Savers alert, free Greggs, £300 off Vax, Meter Reading Week, free £210 bank switch, 2x specs £25

Plus 17mth FREE travel + mobile + breakdown insurance, £35 air fryer, stamp deadline, 30% off coffee

                                                           

26 September 2023 | View in browser

Banking & Savings Household Bills Deals Insurance Cards & Loans Mortgages Income Reclaim

 

THE TOP TIPS IN THIS EMAIL Martin: It's Meter Reading Week. My 9 need-to-knows, including: - Calculate what'll you pay from Oct - Is it time to switch? - Latest Price Cap predictions Martin's savers alert after base rate freeze Get 1.5yr's FREE family travel, mobile & breakdown insurance FREE Greggs pizza slice & hot drink 14,000 Vax codes, incl £400 cordless for £100 Mortgage rates are falling - is now the time to fix? Now FOUR banks pay you up to a FREE £210 to switch Extra 20% off Secret Sales code Beat 14% 1st class stamp rise £35 Tower air fryer at Iceland 10,000 FREE Ideal Home Show Christmas tickets Martin's podcast: Teen money special £10 off £60 at Toolstation Birthday FREEBIES, including Krispy Kreme/Greggs doughnut BT fast fibre broadband '£27/mth' TWO prescription specs from £25 'I saved £160/yr haggling my phone bill' Grind coffee 30% off code This week's best buys, including 5.6% loans, 10GB Sim '£3.57/mth', 29mths' 0% debt shift Should I take a stance on school's pricey logoed uniform? BEST BUYS & TOOLS MSE Cheap Mobile Finder Credit Club including free credit report 0% balance transfers Compare broadband deals MSE Compare+ Car Insurance Best bank accounts Top savings accounts Credit cards for bad credit Credit Card Eligibility Calculator Loans Eligibility Calculator Mortgage comparison Compare travel money Cheap Energy Club, with Pick Me A Tariff Best Sim-only deals

Martin: It's Meter Reading Week On Sunday energy bills'll FALL an average 7%, but it'll still cost lots  My 9 need-to-knows, incl switch to cut costs It's now autumn, temperatures are dropping, and without wanting to go all Game of Thrones, winter is coming. This Sunday, 1 October, the new October to December Energy Price Cap kicks in, falling on average by 7%. So for the 90% of Eng, Scot & Welsh homes on a price-capped tariff (pretty much everyone who isn't on a fix), in simple terms, for every £100 you're currently paying, you'll pay v roughly £93 from Sunday. Yet energy costs remain shockingly high, and this winter with no £400 energy support, many - especially lower users - will end up shelling out more than last. So I've 9 key need-to-know nows to help you prepare: 1. Seven per cent is an average, it can vary wildly depending on location and usage. Use our quick calc to see for you. The Price Cap isn't a limit on the total you pay, instead what happens is the regulator Ofgem caps the standing charge and unit rates for firms' standard (ie, default) tariffs by region and payment method (eg, direct debit, pay in receipt of bills and prepay). To find out what you'll pay in seconds, just use our Oct Price Change Calc. And while it may be called a cap, in reality almost every firm prices their standard tariff at its max levels. To show you what's happening, here's the new direct debit UK averages (see region-by-region rates). DD UK average Standing charge Unit rate Electricity UP to 53.4p/day  (now 53.0p) DOWN to 27.4p/kWh  (now 30.1p) Gas UP to 29.6p/day  (now 29.1p) DOWN to 6.9p/kWh  (now 7.5p) I can almost hear thousands of you gnashing your teeth as you read about the standing charge increase - a ridiculous call by Ofgem. Standing charges of over £300 a year, even if you use nowt, is an energy poll tax, and I will continue to campaign against it. See my Why are standing charges so high? What can you do? blog. Overall, it means the structure of the change is regressive - higher users will save a bigger percentage than lower users. For example, someone in NW of England with just £500/yr bills will see them only fall by 2% (just a tenner), while someone with £5,000/yr bills will see them fall 8% (over £400). 2. Pay by monthly direct debit? It's Meter Reading Week. Those with a working smart meter shouldn't need to do owt. But if you don't have a smart meter, or it doesn't work, try to take a meter reading within a few days either side of the rate change (if after Sunday most let you backdate a few days) to reduce the risk of your supplier estimating you've used more at the higher rate than you actually have. Take a pic of the meter for extra peace of mind. See our firm-by-firm when & how to do a reading. 3. Do you have a non-smart electricity prepay meter? If so, the price change tends to happen when you top up. So aim to run what you have now down to near empty before 1 Oct (or top up just the minimum if you need), then top up as soon as you can from Sunday, even with just £1, as that triggers you being charged the lower rate. Full info in prepay top-up trick. 4. Is it time to switch? The best deals right now... While it's early days, we're starting to see the rebirth of the switching market, and there are some deals those on the Price Cap should look at, though savings are nothing like they were before the crisis. Our regularly-updated Stick, switch or fix energy? guide takes you through the available tariffs from British Gas, EDF, Sainsbury's and more, and shows which are worth considering. Highlights right now include... Octopus customers: Fix for less than the new Price Cap. That's a strong proposition compared to the predicted future Price Caps. E.on Next customers: 3% Price Cap discount tariff. This moves with the Price Cap, but is cheaper. For those who signed up last week, and found the quotes E.on gave confusing, that's explained via the link too. With another firm? Your own firm may have a deal, and there are some 'all customer' deals listed in Stick, switch or fix energy? too. Plus you could get one of the tariffs above by switching to its standard tariff, then switching again (as long as it's still around). Octopus smart tariffs: Existing Octopus customers (or switchers who move to its standard tariff first) can access one of two tariffs, which can be seriously cheap (or much costlier). Its Tracker tariff changes rate every day, its Agile tariff every half-hour. For those who have control over when they use their home electricity, it can be a real winner. Electric vehicle owners: There are a few special tariffs for charging EVs at home. See which EV tariffs are worth it. 5. Are you due FREE insulation? If you're in council tax band A to D (& E in Scot & Wales) and your home's energy performance certificate rating is D or below, you may now be eligible for free insulation under the Govt's expanded scheme - our new Free insulation guide has full details. In Northern Ireland? See NI energy grants. 6. Is your direct debit about right? With the Cap change due, now's a key moment to check if you're paying the right amount. Enter your usage into our 'Is your direct debit right?' calc, and we'll give a rough estimate of what you should be paying. If it's out of kilter, ask 'em why and read how to challenge unfair direct debits. 7. What's predicted to happen to the Price Cap? Each Price Cap is only in effect for three months (see Energy Price Cap FAQs for full info on how it's calculated). After Sunday's fall, analysts Cornwall Insight currently predict it'll rise in January, then drop again in April - though it will stay cheaper than it is today. The further out you go though, the more it is crystal-ball gazing, and the more the predictions could change radically. 8. Are you getting all the help you qualify for this winter? There is no £400 energy support package for everyone like last winter, but there's still support for specific groups. - £300 benefits cost of living payment dates are now out. - Up to £600 pensioners' winter fuel payment. - £150 Warm Home Discount for some on benefits with high energy use. - And see our What to do if you're struggling to pay energy bills guide (there are hardship grants available for some). 9. Want to cut your usage? It's still quite warm, so for many this isn't urgent yet, but early planning is often the best way. See our Energy saving tips, the Energy mythbusting guide for less clear-cut issues and, if sadly necessary, our Heat the human not the home guide.

 

 

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 golden rules for savers after UK rate freeze Rule 1. Check your rates! If UNDER 5%-ish you're being diddled Rule 2. Thinking about a fix? Open one now even if you don't pay in Banks are likely making billions, from millions of people earning diddly-squat on savings. Yet it only takes a few minutes to turn this around. As Barry & Irene emailed: "Thanks MSE for this savings advice. We were making a paltry £30/mth interest, but after switching to three banks, we are making nearly £200/mth now." 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). - Top big name: NatWest Group's Ulster Bank at 4.91%* (min £10,000), Post Office 4.7% (min £1). - Bank with Santander Edge? If so, you can get 7% easy access but only on up to £4,000. - Top cash ISA: Coventry BS 4.9% (min £1) - see our Cash ISAs guide for if it's right for you (as it is for many more now). 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). - 9mth fix: Ahli United via Raisin 5.79% (min £1,000), Secure Trust Bank 5.75% (min £1,000). - 2yr fix: Ford Money pays the top 6.05% rate (min £500). Quick tip: Unsure? Open a top fix now, even if you don't fund it If you've got savings but aren't sure whether you want to fix them... remember when you open a fixed savings account, you get a set period of time to pay the money in - or to put money in and withdraw. For the accounts above it's between 14 and 60 days (it says in the summary boxes) and that buys you time to think. With rates potentially going to drop, open a top rate now, then if top rates do fall you've got the facility open at the higher rate. If not, and you've other options you prefer, use those, and just leave the fixes unfunded. CAN YOU BOOST INTEREST FURTHER? Some specialised options in our Savings section pay even more: - 50% bonus for many on Universal Credit or Tax Credits. See Help to Save. - 25% bonus for first-time buyers aged 18 to 39. See Top Lifetime ISAs. - Earn up to 8% if you can save monthly. See Regular savings. - Prefer to invest? Higher returns, but more risk. See Stocks & shares ISAs.

 

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. Now FOUR banks pay you up to a FREE £210 to switch... Bank switch bribes have gone from famine to feast in the past fortnight. In order of total cash... 1) Free £210: TSB's free £150 plus £10/mth for 6mths* (the £10/mth is if you make 20+ monthly debit card payments). 2) Free £200: New. Nationwide's free £200, plus save max £200/mth in its 8% regular saver. 3) Free £175: First Direct's free £175 plus top for service*. A 0% £250 overdraft & save max £300/mth in 7% reg saver. 4) Free £175: Club Lloyds' free £175 plus rewards, eg, Disney+. Full info & eligibility criteria: Best bank accounts. PS: More may be coming, so we're holding off a full rundown for now. Secret Sales code gets extra 20% off already-reduced Nike, Ted Baker, Converse and more. MSE Blagged. High street & designer stock at reduced prices. 4,000 codes available. Secret Sales 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.

 

 

BLAGGED FOR MSE - Extra 20% off code on Nike, Ted Baker & more 4,000 available - Grind coffee 30% off code Ends Tue 3 Oct - £150 to £300 off Vax vacuums codes 14,000 available - Two pairs of specs from £25 delivered Ends Thu 5 Oct	DID YOU MISS? - Car insurance UP 41%. Check if you can lock in NOW - Cheapest ever iPhone 14 as new iPhone 15 launches - 'Free' pretzels, £1.50 off teabags & more via coupons - FREE Grand Designs Live Birmingham tickets

 

 

New. Get nearly a year and a half's 'FREE' family annual travel, mobile and breakdown insurance worth £100s 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. Two packaged accounts that PAY SWITCHERS to join Club Lloyds Silver* Nationwide FlexPlus Switch bonus (1) FREE £175 cash FREE £200 cash Account fee £10/mth (so £120/yr) You must meet its £2,000/mth pay-in (equiv to a £29,400 salary going in) or it's a £13/mth fee. See how to jemmy this if you earn less. £13/mth (so £156/yr) Bonus covers fee for  17mths 15mths Mobile cover (worth c. £70/yr per person). See Cheap mobile cover Account holder(s) smartphone. Covers BOTH if a couple with joint account All family smartphones. Covers account holder(s) plus partner and children up to 18 (or 22 in full-time education) living at home Travel insurance (c. £100/yr per family). See Cheap travel cover Family Europe & UK cover up to age 65, including winter sports & golf Family worldwide cover up to age 69, including winter sports & golf. Pay £65/yr to get it if age 70+ Breakdown cover (c. £60/yr). See Cheap breakdown cover AA (UK only) covers you and family members in any vehicle for roadside assistance AA (UK and Europe) covers account holder(s) in any vehicle, including roadside, home assistance & onward travel Other perks A choice including one of: - 1yr of Disney+ (worth £80) - Six cinema tix (worth £36 to £65) A regular saver account that pays 8%, but you can only put £200/mth in. It also has a fee-free debit card (though that can be got at no cost with cashback from Chase instead) Customer service  43% 'great', 38% 'OK', 19% 'poor' 78% 'great', 15% 'OK', 7% 'poor' MSE VIEW: best for... Singles, couples & families with small kids As you get longer for free and it costs less after, though there's no mobile cover for kids. If you're a couple in a trusting relationship, to maximise the benefit, even if it's only one of your accounts, technically make it a joint account for more cover. Families with older children The family smartphone cover is the killer feature here, so obviously the key question is whether all of your family have smartphones to benefit from this. 1) You must use their switching services. Nationwide requires you to switch 2+ direct debits. Full info in Packaged accounts. Virgin is our usual top-pick packaged account. When these accounts don't have bonuses, it's worth noting the Virgin Money Club M account, which costs £12.50/mth and comes with family worldwide travel cover up to the age of 74, family mobile and gadget cover, and Green Flag roadside and home assistance. See Virgin Club M review. Packaged accounts were hideously mis-sold - some people can RECLAIM £1,000s. Actively choosing a packaged account for the right reasons is great. Yet over the years many were hard-sold them, told you had no option, told you could only get a mortgage if you opted for the account, or were 'upgraded' without consent. If so, you could be owed all the fees back. See our free Reclaim packaged bank accounts tool. As Kim emailed: "A big thank to Martin and the team, as I managed to reclaim bank charges on my packaged account going back to 2009. I received a payment of just under £3,000 including interest, and it was so simple, took four weeks. Anyone who has/used to have a packaged bank account should take a look at this, you've nothing to lose!"

 

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

 

 

Tell your friends about us They can get this email free every week

 

 

AT A GLANCE BEST BUYS 0% balance transfers Longest 0%: Barclaycard (check eligibility / apply*) - up to 29mths 0%, 3.45% fee (24.9% rep APR) No-fee 0%: NatWest (check eligibility / apply*) - 14mths 0% (24.9% rep APR) Best bank accounts £200 to switch + 8% regular saver: Nationwide £150 to switch + up to £60 cashback: TSB Top savings accounts Top easy access: Leeds BS 5.1%, min £1,000 Top one-year fix: NS&I 6.2%, min £500 Car insurance Try our Compare+ Car Insurance tool Cheap loans Cheapest for £5,000 to £7,499: AIB (NI) (apply), 5.6% rep APR Cheapest for £7,500 to £15,000: AIB (NI) (apply), 5.6% rep APR Broadband top picks Standard (10Mb+): Shell Energy '£18.55/mth' Fibre (30Mb+): Shell Energy '£18.83/mth' Fast fibre (55Mb+): Shell Energy '£19.44/mth' Superfast fibre (100Mb+): Vodafone '£21.42/mth' On Universal Credit or similar? Check all discounted social tariffs Cheap Sims Up to 3GB data: Lebara, '£2.70/mth' for 3GB 4GB to 9GB data: Lebara, '£3.45/mth' for 5GB 10GB to 30GB data: Lebara, '£3.57/mth' for 12GB 31GB+ data: iD Mobile '£11.09/mth' for unlimited data

 

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).

 

 

MSE NEWS - Top story: 'Unfair' standing charges need to go - MPs back Martin and MSE's calls for energy bill overhaul - Water bills to rise by less from April 2024 as firms hit with £114 million penalty - Ocado to launch Christmas delivery slots this week - Wilko to shut all stores by 8 October - full list of closure dates - Bank of Scotland, Halifax and Lloyds to close 35 more branches in 2023/24

 

 

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

 

 

MSE TEAM BLOG - MSE Forum highlights: Crochet, canal boats & concave soap

 

 

MARTIN'S APPEARANCES (WED 27 SEPT ONWARDS) Wed 27 Sept - Ask Martin Lewis, BBC Radio 5 Live, 1pm Tue 3 Oct - This Morning, phone-in, ITV, 10.30am

 

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, The MSE team

 

Important. Please read how MoneySavingExpert.com works We think it's important you understand the strengths and limitations of this email and the site. We're a journalistic website, and aim to provide the best MoneySaving guides, tips, tools and techniques - but can't promise to be perfect, so do note you use the information at your own risk and we can't accept liability if things go wrong. What you need to know This info does not constitute financial advice, always do your own research on top to ensure it's right for your specific circumstances - and remember we focus on rates not service. We don't as a general policy investigate the solvency of companies mentioned, how likely they are to go bust, but there is a risk any company can struggle and it's rarely made public until it's too late (see the Section 75 guide for protection tips). We often link to other websites, but can't be responsible for their content. Always remember anyone can post on the MSE forums, so it can be very different from our opinion. Please read the Full Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, How This Site is Financed and Editorial Code. Martin Lewis is a registered trade mark belonging to Martin S Lewis. More about MoneySavingExpert and Martin Lewis What is MoneySavingExpert.com? Founded in February 2003, it is now the UK's biggest consumer help website, with more than 12 million users each month and about 8.5 million receiving this email. In September 2012 it became part of the MoneySupermarket Group PLC. Its focus is simple - saving cash and fighting for financial justice on anything and everything. The site has over 80 full-time staff, more than a third of whom are editorial - researching, analysing and writing to continually find ways to save money. More info: See About MSE. Who is Martin Lewis? Martin Lewis CBE is the founder and executive chair of MSE, as well as the founder of the MMHPI charity. He's an ultra-focused MoneySaving journalist and consumer campaigner with his own prime-time ITV programme The Martin Lewis Money Show, Radio 5 Live Wednesday show Ask Martin Lewis and weekly slot on This Morning, among others. More info: See Martin Lewis' biography. What do the links with an * mean? Any links with an * by them are affiliated, which means get a product via this link and a contribution may be made to MoneySavingExpert.com, which helps it stay free to use. You shouldn't notice any difference; the links don't impact the products at all and the editorial line (the things we write) isn't changed due to them. If it isn't possible to get an affiliate link for the best product, it's still included in the same way. More info: See How This Site is Financed. As we believe transparency is important, we're including the following 'un-affiliated' web-addresses for content too: Unaffiliated web-addresses for links in this email raisin.co.uk, ulsterbank.co.uk, rcibank.co.uk, tsb.co.uk, firstdirect.com, withplum.com, lloydsbank.com, barclaycard.co.uk, natwest.com Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Note MoneySupermarket.com Financial Group Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 303190). MoneySavingExpert.com Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales. Company Registration Number: 8021764. Registered office: One Dean Street, London, W1D 3RB. MoneySavingExpert.com Limited is an appointed representative of MoneySupermarket.com Financial Group Limited. To change your email or stop receiving the weekly tips (unsubscribe): Go to: www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips.