| | | For more tips, alerts & inevitable bad puns follow Martin: |  |  |  | | Debt isn't always bad. Borrowing to fill a regular gap in income is a nightmare. For planned purchases, if you minimise the amount, budget to ensure affordability, and repay as cheaply and quickly as possible, it's a reasonable choice. Why not play the Good Debt/Bad Debt video quiz (with kids) to help?
| 1. | Spend on card, clear in full, get month interest-free. If you just need short term borrowing, use any major credit card (except Lloyds Advance) to pay and don't withdraw cash. Clear IN FULL the next month & it's interest-free.
| | | | | 2. | Borrow at 0% for 18mths no fee. Interest free's unbeatable. So if you've a decent credit history, 0% wins. ALWAYS fully repay or balance transfer before the 0% ends, or rates rocket. Full step-by-step in 0% Cards.
Longest 0% spending credit cards | | 0% length | APR post 0% (1) | Rewards | | Tesco* | 15 mths | 16.9% | Clubcard pts | | M&S* | 15 mths | 15.9% | M&S pts | Nationwide* (exist custs) | 18 mths | 12.9% | Cashback | Halifax All in One* | 15 mths (2) | 17.9% | - | | (1) Representative APR: sadly, only 51% of accepted customers must get APR this low (2) Representative 0%: only 51% must get 15mths. See Official APR examples | | | | | | 3. | Do the maths. Borrowing if you've got savings often doesn't add up. £5,000 in top savings only pays around £125/year interest after tax, while borrowing that on an 18% credit card can cost £900. So unless you've super-cheap debt, use your savings instead of borrowing. See the Repay Debts With Savings and Should I Overpay The Mortgage? guides. | | | | | 4. |  Poor credit scorers can get 0% too, but take care. Capital One's* Balance card is 0% until Oct on shifted debts (not new spending), then jumps to a HUGE 34.9% representative APR. Usually this should only be a route to cut existing debt costs. But as it's the only cheap deal for poorer credit scorers, if a payday loan's your only other option, shifting existing debts to it to temporarily free up space on other cards beats that. Be careful — see Capital One help. | | | | | 5. | Flogging unused stuff beats costly loans any day. If you're looking at costly cards, or worse, payday loans, sell or even pawn unused items to raise cash instead. Use the Mobilevaluer tool to compare old mobile prices, flog unused stuff on eBay or boost your income. | | | | | 6. | For bigger borrowing and fixed repayments — cheapest loan's 6%. The Derbyshire Building Soc's* 6% APR for £7,500-£15k loans, 7.8% for £5k-£7.5k. Sainsbury's* is 6% over £7,500 for 1-3yrs but requires a Nectar card.
Be warned, these are 'representative APRs' so only 51% of accepted applicants must get that rate; others can pay more. Outrageously, to find out your rate you need to apply and that marks your credit file. So, plaudits to Nationwide's* 6.8% APR (6.3% for existing customers) above £7,500 — it tells you your rate without a formal application. Full info in Cheap Loans guide. | | | | | 7. | Need a cheap flexible loan? Try Zopa. If you're over 26 with a decent credit score, peer-to-peer lender Zopa* triumphs. It's cheapest for smaller loans (eg, 10.2% for £3,000 compared to cheapest normal loan at 12.8%) and lets you overpay without penalties. Rates depend on your credit score, but you can check what it'll charge without a credit file hit. See more Zopa info. | | | | | 8. | There are Government 0% crisis and budgeting loans. Two Jobcentre 0% loans for up to £1,500 are available. Crisis loans are available to anyone (savings caps apply) for emergencies, or if you or your family are at risk, eg, roof fallen in. Budgeting loans are only for benefits recipients, but allow spending on a wider range of items, such as school uniforms. Each region has limited cash, and if they've run out you won't get it. See benefits guide. | | | | | 9. | Get smaller 'loans' at 0% for 20mths for 4% fee. If you need a lump sum, normal credit cards can't help. However, Virgin* allows 'money transfers' to your bank account at 0% for 20 months (20.9% rep APR after) for a one-off 4% fee. It isn't simple, so use step-by-step help in Credit Card Loans guide. | | | | | 10. | Payday loans can be hellish — avoid. While many rant about the sometimes-5,000% APRs, that's not what really scares me. Over a month, £200 costs £50. The problem is, many encourage you not to repay, so the debt rolls over and costs explode. I'm hearing more and more "I borrowed £100 and now owe £900"-type horror stories. Don't risk it. Try your local credit union instead.
| | If you're struggling or anxious about your debts, remember, free one-on-one help is available, and it works. Full list of agencies in Debt Problems Help guide.
| Please help us spread the word Please forward this email to friends and suggest they
get it themselves via moneysavingexpert.com/tips | |  New tool. Find hidden eBay local bargains
Pick-up only deals have fewer bids, so are cheaper — this free new tool locates them for you Whether designer sofas, Wiis or children's books, eBay sellers often specify items must be collected in person. As this often means fewer bids, there are bargains to be had. You can't normally search collection only, so we've built a mapping tool.  New Local eBay Deals Mapper tool. Tell our Local eBay Deals Mapper your postcode, how far you're prepared to schlep, and it maps nearby gems. For more help tracking down hidden bargains, our updated eBay Buying Secrets guide lists tools to find underpriced goods, exploit spelling mistakes, auto-bid to cheaply seal deals and more. - Create hidden Amazon bargain basements. Similarly, our power-packed Amazon Discount Finder manipulates Amazon links to create customised pages. Use zippy sliders to select the discount percentage and build pages such as Kids' DVDs 90%+ off*, Beauty 70%+ off* & TVs 25%+ off*.
- Don't assume it's always a bargain. These are automated tools, so always compare prices elsewhere (try the Megashopbot) to check it's really worth it. Use the money mantras above to check it's right for you.
| Boost old ISAs to 3.5% easy-access (and add cash too)
With cash ISA rates temporarily boosted, ACT NOW to transfer and earn £100s a year more
It's ISA season. The tax year ends on 5 April, so ISA providers are in a price war to attract 'last chance' money. Even if you've no new cash to save, take advantage. Transfer poor-paying ISAs from this or past years to earn much more.  Urgently check old ISA rates. Some old ISAs pay just 0.1%. Check yours. If it's anything under 3%, boost the rate. Just open a new ISA and fill out its transfer forms. Don't worry if you've already opened an ISA this tax year. Opening one just for transferring doesn't break the rules.
- Top 3.3% easy-access cash ISA transfers (allows new money too). Santander's* 3.3% AER (min £2,500) and NatWest* e-ISA's 3.5% (min £30,000) allow transfers, and if you've not used this year's £5,340 allowance, you can add that too before Thu 5 Apr. Both are variable rates and include year-long bonuses, so diarise to ditch and transfer then.
- Lock in up to 4.5% on cash ISA transfers. Fixed-rate cash ISAs give a guaranteed rate. Halifax* allows transfers & new cash (min £500), paying 4.25% to 4.5% AER for 3 to 5 years. You can access the cash but with hefty up to 365-day interest penalties — be sure you want to lock away for that long. For 2 yr fixes BM Savings is 4.05% AER (min £500) but with 180-day penalties, yet Santander* at 4% AER (min £1) has a lower 120-day interest penalty, plus will pay an extra 0.1% interest if Rory McIlroy wins a major.
- Boost interest by £550/year. This can have a huge impact, for a TV money makeover Martin met a 25 year old with £20,000 in ISAs, who never checked rates. She was getting £100 annual interest. One bish, bash, transfer bosh later, she was £550/year better off.
Full info & more options in ISA Transfers guide, for new money see Top ISAs. All have full UK £85,000 savings protection. | Warning Missed rent could hit your credit file
Plus, if you share, you could be linked to flatmates so their credit record affects you We learned last week that by the end of 2012, rent payments could appear on biggest credit reference agency, Experian's credit files. This major change could hit some hard. Full info in our Boost Credit Score guide, here's the key info...  You'll be asked to sign a contract. Landlords will only be able to report payments if you sign a contract allowing it. You have a right to refuse, but equally, they can simply refuse to rent to you.- Missed rent payments could scupper mortgage, card or loan applications. If you, or anyone you live with, misses a payment it could negatively hit your credit score. Lenders will see this info when you apply, so could reject you.
- It'll link you to flatmates. Currently, the only way to be financially linked is a joint bank account or mortgage. Outrageously, the plan now is you'll be linked to flatmates. So if they miss a bill or credit card payment, it could hit you. We are looking at lobbying against this.
- Check your files. This news is a salient reminder to check for errors on credit files. See Free Credit Check for how.
| 'Two delivery no-shows so I claimed my lost work hours'
Successes are rolling in, based on our 'Fight back against no-show deliveries' guide It's infuriating. You take time off work for a delivery or installation, wait hours, and it doesn't show. DON'T just growl — hold 'em to account with our step-by-step Failed Delivery — Fight Back guide.  The proof of the pudding. We launched the guide in Dec, now we've heard successes.
| "Result — I complained about 2 failed deliveries. They called back and offered £60 in vouchers." | | | "Used your template letter against a local insulation firm. It wasn't until the third appointment it actually did the job. Claim for nine hours off work — the insulation company accepted my claim." | |
- The key is 'did you need to take ANOTHER day off?' Legally, you can't claim compensation for the original no-show as you were taking that day off work anyway. But if you then need to take ANOTHER day (or hours) off for a new delivery slot, this is a 'consequential loss' and you could be due your pay back for hours lost.
For a full step-by-step explanation of your rights in a range of circumstances, how to negotiate compensation and free template letters, see the Failed Delivery — Fight Back guide. Related: Your Consumer Rights | FREE guard for your cards
Pre-empt loss & theft — protect your credit, debit, loyalty and gym cards Card cancellation company CPP is being investigated by the FSA for mis-selling, and many shell out for card cancellation policies in case their wallets go missing. But we've an easy and free DIY alternative.  Free Cardsgone.com. Cardsgone.com allows you to list all your cards and then gives you a special link to save (or print) in case you lose your cards. It lists all the up-to-date phone numbers you'll need. (We don't store your personal info).- This includes credit, debit, loyalty and gym cards. We started off with the obvious credit, debit & loyalty cards, passports and driving licences. Now we've added scores such as English Heritage, gym cards, Starbucks, Oyster and more. Please suggest more.
- Don't double up on card protection policies. If you do prefer to pay for CardGuard or Sentinel's 'we'll cancel for you' services, you usually only need one to cover every card in your household. Don't double cover.
| | |  | Live in a remote community? Tell the OFT how it affects services
The Office of Fair Trading is looking into the challenges faced by people in remote areas — be they coastal, inland, island or mainland. How are services such as shops, broadband, dentists, chemists, banks and public transport affected? Are goods more expensive? Is online shopping divine or a dilemma? Please let the OFT's remote communities study know.
Suggest a campaign: This space is for MSE to support the work of other charities, community groups and campaigners. Send your campaign of the week suggestion. | | | | | | | | | | | Martin's on Countdown's Dictionary Corner, 3.10pm C4 every day this week. Wednesday 21 March
Shelagh Fogarty, Radio 5, 3-4pm.
The Budget. Thursday 22 March
Shelagh Fogarty, Radio 5, 12-1pm.
Consumer Panel. Watchdog, BBC1, between 8 & 9pm.
Pet insurance and loyalty village. Next Week Mon AM This Morning, ITV1. Tue AM Daybreak, ITV1.
| | All Martin's Appearances | | | | | | UK's Best Currency Rates | | £100 will buy you: | | Best | Worst |  | € | 119.75 | 104.86 |  | $ | 157.87 | 138.73 |  | TL | 279.00 | 244.82 | | Rates correct at 5pm Tues | Find all top currency rates
Compare travel cash | | | | | | | Which of the following is closest to your view? I'm a practising Christian Prohibit all Sunday trading | Vote | Keep Sunday trading rules as they are now | Vote | Allow trading on Sunday like any other day | Vote | I'm a practising member of a non-Christian faith Prohibit all Sunday trading | Vote | Keep Sunday trading rules as they are now | Vote | Allow trading on Sunday like any other day | Vote | I'm not a practising member of any faith Prohibit all Sunday trading | Vote | Keep Sunday trading rules as they are now | Vote | Allow trading on Sunday like any other day | Vote | | | | | Would you pay more to buy British?
It's good news for British farmers, since 67% who voted in this week's poll said they would pay more to buy British groceries.
28% said they wouldn't pay more for British goods, but with over 4,000 saying they would, it's clear Brits remain loyal. See Full Results. | | | | | | | I tried to book Avios flights about 12 months in advance — when seats used to be released under the old Airmiles scheme (Airmiles became Avios in November). I couldn't find any and can't believe they're all booked up. What's changed? Marie, by email. MSE Jenny's A: Avios's partner airlines can choose to limit seats on certain flights, as happened with Airmiles. There may be no seats available when they launch a flight, but it is always possible seats will be released later.
You still tactically got it right, as 355 days before is when seats start to be released. In your case the answer is keep checking, but as always with any airline rewards the key is flexibility, a bit of luck and trying early if it's over a prime time. Use Avios's Zone Map to find routes with availability. See Avios Points Boosting. | | | | Otters that look like Benedict Cumberbatch Just when you thought the internet couldn't get weirder... this has sparked a bit of a craze. We love Sherlock, and somehow this makes it better. Next week, skunks that look like Martin Freeman... Otters that look like Cumberbatch We hope you save some money, Martin & the MSE team | | |
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