FIX energy now, 5 Amazon hacks, new top 29mth 0% debt shift, free Asda £5, Subway 50% off, 20GB Sim £4/mth

Plus... ask party leaders your election Qs, 4 FREE cash bank-switches, Clubcard alert

                                                           

28 May 2024 | View in browser

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

 

THE TOP TIPS IN THIS EMAIL Energy Bills News: - Price Cap to FALL 7% in Jul... - ... but likely to RISE again in Oct - FIX now & lock in a 9% FALL New longest 29mth 0% debt shift 5 'hidden' hacks to pay less at Amazon 1.5m car finance reclaim complaints via our tool - are you due £1,000s back? Free £5 off Asda Four banks now pay switchers up to £175 free cash Ask party leaders your election Qs Subway 50% off Carer's Allowance: Martin grills Chancellor on payments cliff-edge Urgent Tesco Clubcard alert Ending. Top 22mth 0% spending card Nationwide customer? Due free £100?  Martin's pod: Mortgages, savings, travel money, complaining & more 13 overseas spending cost-cutters 20GB Sim just '£3.63/mth' Urgently register to vote... and check you've valid ID Cheap period products, eg, £6 pants Extra £26 cashback on £5+ spend Free & cheap kids' half-term activities £50 cashback on £250 investment 3mths' free access to 7,000+ mags This week's best buys, including 5.9% loans, Compare+ Car Insurance tool, '£23/mth' fast broadband What's the fairest way to split holiday home costs? 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

