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DON'T believe the fake 'Martin Lewis' or 'MSE' ads |
The sun's out, and soon millions more children will be out of school too, joining those in Scotland on the long summer holiday. It's often not an easy feat for families, but this year, with the cost of living crisis in full flow, it's going to bite many hard. So we've put together nine tips to help for a range of situations.
And please... let us know if these help or get in touch if there's something that can help people we've missed by email. |
New. Are you due a share of £150m in council tax refunds? How to check. Some 862,000 homes are owed a refund, so check if you're due one. Other key council tax info: Check 'n' challenge your band. FREE Lego mini toy. At some toy shops this weekend, limited stock. Free Lego. Related: B&M £5 toy sale. Are solar panels now worth it? Energy costs have hit record highs and are set to worsen in October when the price cap will jump again. So solar panels - which let you generate energy to cover some of your usage - have become more viable for many who have savings to spend. See our updated Are solar panels worth it? guide to check if they're right for you. More energy bills help: Martin's 'Should I fix my energy tariff?' guide | Help - I can't afford to pay. £133 of No7 beauty & skincare products for £35. Nine-piece set with 'secret' contents (previous deals have had mascara, eye pencil, cleanser and so on) and you can get early access to ensure you bag one. Triple-threat Chase now has no wait time: 1.5% savings, 1% cashback & near-perfect rates abroad. The Chase app* is a triple threat, a best buy in three categories (they're throwing serious money to build a customer base) plus you NEEDN'T SWITCH BANK to get it. It's been so popular there was a 3 to 5 week waiting time after application - now you can get it at speed. Full info in Best bank accounts. School uniform sales on NOW - get a full set for £5. See our cheap uniform round-up. 'Thanks. I was awarded £1,500 pension credit AND an extra £185 every two weeks. It's changed my life.' Our success of the week comes from Jackie, who followed our claim pension credit campaign. She said: "After hearing Martin talk about pension credit I wondered if I could qualify. I applied and was awarded a £1,500 lump sum and now get an extra £185 every two weeks. This has changed my life. No one tells you this is available and only thanks to your team am I now getting it." Send us your MoneySaving successes. Want to explain the cost of living crisis to your children? BBC Newsround has a video guide (with a couple of nibbles from Martin) - a nice, easy, calm watch. Cost of living explainer for kids New. 2.7% loan - if you NEED to borrow, we've not seen cheaper. Two lenders have increased rates, but Finble, Admiral's new brand, has launched a 2.7% rep APR loan for £7,500 to £15,000, making it joint cheapest. If you need to borrow (only do it for planned, budgeted, one-off reasons) our Loans Eligibility Calculator shows which top loans will likely accept you at any amount (Finble isn't available direct so the link goes via our calculator). Full help: Cheap loans guide (APR examples). |
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Amazon 'Prime Day' starts next week - we get our crystal ball out, for example, 50% off Alexa? Prime Day perversely lasts two days, and while many deals are often meh, there can be hidden corkers. Prime Day predictions Going abroad this summer? 8 travel money must-knows so you don't overpay to pay. If you missed it, check out last week's holiday money masterclass. Fibre broadband & line rental '£13.46/month' - cheapest we've seen since Feb. Newbies applying for this 38Mb Vodafone deal pay £22/month, but can CLAIM (don't forget) a £205 Amazon, Tesco, Sainsbury's or M&S voucher. If you'd have spent there anyway, factor that in and it's equivalent to £13.46/month over the two-year contract. For many more options, use our Broadband Unbundled comparison tool. Grüum five-piece holiday set £15 delivered (normally £38). MSE Blagged. Includes sun cream, aftersun, shampoo, and body and facial cleansing bars. 7,500 available. Grüum PS: If you spot the new MSE app in Apple's App Store or Google's Play Store, yes it is genuine. It's early days and we've lots of bells and whistles to add, so we're not shouting about it yet. But feel free to give it a go and feed back. |
AT A GLANCE BEST BUYS
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THIS WEEK'S POLL Do you carry a wallet or purse? This week's Money Tips email is all about Martin's Wallet Workout - but in this digital age, how many of us actually still carry a wallet or purse? Let us know in this week's poll. Using a specialist travel credit card is the most popular way to spend abroad among MoneySavers. Last week, we asked how you normally pay for things while on holiday - some 5,000 people responded. Just under one-third (32%) said they used specialist travel credit cards, while cash ordered in advance was the next most popular option at 29%. Encouragingly, only 0.1% said they exchanged cash at the airport - by far the most costly way. See full travel money poll results. |
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MONEY MORAL DILEMMA Can I keep using my NHS discount card even though I've left the service? I used to work for the NHS and, when I did, I bought a discount card for NHS staff. The scheme verifies your employment then entitles you to discounts from a lot of companies. I've left the NHS now, but the card's valid for two years and doesn't offer refunds. The T&Cs don't specify what happens in this situation - can I continue to use the card, as I bought it legitimately, or should I stop as I'm technically no longer eligible? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Can I keep using my NHS discount card even though I've left the service? | Suggest a Money Moral Dilemma |
MARTIN'S APPEARANCES (WED 6 JUL ONWARDS) Wed 6 Jul - This Morning, phone-in, ITV, 10.55am MSE TEAM APPEARANCES (SUBJECTS TBC) Thu 7 Jul - BBC Radio Leicester, Mid-morning with Summaya Mughal, from 11.35am |
THE ULTIMATE MONEYSAVING TOOL OR A DEN OF TEMPTATION - HAS THE WEB MADE IT EASIER TO SAVE? That's all for this week, but before we go... MSE Forumites have been debating whether it was easier to save money before or after the advent of home internet. For some, the web has made saving a breeze, with the ability to switch banks, use money management apps and shop around for deals. Others argue it's easier to splurge now, thanks to the temptation of online shopping and the ease with which you can get at your money. Let us know where you stand in our was it easier for you to save money BEFORE or AFTER the internet? MSE Forum discussion. We hope you save some money, stay safe, |
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