£3,240/year energy bill hell help, free £170 ends, don't Zara shop before hols, £133 No7 £35, 25mths 0%, 2 clematis £11

The cost of living crisis may be biting, but millions booked their holidays earlier in the year before it kicked off and now summer has arrived. Going abroad is a recipe for spending a serious wad of cash, yet a little bit of prep can really cut that down. So if you're heading abroad, here's our last-minute checklist to slash holiday costs before you go.

10,000s of flights are being cancelled - make sure you know your rights. Don't be fobbed off with just a 'refund or alternative flight'. British Airways has already cancelled 30,000 flights this summer, while Easyjet has cancelled 10,000. Depending on timing, you may be entitled to compensation. So if you're flying soon (or your flight has already been cancelled), know your cancellation rights.
Don't shop at Zara if you're heading to Europe... See Martin's updated Zara trick blog for an explanation of why.

3. Grab the right plastic ASAP to get unbeatable, near-perfect foreign exchange rates PLUS 1% cashback on spending.

Normally, spend in foreign currency on plastic, and while your card provider gets a near-perfect exchange rate, most cards add a 3%-ish 'non-sterling transaction fee' on to what they charge us, so £100 worth of euros costs £103. Yet apply now and you can get specialist cards that smash this.

Near-perfect rates, no credit check, 1% cashback and available almost instantly. Fee-free app-only Chase Bank* has near-perfect exchange rates on spending plus gives you 1% cashback at home and abroad, which makes it unbeatable. You can withdraw £1,500/month at the same rate, at ATMs fee-free.

You NEEDN'T switch banks to get this, just open it up, load it and use it as a second account (it also has linked savings paying 1.5% on up to £250,000 - a top easy-access rate). There's only an ID check - not a credit check - so most can get it. Plus as soon as you're approved you can add it to Google/Apple Pay so you can use it while you wait for the card. See Top travel debit cards for more options.
The top credit card for overseas. If you prefer a card you just pay off after spending, Barclaycard Rewards* (use our eligibility calculator) is the top pick - again, with near-perfect exchange rates, no ATM fee, crucially no interest on fully repaid overseas ATM withdrawals, plus 0.25% cashback on all spending worldwide. It could take a couple of weeks to get it, though.

But ONLY do this if you'll repay IN FULL each month, preferably by direct debit, or the 23.9% rep APR interest dwarfs the currency gain. Barclaycard allows some to add it to their digital wallet on the day they're accepted. Full info and options in Top travel credit cards.

Tinkling in the sea, wearing flip-flops, jaywalking and more may land you a holiday fine. Habits and customs acceptable in the UK may hit you in the pocket elsewhere - for the heads-up, see our Holiday habits warning.
Beat airlines' seat reservation charges and sit together for FREE on British Airways, Easyjet, Virgin and more. A family of four could pay up to £240 extra to guarantee they sit together on return flights. It's usually unnecessary - but it's all about knowing your timings. We've airline-by-airline help in our Airline seating guide. (Beware Ryanair though - even we struggle to find a way to stop it charging. Grrrrr...)
Check if your hotel's got CHEAPER - the rebook trick can save £100s. If the price of your hotel's dropped and your booking allows free cancellation, you can simply rebook for less. Check latest prices on comparison sites Skyscanner*, Kayak* and TripAdvisor - see Hotel tricks for full help. Dawn emailed: "I checked my booking and was amazed that for the same room it was £116 cheaper. I reserved the new room and cancelled the original. Thank you so much."
When using plastic abroad, how should you answer if asked in a shop or by an ATM: 'Do you want to pay in pounds or euros?' See Martin's 'Pay in euros?' blog - it may be a bit dated, but it's still right and the video's bang up to date.
Going to Europe? Check ASAP that you've a valid EHIC (or GHIC) - 5.6 million expire this year. These cards give you access to state-run hospitals or GPs in EU countries and Switzerland for the same price as a local - so if it's free for them, it's free for you. They're no substitute for travel insurance though - use them in combination.

The old-school European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can still be used if it's not expired. If it has, most now need to apply for its post-Brexit replacement, the FREE Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) - do it ASAP as the Government says they can take up to 4 weeks. Remember: NEVER PAY to get one as they're always free - beware copycat websites.
Want to take cash? Find your cheapest bureau de change in seconds. NEVER exchange cash at the airport, where rates are a rip-off. Instead, speedily compare 16 bureaux with our travel money comparison tool.
ALWAYS book airport parking (even if it's on the day itself). Prices can be sky-high if you simply turn up - for example, at Manchester Airport long-stay car park it's £406 for a week. Booking just a day ahead it was £81, using our discounted links for airport-parking comparison sites (though prioritise flexibility as well as price given continuing flight cancellations)...

Check Holiday Extras* (10% to 35% off standard prices), SkyParkSecure* (5% to 35% off), Looking4Parking* (5% to 35% off, £1 fee) and Airparks (10% to 25% off). For more sites plus booking need-to-knows, see Cheap airport parking.

11. Not got travel insurance yet? MISTAKE. You need travel insurance ASAB (As Soon As you... Book). If you've left it, sort it now.

Travel insurance isn't just to cover you for things that happen while you're on holiday. It's also for things that happen beforehand that stop you going, such as you or a family member falling ill. Without it, if something happens, you can lose the cost of the whole holiday.

We've three main guides, which also explain what the current Covid cover situation is...

Cheap travel insurance | Over-65s' travel insurance | Pre-existing conditions travel insurance

In brief, your cheapest depends on age and destination, so try a few. We split them into two groups - these are for under-66s...

- NO FRILLS: These are bog-standard policies which meet our minimum cover levels, are cheap, but feedback can vary a lot. The cheapest depends on your age and where you're going. Try Leisure Guard*, Coverwise (Bronze)* and CoverForYou (Silver)* which cost from £9/week for an individual in Europe and from £30/week for a family worldwide.

If you're going away more than once in a year, look for an annual policy that covers all trips.

- TOP VALUE: These cost more, but get better feedback - worth going for if this is a costly, or important, holiday or you're taking valuables with you (or you just want better peace of mind). Pick from M&S Bank, Churchill, Aviva (with its travel disruption add-on) and Direct Line for a single-trip or annual policy.

If you're happy to open a new current account, Nationwide's FlexPlus at £13/month (£156/year) gives worldwide family travel insurance and can work out far cheaper - plus it gives all-year-round mobile phone and car breakdown cover too.

Turning your sun cream bottles around can save you cash. Before you go out and buy new sun cream, see why you should turn your sun cream around. And if you need new sun cream, see how to bag a new bottle for as little as £2.79.
This summer is the first since 2016 where you can't roam-like-at-home when in EU countries. Of the four main networks, Vodafone, EE and Three all charge for those on contract (depending on when you signed up). Only O2 still says it has no plans to do it (yet?). The charges are usually £1 to £2 a day to get your UK mobile & data package abroad. And it's far more expensive if you're travelling outside the EU. To see how to beat it, see our Cheap roaming guide.

Plus use our tips for using less data overseas, such as turning your mobile into a free worldwide sat-nav.
Unvaccinated or not had a booster? You may need a Covid test to travel. Some destinations including Dubai, Malta and Barbados require those who haven't had a booster to take a test before travelling. Our Covid travel rights guide details the vaccination rules for the top 20 holiday destinations. If you need a test, check our Cheapest Covid travel tests guide.
Car hire costs have accelerated quicker than a Porsche on the autobahn - book ASAP to keep prices down. Don't be surprised at paying double past years' cost for the same car hire - prices have risen massively. Early booking is still the rule to get it cheapest, so sort it ASAP. We can find August car hire for about £30/day in various Spanish destinations (pre-pandemic we found it at under £10/day) and our guess is if you leave it to much nearer the time you travel, that could rise to as high as £80/day.

To find the cheapest, use (more than one of) Skyscanner* | Kayak* | TravelSupermarket* | Carrentals* comparisons. FULL help in Cheap holiday car hire.
Beware the car hire pick-up desk hard-sell. Car hire usually includes basic insurance, yet when you pick up a car, many hire firms will try to push you to get 'excess cover insurance', costing up to £25/day, with scare stories of huge bills for just a scratch.

Balderdash - as long as you've room on a credit card to leave a hefty deposit, you can get standalone car hire 'excess insurance' for just £2/day before you go, which covers something similar.
You can take EMPTY water bottles through airport security - so do, and avoid hefty bottled water prices. See our airport-by-airport guide to where you can fill up at free water fountains.

Not booked holidays yet - but likely to?

Set a budget first, check what you can afford, factoring in the cost of travel, accommodation and spending money when there. Then use our guides to find a holiday within those limits...

Cheap flights | Cheap hotels | Cheap package holidays

Is someone dropping you at the airport? Avoid paying up to £7 for five mins. Most UK airports have put in £5+ charges for those who want to be dropped off right outside the terminal. If you don't want to pay, there are often workarounds, usually involving a longer walk or shuttle bus. See our airport-by-airport guide on how to beat 'kiss and fly' charges.
Driving to Europe (or when you get there)? Check if you need emissions stickers, headlight converters and more. Different countries have different requirements, so if you're taking your own car (or hiring when you arrive), use our Driving in Europe guide to see what you need before you go, and what the rules are when you get 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.

Martin: 'I feel sick writing this. The energy price cap's now predicted to rise 65% in October, taking typical bills to a horrific £3,240/yr, then rising again in January'
Nine need to know NOWs - to try and protect yourself - if you can

Enjoy this week's warmth. The coming winter will be bleak, the cost of living crisis is set to climax in catastrophe, unless there is further intervention. I sounded an alarm for politicians on Radio 4 on Friday. I'd love to ask all Conservative leadership candidates what they propose to do to avert energy bill disaster, and when? Though the clock is ticking, by the time the new PM is in place, we'll know the new price cap, so rising direct debits will be panicking millions. For now, let me explain what's coming, and try to mitigate it where I can. (PS: This isn't for N. Ireland, it has its own system.)

October price cap predictions have rocketed. There's no absolute cap on energy costs. Every six months (soon to be every three months), a cap is set on gas & electricity unit rates and standing charges. This price cap is mostly predictable as it is dictated by regulator Ofgem's published algorithm, based mainly on year-ahead wholesale prices. These have spiked in recent weeks, so analysts Cornwall Insight's latest predictions are frightening...

Current cap: UP 54% on the prior one, so £1,971/yr for someone on 'typical use'.
1 Oct 22 - 31 Dec 22. Strong prediction: UP 65%, so £3,240/yr for 'typical use'. The prediction's strong, as this is based on wholesale prices from Feb to mid-Aug.
1 Jan 23 - 31 Mar 23. Prediction: UP 4%, so £3,360/yr for 'typical use'. Prediction accuracy is looser but ballpark.
1 Apr 23 - 30 Jun 23. Weak prediction: Previously this was thought to be when prices may drop, but currently that is less certain, or at least any price-fall will be small. So rates next April are still likely to be far higher than today.

I know many want predictions of the unit rates & standing charges, but that's unknowable, as the regulator decides the proportions each time. To put this all in context, though, if correct...

- From Oct, typical energy bills will cost a third of the new state pension, and a bigger proportion of the old one.
- The basic £400 energy bill reduction for all homes, due in Oct, was announced by Rishi Sunak in May. That help will be more than swallowed up just by the £450 increase in the prediction of the Oct price cap since May.
Should you fix now? Based on those predictions, over the next year you'll pay 57% more than the current price cap for energy. So if you can find a fix at less than that, it's worth considering, though the cost of fixes have rocketed in the past fortnight too. Full help and analysis in my updated Should I fix? guide (incl a list of cheap fixes).
This week, the first £326 of the £650 'cost of living' payment for those with lower incomes will be paid. Starting this Thursday, over the next couple of weeks the first of 8 million payments for those on means-tested benefits will be automatically paid into bank accounts as part of May's Govt 'cost of living support' package. See who qualifies and what to do if it isn't paid when you expect it.

Not on benefits & struggling? Check our 10-min Benefits Calculator. Even if you only get a small amount, it may mean you're due the 2nd payment.
Pensioner on a low income? You may be due £650. Pension credit is a benefit that tops up your income, and crucially, if you're eligible you also get that £650 'cost of living' payment. Better still, even if you weren't eligible when it was announced, you can ask for it to be paid backdated - unlike other benefits - as long as you apply by 24 August. So do have a read of my quick Are you due pension credit? blog.
Changes to energy direct debit rules, standing charges, debt collection and more. Last week I, together with the boss of Ovo, organised a meeting. He brought the chief executives of Brit Gas, Octopus, E.on, EDF and Shell, while I gathered key charities. The agenda was to try and deal with some low hanging fruit issues. It was a productive, action-orientated two hours. See what we agreed to work on regarding direct debits, standing orders, debt collection and more. We'll be reconvening in Sept.
Struggling but not eligible for the £150 council tax 'energy help' rebate? If you didn't qualify (eg, you're not in bands A-D), there's a £169m discretionary fund for Eng and Wales. Almost half of councils have now published how to claim, see council-by-council help. If you're in bands A-D and haven't got it, see How to claim yours.
Put money aside to prepare now. I know that's a pipe dream for many. Yet for those who do have savings or currently spend less than you earn, putting some aside or even asking for your energy direct debit to rise should ease the winter cash-flow pain. Of course everyone should also check if a full money makeover can release cash.
Energy prices are already hell for many - some help may be available. Many are finding paying energy bills desperately difficult. Our What to do if you're struggling to pay your energy bills guide covers the help out there.
Can you reduce your energy usage? Obviously, cutting use cuts bills. Start with our energy saving tips for the simple stuff, add in the Energy mythbusting guide for those issues that are less clear-cut, and then if you're really struggling (though thankfully the summer warmth helps right now), our Heat the human, not the home guide.

Amazon 'Prime Day' - sort the deals from the duds, including cheapest ever Echo Dot at £17. We analyse what's genuinely a good deal, and what to avoid. See our full 'Prime Day' analysis.

Ends 11.59pm Mon. The biggest free-cash-for-switching bank bonus - £170. Newbies' chance to switch to HSBC Advance* and get a FREE £170 (paid within 30 days) is ending. The next biggest payer, First Direct, with its FREE £150*, is also worth looking at as it's number one for service (rated 90% 'great'), has a linked 3.5% regular saver and a £250 0% overdraft for many. See full reviews and crucial eligibility info in Best bank accounts.

£133 of No7 beauty & skincare for £35 - not likely to last long. The nine-piece set including mascara, eye pencil and cleanser we mentioned last week is now available - but it'll likely go quickly. No7 Beauty Vault

Ends 5pm Fri. Vodafone fibre broadband just '£13.46/month'. Newbies can get this Vodafone 38Mb broadband & line deal for £22/month. But you can claim (don't forget) a £205 Amazon, Tesco, Sainsbury's or M&S voucher within four months - so if you'll spend there anyway, factor that in and it's equivalent to £13.46/month over the 2-year contract. That's the cheapest at this speed we've seen in five months. Already with Vodafone? Compare other deals.

33% off railcards. For Trainline newbies. Railcards usually knock 1/3 off travel. Cards include: 16-25 | 26-30 | Family & Friends (1-4 adults 1/3 off if with 1-4 kids, who get 60% off) | Two Together (any named pair) | Senior. See railcard code.

Ends Tue. Free £150 Amazon or £264 at Sainsbury's + £120/year at Deliveroo + 2 free airport passes. Over £400 worth of freebies available if you play this credit card right, but it ends soon, so check out our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card write-up.

£37 Ted Baker prescription specs or sunnies (normally £145). MSE Blagged. Via code. SpeckyFourEyes

Cheapest 12GB Sim we've seen - Lebara '£4.45/month'. MSE Blagged. Newbies to Lebara (uses Vodafone's signal) get 12GB/month of data + unlimited calls & texts. It's a one-month rolling contract so you can cancel any time - you pay £1.99/month for six months, then £6.90/month, equivalent to £4.45/month over a year. Compare deals: Cheap Mobile Finder.

BLAGGED FOR MSE

- Two potted clematis plants for £11 delivered (normally £30) 4,000 bundles available
- £37 Ted Baker prescription specs or sunnies (normally £145) Ends Sun 14 Aug
- Lebara 12GB Sim '£4.45/month' Ends Thu 21 Jul

DID YOU MISS?

- Are you due a share of £150 million in council tax refunds?
- Are solar panels now worth it?
- School uniform sales on NOW - get a full set for £5
- Grüum five-piece holiday set £15 delivered (normally £38)
- 'I got £1,500 pension credit AND an extra £185 every two weeks'

New. Longest 0% card for new spending since 2020. It's 25 months interest-free. So if you need to borrow, don't just peek in your purse, sort the right way to do it

Credit cards are like fire - used right, they're a powerful tool, used badly, they can burn. Yet if you need to borrow and can repay within a couple of years, nothing is cheaper than a new 0% for purchases card. Provided you stick within your credit limit, this type of card gives you interest-free borrowing for a fixed period, and two new better-buys have just launched. You can see a full rundown of options in Top 0% for spending credit cards, but in brief...

Only use these cards for planned, affordable, budgeted-for, one-off, needed purchases. Such as replacing a broken appliance. Don't use 'em to fill in gaps in your day-to-day spending, as that will add to your future costs, and make life more difficult (though we know many are doing it anyway, in which case 0% is better than paying interest - but again, far, far better to avoid).
New. Barclaycard 'up to 25 months' 0% for accepted new cardholders. The new Barclaycard* (best to use our eligibility calculator first to see if you'll likely be accepted) is the longest 0% for new borrowing deal we've seen since 2020. Sadly, though, the 'up to' means some poorer credit scorers could get just 12 months 0%. There's no definitive way to know before applying, but it's likely the higher your eligibility calc acceptance odds, the better your chances. After the 0% ends, the rate jumps to 22.9% representative APR.
New. M&S Bank 24 months 0% PLUS possible £25 cashback, and all accepted new cardholders get the full 24 months. While a month shorter, this M&S Bank card* is a better deal than Barclaycard if our eligibility calculator shows you've decent odds of acceptance, as if you're accepted you'll definitely get the full two years interest-free. After the 0% ends, the rate jumps to 21.9% representative APR.

There's also £25 cashback... though that makes us a bit nervous as you need to spend a total of £250+ in five or more transactions in the first 90 days to get it. This could tempt you to use it for things other than the one-off, needed purchase. Our workaround is to use it to make the big purchase, then buy a banana on it every day for a week to ensure you get the cashback and some potassium, without splurging (other fruit purchases are acceptable).
Store won't take credit card or item costs £5,000+? 0% money transfers pay cash into your bank account, so let you pay 'on card' even if the store doesn't take plastic. Or if what you're buying costs £5,000+, you may not get the required credit limit - so a cheap loan from 2.7% may be a better option.
Follow the 0% Card Golden Rules. Full info in 0% credit cards (APR examples), but in brief...
a) Never try to borrow your way out of debt - if you're struggling, see our Debt help guide.
b) Always pay at least the set monthly minimum and stick within the credit limit, or you can lose the 0% offer.
c) These cards are usually only top picks for spending - avoid cash withdrawals or shifting debt to them.
d) Plan to clear the card (or balance-transfer away) before the 0% period ends, or the rates jump to the rep APR.

Two potted clematis plants for £11 delivered (normally £30). MSE Blagged. 4,000 bundles of Clematis 'Taiga' available, but not in Northern Ireland or parts of Scotland. Thompson & Morgan

The Sun '£9.50' holidays are back... but are they ever really £9.50? Our analysis suggests otherwise. For travel between Sept and June. See Sun holidays.

Nails Inc eight-piece nail polish set £28 delivered. MSE Blagged. Normally £108. Vegan and cruelty-free. 1,400 available. Nails Inc

'We got £11,000 towards our first home thanks to the Lifetime ISA.' This week's success of the week comes from Olly, who benefited from the Lifetime ISA's up to £1,000 a year bonus. He said: "My girlfriend and I have just completed on our first home. I had maxed out the Lifetime ISA allowance every year for the past six tax years and my girlfriend had done the same for the past five tax years. Because of this we received an extra £11,000 to put towards our deposit. Without this, we wouldn't have been able to afford it. Thanks." Send us your MoneySaving successes .

What type of energy bill do you have - fixed or variable? Please let us know in our MSE poll - it'll really help us provide you with good future info.

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AT A GLANCE BEST BUYS

Longest 0%: Sainsbury's Bank (check eligibility / apply*) - up to 34 months 0%, 2.88% or 3.88% fee (21.9% rep APR interest)
No-fee 0%: Sainsbury's Bank (check eligibility / apply*) - up to 22 months 0% (21.9% rep APR) or NatWest - 22 months 0% if you're a NatWest/RBS customer (21.9% rep APR)

Ends Mon. £170 to switch: HSBC
£150 to switch + TOP service: First Direct

Top easy-access: Virgin Money 1.56%, no min
Top one-year fix: Cynergy Bank 2.72%, min £10,000

Try our new MSE Car Insurance Compare+ tool

Cheapest for £5,000-£7,499: M&S Bank* 3.7% rep APR
Cheapest £7,500-£15,000: Finble 2.7% rep APR (1-7 years)

Standard (10Mb+): Plusnet '£12.74/month'
Fibre (30Mb+): Vodafone '£13.46/month'
Superfast fibre (55Mb+): Vodafone '£16.46/month'

On universal credit or similar? Check discounted social tariffs

Up to 3GB of data: Lebara, '£3.95/month' for 3GB, unlimited mins & texts
4GB to 9GB of data: Lebara, '£4.20/month' for 5GB, unlimited mins & texts
10GB to unlimited data: Lebara, '£4.45/month' for 12GB, unlimited mins & texts

THIS WEEK'S POLL

Are you on a fixed energy tariff? With the energy market in crisis, usual switching habits have been turned on their head, so this week, we want to know whether you're on a fixed or standard variable tariff. Let us know in this week's poll.

Most MoneySavers still carry wallets/purses rather than relying on a digital wallet. Last week, we asked if you still carry a wallet/purse or now rely on your mobile phone for purchases in this digital age. Just under 8,000 people responded with over 80% of men and women still carrying their cash and cards the traditional way. See full Do you carry a wallet/purse? poll results.

MSE NEWS

- Top story: Hundreds of thousands more women underpaid state pension
- Thousands of Three pay-as-you-go customers hit by huge price increases
- KFC to scrap loyalty scheme - you've just six months to spend rewards
- NatWest offers fee-free overseas card spending until Sept - but there are better deals out there
- Tesco brings back 12-month delivery pass and launches cheaper click and collect pass

MONEY MORAL DILEMMA

Should we keep evenly splitting restaurant bills even though we don't drink? When we go out with friends, my partner and I split the food and drinks bill evenly with the group, though neither of us drinks alcohol. The groups we're part of can order multiple cocktails, bottles of wine and beers, which pushes the total cost up. Should we speak up and pay less, or just accept the equal split to keep the peace? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should we keep evenly splitting restaurant bills? | Suggest a Money Moral Dilemma

MSE TEAM BLOG

- Pudding, patios and petunias - last week's MSE Forum highlights

MARTIN'S APPEARANCES (WED 13 JUL ONWARDS)

Wed 13 Jul - This Morning, phone-in, ITV, 10.20am
Wed 13 Jul - Ask Martin Lewis, BBC Radio 5 Live, 1pm

MSE TEAM APPEARANCES (SUBJECT TBC)

Tue 19 Jul - BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, Mid-morning with Jeremy Sallis, from 10.45am

2P FLIGHTS AND TOILET ROLL TRAVEL TOKENS... TELL US YOUR RIDICULOUSLY CHEAP TRAVEL STORIES

That's all for this week, but before we go... we asked MSE Forumites for their super-cheap travel stories - and they didn't disappoint. One paid a mere 2p for a Manchester-Dublin return Ryanair flight, another caught a National Express coach from London to Sheffield for £1.50, while a regular commuter received a coupon from a train company for a free first-class return trip including food and alcohol - worth about £500. The least bog-standard story though has to be the Forumite who flushed out cheap flights to Nice and a half-price hotel by collecting tokens on packets of Andrex toilet roll. Read more and share yours in the What's your best ridiculously cheap travel story? MSE Forum discussion.

We hope you save some money, stay safe,
The MSE team

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