Energy Bills News... Price Cap to FALL 7% in July but likely RISE in Oct FIX now and you can undercut that & lock in a year-long 9% FALL On Friday, energy regulator Ofgem confirmed the Energy Price Cap will drop an average 7% from 1 July. So for the 85% of homes in Eng, Scot & Wales on a price-capped standard tariff (everyone except those on fixed or special tariffs - if you're not sure, you're likely on a capped tariff), for every £100 you spend now, you will typically spend £93 from then. Yet each Price Cap only lasts three months. The next in October is now predicted to rise 12%. Which makes the current fixed deals out there, some of which are already cheaper than the July Price Cap (do a Cheap Energy Club comparison to find yours) look attractive, as you can likely save cash, and get the added bonus of certainty. Let's get into it... 1. Prices will FALL an average 7%, but few are average... Even on the Price Cap, the cost varies by region and payment method. Use our 'What will I pay from July?' calculator to get an estimate of your energy costs from 1 July.  Average UK Direct Debit rates from 1 July  (see prepay rates or pay on receipt of bill rates)  Elec unit rate (cost per unit of elec used) 22.36p/kWh - down 9% Daily elec standing charge 60.12p/day - no change Gas unit rate (cost per unit of gas used) 5.48p/kWh - down 9% Daily gas standing charge 31.41p/day - no change As there are no changes to standing charges, and the drop is all on unit rates, higher users will save relatively more than lower users (see point 6). 2. This is the last predicted fall for now... We're already into the assessment period for the October Price Cap (it runs 17 May to 16 Aug) - which is set mainly on wholesale costs - those the energy retailers pay. Analysts at Cornwall Insight are currently predicting: 1 July 2024 1 Oct 2024 1 Jan 2025 FALL 7% (confirmed) So £100 now will cost £93 then RISE 12% (prediction) So £100 now would cost £104 then STAY FLAT (crystal ball prediction) So £100 now would cost £104 then Predicted average over the whole next 12mths:  2% MORE than now Of course, this isn't set in stone - the predictions can significantly change over time. But at the moment, it doesn't look great over the next year. 3. Today's cheapest standalone FIX is 9% LOWER than the current Price Cap. Contrast that to Price Cap predictions over the next year of a 2% rise, and it's the biggest 'fixing benefit' we've seen since the energy crisis started. So it looks a strong time to fix, particularly if you value price certainty. Yet use our Cheap Energy Club comparison which will give you a bespoke prediction (based on your usage, area and payment method). Cheapest standalone energy fixes (1) Links go via Cheap Energy Club to give you a personal comparison. Vs current Price Cap (2) Cheapest: Ecotricity Green 1yr fix Limited supply: Only 2,000 switches available - New & existing customers  - Dual fuel / elec-only / gas-only - Monthly Direct Debit only - Need to have/apply for a smart meter 9% less on average - £75/fuel exit fees - £20 MSE Cheap Energy Club cashback Octopus 12m fix May 24 v3 (link goes direct to Octopus as deal isn't in Energy Club) - New & existing customers - Dual fuel or elec-only - DOESN'T require a smart meter 7% less on average - No exit fees Ovo Energy 1 Year Fixed - New & existing customers - Dual fuel or elec-only - Monthly Direct Debit only  - Need to have/apply for a smart meter 5% less on average - £75/fuel exit fees EDF Essentials 1yr Jun25 fix - New & existing customers - Dual fuel or elec-only - Monthly Direct Debit / cash / cheque or on prepay if you have a smart meter  3% less on average - £25/fuel exit fees Not a fix... E.on Next Pledge 1yr tracker - New & existing customers - Dual fuel or elec-only - Monthly Direct Debit only - Need to have/apply for smart meter Tracks 3% under the Price Cap, so if the cap gets cheaper, it does too. Basically it's a discounted Price Cap tariff - a good option if you're unsure what to do. No early-exit fee (1) Standalone means you needn't sign up to other products, eg, Ovo's fix including boiler cover & Utility Warehouse's multi-service tariff - these are included in your comparison results though. (2) We give 'averages' based on Ofgem's typical Direct Debit usage figures. PS: Sorry. Cheap Energy Club isn't yet optimised for everyone. Our comparison's currently ONLY optimised for price-capped dual-fuel monthly Direct Debit users. If that's not you, while Cheap Energy Club shows your cheapest deals & price, you won't get bespoke 'savings' explanations to help you choose. We're still working on it - sorry it's taking longer than it should, but currently you can find more help in Should I fix? 4. There are specialist tariffs worth considering too... There are a number of new options that are tough to display via the traditional comparison site model (we're trying to work through how to get it right for the future as this becomes more common) and even to fit into a table, so let us walk you through the main ones... Octopus Tracker & Agile (for its existing customers) can be substantially cheaper. Existing Octopus customers can switch to its Tracker tariff, where rates change daily based on wholesale costs, so when they're low, as they are now, it's cheap. It's been a big winner, £700+ cheaper than the Price Cap on average over the last year, but of course you must be aware there's a risk it can go the other way... if wholesale rates rise, it could be substantially more expensive. Also, its elec-only Agile tariff's rates change half-hourly, based on wholesale prices - good for those who can shift their usage nimbly to take advantage of super-cheap times.   Not with Octopus? To get these, you could try first switching to Octopus's Price Cap tariff then, once in, switching to one of these (if still available). Got an EV? Consider a dedicated tariff. Several suppliers have launched specific two-rate tariffs that offer cheaper electricity overnight for charging your electric vehicle (EV). If your car charge costs make up a decent proportion of your electricity usage (or you can shift other usage to these hours), these can work well. See what's available in our EV tariffs guide. Want to fix for longer than a year? There are some. They're not that cheap. And frankly we can't help you decide. There are simply no assessments of what'll happen to prices at that time in such a volatile market as we have now. Yet if you really value certainty, it may win out with hindsight. See longer fixes. 5. 'Is it worth waiting until July to fix?' Over to Martin for his thoughts... "I get asked this a lot, but often it's based on a confusion. The Energy Price Cap will change in July, but that only impacts a firm's standard variable tariff; it doesn't impact fixes - they're not capped. "The rate you can fix at depends on how cheaply retail energy firms can buy energy at the time they offer the fix. We have no clue what that will be in July. It may be cheaper than now, it may be more expensive - it's about world markets. The Price Cap dropping has virtually no impact; it's based on PAST wholesale prices - so it's completely delinked. "Of course, when the Price Cap moves, it changes the differential between its price and the cost of a fix (and firms may factor it in at the margins to their pricing decisions, as to how cheap they have to be to win market share). Yet remember you're fixing for a year (or more) and each Price Cap period only lasts three months. So the instant price is only a quarter of the decision anyway. "That's why we try and base our assessment of whether you'll save on Cornwall Insight's predictions for the year ahead. So if you want to fix, as the differential looks decent now, it's a decent bet at the moment." 6. Standing charges are still high - you'll pay £334/yr even if you use no energy. The moral hazard of high standing charges - which many understandably rage about - continues. It costs £334/yr just to have gas and electricity (if you pay by Direct Debit), so perversely, the less you use, the less the impact of the price cap fall. It's even worse during the summer, as many people with gas central heating have it turned off, but still pay a daily charge for that unused facility.  We've long been campaigning to lower standing charges. Martin has been pushing Ofgem and met the Energy Secretary (who wrote to Ofgem to support his call off the back of the meeting). At last, Ofgem launched a public review of these charges - and we hear it'll report "in the summer". 7. Are you in energy credit? You SHOULDN'T be right now - so why not get it back? This is the time of year when those paying by monthly Direct Debit should have the least energy credit. So check your account. Martin's rule of thumb is if you've more than a month's worth of Direct Debit credit right now, you should ask for the rest back - see his How to get £100s of energy credit back step-by-step blog to take you through it. As Andy emailed Martin in March: "I went to my energy supplier today to input my gas/elec readings as per your piece on breakfast TV, and was shocked to see I was £2,016 IN CREDIT. Many thanks." 8. Can you cut your bills by cutting your energy usage? Obviously, cutting use cuts bills - and hopefully there are cuts you can make to improve efficiency that don't affect your lifestyle too much. Start with energy saving tips, then add in the Energy mythbusting guide for less clear-cut issues. 9. What to do if you're struggling to pay. If you're struggling, it's always worth talking to your energy firm. Be polite and straight with it, and make sure you explain if you're vulnerable. There can be hardship & debt grants from energy suppliers. For far more guidance, see our full What to do if you're struggling to pay energy bills 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.

 

 

 

New. Longest 0% balance transfer card, and crucially everyone accepted gets the full 29 months INTEREST-FREE Can't afford to clear debt? Check if you can shift it to 0% - you could save £100s or £1,000s If you've got existing debts, a balance transfer is the key cost-cutting weapon - it's where you get a new card that pays off debt on old credit and store cards for you, so you owe it instead, but at 0% interest. That means more of your repayments clear the actual debt, rather than just covering interest. And after a long wait, we can finally tell you about a top 0% deal that's the market's NEW LONGEST. Two tips first... 1. Don't 'just apply' - that can hit your ability to access credit. Go via an eligibility calc. Our 0% eligibility checker shows your acceptance odds for top cards, so you can home in on those most likely to accept you without applying. 2. If you've a choice, go for the LOWEST FEE within a 0% time long enough to clear your debt. Generally, the longer the balance transfer, the bigger the fee. So if you can clear your debt quicker, go for a shorter deal to minimise fees. Unsure? Play safe and go long. Top-pick newbies' 0% balance transfers (longest first) New. Tesco Bank Link goes via eligibility or apply direct* - 29mths 0% - 3.49% fee - 24.9% rep APR after Longest 0%, and all accepted get the full 29 months. Use our eligibility calc to check if you'll likely get it - many are pre-approved, meaning they'll definitely be accepted (subject to ID & fraud checks). It's a clear winner if you need the full 29mths. If not, the cards below are cheaper. Virgin Money Link goes via eligibility or apply direct* - 27mths 0% - 3% fee - 24.9% rep APR after Lower fee, long 0% card - all accepted get the full 27 months 0%. If you can clear your debt in this time, this Virgin card beats Tesco due to its lower fee. NatWest Link goes via eligibility or apply direct* - 13mths 0% - NO fee - 24.9% rep APR after Longest NO-FEE 0%. Clear the debt within 13mths and this NatWest card (also offered by sister banks RBS* and Ulster) will cost absolutely nothing. Plus, if accepted you'll definitely get 13mths 0%. ALWAYS follow the Balance Transfer Golden Rules: a) Never miss the minimum monthly repayment, or you could lose the 0% deal and it'll cost far more. b) Aim to clear the card (or balance-transfer again) before the 0% ends, or the rate rockets to the higher APR. c) Don't spend or withdraw cash. It usually isn't at the cheap rate and withdrawals may hit your ability to get credit in future. d) If you don't transfer at application, you've usually only 60 to 90 days to get the 0%. Do check your card's terms. Quick balance transfer FAQs (click links for Martin's answers) Q. Is it worth applying if my eligibility odds are low? | Q. What if my credit limit isn't big enough? | Q. Can I shift debt to existing cards too? | Q. Should I try to pay off my biggest debt first? SPOILER: NO. Full help and info, including options for poorer credit scorers, in Best balance transfers.

 

1,500,000 car finance reclaim complaints now sent via our free tool. Are you due £1,000+ back too? And if you've already used the tool, a favour... If you bought a car, van, motorbike or camper van on PCP or Hire Purchase between April '07 and 28 Jan '21, go quickly to our free car finance mis-selling guide & tool - the sooner you get a complaint in, the more chance of getting a possible £1,000+ payout. Already complained? We're gathering info on how firms deal with them - please fill in this 2-min car finance survey so we can guide you better on what to do next. Free Asda £5. Newbies to its rewards app can get a £5 voucher to spend on almost anything. Free fiver New. Now FOUR banks pay you up to a FREE £175 to switch. Our top pick is still Santander Edge's free £175 + 7% savings + bills cashback deal, which we highlighted two weeks ago (link goes there). But now it's joined in our Best bank accounts guide by three others: First Direct's free £175 and top service deal, the new Club Lloyds' free £175 + rewards, and TSB's free £100 + £10/mth for six months. Do read through to see eligibility info, and how they compare. The MSE General Election Leaders' Debate 2024  What key consumer finance questions do YOU want to ask Rishi, Keir, Ed & the rest... Martin: "It's the biggest consumer decision most will make this year - so we want to ensure you know what you're buying. The election impacts all areas of consumer life, from economic strength, to benefits, consumer & work rights, rents, house buying and more. Yet some of these are glossed over among the campaign's political fires. So back in 2010, I decided to run an MSE Leaders' Debate, and we've done it every general election since - asking practical questions to party leaders (assuming they agree to take part). Please suggest your money/consumer Leaders' Debate questions." Who's in it? We've invited the Conservative, Green, Labour, Lib Dem, Plaid Cymru, Reform and SNP leaders. Subway 50% off footlong sandwiches. Rare discount available via its new Rewards app. Sub-stantial savings Martin video: 'Chancellor - will you end awful Carer's Allowance cliff-edge?' Outrageously, carers - those who look after vulnerable relatives for more than 35 hours a week - lose the £80-a-week support they get if they earn just a penny over £151. Watch Martin grill the Chancellor on it (just before the election was called). Tesco shopper? Use or extend £17m of expiring Clubcard vouchers. See Tesco alert. Last day today (Wed). Top 22mth 0% spending card - borrow interest-free for nearly two years. If you need to borrow over a year or two, nowt beats an interest-free card, used right. Yet only do it for a planned, one-off purchase, and repay within the 0% time - if in doubt, don't. The longest - Barclaycard's up to 22mths 0% - is being pulled tonight (link goes via our eligibility calc so you can see how it compares). Golden rules: 1) Always pay at least the min monthly payment. 2) Never withdraw cash. 3) Clear debt before the 0% ends or you'll pay 24.9% rep APR. Full help & more options in 0% spending cards. Nationwide customer? Some will get a(nother) free £100. It's re-running its Fairer Share scheme to reward 'loyal' customers. See who'll get the £100 Nationwide payment. Related: Nationwide's £200 existing-customer switch bonus. Martin's new podcast: Will inflation falling impact mortgages & savings? | Cheapest way to spend abroad | It's time to fix energy bills | How to successfully complain. And lots more, all in the new The Martin Lewis Podcast. Listen via BBC Sounds | Spotify | Apple or wherever you like to get your Martin fix. PS: Martin's up for Top Expert & Top Factual Show in the National Television Awards long-list if you want to vote.

 

 

BLAGGED FOR MSE - Quidco FREE £26 when you spend £5+ 4,000 available - Readly three months free Ends Fri 28 Jun	DID YOU MISS? - Free £2.20 pretzels & more supermarket coupons  - Santander customer? Get 2% cashback credit card - Branded specs incl Barbour for £33 (normally £135) - £20 off a year's Disney+ via Uber One trick - Save up to £24/yr by ditching Spotify audiobooks

 

 

How to pay less at Amazon... FIVE 'hidden' tools and tricks to bag a discount Retail giant Amazon is an online staple due to its convenience and speed, but many only scratch the surface of the discounts it can offer. We've got plenty of tips and tricks in our Amazon buyers' guide, but today we're going to focus on the biggest hidden ways to pay less at Amazon (plus how to make sure you're getting a good deal...). Amazon Warehouse: Big 50%+ discounts on often as-new returned goods - Quickly find bargains: Use our free Amazon Warehouse Discount Finder. - Best for? Up-to-date branded electricals, kitchen appliances, laptops, lawnmowers, games, jewellery, household items. - Consumer rights: You've got statutory rights, but might not get the manufacturer warranty. Amazon Warehouse* shows and sells returned items at reduced prices, often simply because someone has changed their mind. If you're after a posh toaster for example, but can't afford the latest model, then Amazon Warehouse can knock it down to fit your price range.  So you know what you're getting, items are categorised by condition: 'acceptable', 'good', 'very good' and 'like new' (see what each grade means). And to help you on your discount quest, we've built the nifty Amazon Warehouse Discount Finder. Tell us what you're after, and it'll show you how much money you'd save compared with buying it new at Amazon. Major bargains we found this week include: Product Amazon new Amazon Warehouse Sony WF-C500 truly wireless headphones (white) £54.99 'Very good': £33.79 (39% off) Lenovo 14e Chromebook 14" touch laptop £352.13 'Like new': £189.72 (46% off) iRobot Roomba robot vacuum £488 'Like new': £227.05 (53% off) It's a favourite hack with MoneySavers such as Phil: "I was reminded about Amazon Warehouse in last week's Weekly Money Tips from you. Out of curiosity I had a look and found Samsung Galaxy Buds for £65. I already had a pair in my wish list for £129, so they were effectively half price. Bargain!" Amazon Renewed: Used, previous-generation tech in top condition with a one-year warranty - Quickly find bargains: Search on Amazon Renewed*. For phones, use our refurbed-phone finder for a wider range. - Best for? Slightly older tech including phones, laptops, headphones, games consoles, smartwatches and cameras. - Consumer rights: All have a one-year warranty on top of your statutory rights.   While Warehouse is mostly for current models, Renewed only sells pre-owned tech products that have been tested, refurbished and look like new, such as previous generations from Apple, Samsung and Dell. Refurb models also help the environment, as well as your wallet. Stock can be limited, but we found an Apple Watch Series 9 for £310 (from £399 new), AirPods 2nd generation for £69.99 (£129 new) and Soundcore by Anker Q20i headphones for £33 (£50 new). Patricia told us: "Bought a phone and tablet as good as new. My kids didn't notice the difference and it saved me hundreds." Amazon Outlet: Odds and ends, but worth a check for 15% to 70% off new overstocked items - Quickly find bargains: Head to Amazon Outlet* and use the search. - Best for? Brand-new out-of-season items such as leftover Christmas cards/gifts and lesser-known brands. - Consumer rights: You've got statutory rights. The clearance Outlet has 1,000s of brand-new excess stock which Amazon (or third-party sellers) are keen to shift, though it's hit and miss. Best way to think of it is like any store's end-of-sales clearance - it's a mix of funk, junk and a few things you may put in your trunk. We found some men's hiking trainers for £15, reduced from £40. Do check prices though - not everything in the Outlet is discounted, and even those that are may not be great deals. See our Amazon Outlet analysis.  Is 38% off a good deal? Check past Amazon prices with CamelCamelCamel. Amazon can play fast and loose with what a discount actually is. Is it off the RRP, the normal selling price... or something else? And, if you don't know what the discount's off, is it actually a good deal? To find out, use CamelCamelCamel's price history tracking tool. For example, a Breville coffee machine is currently "38% off" at £350 - but the tool tells us it was £301 in February this year. Spending £20 to £25 and not got Prime? Check if the Super Saver Delivery Tool saves you cash. Usually Amazon charges for delivery on orders less than £25. If you're just below it, it can be cheaper to add a small extra item than pay for delivery. The Amazon free delivery tool finds suitable extras for you.

 

Going away this year? 13 ways to slash the cost of spending abroad. If you missed it last week, check out our top ways to STOP PAYING TO PAY when you go abroad. Top cards, best cash & more Ends Fri. Cheapest 20GB mobile Sim we've seen - just '£3.63/mth'. This iD Mobile Sim (uses Three's signal) is £3.50/mth for the first three months, then £7/mth, but you can CLAIM (don't forget) a £30 Amazon or Currys voucher. Factor that in and it's equivalent to £3.63/mth over the 12mth contract. Want different data / network? Use Cheap Mobile Finder. Urgently register to vote... and check you've valid ID. To have your say in the general election, you need to register to vote (if you've not already) by 11.59pm on Tue 18 June. To vote in person, you also need valid photo ID, so check yours is OK. Or, to apply for a postal vote, the deadline's 5pm Wed 19 June, or 5pm Fri 14 June in Northern Ireland. Cheap period products (eg, £6 period pants) - save £1,000s on tampons & more. It was Menstrual Hygiene Day this week, so we've updated our guide on how to keep period costs down. Cheap period products New. FREE £26 when you spend £5+ online. MSE Blagged. Cashback site Quidco is back with a boosted bonus for newbies, offering an extra £26 cashback via our special link if they spend £5 or more through it. Quidco bonus Free & cheap kids' half-term activities, including FREE Pets at Home workshops. Plus, free fitness classes for girls, restaurants where kids eat 'free', six free Beano comics, and lots more half-term helpers. Ends Fri. Get £50 cashback when you invest £250. If you plan to invest, this Wealthify deal offers a tidy boost. Keep £250 invested for 12mths+ & you'll get £50 cashback. This isn't a Wealthify recommendation - we don't do investment tips - but if you'll use it anyway, you can get cashback. Full info in Robo-investing cashback. Free 3 months' access to 7,000+ digital magazines, from Grazia & Vogue to Gardeners' World. MSE Blagged. For Readly newbies and those who cancelled over six months ago. Plus 10% off for 12 months. Mag-nificent

 

 

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

 

 

AT A GLANCE BEST BUYS 0% balance transfers New. Longest 0%: Tesco Bank (check eligibility / apply*) - 29mths 0%, 3.49% fee (24.9% rep APR interest) No-fee 0%: NatWest (check eligibility / apply*) - 13mths 0% (24.9% rep APR interest) Broadband top picks Fast fibre (100Mb+): Virgin Media '£22.62/mth' Superfast fibre (500Mb+): Vodafone '£27.80/mth' On Universal Credit or similar? Check all discounted social tariffs Top savings accounts Top easy access: Oxbury 5.02%, min £20,000 Top one-year fix: SmartSave 5.13%, min £10,000 Car insurance Try our Compare+ Car Insurance tool Cheap loans Cheapest for £5,000 to £7,499: Tesco Bank (check eligibility / apply*), 7.2% rep APR (for Clubcard holders) Cheapest for £7,500 to £15,000: TSB (check eligibility, TSB has asked us to link only to our calculator), 5.9% rep APR Top energy deals Try our relaunched Cheap Energy Club Best bank accounts £175 to switch + cashback: Santander Edge £175 to switch + top service: First Direct Cheap Sims Up to 3GB data: Lebara, '£3.36/mth' for 3GB 4GB to 9GB data: Sky Mobile, '£3.50/mth' for 5GB 10GB to 30GB data: iD Mobile, '£3.63/mth' for 20GB 31GB+ data: iD Mobile, '£5.34/mth' for 50GB

 

THIS WEEK'S POLL How long have you been with your broadband provider? Millions overpay for broadband, as their cheaper intro price rockets once their original contract ends - but sometimes there are legitimate reasons to stay with a provider (such as customer service). So this week, we want to know how long you've been with your broadband provider and, if you're a loyal customer, what's encouraged you to stay. Vote in this week's poll. Using a specialist travel credit card is the most popular way to spend abroad. Last week, we asked how you normally pay when you're on your holidays - over 6,000 responded. Just under one third (29%) said they used specialist travel credit cards, while 23% used cash ordered in advance, the next most popular option. Encouragingly, only 0.1% said they exchanged cash at the airport - by far the most costly way. See full travel money poll results.

 

 

MSE NEWS - Top story: EE and Plusnet to refund exit fees for some and allow others to leave penalty-free - MPs finally call for compulsory financial education in schools - Now increases broadband prices by £36 a year

 

 

MONEY MORAL DILEMMA I'm single and have rented a holiday home with two couples - how should we split the cost? We've rented a house that has three double bedrooms, with the couples taking a room each, and me taking the third. The couple that booked it have suggested we split the cost three ways as there are three bedrooms, which means me paying a third of the total, and the others a sixth each. Surely a five-way split would be fairer? The house includes other rooms and amenities, which we'll all use. Enter the Money Moral Maze: How do we split the cost of our rented holiday home? | Suggest a Money Moral Dilemma (MMD) | View past MMDs

 

 

MSE TEAM BLOG - MSE Forum highlights: Parsnips, plant-buying & saving pennies - Clearing out your wardrobe for spring? 30 Vinted tips

 

 

MARTIN'S APPEARANCES (TUE 28 MAY ONWARDS) Tue 4 Jun - This Morning, phone-in, ITV1, 10.20am

 

DITCHING TISSUES FOR HANKIES: THE SIMPLE WAYS YOU LOOK AFTER THE PENNIES TO SAVE POUNDS That's all for this week, but before we go... MSE Forumites have been sharing the simple things they do to look after the pennies to save pounds. A common tip was to batch-cook and freeze meals, while a purr-fect tip for pet owners is to use shredded free newspapers as an alternative to cat litter. Using soap rather than pricey shower gel is how another Forumite cleaned up their MoneySaving act, while another has built up a decent savings pot by putting the loose change left over at the end of the week into a jar. But the tip that got up many people's noses was ditching tissues for the old-fashion hankie - while several posters admitted to doing this to save cash, it really divided opinion among MoneySavers. Let us know how you blow a hole in your regular spending in our Saving pennies to make pounds 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 tescobank.com, uk.virginmoney.com, natwest.com, rbs.co.uk, amazon.co.uk Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Note MONY Group Financial Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA 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 MONY Group Financial Limited. To change your email or stop receiving the weekly tips (unsubscribe): Go to: www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips.