

    We consider this a 'life of balance' card, as the cheap rate should last as long as the debt shifted does - hopefully longer. Technically the rate's variable, but you can reject rate rises if you agree not to borrow more and keep up repayments - then the card will close once it's paid off. So shift debt in the first year (most cards only give you 60 days, so that's a winner) and the rate's locked in (more info on the rules in Rate Jacking).
  • Or go for 32mths 0% if you can repay quicker. This is a cheaper option - see how the top 0% cards compare.
TOP PICK NEW CARDHOLDER 0% BALANCE TRANSFER DEALS
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 0% card. 32mths 0% (2) 2.99% 18.9%
Bank of Scotland* - Long lower fee. 24mths 0% (2) 1.5% 17.9%
Post Office* - Low fee & good length. 18mths 0% 0.7% 17.8%
Fluid* - Lowest fee 0%. 12mths 0% 0.5% 18.9%
Full info/options: Best Balance Transfers (APR Examples) 1) % of amount transferred. 2) Some get a shorter 0%.
  • Will you be accepted? To get cards, you must pass a credit check. Yet applying to find out adds a mark to your credit file. To find each card's acceptance odds without a mark, use our Balance Transfer Eligibility Checker.
  • Balance transfer golden rules. a) Repay at least the set monthly min, or you may lose deals. b) With 0% cards, clear debt or shift again before the 0% ends, or rates rocket. c) Don't spend on 0% cards, it isn't at the cheap rate (MBNA has the same rate for purchases, 6.6% rep APR). d) Full info: Best Balance Transfers (APR Examples).

Code gets £10 John Lewis voucher with £5 Now TV. Newbies to Now TV's £5/mth Entertainment pass (no problem if you've had a sports or movies pass before) can get the voucher. All you need is one month's service - you can then cancel whenever you want. Full info: Now TV

Ends Wed. Ralph Lauren code for up to 50% off sale preview. MSE Blagged. Get first dibs on sale. Ralph Lauren certainly ain't cheap, but code brings women's sweater from £210 to £105. R Lauren

MORE CODES: Levi's 30% off, Topman extra 13% off sale, Debenhams 10% off, etc...
Levi's rare 30% | Topman extra 13% off sale (Fri) Blagged | Debenhams 10% (ends Wed) |
New Look £5/£10/£25 off Blagged | Ann Summers 20% (ends Wed) | Thorntons 15% (ends Wed) Blagged | More deals

New. Cheapest EVER 4.1% APR loan. Hitachi* offers 4.1% rep APR on £7.5k to £10k. For £10k - £15k: Cahoot's* 4.2% rep APR. £5k - £7.5k: Hitachi's* 5.4% rep APR. For smaller loans, £2.5k - £5k: Hitachi's* 8% rep APR to £3k, 7.8% rep APR above. Budget to ensure affordability. Best buys & where credit cards win in Cheap Personal Loans.

Phone AND b'band equiv £11.31/mth (if line rent paid upfront)
New hot deal that HALVES some people's costs. Check now - many pay £15/mth for line rent ONLY

If you're on a standard Sky, BT, Virgin or TalkTalk package, you could pay £300+ a year for broadband and line rental before calls. Pounce on short-lived hot promo deals and you can slash that. Full options in Cheap Broadband, the newest:

  • cheap broadbandHot deal for BT's Plusnet incl £50 cashback. MSE Blagged. New Plusnet customers (Plusnet's owned by BT) can get its unlimited broadband & phone*, (due to go live Wed midday), on a 1yr contract for less than BT standard line rent alone, with...

    - Compulsory line rent:
    It's £15.95/mth. But you can cut this by picking the 'pay £155.88 upfront for the year' (equiv £12.99/mth) option during sign-up.
    -
    Unlimited broadband: £2.49/mth, so costs £29.88 for the year - avail to 90% of UK.
    - Included calls: Weekend calls to landlines if you pay monthly, none if you take the upfront line rental option.
    - £50 cashback. Provided you use our link above (not by going direct), you'll be sent a £50 cheque 60 days after your broadband is live. If you don't have a router, you can get one free (but pay £5.99 p&p).

    Analysis: Excluding calls and if you pay line rent upfront + the broadband, the year's cost is £185.76, equiv to £15.48/mth (pay line rent monthly, it's £221.28 - £18.44/mth). Then there's the £50 cashback - factor that in and it's effectively £135.76 over the year, equiv to just £11.31/mth (£171.28 a year or equiv £14.27/mth).

    Need a new line? If you don't have a line (or only a cable one &, in a few cases, Sky custs), installation's £49.99.
  • News: Virgin becomes first major 'quad-play' provider. Quad-play is broadband, home phone, TV & mobile all in one package. If you're planning to get Virgin anyway, it's cheap. Analysis in Virgin launches quad-play news.

Huge Tesco.com 1,500 pts (worth up to £75) code on £60 grocery spend. 10,000 available, valid till Sunday. Full info on that + £15 off £60 code for newbies in Tesco.com Deals.

Wagyu beef steaks - £7 for 8oz (often £20+). In-store, limited stock. Get moo-ving.

Reminder. Free antivirus software - beat GameOver Zeus. The National Crime Agency put out a major warning about this Windows bug last week. Do a GameOver Zeus virus check and get Free Antivirus Software.

Summer holiday travel insurance from £6. Single-trip cover starts at £6 with Protect Your Bubble Economy*. Taking 2+ trips this year? Get Holidaysafe Lite* annual cover from £13. Cheap Travel Insurance

World Cup deals (come on England!)
Cheapest England shirt £48 | Sains £5 pizza meal | Beer/cider cases £10 (be Drinkaware)

'Free' £36 A4ish photo canvas code. MSE Blagged. Pay £7 p&p. Canvas Deals

BOOM - we've pimped the Cheap Energy Club
You asked us to include NO STANDING CHARGE deals, the Warm Home Discount and more. So we have...

This is a great time to sort your energy bills (yes, we know it's summer). Prices are stable now, so you get a true comparison. Thanks to the 1.1m people who've joined the MSE Cheap Energy Club in the 18 months since it launched and collectively saved many millions. Like any good club, members have asked for more tools, and we're adding them...

  • energy clubIt checks your tariff & aims to keep it cheap long-term. First, it checks your gas & electricity deal to see if you're on the cheapest. If not, it'll compare the options. After, we monitor your tariff and tell you when it's time to switch again, so you're always on the right deal. Also see our unique Top Pick Fixed Comparison page.
  • New. 'No standing charges' option. Energy bills work a bit like phones, you have the standing charge (like line rental, you pay it regardless) and the usage charge (like calls). Many who go away for decent chunks of the year want to avoid a standing charge and have asked us about it. So we've added an option so you can compare all 'no standing charge' tariffs.
  • New. Can I keep my Warm Home Discount if I switch? Eligible people - those on pension credit, or in receipt of some other benefits - get a £140 rebate to help pay energy bills. Many were reluctant to switch as they thought they'd lose it. Now, Cheap Energy Club's results show which will and which won't. See Warm Home Switching.
  • New - alert my partner/parents/Uncle Bob/the dog. In the past our alert emails went just to you, but lots of you said you wanted somebody else copied in, so we've added that function too. Do it when you register, or add them to the account details page if you're already a member.

FREE £4.30 Yo! Sushi roll. Print vch or show on phone, redeem by 29 June in any of its restaurants. Sushi Deals

Father's Day deals - free card, cheap whisky and free zoo entry
Free Father's Day card (via O2 app) | £11 Famous Grouse whisky at Asda (be Drinkaware) | Free Bristol Zoo
Ember Inns 2 courses for £10.50 plus a 'free' pint | Frankie & Benny's 2 'free' courses | ALL Father's Day Deals

Dolce Gusto coffee maker or £50 Amzn vch with home insurance. Hot deals comparisons miss, incl coffee maker (RRP £90) with Churchill* (400 available) or £50 Amzn with Aviva* using code AVIVAMSE50. Home Insurance


Click the titles for full info and all our top picks
Balance Transfers Car Insurance Cheap Loans Top Cash ISAs
Longest 0%: Barclaycard*
32mths 0%, 2.99% fee

(18.9% rep APR)

Low fee 0%: Post Office*
18mths 0%, 0.7% fee

(17.8% rep APR)
Get quotes in this order...

MoneySupermarket*
Gocompare*
Direct Line*
Aviva*
Admiral MultiCar*

Hitachi* (£5k - £7.5k)
5.4% rep APR


Hitachi* (£7.5k - £10k)
4.1% rep APR


Cahoot* (£10k - £15k)
4.2% rep APR

Nationwide* 1.5% AER
Min £1,000, no bonus
Online. Transfers allowed


Coventry BS 2.75% AER
£5,940. No transfers
Loophole: Fixed till May 2018


See Card APR Examples & Loan APR Examples

Earn £15 M&S/Amazon vch doing quick online surveys. MSE Blagged. A popular site with MSEers where you fill in surveys & polls to earn. We've a special newbies' link - accrue £5, get a bonus £10-worth. Swagbucks Boost

Euros, dollars and other currency flash sale. Sainsbury's is boosting rates on all currencies till 9.30am on Thurs, with special rates for Nectar users. Check its competitiveness via a Travel Money Comparison. Not going for a few weeks? The Halifax Clarity* credit card's no-load worldwide, giving near-perfect spending rates, smashing bureaux de change. Pay off IN FULL each month to avoid its 12.9% rep APR. Full help: Cheap Overseas Cards (APR Examples)

Warning. Avoid tax credit overpayment hell
Around six million people are being sent review forms. Ignore yours and you risk a money 'mare

Tax credit review forms are being sent out - most should've arrived or will turn up in the next week or two. You might not need to send it back, but don't ignore it. If things are wrong, you could be forced to repay cash you've already spent. For full info, see Tax Credit Help, but here's the lowdown:

  • tax creditsIf you get/got yours in a WHITE envelope. You need to check it's correct, sign and send back. If you've no changes, you can renew online at Gov.uk. You need your NI number, 15-digit number at the bottom of your declaration form and income & benefits details. Got changes? Call 0345 300 3900 or post the amended form.
  • If you get/got yours in a BROWN envelope. Here, just check the info's correct. So do nothing. If your circumstances have changed, call 0345 300 3900 or post back ASAP (you can't do online).
  • Don't delay, do it ASAP. The deadline's 8pm on 31 July, but if you've got issues, the official helpline gets mega-busy. The least busy time to call is mid-afternoon.
  • Avoid overpayment hell. Being overpaid sounds a dream - but it's a nightmare as you must pay back the cash, even if it's already been spent. It often happens because people don't declare changes of circumstance (eg, moving in/out with partner, income, kids, childcare costs). So if there are any changes, TELL 'EM, TELL 'EM, TELL 'EM. Unsure? Call anyway. Feel money is being clawed back unfairly? See Fight Unfair Tax Credit Overpayments.
  • Are you missing out on tax credits? Use our 10-Min Benefits/Tax Credits Checkup tool to check.

Orange/EE Wednesdays 2for1 cinema code tricks, incl non-customer loophole. Bag the mega-popular deal, including 2for1 PizzaExpress, even if you're not a customer. Orange/EE Wednesdays


Click the titles for full info and all our top picks
Gas & Electricity Bank Accounts Home Insurance Landlines
Get constantly 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*
£125 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)



TalkTalk Value Line Rental*
£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

MSE Charity needs volunteers. The MSE Charity gives grants to promote financial literacy. It's looking for MoneySavers to join the panel that decides who gets money. You need experience in grant-giving and an interest in financial education. Interested? Email stuart@msecharity.com (subject line "GAP application") for info and how to apply. (Application deadline's 25 Jun.)

CAMPAIGN OF THE WEEK
Are you one of the UK's millions of carers?

Some 6.5 million people in the UK care for a family member, friend or partner, often giving up their own health and wealth. If this is you, or could be you, find out about the advice and support available during Carers Week. Plus, let us know your cash-based caring concerns in the MSE Forum.

MONEY MORAL DILEMMA
Should I pay towards my landlord's repairs?
I live in a flat with a friend, who owns it. I pay rent, including all bills. If something goes wrong and we need to call a plumber or someone to carry out repairs, should I offer to pay some of the cost? Or is it their responsibility as landlord? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should I pay towards landlord's repairs? | Suggest an MMD | View past MMDs

THE GREAT HUNT
It's nearly six months to Christmas - what have you bought?
It's never too early to start Christmas shopping - many MoneySavers start in January, never mind June. But with just over six months to go, what have you bought, and what can you save money on by buying well in advance? Share your tips/read others': What have you bought for Christmas? Past topics: View all

CHEAP FLIGHT SALES ALERT
Airline: Thomson Price: £30 off return flights Ends: Ongoing
Our pick this week is Thomson's ongoing sale, which includes taxes & charges. It's for flights till October 2014 to 64 international destinations from 19 UK airports. There's no code to enter, the discount appears automatically. 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
Making your house look occupied while on holiday

How to deter burglars while you're away? Great suggestions included: Leave lights on a timer, have someone pop round every few days, don't boast about your break, ask the sorting office to hold your post, and leave old towels on the line.

Quick forum tips

Freebie of the week

Martin's blogs

Martin's appearances

MSE team corner

Discussion of the week

How can I ration toilet roll?

What's the best way to approach the issue of loo roll rationing with a five-year-old? Join in sacha28's How do I ration toilet roll? discussion to try to flush out an answer.

Cheap travel money

UK's Best Currency Rates
£100 will buy you:
Best Worst
Euro Flag 122.61 110.34
US Flag $ 166.51 149.85
Turkish Flag TL 333.00 298.30
Rates correct at 12pm Tue
Find all top currency rates
Compare travel cash

This week's poll: How do you rate your home phone and broadband providers' service?

We can tell you the cheapest providers, but to find out if their service is any good, we need your help. So twice a year we ask you to tell us about your customer service experiences.

Please rate your provider(s) on customer service (not price) over the past SIX MONTHS. Options include (we've 44 in total)...

BT Sky
EE TalkTalk
Plusnet Tesco Broadband
Post Office Virgin Media
Primus  

If your provider's not above, check the full list and vote.

Poll results

Going on holiday this summer?

Families are more likely to take a UK break than others - couples are more likely to go overseas. Almost half of singles won't go anywhere...

- 44% of families are heading abroad this summer, with 31% taking a UK break.
- 54% of couples are taking a foreign trip, with 20% travelling in the UK.
- 37% of singles are going overseas, with 15% making a trip within the UK.

10,315 voted. See the full results.

Question of the week

Q: What's the best way to insure young learner drivers? And once they pass their test, is there any hope of getting reasonably-priced insurance? Tracey, by email.

MSE Leigh’s A: If they're being taken out on the road by an instructor, insurance should be included in the cost of the lesson. But if they're taught in the car of a relative or friend, they must be insured on that vehicle. The best way is to add them as a named driver, but be warned, it won't be cheap, as a learner driver is considered a pretty big risk.

The cost of cover once they've passed may be fairly hefty - the AA says the average cost of car insurance for a 17 to 22-year-old is almost £1,200. But you can cut premiums. Tips incl: use a combination of comparison sites, add a responsible person as a named driver and consider specialist policies, such as 'pay how you drive'. See Young Drivers' Insurance.

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

 Charlotte's free game of the week: Ant Buster

So, what's the offside rule again?

That's it for this week, but before you go, how's your football knowledge? With the World Cup starting this week, can you tell the difference between the offside rule and parking the bus? Test yourself using this guide to football by someone who knows nothing about it.

We hope you save some money,

Martin & the MSE team

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What you need to know

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Founded in February 2003, it's now the UK's biggest consumer help website with over 9 million people getting this email and nearly 13m 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, and still writes this email each week (unless it says so). He's an ultra-focused money-saving journalist and consumer campaigner with his own ITV prime-time The Martin Lewis Money Show, weekly slots on Radio 5 Live, This Morning and Daybreak, amongst others. He’s a columnist for publications including the Telegraph and Woman magazine. More info: See Martin Lewis' biography

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

firstdirect.com, nationwide.co.uk, mbna.co.uk, luma.co.uk, barclaycard.co.uk, mbna.co.uk, barclaycard.co.uk, bankofscotland.co.uk, postoffice.co.uk, santander-products.co.uk, paybyfinance.co.uk, holidaysafe.co.uk, protectyourbubble.com, churchilltreat.co.uk, aviva.co.uk, moneysupermarket.com, gocompare.com, directline.com, admiral.com, nationwide.co.uk, halifax.co.uk, comparethemarket.com, talktalk.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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