Shift debt to 0% sooner!, get 2% cashback on all spending, £300 Vax £120, 1yr FREE Apple TV hack, Tesco Clubcard news, disabled railcard change

Plus... Martin wants your SMALL IDEAS, Car finance update!, 25p Irn-Bru, £3,000/yr State Pension help

                                                           

13 October 2026 | View in browser

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The top tips this week Got debt on credit or store cards? Read this:  Shift debt to 3yrs 0%, but do it sooner to be safe! - Balance transfers for beginners - Top 0% balance transfers - Top 0% deals if you're usually rejected - Still apply if a low chance? And more FAQs Not got debt on credit or store cards? Read this:  New top cashback card: 2% back on all spending £3,000/yr State Pension help Martin wants your SMALL IDEAS £300 Vax carpet cleaner £120 Stop Press: Car finance court date set! Ends. Easy FREE 12mths Apple TV hack Exclusive Tesco Clubcard points news 25p Irn-Bru, 50p Lotus Biscoff & more Martin video: 'You are allowed to smile' Go quick. FREE WILLS if you're 55+ News. Are you now eligible for Disabled Railcard? £20 to £300 'free' John Lewis gift card 'Will payrise mean I lose Child Benefit?' Martin's pod: Want up to £600 for Xmas? Xmas food delivery slot news Free TV audience tix, incl Martin's show 'I claimed £178 Air Passenger Duty refund' Ends. Cheapest 5.9% loan + £50 Amazon Best buys: Free £300, 5% savings, 35GB Sim £3.mth, etc MMD: Should I give my daughter £250 to keep the peace? Quick deals: £397 M&S beauty £75, 5p off fuel & more

