New top 4.75% savings, free £400 for Xmas, free cheese/beer, £250 Vax £100, cheap iPhone/Samsung

Plus... 500Mb broadband £26/mth, top 0% spending card, £760 insurance saving, student loan news

                                                           

21 October 2025 | View in browser

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THE TOP TIPS IN THIS EMAIL FREE CASH in time for Christmas - 7 pay up to £400 pre-Xmas to switch - Or free £100 Amazon just to open - Top free cash switches if in overdraft - Top free cash packaged accounts New. Hot iPhone/Samsung/Google deals Free cheese, £25 Sainsbury's bonus, Xmas delivery & more grocery savers New. Top 4.75% easy-access savings £250 Vax carpet cleaner £100 Student living loan rise 'still not enough' New. 500Mb Vodafone b'band '£26/mth' FREE pint of Heineken (incl 0.0%) New. Top 25mth 0% spending card Menopause help: 'Free' HRT & more 'I saved £760 on insurance by not auto-renewing' Martin pod: Cash ISA limit to be cut? Martin Question Time pod: Can I refuse smart meter? Plus more FREE £25 Good Housekeeping Live tix Smyths 'up to 50% off' toy sale Do you have a Money Moral Dilemma? Read 8,000+ magazines for free Poll: How do you rate your broadband provider's customer service? This week's best buys: 35mth 0% debt shift, 5.8% loan & more Money Moral Dilemma: Should my friends share holiday speeding fine cost? 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 Best Sim-only deals

