Will elec VAT cut really reduce your bill?, free National Trust family pass, new energy Pick Me A Tariff tool!, Martin’s Wallet Workout, 23% off railcards, 4 ways student loans can be wiped

Plus... Martin nearly gets scammed!, 1mth's dog food £4, 'extraordinary' Council Tax win

                                                           

21 July 2026 | View in browser

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THE TOP TIPS IN THIS EMAIL Martin's 5min Wallet Workout: 17 speedy savers incl... - Had your debit card years? - Due a share of £500m in travel refunds? - Free tea / coffee - Going abroad? Don't forget your overseas wallet New. Our 'Pick Me An Energy Tariff' tool FREE National Trust pass & more school hol savers News. Will electricity VAT cut save you money? Martin nearly gets scammed! 23% off 1yr & 3yr digital railcards 1mth's 'tailored' dog food £4 Ends Wed. Easy free £15 for teens FOUR ways student loans can be wiped 'Extraordinary' Council Tax win... New. Cheap Samsung S26 deal: £27/mth Are you a carer for a relative or loved one? Big money mistakes married couples make Struggle to understand how money works? Urgent. Sole trader/landlord with £50k+/yr income? Martin: Return faulty items to retailer or manufacturer? 'Never too old to learn - I saved £167 on car insurance' Tesco 25% off school uniform Martin: Hidden reason many are rejected for credit Poll: How do you rate your bank's service? This week's best buys: 5.9% loan, 10GB Sim £2/mth MMD: Wrong to use student discount as a high earner?