Got debt on credit or store cards? Read this... Today you can shift debt to THREE YEARS INTEREST-FREE. Yet with UK base rate rises expected, deals may be about to worsen. Sorting sooner is safer PS: Not got any debt? Read this instead Martin's analysis: "For most of the last year, apart from the usual competitive flick-flacks, top balance transfer deals - which let you cut the cost of existing debt - have barely budged. Yet that could soon change, with markets pricing in that the Bank of England may increase the UK base rate up to four times over the next 12 months, starting next month. "When UK rates rise, the change to balance transfer and credit card deals in general can be subtle. 0% lengths may shorten, fees and standard APRs can climb, but most difficult to spot is when lenders keep headline deals the same but tighten their acceptance criteria. I don't know what'll happen, but if you're paying interest on credit card debt, my hunch is it's safest to sort sooner, especially as there are some strong deals this week. To help, the team and I have put this together..." Jump to: Balance transfers for beginners | Top 0% balance transfers | Top deals if you're rejected | FAQs Balance transfers for beginners... A balance transfer is where you get a new credit card that pays off your existing credit or store cards for you, so you now owe it instead, but now it's interest-free. If you know what you're doing, jump to balance transfer best buys, otherwise...  How do you do it? Once you've been accepted, you get a credit limit - the max debt you can put on the card - and can usually balance-transfer up to 95% of that amount. The process is simple: just fill in the 'do a balance transfer' or similar section on the new card's app or website, or in some cases call up and request a 'balance transfer'. It'll sort it from there.   I'm worried I'll be rejected? Our eligibility calculator shows your odds of getting each card (including cards for poorer credit scorers) so you can hone in and apply via it for the one most likely to accept you, minimising 'applications' on your credit file. Also, our free Credit Club (best via MSE App on Apple | Android) can help analyse why you're rejected too. How do I pick the right card for me? If the eligibility calc shows you've got a choice of cards, go for the lowest-fee card with a 0% term long enough to clear your debt. The longer the 0% period, the bigger the one-off fee (eg, 3% = £30 per £1,000 of debt shifted), so shorter 0% cards are cheaper. Unsure? Play safe & go long. Will it help? Massively. It means your repayments reduce the actual debt, rather than just cover the interest, getting you debt-free quicker (just don't borrow more). As Mr Ahmed emailed us a while ago... "We had to use our credit card due to rising costs on everything. We quickly racked up nearly £6,000 in a short time. Our anxiety worsened on the £90+/mth interest we were being charged and feeling we couldn't get out of a hole. Then my wife remembered about your eligibility checker. Within minutes we got approved for 0% balance transfer for 27 MONTHS." [Saving over £2,000 interest] Top new cardholder 0% balance transfers Links via eligibility calc to show if you'll be accepted LONGEST 0% deals - you pay a fee but have longer to clear. DEFINITE long 0% cards, so ALL accepted get the full 0% length. If you've decent acceptance odds, this means you know exactly what you'll get, making 'em the top choice. HSBC Definite 36mths 0% (3.09% fee). 25.9% rep APR after. Existing HSBC Customer? Use this link. Virgin Money Definite 36mths 0% (3.1% fee). 24.9% rep APR after. 'UP TO' long 0% card (so some get a shorter deal) but with LOWER FEE or ADDED PERK. New. Capital One Up to 36mths 0% (2.9% fee). 28.9% rep APR after. Our eligibility calc will show the length you'll get before applying. It can be 18mth to 36mths, yet if it's on the long side, the lower fee often makes it a winner. Perk ending. Barclaycard Up to 36mths 0% (3.15% fee) + free Apple TV. 24.9% rep APR after. Our eligibility calc will tell you if you are pre-approved for the full 36mths 0%. If not, it may be 36, 32 or 18mths 0%, you can only find out by applying. Apply before 10am next Tue, and if you're accepted you'll get free Apple TV for a year too. Barclays current account customers applying via its app also get £20 cashback when shifting £2,500 debt within 60 days. Longest 0% but it's an 'up to' so not all get it and it's not in our eligibility calc. TSB Up to 38mths 0% (higher 3.49% fee). 24.9% rep APR after. NOT in our eligibility calc, the link goes direct. Some accepted customers get 32 or 35mths 0%. Top LOW-FEE 0% deals, cheaper if you can clear the debt more quickly. Virgin Money Definite 24mths 0% (1.95% fee). 24.9% rep APR after. New. Tesco Bank Definite 20mths 0% (1.25% fee). 24.9% rep APR after. A good sweet spot of length and fee. Top NO-FEE 0% deals, cheapest if you can clear the debt rapidly. Barclaycard Up to 12mths 0% NO FEE. 24.9% rep APR after. Via our eligibility calc you'll be told whether you're pre-approved for the full 12mth 0%. If not, you could get 12 or 6mths 0%, which you can only then find out by applying. Virgin Money Up to 11mths 0% NO FEE. 24.9% rep APR after. Our eligibility calc will tell you the 0% deal you'll get before you apply if accepted – it could be 11mths or 9mths. And getting the right card is just the start. Follow Martin's four balance transfer golden rules to protect yourself...  Clear debt before the 0% ends. Pay it off or balance-transfer again before the 0% ends or you'll pay the higher rep APR. Never miss the minimum monthly repayment. Or you can lose the 0% rate. Best to set up a Direct Debit. Don't spend / withdraw cash on the card. It usually isn't at 0%, so will be expensive. Try to avoid further borrowing. Think carefully before borrowing any more. Do a money makeover and a budget. Top POORER CREDIT 0% balance transfers deals There are a number of cards which still accept those who've had past credit problems. Each card's published acceptance criteria tends to be quite limited, so by far the best thing to do is use our Balance Transfer Eligibility Calculator as it will show you first if you can get any standard deals - and if not, those cards you've the best chances of acceptance for, including these... New. Vanquis Up to 24mths 0% (3.9% fee). Yet 33.9% rep APR after. Our eligibility calc will tell you the 0% deal you'll get before you apply – it could be 24 or 20mths. Who can get it? Some with past CCJs or defaults, but you can't currently be bankrupt or have an active individual voluntary arrangement (IVA). Capital One Definite 22mths 0% (2.9% fee). Yet 26.9% rep APR after. This card is only available via our eligibility calc. Who can get it? Some with a history of past defaults, county court judgments (CCJs) and bankruptcies.  Fluid Up to 15mths 0% (3% fee). Yet 34.9% rep APR after. Our eligibility calc will tell you the 0% deal you'll get before you apply – it could be anywhere up to 15 months. Who can get it? It has a low min income requirement of £5,000/yr and accepts some with past CCJs, IVAs, or bankruptcies (if they're 3+yrs old). You need a year's UK address history & a UK bank account. Poor credit-scorer cards WARNING! The APR (interest rate) after the 0% ends is often higher than you'll find on standard balance transfer deals (which are usually around 24.9%). So always compare that rate to the card(s) you're shifting debt from... Current card(s) APR is lower? ONLY shift debt you're certain you can clear within the 0% period. Current card(s) APR the same or higher? Shift as much as is allowed. Plus always follow the Balance transfer golden rules. Still apply if my acceptance odds are low? And more FAQs We get many questions about how balance transfers work. These are the most common....  Should I apply if my best eligibility score's only 20%? While 20% odds are low, it means two in 10 who apply will likely succeed - and it could be you. If you're rejected, barring a minor credit file application mark, you're no worse off. After all, cutting debt costs is what you try to protect your creditworthiness for (usually only trumped by a mortgage application), so go for it. Should I pay an equal amount on every card (spoiler... NO)? List all your debts in APR order from highest to lowest. Include your overdraft if you have one (as these days overdrafts are often the most expensive form of mainstream borrowing). Then, if possible, focus every penny of spare cash at trying to clear the debt with the highest interest rate, as it's growing quickest, and just pay the minimums on all the others. Once that's clear, shift focus to the next highest and so on. What if the credit limit they give me isn't enough? In most cases, you won't know your credit limit until after applying, though a few cards in the eligibility calc will show a guaranteed credit limit before applying. If you find the limit given is too low, don't just ditch the card, any debt at 0% is better than debt at a higher APR. So shift as much of your highest APR debt as you can to the new card. Then once done, go back to the eligibility calc to see your chances of acceptance for other providers' cards to move the rest (don't apply for more than one at once, as each application can hit your chances of getting the next). What if the eligibility calculator says I've 'no chance' for all cards? That can happen, especially for those on lower incomes or with a poor credit history (see how to improve it in MSE's Credit Club). So check if your credit limits on all existing cards aren't full in case you can shift debt from one card to another if it's cheaper. For example, if one credit card charges 18% and has half the credit limit left, and the other card is at 30%, ask the cheaper card's firm if you can shift debt from the more expensive one to it, saving you cash. Even better, some cards also have 'existing-customer balance transfer offers', eg 12mths at 0%. See the credit card shuffle for more. Yet equally failing to get any cheaper credit isn't a great sign. If you are generally struggling with debt do read on...  I'm really struggling with all my debts, what should I do? The tips above are for those who can afford to meet their credit card payments. If you can't, you'll likely need a different tack. Here's Martin's snap test... 1. Do you struggle to meet minimum monthly payments or pay all bills? 2. Is your total debt (not mortgage/student loan) over a year's salary? 3. Do you have sleepless nights or depression/anxiety over debt? If you answered yes to any of these, you need a stronger intervention, so get free, one-to-one debt-counselling help from Citizens Advice, StepChange, or National Debtline. They have powers to give you breathing space on your debt, or can put you in a repayment plan or similar. While this may impact your ability to access credit, it's usually worth it to get you out of the debt hole. If you need emotional support too, try CAP. Often the feedback we get is 'thanks, spoke to them & finally slept last night.' If worried, do read inspiring stories in the Debt-free wannabe forum, plus see Mental Health & Debt & Debt crisis for more.

 

 

DON'T believe the fake 'Martin Lewis' or 'MSE' ads Lots of scam ads litter social media and even newspaper websites - some of these lie that we or Martin promote Bitcoin, binary trading etc. See Fake ads warning.

 

 

 

Martin's big new idea: 'Join 1,000s suggesting small fixes to improve the UK! The Small Ideas Initiative.' Martin's just launched a new charitable initiative. Till 12 Nov, you can go to Small-Ideas.org to submit non-controversial fixes on anything - eg, 'live sewage updates for beaches' or 'standardised allergen menus' - to be turned into professional policy, with 50 selected by a cross-party panel of senior policymakers. He came up with this a year ago when asked what he'd have told Govt if he'd been advising it: 'Come up with 100 small things that piss people off and fix one a day for the first 100 days'. Full info on what counts & the panel in his blog & quick video. PS: It's his personal project, independent of MSE, but we like the idea. £300 Vax carpet cleaner £120 via code. MSE Blagged. 5,000 available. Cheapest we've seen this upright corded Vax. Stop Press! Car finance mass redress scheme legal challenge court date set for Feb 27. Sadly, it's the later of the two options the court had (the other was Dec), so there's even more delay. Firms must still deal with complaints under the scheme now, but payouts are on hold. See Car finance news for help and links to our free complaint tool. Six days left. Easy hack for a year's totally FREE (£90) Apple TV. Till 10am next Tue, 20 Oct, the fee-free Barclaycard Platinum credit card sends all accepted new Barclaycard cardholders (ie, can't have had it in the last 6mths) a code for year's free Apple TV, sent within 90 days (redeem by 5 June 2028). Crucially there's nothing stopping you from JUST SIGNING UP FOR THE PERK, not using the card & cancelling once you've got the Apple TV! Though as we say above, it is also a top balance transfer card so if you've got existing debt to shift, you can kill two birds with one stone. Just don't be tempted to use it to borrow. Will applying affect my credit score? All credit applications have a short-term, minimal impact, yet for most with decent credit scores, as long as you're not about to apply for 'important debt' (eg, mortgage), it's not a biggie. IT'S BACK! Tonight (Tue) 7.15pm ITV1 & ITVX: The Martin Lewis Money Show LIVE  Cut petrol & diesel, car insurance, MOT, breakdown cover costs & more Martin: 'The series restarts tonight, back on almost every Tue at 7:15pm. And with fuel prices sky high, I'll cover how to cut them, and motor through a host of vehicle savings too. Plus important don't miss info in the usual News You Can Use. Do watch (give it a try if you haven't before). Exclusive. Tesco Clubcard point collector? It's hugely expanding where you can EARN points! Currently you only earn in Tesco and 13 other retailers, but from tomorrow (Wed), it's launching a shopping portal - so online you can now earn 'em at 500 stores. We've analysed how much you can earn and compared it to other reward / cashback schemes. See Tesco points-earning-boost analysis. 25p Irn-Bru, 50p Lotus Biscoff, etc via 10% off code for past 'best-before' foods. MSE Blagged. Approved Food sells super-cheap groceries near or past their 'best-before' date, which is just a view of 'optimum quality' (different from 'use-by', which is about safety). Full info in Approved Food.

 

 

BLAGGED FOR MSE - £300 Vax carpet cleaner for £120 5,000 available - Extra 10% off past 'best-before' foods Ends 21 Oct	DID YOU MISS? - Huge FREE £300 just by switching bank - NS&I fixed savings now pay up to 5.17% - 8p/litre off fuel when you spend £60+ at Tesco - Cheap wooden toys: £18 rocking horse & far more - AI, AI, captain! 30+ free or cheap AI tools

 

 

Not got debt on credit or store cards? Read this! New. Huge best-buy top cashback credit card! Get 2% back for a year on up to £10,000 spent on it, and 1% above that! This isn't about debt, it's about being paid when you spend, many make £100s If you've not got debt, a credit card can become a weapon to put MORE money in your pocket - and be better protected when you spend. When you pay in a store, while it doesn't usually change the cost to you, a small percentage goes to the card firm. With cashback cards, you can kind of get that back. And with a credit card you get Section 75 protection too on spending over £100, so the card firm is jointly liable for the purchase. And this week a big new best-buy deal has launched - the Amex Cashback Everyday card now pays 2% for a year, the best long-term deal for years. Full info in top cashback cards. So just do all your normal spending on it to gain (not an excuse to overspend). Though of course, if you don't trust yourself with a credit card, and worry you'll start borrowing, it's best to avoid. Full details below, but first the key operating instruction...  It's Martin's catchphrase for a reason... Only do this if you'll pay the card off IN FULL each month! To neuter the credit card 'debt' element, set up a Direct Debit to repay IN FULL each month to avoid interest. The reason Martin yodels (his word) this so loud when talking reward cards is this... With £1,000 debt, clear in full and there's no interest, but clear £999, then it's not just interest on the £1 left, you pay a month's interest on the whole grand! And that'll dwarf any cashback gain. Plus never withdraw cash - then interest's charged even if you fully clear. Top fee-free CASHBACK CARDS for accepted new cardholders Links via eligibility calc for credit cards, to show if you'll be accepted. New. Top cashback CREDIT CARD American Express Cashback Everyday  Can't have had an Amex in last 2yrs. Min income £15,000+/yr. Rep APR if not repaid in full: 29.1% - Year 1: 2% cashback on ALL spending to £10,000; 1% above. - After: 0.5% on ALL spending to £10,000/yr; 1% above. The cashback's paid after a year, but you ONLY get it if you spend £3,000+/yr on it. Most big stores & chains accept Amex, some small retailers don't. Amex Everyday review Top non-Amex cashback CREDIT CARD Lloyds Ultra  Not in our eligibility calc, so link goes direct.  Rep APR if not repaid in full: 16.9% - Year 1: 1% cashback on ALL spending (no limit).  - After: 0.25% on ALL spending (no limit).  Cashback also applies abroad where it gives a near-perfect exchange rates, making it a winner on overseas spending. Lloyds Ultra review Good CREDIT CARD for drivers + free £40 Uber Santander Reward  Anyone can apply but you must be new to Santander to get the voucher.  Rep APR if not repaid in full: 24.9% - Year 1: 3% on fuel, trains, eating out, EV charging; 0.25% on rest. - After: 0.25% on ALL spending. New to Santander? Add it to your digital wallet and spend on the (physical or virtual) card 10+ times in month one and you get a £20 Uber voucher (for Rides or Eats), then another 30 days after. Santander Reward review Easy to get DEBIT CARD (no hard credit check) Chase* Get its free current account on top of your normal account, no need to switch. - 2% on fuel, groceries, eating out, transport (max £20/mth).  Must spend 15+ times a month on the debit card and have £1,000+ in its easy-access saver (4.5% variable for newbies). And the debit card also gives near-perfect exchange rates on overseas spending. Chase review. This can be really lucrative. Douglas did it on just one purchase... "A bit extreme, I know, however, we were able to pay a car deposit on a 1% cashback credit card and managed to ultimately pay for the balance of the car on it – we earned £170 off that." And some bigger spenders earn £100s over the year.  Will applying affect my credit score? All credit applications have a short-term, minimal impact yet for most with decent scores, as long as you're not about to apply for 'important debt' (eg, mortgage), it's no biggie. Yet if you hold large balances on it - even if paid off in full - combined with other debts, that can have an impact. See how credit scoring works. You can combine this with other cashback offers. Credit card cashback is separate to casback sites' cashback and Airtime app cashback, so do it right and you can get all three.

 

Martin video: 'You are allowed to smile, grab moments of happiness when you can!' Martin was asked: "What advice would you give for managing your money when going through grief. I'm normally on the ball, but after losing my mum, my admin and skill set is slipping?" Watch his 3min grief & money answer, clipped from his full YouTube Ask Me Anything live. Go quick. FREE WILLS if you're 55+. Twice a year, the Free Wills Month scheme lets those aged 55+ get a free solicitor-drafted (or updated) will. They hope you'll leave a bequest (something in your will) to one of their partner charities. We hear spaces for the Oct edition are running out, with several locations fully booked. See if your area is covered in Free Wills Month. News. Far more people now eligible for Disabled Person's Railcard - check if you are. Those with a long-term impairment, health condition or neurodivergence that significantly affects their ability to travel by train now qualify - the second eligibility expansion this year. The railcard gets you a 1/3 off fares. Check if you can get Disabled Person's Railcard. Get £20 to £300 John Lewis gift card if buying selected tech, eg, vacuum, TV, fridge-freezer. On 400+ items over £129. John Lewis isn't always cheapest, so do check how it compares when you factor in the gift card. Plus some items will have an extended warranty (again, check), which can make it more attractive. Full info in John Lewis gift card.  Will a payrise mean I risk losing Child Benefit? | I'm on a tracker mortgage, should I try and get a fix? | How do I get to be you one day? Answers to these listener questions & more in this week's Martin's Question Time podcast. Do give it a listen, via BBC Sounds | Apple | Spotify etc. Do you want up to £600 free cash in time for Christmas? That's what's being given away by banks, full help on that in this week's new Free cash, freebies, the State Pension and Inheritance Tax episode of Martin's Big Topics pod. Listen via BBC Sounds | Apple | Spotify etc.

 

 

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AT A GLANCE BEST BUYS Top 0% balance transfers Top definite 0% card: HSBC (check eligibility; existing customers use this link), 36mths 0%, 3.09% fee, 24.9% rep APR No-fee: Barclaycard (check eligibility) 12mths 0% 24.9% rep APR Best bank accounts Free up to £300: Barclays Free £220: HSBC Broadband top picks Fast fibre (100Mb+): Vodafone '£19.59/mth' Ultrafast fibre (900Mb+): Vodafone '£22.13/mth' On Universal Credit or similar? Check all discounted social tariffs Insurance Car: Use our Compare+ Car Insurance tool Home: Use our Compare+ Home Insurance tool Travel: Use our Compare+ Travel Insurance tool Cheap loans £5,000 to £7,499: M&S Bank (check eligibility), 6.9% rep APR £7,500 to £15,000: M&S Bank (check eligibility) 5.9% rep APR Top savings accounts Top easy-access savings: Cahoot 5%, min £1 Top easy-access ISA: Trading 212 4.8%, min £1 Top one-year fix: Buckinghamshire BS 5.15%, min £1k Top energy deals Use our whole-of-market Cheap Energy Club Cheap Sims Up to 3GB data: Lebara, '£2.91/mth' for 3GB 4GB to 9GB data: Lebara, '£2.98/mth' for 5GB 10GB to 30GB data: iD Mobile, '£3.15/mth' for 15GB 31GB+ data: Lebara, '£3.28/mth' for 35GB

 

News: Over 900,000 State Pensioners missing out on a top-up Martin: Over 66 and on a low income? Please read & share. This could be worth £3,000+/yr and far more help on top As a good few of the reports arguing over the State Pension triple lock note, fewer pensioners (14%) are officially in poverty than working age adults (19%) or children (27%). Yet while that debate rages on (see my pension triple lock's moving to 2.5 times lock explainer), there are still poor and vulnerable pensioners and the tool that is meant to provide a safety net for them, I believe, is partially broken and seriously underclaimed. That tool is Pension Credit, a top-up for those on low incomes. And as this is 'Pension Credit Week of Action', it's worth flagging that the Govt's figures show 900,000 of the 2.3m eligible are still missing out (even after the Winter Fuel Payment - WFP - fiasco when it temporarily restricted WFP to those claiming Pension Credit and said it'd ensure it was better claimed). I suspect a decent chunk of those missing out have newly hit State Pension age and are unaware of it. So I want to take this chance, again, to spread the word. Pls do let others who may be eligible know too.  Is there a chance you're due? Don't stall, just call (or click) to find out... Don't worry - the worst that can happen is they say you're not eligible - Happy to go online: Use www.gov.uk/pension-credit where you can check if you're due - Prefer to speak to someone? Call 0800 99 1234 (Or in N. Ireland, 0808 100 6165) What is Pension Credit? It's a top-up to the State Pension for those with low incomes. The news often reports that the State Pension is, for the new tax year, £241.30/wk. Yet that's not what most receive, that's just the 'new' 'full' State Pension. And 'new' and 'full' do some heavy lifting here. Over 60% of pensioners - those who hit State Pension age before April 2016 - are on the 'old' State Pension which is £184.90/wk at its 'full' basic level. Yet many don't get the 'full' new or old pension, as they don't have enough National Insurance years. This leaves millions with far less than £241/wk and likely eligible for Pension Credit, but many don't claim. Should I check if I'm due Pension Credit? If you're State Pension age, so roughly 66+ (see When do I get my State Pension? calc) on a low income, then YES. When I talk 'income' I'm including income from work; private, work or state pensions; and some benefits. Plus if you've over £10,000 in savings or investments, each £500 above counts as £1/wk income (if only returns were really that good). My ROUGH RULE OF THUMB based on total weekly income is... - Single: Under £238/wk you're LIKELY to get it. Under £250/wk it's worth a check as you may get it. - Couple: (both State Pension age) under £363/wk you're LIKELY to get it. Under £380/wk it's worth a check. Do note, I'm not saying you will get it if your income's under these levels, just that it's worth the time to check. As Susan emailed in, "Think you may be due? Don't stall, just call (or click)... Martin, this was just the best advice you could give. My mother, who suffers with severe dementia, is on the smallest of State Pensions and thankfully receives the full Attendance Allowance. Because she has some savings over £10k I'd always been led to believe that she would not be entitled to Pension Credit. How wrong I was. Thanks to your newsletter I called DWP. Whilst on the phone they did a calculation and told me that she IS entitled. She has now had the first payment and it all took less than four weeks. Thank you, you have made my family very happy to know we can keep my mum safe in her home for longer.''  Pension Credit's superpower! While many on Pension Credit get £1,000s/yr, even if what you're due is just pennies, it's still worth claiming, as Pension Credit is a gateway to other state help, meaning you may be able to claim... Free TV licence for over-75s (normally £180/yr) | Housing Benefit for renters worth £1,000s for some (depends on where you live & how many people you live with) | Council Tax reductions worth £1,000s/yr. Free dental treatment | Reduced prescription glasses/contact lenses | See full Pension Credit gateway benefits.  Isn't this unfair to people just above the threshold? Yes. In many ways Pension Credit is a cliff-edge benefit as, if you get it, you get all the other help. If not, even if you're only a smidge above the eligibility criteria (eg, someone on the full new State Pension with no other income) you don't. This is frustrating for many. I always think cliff edges, whether they be for Carer's Allowance or funded childcare hours, are poor policy - it's another reason I say the system's partially broken.

 

Don't miss out on a Christmas food delivery slot. Our round-up includes ALL the major supermarkets, with Asda's priority bookings opening today (Tue) and early access at Sainsbury's & Tesco still available. How to bag Xmas delivery slots. Free TV audience tickets including Martin's show, Britain's Got Talent, Graham Norton, etc. If you fancy being part of the experience for these and more (though there's a clear highlight 😉), see free audience tix. 'I claimed an Air Passenger Duty (APD) refund and now I'm £178 richer!' Success of the week. Natalie emailed: "Three years ago I bought family flights from the UK to Jamaica with TUI. But due to family reasons the holiday never went ahead. When I called TUI to cancel, no-one mentioned that I could have the APD refunded. After reading MSE's APD refund guide, I used the link provided to fill in my details. Four days later, I was £178 richer, with another £178 on the way for another flight! Thank you, a very well spent 5mins." If we've helped you save or reclaim (on anything), let us know. Ends Wed. Cheapest loan above £10,000 (5.9% + £50 Amazon voucher). Currently the AA is joint-cheapest for loans from £10,000 to £20,000 at 5.9% rep APR, provided you're an AA member, and till 11.59pm tomorrow (Wed), newbies to AA loans also get a £50 Amazon voucher, making it the winner. Use our eligibility calc to check your acceptance odds for this and other best-buys at different amounts. Some loans are 'rep APR'! In our eligibility calc, we've got some lenders to offer guaranteed rates - so, if you're accepted, the rate you see is the rate you get. But with rep APRs, only 51% of those accepted need get the advertised rate - the rest can be charged more... and you usually only find out after applying. Only borrow if it's NEEDED and planned. It should be for budgeted-for, affordable, one-off needs. If in doubt, don't. Full info: Cheapest loans.

 

MONEY MORAL DILEMMA Should I give my daughter the £250 she says I owe her to keep the peace? My youngest daughter, who's 19, says I owe her £250 that my mum gave me to give to her. She's not sure when it was, so I checked through my bank statements but can't find it. I've asked my other children, as I'm sure my mum would have given them the same amount, but they don't recall anything like that - and my mum's passed away, so I can't check with her. I don't think my daughter's lying, just confused, but she won't drop it. Should I just give her the money to keep the peace? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should I give my daughter the £250 she says I owe her? | Suggest a Money Moral Dilemma (MMD) | View past MMDs

 

QUICK DEALS - Co-op: £10 for two pizzas, a side and a four-pack of Peroni or Diet Coke (normally up to £17) - M&S: £397 of beauty in £75 Advent calendar, now available to all - Last chance. Asda: 5p off per litre of fuel when spending £40+ in-store - Homebuilding & Renovating Show: FREE tickets for Harrogate, 30 Oct-1 Nov or Somerset, 14-15 Nov

 

 

MARTIN'S APPEARANCES (WED 14 OCT ONWARDS) Thu 15 Oct - Ask Martin Lewis, BBC R5 Live, 12pm Tue 20 Oct - This Morning, ITV1, 10:20am Tue 20 Oct - The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, ITV1, 7:15pm

 

 

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