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| DON'T believe the fake 'Martin Lewis' or 'MSE' ads |
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| Martin's golden rules for savers after UK rate freeze
And this is a crucial time to do it. Last week, against predictions, the Bank of England froze rather than increased interest rates - lowering market expectations of future UK rates. And that matters, especially for fixed-rate savings, as they're often set based on expectations, so we could see rates fall. That's why I've two quick rules... 1. As the top easy-access accounts pay 5%-ish, that's the MINIMUM you should be earning. Easy-access accounts are bog-standard flexible savings where you can put money in and withdraw when you want. So at the worst your money should be in the best of these. As easy-access rates are variable, they tend to move in line with the Bank of England base rate (so monitor what yours pay). Full info & options in top easy-access savings, but in brief... - Top rate: Leeds BS 5.1% (min £1,000). 2. Lock away up to £1,000,000 in total safety in NS&I's 6.2% one-year fix. A fix means you lock your money away (though top fixed cash ISAs give some access) in return for a guaranteed, unvarying interest rate. NS&I, formerly National Savings, has two huge best-buy 6.2% one-year fixed savings, with complex names: Guaranteed Growth & Income Bond - the links explain which is better for you. These beat every other fix, of any length. As NS&I's state-owned, rather than the £85,000 savings safety protection other institutions have, every penny up to the max £1,000,000 depositable in these fixes is Treasury-protected. However, the interest is taxable, so if you've larger savings, look at cash ISAs too. NS&I's fixes mightn't be around long, so sooner is safer. You may want a shorter fix, or consider that with rates possibly peaking, locking away longer may be a winner. Full info & updated options in top fixed savings, but briefly as I write... - 6mth fix: Hampshire Trust Bank 5.6% (min £1), Secure Trust Bank 5.6% (min £1,000).
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| Totally FREE Greggs pizza slice & hot drink (normally up to £4). See this and more free food. 14,000 Vax codes: £400 cordless for £100, £350 carpet cleaner for £200. MSE Blagged. Suck it up Mortgage rates fall after Bank of England unexpectedly holds UK rates. Fixed rates are at their lowest level for two months. See our Should you fix your mortgage? analysis.
Ends Sun. Beat the 14% 1st class stamp price rises. See how to beat the hikes. £35 four-litre Tower air fryer at Iceland (normally £50). If you're after the popular kitchen appliance, this is a cheaper version (some brands are £200+), and it has decent reviews. Tower air fryer 10,000 FREE pairs of £14 Ideal Home Show Christmas tickets via code. London, 22 to 26 Nov. Ideal Home TEEN MONEY SPECIAL: Lessons for everyone.... The Martin Lewis Podcast. A key listen for everyone, but if you're a parent of a teen, why not listen together? A beginner's briefing for teenagers and students to savings, inflation, credit cards and more. All in The Martin Lewis Podcast - listen via BBC Sounds | Spotify | Apple Podcasts & more. |
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| This is all about packaged bank accounts, where you pay a monthly fee for your banking but they throw in high-end insurance. Yet mirroring the fee-free accounts above, a couple of accounts will also PAY YOU UP TO £200 to get them if you're not banking with them currently. This then covers off the monthly fee for well over a year - meaning for that time the insurance is free (and you could always cancel after, though it's actually still pretty cheap if you'd use it). So while these are bank accounts, think of them as all-in-one insurance packages - and evaluate whether you'd be paying for the insurance cover anyway. If you would, these are usually far cheaper than buying the cover separately. To help, we've included links to the standalone cover in the table.
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| Ends Sun. £10 off £60 at Toolstation. It's part of the same group as Wickes but can often be cheaper, and now it's offering a rare store-wide code that also works on already-reduced items. Full details in Toolstation. Birthday FREEBIES, including Krispy Kreme/Greggs doughnut, Body Shop £5. Statistically (don't ask us why), 26 September is the most common birthday, and some firms give freebies just for getting older. 30+ birthday freebies Ends 11.59pm Thu. BT fast fibre broadband just '£27/mth'. Not the cheapest, but cheap for BT, and you often tell us you like a big name. Newbies can get this BT 67Mb broadband-only deal via Broadband Genie for £29.99/mth. Factor in a £60 virtual prepaid Mastercard and it's equivalent to £27.49/mth over the 2yr contract. On Universal Credit or similar? Check if you can get BT's £20/mth social tariff. Do a full comparison: Cheapest broadband comparison. TWO pairs of branded prescription specs from £25. MSE Blagged. Eg, Aspire, Scout. Glasses Direct 'I saved £160/yr haggling my mobile bill.' Our success of the week comes from Cara, who made a big saving haggling on her mobile. She said: "I'm very grateful for your help with a new Sim. I chatted online to O2 after the expiry of my last contract for £20.35/mth for 3GB data plus unlimited texts and calls. I saw in your Cheap Mobile Finder tool a 12mth contract at £6.99/mth for new customers for 6GB plus unlimited texts and calls, and asked them if they would reward over 10yrs' loyalty on the same terms. I was asked where I saw this deal and said 'MSE'. Job done - it's saved me £160/yr." If we've helped you save (on this, or owt else), please send us your successes. Grind coffee 30% off code. MSE Blagged. Valid on ground coffee, beans and pods. Ends Tue 3 Oct. Grind |
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| AT A GLANCE BEST BUYS
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| THIS WEEK'S POLL How much do you plan to spend this Christmas? A couple of weeks ago, we marked 100 days until the big C-day. As the calendar ticks down, we want to know how much you're planning to spend this year (if anything), and whether you've started saving up for the big day. Vote in this week's poll. Hurrah! Most MoneySavers do have a will. Last week, we asked if you have a will, and if not, why not? Over 4,600 people voted, with 64% saying they have one - although of those, about 15% admitted theirs isn't up to date. There is a big age divide, with the majority of under-50s not having one, while most aged 50+ do. Of those without one, "not getting round to it" was the most common reason why. See the full poll results (and for help on getting one, see our Cheap wills guide). |
| MONEY MORAL DILEMMA Should I challenge my daughter's school over requiring pricier uniform with logos? My daughter is starting at a secondary school that requires pupils to wear blazers, skirts and trousers with its logo on. Trousers with the logo on are up to £16 a pair. In contrast, you can get two pairs of school trousers for £12 from a well-known retailer. Government guidance says "schools should keep branded items to a minimum and limit their use to low cost or long-lasting items". I asked about this and got a fudged answer. I want a good relationship with the school and don't want my daughter disadvantaged by me kicking up a fuss, so should I grin and bear it and find the money to buy the required uniform, or take it further? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should I pursue my daughter's school for requiring pricey uniform? | Suggest a Money Moral Dilemma |
| MARTIN'S APPEARANCES (WED 27 SEPT ONWARDS) Wed 27 Sept - Ask Martin Lewis, BBC Radio 5 Live, 1pm |
| A 5FT GUY FAWKES & A 19TH CENTURY SWORD... WHAT ODD ITEMS HAVE YOU FOUND OR LEFT IN A PROPERTY? That's all for this week, but before we go... MSE Forumites have been revealing the strange things they found when moving into a new property, or which they themselves left behind. One poster panicked when they'd left a sword - used in the 1854 Charge of the Light Brigade, no less - in their last rental flat. Luckily the estate agent retrieved it for them. Another recalls leaving a 5ft tall Guy Fawkes effigy in the loft as a 'surprise' for the next occupants. Examples of found items range from the icky (a 'massive' pair of Y-fronts and a pile of toe clippings) to the valuable (an acoustic guitar and a box of unopened, original Star Wars figures). Perhaps the most enigmatic item was a note found in a Canadian farmhouse, laying out the contract for a building extension back in the 19th century. Payment for the building work was "$5 and the big white horse". Add your own fantastical finds and curious cast-offs to the What's the strangest item you've found or left in a property? MSE Forum thread. We hope you save some money, |
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