Martin: "Give me your (digital) wallet or purse for five minutes and I can usually save most £100s!" Take Martin's Wallet Workout: 17 ways to speedily save This was my party trick in the early noughties (sexy, eh?). In fact, I think I likely got my first TV series in 2005 when the production company boss suggested the ITV commissioner hand over his wallet for me to do it on. These days, for many, the wallet is now a phone or even a watch - but savings are still possible, and often even bigger. So let's open them up... 1. Pick up your photo driving licence and check SECTION 4B. Photo licences only last 10 years. You should get a notification before it expires, but many don't notice - and over two million are estimated to be out of date. If so, and you get stopped, you risk a fine. Don't panic though, if it's out of date, our driving licence help shows how to safely renew. 2. Had your debit card for years? Get PAID £220 to get a new one. Debit cards are just the front end of a bank account. If you've had the same one for years (unless it makes you feel special), now's the perfect time to get paid to ditch and switch to a new-customer offer, as the choice is huge. Full best-buys, pros and cons, eligibility criteria and Q&A in Top free cash bank accounts, but here are the main runners and riders in brief, in order of upfront cash... HSBC* FREE £220. It rarely does this. Available if you haven't had HSBC or First Direct accounts since 1 Jan 23. Barclays* FREE £200, plus optional half-price Apple TV. NatWest FREE £200 on its Reward Account and possible £3/mth cashback. Santander Edge* FREE £180 & top (joint) bills account. You pay £3/mth but get 1% cashback on bills. First Direct* FREE £175 & top-rated for service. 92% rate it 'great'. Interest-free £250 overdraft for many. Switching bank is easy. Just use its switch service, which closes your old account for you, auto-forwards any payments made to that account, and moves all Direct Debit and Standing Orders for you. The super-savvy willing to play can earn £1,000s multi-switching. 3. Travel in London... due a share of £500m in unclaimed Oyster or contactless card credit? Plus, if you paid via Oyster or contactless and failed to touch your card at the journey's end, or were delayed 15 mins by Tube, you may have money waiting too. See our quick Oyster & TfL contactless reclaiming guide. 4. Paying interest on credit cards? TWO-MINUTE test to see if you can move it to interest-free.Even if you've been rejected before, it's worth checking if you can get a 0% balance transfer. This is where you get a new card that pays off your existing cards for you, so you now owe the new card - but interest-free. That way, more of your repayments clear the actual debt (just try not to do any more borrowing). Step 1: Take the test... Use our 0% Balance Transfer Eligibility Calculator and it'll show the 0% deals you're most likely to be accepted for - and checking doesn't impact your ability to get future credit. Even only a 20% chance is worth trying if it could cut debt costs. Step 2: If you've a choice of cards... Go for the one with the lowest fee, within a time you're sure you can repay. If you're not sure, play safe and just go long. Examples for accepted new cardholders... - New. Longest definite deal & cashback: HSBC (existing customers use this link) gives a definite 3yrs 0%, for a now lower 3.09% one-off fee. Plus, transfer over £500 and you get £25 cashback, effectively reducing the fee. - Shorter yet NO FEE: Virgin Money gives a definite 12mths 0% with NO FEE, so no cost whatsoever. Step 3: Follow my golden rules. If you get a card and do a transfer (usually has to be within 60 days)... a) Clear the card or shift the debt again before the 0% ends, or you pay the full rep APR. b) Never miss the min monthly repayment, or you can lose the 0%. c) Don't spend/withdraw cash - it isn't at the cheap rate, so a simple tip: don't put your balance transfer card in your digital wallet as you don't want it accessible to spend on. 5. NOT got a credit card? Get one to get paid £100s... (just don't borrow on it).When we spend on credit cards, the retailer pays the card firm a fee, and there's a way to get some of this back in your pocket, plus extra Section 75 protection too. The key to this, though, is you must pay off the card IN FULL at the end of the month, preferably by Direct Debit, to avoid interest. That way you turn it from a debt card into a transaction card. Though only do this if you trust yourself not to be tempted to borrow on it. Full best-buys and Q&A in Top Credit Card Rewards, but here are a few top picks... Get 1% back on all your spending. The Lloyds Ultra credit card pays 1% uncapped cashback worldwide for a year. Spending abroad has near-perfect exchange rates and earns cashback too. So if you stick £10,000 of spending on the card over a year, which many will do if they do all their normal spending on it, you'll make £100. If you fail to pay off in full, you'll be charged 14.9% rep APR. Get 5% cashback for five months. The Amex Cashback Everyday currently gives 5% cashback on most purchases for the first five months (max £125). After the five months, it's a decent 0.5% cashback on spending up to £10,000 a year and 1% above. However, you only get paid the cashback if you spend £3,000+ a year on it. If you do, it's a strong option for bigger spenders. If you fail to pay off in full you'll be charged 29.1% rep APR. Free £40 in Uber (Eats & Rides) and 3% cashback on fuel and domestic travel. Newbies opening the Santander Rewards credit card, who add it to their digital wallet and spend on the physical or virtual card 10+ times in month one (you could just buy single bananas) get sent a £20 Uber voucher within 60 days and another 30 days after claiming the first, as long as you've kept the card. The card pays a year's 3% cashback, UK and abroad, on petrol, diesel, train travel, EV charging (not at home), eating out & takeaways (0.25% on other normal spending). It's also a top debit card for spending overseas. If you fail to pay off in full you'll be charged 24.9% rep APR. With all these cards as well as paying off in full, make sure you don't bust your credit limit and don't withdraw cash. 6. Coupon clipper? No need any more... 30+ digital coupons, including 'free' frankfurters, cat food & more. Our regularly updated 30+ coupons guide collates the best online coupons for you, so you have access to them wherever you are. 7. Is your debit card a SECRET DEBT card? Credit cards get a bad rap, but if you're overdrawn, debit cards are worse as the interest is typically nearly double that of a credit card, the average being 40% So it's important to manage it down and see if you can make it cheaper... Small overdraft? Get PAID to make it cheaper. First Direct* pays accepted new customers £175 to switch to it, and gives many an ongoing £250 0% overdraft too (it's the standard 40% AER above that). So if you've an overdraft of £425 or less, the £175 clears some and the rest is interest-free. You will have to 'switch' the overdraft over yourself. Expect your old bank to ask you whether you can pay the overdraft off, or whether you want to keep the account open while you do (it varies by bank). If you do keep it open, while Direct Debits and Standing orders will move automatically, payments into the old account are unlikely to be forwarded to the new one, so you will likely need to arrange to move them yourself. Shift it to a 0% credit card. For big overdrafts, an option is to shift it to a specialist 0% money transfer card, these aren't as good as they used to be, and need a decent credit score, but you could get a year interest-free for a 4% fee. Treat overdraft borrowing like a debt. Try to repay a set amount each month, eg, £50 (ie, you should start the next month with a £50 smaller overdraft than the one before). More help, tips and info in how to cut overdraft costs. 8. Emergency service, NHS, care worker or teacher? Do you have your discount card? The £5 Blue Light Card gives a decent range of discounts on eating out and shopping, eg, 20% off at Pizza Express, 10% off at the Range. See more NHS & care worker discounts. 9. Ensure you're holstering a free coffee (or tea) pass. Just sign up to the Waitrose loyalty scheme, then all you need do is bring your own cup and swipe your card at the machine - you can do it once per day. It's not the only one though - see our list of free tea & coffee deals too. 10. Do you have my picture in your purse or wallet? Some people do; they tell me they have it there as a form of fiscal contraception to remind them to stop spending. Uh-hmm. I think I'm more comfortable if you use our designed free money mantras printout instead. And speaking of contraception... 11. Check any condoms you have are still in date. Carrying a condom around might be a cliché, but safety counts. Remember though, condoms have use-by dates, so as you're doing this workout, it's a good time to check. To replace, you can use the NHS England free condom search, and there's info for Wales & Northern Ireland too. For Scotland, it's area-by-area, so a quick web-search is best. 12. ...and for a different protection, spend a penny. The Section 75 law is powerful voodoo. Buy something costing £100.01 to £30,000 and pay for any of it, even a penny, on a credit card, and the card firm's jointly liable with the retailer for the WHOLE amount. So for important purchases, put at least a little on a credit card (paid IN FULL at the month end to avoid interest, obvs). This means you can go to the card company to complain about anything you would with the retailer - useful if it's gone bust, won't play fair with faulty items, or you buy abroad and can't take the item back. Section 75 isn't perfect, there are holes, but it's far stronger than anything else. Full help in our Section 75 guide. As Rachel emailed a couple of weeks back:  "On my wedding day, the zip on my wedding dress broke. I contacted the shop after the wedding and they apologised and told me they would investigate, but I never received a response. I asked my bank to chargeback but it was unsuccessful and I assumed there was nothing I could do. Nearly two years later, almost on a whim, I submitted a Section 75 claim with evidence to support my case. The bank upheld the claim in part and offered me £800 (50% of the purchase price). Thank you for all the guidance MSE provides, it gave me the confidence not to give up." If you pay on any plastic, including debit cards, and Section 75 doesn't apply, there's a lesser protection called chargeback. It isn't legal, it's part of the Visa, Amex or Mastercard rules. It's where your bank asks the seller's bank for money back if goods aren't received as they should be. Yet while it is less powerful, it's often worth trying ahead of Section 75 as your bank will be happier to help - if it works, it doesn't have to pay you, the retailer's bank does.  13. Pop a donor card in your (digital) purse. In every UK nation you're automatically considered willing to be an organ donor unless you opt out. Yet to concrete your wishes with your loved ones, a donor card or digitally registering your decision makes it easier (do it via these links: England and Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland). Better still, discuss it with them. PS: You can be a living donor too. There are many ways to help while living, including blood & plasma donation, bone marrow donation, stem cells (ages 16 to 30) & hair for young cancer patients. Going abroad? Don't forget your OVERSEAS WALLET⛱️⛱️⛱️ I used to have a special overseas wallet that I just picked up to go abroad. Now much is digital, so it's less needed, but it's still worth checking at least the following: 14. Get near-perfect exchange rates every time you spend anywhere. Normally, spend abroad on plastic and while the card company gets near-perfect rates, it adds 3% on top of what you spend, so £100 of Euros or Dollars costs you £103. Yet a range of top specialist overseas spending cards don't add the 3%, so you get the same near-perfect exchange rates the bank does, smashing bureaux de change. 15. Going to Europe? Ensure you've a valid EHIC/GHIC card (expiry date is bottom right). If you're going to the EU this summer, ensure each family member has a valid FREE Global Health Insurance Card (over 2m have expired). It gives you access to state-run hospitals or GPs for the same price as a local, so if they don't pay, you don't either. We get lots of feedback from people who've needed them and it really helped. 16. Just want to take cash? Speedily compare lots of bureaux. If you just want a little foreign cash in your wallet for safety before you go, or if it helps you budget, then our TravelMoneyMax comparison tool quickly compares bureaux, factoring in all rates & costs to find your best. It won't beat the top plastic, but it's far better than (AAARGH) getting it at the airport - terrible rates.  17. Travel Insurance Compare+ - including for over-65s & pre-existing conditions. While we're checking you've got what you need, our new Compare+ Travel Insurance tool is getting rave feedback, so a reminder it's there.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Find energy choices confusing? Here's something to help... New. Our 'Pick Me An Energy Tariff' tool! No long list of results. Speedily tell it what you want, and it shows YOUR best tariff. With the Price Cap likely to rise again in Oct, this can help you ditch it & save £100s When doing phone-ins or roadshows, people often ask me: 'Can't you just tell me which energy deal to get?' And, in person, I often can. I ask a few quick questions about their preferences, run a comparison (as the price depends on your usage and where you live), then point at which tariff likely suits. And that's what I devised our new Pick Me A Tariff tool to replicate. If you prefer a full comparison table, you can still do that, but this is for those who get analysis paralysis when they see a long list of tariffs. How 'Pick Me A Tariff' works... We've tried to make our Pick Me A Tariff tool as simple as possible to use. It works across Eng, Scot & Wales, but not N. Ireland (see N. Ireland Energy for help). Register or log in to our Cheap Energy Club and give us the basics. We'll find your usage for you if you're new (we'll have it if you're not, though of course it's always worth double-checking). Tell us your preferences. We give you 21 points to allocate across five categories to show what's most important to you. They are... Price | Service | Name You Know | Fix | Can We Monitor It? (so we can provide ongoing help). Unsure? Use my default preferences. Just click a button called 'Martin's suggestions' and either stick with that, or tweak it to suit you. We scan the whole market but just show your top picks. Our algorithm then picks the closest match to your preferences from all the market's tariffs. It also shows the next two closest matches. Eg, if you prioritise price & service, you get the cheapest top-service deal. Please feedback on the new tool. Who shouldn't use it? It isn't for you if you just want to do your own comparison. Nor is it for you (yet) if you are looking for a solar panel tariff, EV tariff, or are a sophisticated user wanting a rapid time-of-use tariff. PS: You may think you've seen something like this before. You're right, pre-energy crisis we had a similar tool. I wanted to bring it back now, but we've rebuilt and designed it to fit the current energy landscape. Yet be warned... wholesale prices are up and this is hitting the Price Cap and energy fixes. The renewed Middle East fighting has seen the price of UK Natural Gas - which strongly feeds into our electricity costs too - rise by roughly 40% since the start of the month, and it was already high.  This has a direct impact on what most people pay, though when it hits bills depends... - On your firm's standard variable tariff? These are price-capped, meaning there's a maximum Standing Charge and unit rate, and almost all charge the max. The Price Cap moves every three months. It was up an average 13% in July. The next move is October and current spikes directly affect that, so it is predicted to rise another 6% on top. - On a fix? Your rate won't change till the fix ends. Then, unless you act, you'll move to the Price Cap (see above). - New fixes. The rate you can lock-in at moves far more rapidly than the Price Cap. So while 10 days ago the cheapest fix was 14% less than July's Price Cap, now it's just 8% less - still a saving, but far less.  I'm on a standard variable tariff, should I fix (spoiler: for most, yes)? If you're on the Price Cap and pay by Direct Debit, most can save by fixing, so it's the risk-averse thing to do. We're now pretty sure Price Cap rates will be at least as high as now for the rest of 2026, and it looks a decent bet there won't be too much change in January - see energy analyst's predictions. Use the comparison or Pick Me A Tariff to find your winner, don't just go for your firm's cheapest. The slight wrinkle here is that fixes are relatively costly right now. And if (a big if) the conflict stopped soon, while the Price Cap would stay high, the rate you can fix at would likely drop. Yet that needs balancing against the fact you're missing out on immediate savings now. So it's a fine call. Don't take the fact we're launching Pick Me A Tariff today as it being perfect timing, we just wanted to get the tool out as soon as it was ready so it could help those who want it. PS: The electricity VAT cut coming in on 1 Oct should reduce all bills, including fixes, by 4.8% compared to what they'd have been otherwise, so it doesn't impact the choice as it's the same for all. Should I fix now if I'm already fixed? While fixes are far cheaper than the Price Cap, compared to past fixes they're far from cheap. So switch and it's likely you'd be paying far more, and you'd likely have to pay early-exit penalties too. If I were you, my best guess (no promises) would be to keep your current cheaper fix as long as you can and hope that when your fix ends you can fix at no more than it is now. Though, if your fix is ending imminently, then effectively you're about to go on a Price Cap tariff, so read the paragraph above.  Specialist tariffs if you're a low user, got solar panels, an electric vehicle (EV), or are a sophisticated user. There are specialist tariffs that may beat fixing. EDF's tracker tariff is essentially a Price Cap where the Standing Charges are discounted by £50/yr - so good for those who use under roughly £80/mth. Then there are special solar panels energy tariffs, and EV tariffs. For sophisticated users, especially those with batteries, Octopus has two highly volatile tariffs which can sometimes be big winners when used right: Agile (electricity price changes every half-hour) and its dual-fuel or single-fuel Tracker tariff (price changes every day). Struggling to afford my energy bills - what do I do? If you still need help and may not be able to pay, it's always better to communicate in advance with your energy firm rather than not pay, as there can be hardship & debt grants. For far more guidance, see our full what to do if you're struggling to pay energy bills help. Plus, also see how to cut usage with our 70+ energy saving tips and energy mythbusting guides.

 

News. Electricity VAT to be scrapped for 6mths from 1 Oct - will you actually save? See Martin's Will the VAT cut save you money? explainer. Martin: 'Scams can happen to anyone! I nearly got caught by one yesterday.' Read Martin Lewis scammed? 23% off 1yr & 3yr digital railcards. Newbies to app Trainpal can use a 23% off railcards code (10% for existing customers) making it just £27 (normally £35) for 1yr and £62 (normally £80) for 3yrs. They're available for those: under 31 or over 60, with kids aged 5 to 15, living in SE England, or just two people who travel together a lot. It's barking... 90% off code for a month's 'tailored' dog food (so £38 worth for £3.80). MSE Blagged. For newbies to Tails.com. Ends 1pm Wed. Free £15 for 13 to 17-year-olds just to open a bank account. If they open a Santander 123 Mini* fee-free bank account, with debit card, via this specific link by 1pm tomorrow (Wed) they get a £15 Love2Shop voucher (redeemable at Argos, Boots, Foot Locker etc) via an email sent after 90 days (they've 30 days to claim it). They don't need to use the account to get the cash, just open it. For more options, including top interest payers, see top children's accounts. Martin video: 'Got a student loan? There are FOUR ways it could be wiped.' Watch Martin's 1min explainer via YouTube, or see full info in his When will your student loan be wiped? blog. 'Your Council Tax advice saved me £7,603 - but what happened afterwards was extraordinary...' Martin's long championed How to check & challenge your Council Tax band. For some it's easy, for others not, but John's tale shows how perseverance can pay off. See Council Tax rebanding alert. New. Cheap Samsung S26 deal, '£27/mth' with 30GB/mth data. Newbies to TalkMobile (owned by Vodafone) can get the latest Galaxy S26, with 30GB/mth of data, for £175 upfront, then £19.95/mth (no price hikes over the 2yr contract). So £654 total over the 2yrs, equivalent to £27/mth. Buying just the handset from Samsung is £879, so this is a strong deal. Fonehouse is responsible for the handset, TalkMobile the contract. Want different phone/network? Use Cheap Mobile Finder. Are you a carer for a relative or loved one? Help us tell Govt how Carer's Allowance should work. The Govt's launched a call for evidence into Carer's Allowance. Carer's: please take our 5min survey What are the big money mistakes married couples make? Can we afford to upsize? | How do you repay two student loans? Martin answers these questions and more from listeners in this week's must-listen Martin's Question Time podcast. Do give it a listen via BBC Sounds | Apple | Spotify etc. Do you struggle to understand how money works? A back-to-basics special on saving vs investing, pensions, consumer rights. Perfect for beginners. What don't you get? Do listen to Martin's new Big Topics pod. Listen via BBC Sounds | Apple | Spotify etc.

 

 

BLAGGED FOR MSE - 90% off a month's tailored Tails.com dog food Ends 31 Aug - Extra 6% off attractions via Love to Visit code Ongoing	DID YOU MISS? - Pssst... Wanna buy stolen goods on the cheap? - £45 for 14-item Boots beauty box with £201 of products - £27 prescription specs or sunnies (normally £99) - Asda: 5p off per litre of fuel when spending £40 in-store - 'Too late, too little?' Tech firms finally forced to tackle scam ads

 

 

Free National Trust family pass, 25% off theme parks, free kids' meals & more... in our 11 school holiday MoneySavers Schoooools out for summmmer! Almost every school across the UK's now broken up. Whether that's music to your ears or leaves you in a cold sweat, we're here to help make it more affordable. Our free & cheap things to do with the kids round-up is jam-packed with ideas, but here are 11 key tips to get you started... Quick. TOTALLY FREE National Trust family day pass (normally £35ish). It's valid for one use until 28 Aug. See free National Trust for full info, but go quick as there's only a limited number available free online. New. 25% off at Alton Towers, Legoland, Sea Life. The code is on cereal packs and works for all Merlin theme parks. While it's not a 2-for-1, crucially it's off the cheaper online price, not the more expensive gate price, so it can work out a better deal depending on your group size and parks visited. More options & analysis in our cheap theme park tix guide. Feed children for free or cheap. Eating out with the family can be expensive, especially if you're struggling, but there's a totally free bowl of cereal & fruit for all kids (and grown-ups) at Morrisons cafés throughout the summer. There's also a belly-full of kids-eat-free deals at Ask Italian, Bill's, Bella Italia & more, though they involve a grown-up buying a meal. Extra 6% off code on rarely discounted attractions, eg, Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Port Lympne. MSE Blagged. Ticket seller Love to Visit offers discounted tickets to 1,000s of UK attractions, many of which you won't find deals for elsewhere. Our site-wide code gets an additional 6% off, making it the cheapest way to bag many of these tickets. Trick to get 2-for-1 tix for London Zoo, Brighton i360, Techniquest Cardiff & more. This is often a winner for even-numbered groups: 2-for-1 tix & other discounts for 100s of attractions when you buy National Rail tickets to the station nearest your chosen attraction. Even if you aren't travelling by train, just buy the cheapest single ticket (one stop before) to bag the discount. Urgent. Does your child get free school meals? You can apply for holiday support. The Holiday Activity & Food Programme (HAF) in England gives children aged 4+ at least one meal a day (+ free activities) for at least six weeks a year during the main school holidays. Access to the programme isn't automatic, so if you haven't done it yet, apply to the HAF now - it's council-specific, so exact details & availability depend on where you live. There are similar schemes in Scotland & Wales, though not Northern Ireland. Take a child to a West End show for 'free'. When a grown-up pays, a kid aged 17 or under goes free to 50+ shows, including Wicked, Beetlejuice and Matilda. For shows till 31 Aug. 200,000 tickets still available. See Kids Week theatre. FREE Amazon warehouse tours. Go behind the scenes at these vast hubs to see boxes packed and robots whizzing around. There are six depots in England, and booking for August tours launched yesterday, so go quick to bag a spot. Full info on this and 25+ other ideas in MSE Jenny's free (or cheap) ways to entertain kids. £1-£2 cinema tickets for kids AND grown-ups. Cinemas put on special family-friendly screenings over the school hols at Cineworld, Odeon and Vue. It's not usually the newest films, but includes recent releases, eg, Super Mario Galaxy. See our 30+ cinema savers. Paying for summer childcare or clubs for any under-11s (or U16s with disabilities)? Many working parents rely on clubs, camps and childcare in the summer. If you're paying for these, even just for the holidays, and it's a registered childcare provider (which many camps and clubs are), you can still get the same year-round help. For those on Universal Credit, there's UC Childcare help, which can refund up to 85% of costs for those in work. If you're not on UC, 'working parents' can get Tax-Free Childcare, which effectively gives you 25% off what you pay. Free crafting, gardening, hamster care, tennis and other kids' learning activities. MSE Georgia-May's blog rounds up a variety of fun workshops and activities big retailers are putting on over the summer hols. Plus, see our list of 200+ free museums and art galleries.

 

Urgent. Sole trader or landlord with £50,000+/yr income? The Making Tax Digital deadline is near. You need to submit your first quarterly update by 7 August. Full help in our Making Tax Digital guide. Martin video: 'If it's faulty, do I return it to the shop or the manufacturer?' Watch Martin's quick 90-sec Consumer Rights explainer, just a snip from his 'I don't get money' podcast. 'You're never too old to learn - I've just saved £167 on car insurance thanks to MSE.' Success of the week. Nikki emailed last week night with a 'sweet-spot' for car insurance quotes success: "Even at 80 you're never too old to learn. I have just saved £167 [via MSE Compare+] renewing my car insurance 22 days before the expiry date. My automatic renewal price was £652. I went onto the MSE site and got a quote for the same cover with the same company for £485. Thank you, Martin." If we've helped you save or reclaim (on anything), please tell us about it. Tesco 25% off school uniform, eg, 2x sweatshirts £3. For Clubcard members (free to join) till Sun. School uniform Martin video: 'The hidden, but obvious reason many are rejected for credit...' Watch Martin's 1min explainer via YouTube. Far more help in How to boost your creditworthiness. Related: Join the free MSE Credit Club (also via the MSE Android or Apple app). How do you rate your bank's service? Have your say in our six-monthly current account poll.

 

 

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AT A GLANCE BEST BUYS 0% balance transfers Top definite 0% card + £25: HSBC (check eligibility; existing customers use this link), 36mths 0%, 3.09% fee, 24.9% rep APR No-fee 0%: Virgin Money (check eligibility) 12mths 0%, 24.9% rep APR Best bank accounts Free £220: HSBC Free £175+ top service: First Direct Broadband top picks Fast fibre (100Mb+): Plusnet '£18.87/mth' Superfast fibre (500Mb+): Vodafone '£23.05/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 New. 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% up to £3k, min £1 Top easy-access ISA: Trading 212 4.67%, min £1 Ending? Top one-year fix: Marcus 4.9%, min £1 Top energy deals Use our whole-of-market Cheap Energy Club Cheap Sims Up to 3GB data: Lebara, '£2.36/mth' for 3GB 4GB to 9GB data: Lebara, '£2.38/mth' for 5GB 10GB to 30GB data: Lebara, '£2.42/mth' for 10GB 31GB+ data: iD Mobile, '£7/mth' for 120GB

 

 

MSE NEWS - Top story: Private parking firms warned to treat motorists fairly as investigation launched - Heating oil users need more consumer protections, regulator says

 

 

MONEY MORAL DILEMMA Is it wrong to use student discounts when I'm a high earner? I'm in my mid-30s and have an income that puts me in the top 5%. I've got a National Union of Students card through an institution I'm part of. My partner says it's unfair, as student discounts are aimed at low earners. Yet a cynic might argue that companies only offer these discounts to build loyalty among those who'll one day be well-paid graduates. I've not lied to get the card, and I avoid using it at independent shops. Is it wrong to use it elsewhere? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Is it wrong to use student discounts when I'm a high earner? | Suggest a Money Moral Dilemma (MMD) | View past MMDs

 

 

MSE TEAM BLOG - MSE Forum highlights: electric cars, long-haul flights & weed-covered patios

 

 

MARTIN'S APPEARANCES (WED 22 JULY ONWARDS) Thu 23 Jul - Ask Martin Lewis, BBC Radio 5 Live, midday

 

 

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