FREE CASH in time for Christmas Now a Magnificent Seven will pay you up to £400 to switch bank! Or get £100 without switching, just open an account Christmas is coming... and happily, with perfect timing, there are now Seven Bribes for Seven not-much Bothers (Martin was pleased with that and said it must go in) to boost festive coffers... - 7 accounts pay FREE £100s before Christmas for switching to 'em - Or get a FREE £100 voucher just for opening an account - Top free cash switches if you're overdrawn - Top free cash packaged accounts Switching's easy & hassle-free. Use the bank's seven (working) day switch service. This closes your old account and moves all your money, Direct Debits and standing orders for you (though not recurring subscriptions such as Netflix or Prime). Payments to the old account are auto-forwarded. What are min pay-ins? It's how banks try to ensure you use it as a main account. Yet it doesn't need doing in one go and all that counts is what's paid in, so as soon as it's there, you can spend or withdraw it. Can joint accounts switch? Yes, all below allow joint accounts to switch, apart from the two Barclays accounts. FREE CASH FOR SWITCHERS (new customers) Most accounts require you to be switching 2+ Direct Debits/standing orders. Full eligibility info & options in Best bank accounts High Earners ONLY Barclays Premier Bank Account Free £400 pays out by 9 Dec (1) FREE £400 upfront & Apple TV+. The £400 is the largest switch payment we've ever seen, but you need to earn £75,000+/yr (or hold £100,000+ in investments with Barclays) to get it. The account is fee-free, and also gives free Apple TV+ (that'd cost £10/mth otherwise). It has an ongoing £500 0% overdraft for many, too. Min pay-in: A total of £4,000 going in within 30 days. See full Barclays Premier eligibility & review. TSB Spend & Save* Free £150 by 26 Nov (1) + £25 Amazon & £60 cashback after Xmas Top FREE CASH for most FREE £235 (free £150 + £25 Amazon voucher + £60 cashback). Switching gets you £150 and, via our link, a £25 Amazon voucher. There is also £60 for spending 20+ times per month on the debit card (if that's a lot, just split your supermarket shopping up to qualify), made up of £15/mth for the first 3mths and £5/mth for the next three. It also has a linked 5% fixed regular saver, letting you put away up to £250/mth for 12mths. PS: If you don't want to switch, you can still grab the £25 Amazon voucher just by opening the account, though it'll arrive after Xmas. Min pay-in: A total of £1,000 going in by 9 Dec. See full TSB eligibility & review. Barclays Bank Account* Free £200 pays out by 9 Dec (1) FREE £200 (plus Apple TV+ for £5/mth fee). You get £200 for switching if you also join Barclays' Blue Rewards scheme, which includes Apple TV+ (usually £10/mth). The Reward scheme costs £5/mth, but you can cancel it as soon as you get the switch bonus (so after roughly a month) if you don't want Apple TV+. Min pay-in: A total of £2,000 within 30 days, then £800+/mth (equivalent to a £10,000 salary going in). See full Barclays eligibility & review. Club Lloyds Free £200 pays out by 12 Nov (1) FREE £200, perks and linked 6.25% savings. You get the £200 to switch, plus each year you can also choose between perks, such as Disney+ for 12mths (with ads) OR six free cinema tickets. There's also a linked 6.25% AER fixed regular saver, letting you put £400/mth away for 12 months, and many get an ongoing £100 0% overdraft (buffer zone). Its debit card is also fee-free overseas. Min pay-in: A hefty £2,000/mth (equivalent to a £29,000/yr salary going in) or you pay a £5/mth fee. See full Lloyds eligibility & review. First Direct 1st Account* Free £175 pays out by 20 Nov (1) Top SERVICE and all-round deal FREE £175, linked 7% regular saver, ongoing 0% overdraft, near-perfect exchange rates. The £175 is a decent incentive considering First Direct was rated '92% great' in our last customer service poll. We've been doing these polls for 15 years, and it's been top or near top every time. It also has a linked 7% fixed regular saver, letting you put away up to £300/mth for 12 months, and many get an ongoing £250 0% overdraft, and its debit card is fee-free on overseas spending, so you get near-perfect exchange rates in every country. Min pay-in: A total of £1,000 within 45 days. See full First Direct eligibility & review. And there are two more... Nationwide FlexDirect. Free £175 by 8 Nov plus £5/mth cashback and a 6.5% linked regular saver (1). NatWest Reward. Free £175 by 21 Nov plus £3/mth cashback and a 5.5% linked regular saver (1). (1) The 'pays out by' date is when you're guaranteed to get the upfront free cash if you start a switch on 22 Oct and fulfil all terms within a week. Why do they pay these (legal) bribes? A crucial measure of bank profitability is the 'cross-sell' ratio, ie, how many different products they can sell you. And banks believe it's easier to sell their current account customers other things, which is what makes the bribes worth it. We say grab the cash, but don't feel the need to be loyal, bag yourself the best credit card, loan, savings, mortgage and more from across the market. Will switching bank affect my credit score? One extra search on your credit file shouldn't make much difference (though many in a short time can). Some lenders do score you down short-term for switching bank accounts as they like evidence of longevity. For belt 'n' braces safety, if you're imminently (within a couple of months) about to apply for a mortgage or an important, needed debt, prioritise that and avoid switching until after. Use the free MSE Credit Club to get an analysis of your credit strength (also available via the MSE app on Apple | Android). More in how switching banks affects your credit. You may be able to make £1,000s by repeatedly switching bank. Becoming a bank bribe bagger can pay well - we've had people tell us they've made a shedload. Could you do it too? See full pros & cons in make £1,000s by repeatedly switching bank. As Mark emailed last month: "In just over a year, I've completed five of your recommended bank switches, earning enough to buy a brand-new iPhone 16 Plus outright (almost £800). Thank you so much for the guidance. Your advice really does make a difference." Pah? I can't even get a bank account to start with - what can I do? Unfortunately, nearly a million people don't have a bank account. Yet if you've ID, you can get an account with no overdraft. Do read our Basic bank accounts guide. FREE £100 Amazon voucher without switching (though not in time for Christmas) Happy with your current account and don't want to switch? Perhaps you're looking for a second (joint) account for bills or for other banking, or maybe you just want the voucher. Well, you're in luck... New. FREE £100 Amazon voucher just for opening a Santander account. We were surprised to see this launch yesterday (Mon), as just last week Santander ended its offer of a £30 voucher for opening one of its accounts. It's clearly still looking for more customers, as now just days later it's back with a new and improved offer... Open a new Santander current account (whether you're a new or existing customer) via the special links below and spend 30 times on the debit card within 60 days (if that's a lot, just split your supermarket shopping up to qualify). Keep the account open and you'll get a link to claim a £100 Amazon voucher from 12 Feb 2026 (if not, check your spam). Max one voucher per person, and you will be credit-checked. - The Everyday* account is its bog-standard fee-free account, so is your best bet if you just want to grab the voucher. - Edge* is a top (joint) bills account, it costs £3/mth but pays 1% cashback (max £10/mth) on Council Tax, water, energy, broadband and other bills you pay from it via Direct Debit. Its debit card also gives near-perfect exchange rates abroad, so it can be very useful to run alongside your main account(s). Edge Up* is similar, but better if you've bigger bills as it pays a max £15/mth cashback for a £5/mth fee. Full info in our Santander Edge review. - Edge Explorer* is a packaged bank account offering a range of insurance for a £17/mth fee. Full info in our Santander Explorer review. Top overdraft bank accounts Free cash & a £250 INTEREST-FREE overdraft? As Martin always says: "Too many think: 'Credit cards bad, debit cards good.' For those who are overdrawn, it's more a case of: 'Credit cards bad, debit cards worse,' as almost all overdrafts are now charged at a typical 40% interest - far higher than even a bog-standard high-street credit card." Yet there are ways to cut this. You CAN switch banks when overdrawn, and some offer a 0% overdraft, though it may not cover what you already have. Full info in top overdraft accounts, but in brief... Free £175 switchers' cash & a possible £250 0% overdraft. First Direct* (full details above) gives accepted new switchers £175 free cash, which you can use to reduce what you owe. Many also get a £250 ongoing interest-free overdraft (credit score dependent), and it's the standard 40% above that. So, if you've a smaller overdraft or just dip in, this could be lucrative, as the free cash reduces what you owe and the rest is interest-free. You need to 'switch' the overdraft over yourself. While all your Direct Debits and standing orders will be moved as normal, and many get the overdraft facility at First Direct, it won't move over the debt. Expect your old bank to ask you whether you can pay the overdraft off, or whether you want to keep the account open, giving you time to do it (it varies by bank). Be aware that if you do keep it open, the normal switch facility of forwarding payments to the old account is unlikely to happen, so you may need to move them yourself. Those with higher earnings could be eligible for the £500 0% overdraft from Barclays Premier (details above). Alternatively, Club Lloyds (details above) has a free £200 for switchers and a £100 0% overdraft (again, credit score dependent). Lower interest rate overdrafts. App-only Starling* has no 0% overdraft, but does offer overdrafts with rates typically lower than most other banks. Depending on your credit score, you could get a 15%, 25% or 35% overdraft, so check your eligibility on its site before you apply. Still, at these rates it's costly, so you'd be better to try a... 0% money transfer credit card. This is a specialist card that allows you to do a special transaction to pay money into your bank account, so you then owe it at 0% instead, and you can use that time to clear the debt. You can get up to 14mths 0%, though be careful, it's easy to get it wrong. Our Money transfers guide takes you through it, including top deals. Martin's 5 top tips to cut your overdraft... The rate isn't the only thing to focus on. Our Cut overdraft costs guide has full info, but here are Martin's five most important tips: a) Aim to repay a fixed monthly amount. For example, if you're £500 overdrawn, 'paying' £100 means aiming to be £400 overdrawn at month end. A budget will help. b) Consider moving Direct Debits to just before payday. The idea is you're overdrawn for less time, so costs are lower. c) Got savings? Use 'em to clear it. See Repay debt with savings? d) Can you reclaim past bank charges? See Bank charge reclaiming. e) Struggling with all debt? Get free help from Citizens Advice, National Debtline or StepChange. It can make a huge difference. Top packaged bank accounts  Free cash, plus pay a monthly fee and you get travel and mobile insurance and breakdown cover worth £100s Packaged bank accounts are those where you pay a monthly fee, and lots of insurance products are thrown in. If you're the type of person who shells out £100s each year for family travel insurance, breakdown cover and mobile phone protection, then they could save you money. Our top picks, both offering free switch cash, are below & many more options are in Top packaged bank accounts. PS: If you wouldn't get the insurance separately, don't touch them. Many people were wrongly upsold them in the past and can reclaim packaged bank account fees. FREE £200 cash on an £11.50/mth account means you essentially get 17mths free. New switchers to Club Lloyds Silver get £200 free and pay £11.50/mth (min pay-in £2,000/mth, or there's an extra £5/mth fee). It includes: - Family, European travel insurance (max age 65). - Account holder(s)-only mobile phone cover. - Family, UK breakdown cover (roadside assistance only). You also get the usual Club Lloyds reward - eg, a choice of 12mths' Disney+ (with ads), six cinema tickets - and fee-free spending and ATM withdrawals abroad. FREE £175 cash on an £18/mth account means you effectively get 9mths free and all the families' phones are covered. New switchers to Nationwide FlexPlus can get £175 free and pay £18/mth to get: - Family, worldwide travel insurance, crucially with no upper age limit (though always declare pre-existing medical conditions). - Family mobile phone cover (ie, you and your partner, plus any unmarried children under 19, or 22 if in full-time education). - UK & European full breakdown cover for the account holder(s). More options and help in Top packaged bank accounts.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Mobile phone price war as prices slashed on popular handsets New. Hot iPhone & Samsung deals, incl S25 + 100GB data '£26/mth' - cheaper than buying just the phone outright Black Friday's still a few weeks away, but retailers are already slashing prices on mobiles from Apple, Samsung and Google. We're seeing some of the cheapest-ever deals, including a Samsung S25 stonker with 100GB/mth data that's £150+ cheaper than buying just the phone outright from Samsung. There are no guarantees prices will continue to fall before Christmas, so if you've been eyeing a new handset, now could be the time to pounce. Happy with your current phone? The best savings come from switching your Sim (the chip inside your phone that dictates your calls, mins and data allowance). And if you're out of contract and paying more than £4/mth, you could be overpaying, eg, you can currently get 40GB data for just '£3.88/mth'. See our Cheap Sim comparison tool for full info and deals. Cheapest new model handsets (all deals include unlimited minutes & texts) For more choice, use our Cheap Handset Finder or best handset on my budget tools Cheapest Samsungs Samsung S25 (128GB) released 2025 - iD Mobile (Three) 100GB data (via Mobiles.co.uk)  - '£26/mth' This Samsung S25 deal is £99 upfront, then £19.99/mth (£21.49/mth from 1 Apr 2026 and £22.99/mth from 1 Apr 2027), equivalent to £25.74/mth over the 2yr contract, £618 in total. The handset alone is £799 from Samsung. Samsung S24 FE (128GB) released 2024  - O2 50GB data (via Affordable Mobiles) - '£20/mth' MSE Blagged This Samsung S24 FE deal is £39 upfront, then £16/mth (£17.80/mth from 1 Apr 2026 and £19.60/mth from 1 Apr 2027), equivalent to £19.58/mth over the 2yr contract, £470 in total. The handset alone is £649 in total from Samsung.  Cheapest iPhones iPhone 17 (256GB) released 2025 - iD Mobile (Three) 100GB data (via ID Mobile) - '£38/mth' This iPhone 17 deal is £159 upfront, then £29.99/mth (£31.49/mth from 1 Apr 2026 and £32.99/mth from 1 Apr 2027), but you'll get £10 off the upfront cost if you enter the code 'IDM10OFF' at the checkout. Factor that in and it's equivalent to £37.83/mth over the 2yr contract, £908 in total.  The handset alone is £799 from Apple. iPhone 16 (128GB) released 2024 - O2 150GB data (via Affordable Mobiles) - '£29/mth' MSE Blagged This iPhone 16 deal is £129 upfront, then £22/mth (£23.80/mth from 1 Apr 2026 and £25.60/mth from 1 Apr 2027), equivalent to £29.33/mth over the 2yr contract, £704 in total. The handset alone is £699 from Apple. iPhone 15 (128GB) released 2023 - O2 150GB data (via Affordable Mobiles) - '£26/mth' MSE Blagged This iPhone 15 deal is £69 upfront, then £21/mth (£22.80/mth from 1 Apr 2026 and £24.60/mth from 1 Apr 2027), equivalent to £25.83/mth over the 2yr contract, £620 in total. The handset alone is £586. Cheapest Pixel Google Pixel 10 (128GB) released 2025 - iD Mobile (Three) 100GB data (via Mobiles.co.uk) - '£30/mth' This Google Pixel 10 deal is £70 upfront, then £24.99/mth (£26.49/mth from 1 Apr 2026 and £27.99/mth from 1 Apr 2027), equivalent to £29.54/mth over the 2yr contract, £709 in total. Plus, you'll get a pair of Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 with the deal worth £219. The handset alone is £799 from Google. Quick tips to further cut handset costs - Can you get cashback on top? Cashback sites may undercut deals elsewhere. Do check it's like for like though. - Refurbs are often far cheaper. Top-grade refurbished models are often returned from customers who have changed their mind. For example, a "pristine" refurbished Pixel 8 (released 2023) is £369 vs £699 new. Compare via our Refurb handset tool. - Protect your device. Thieves don't just sell the handset - they want to access your banking apps and personal data to steal £1,000s of your cash. See how to set up your biometrics, note down your IMEI number, disable preview notifications and other tips in our 16 tips to protect your phone from thieves guide.

 

New. Top 4.75% easy-access savings. App-based bank Zopa's 4.75% AER* saver is the new top easy-access rate by far (made up of 3.25% variable plus a 1yr 1.5% bonus). Just open its free Biscuit current account (link takes you there, it only does a soft credit-check, & you needn't switch to it) and the saver opens automatically. After month one, you need to pay £500+/mth into the current account to keep the bonus rate - you can then withdraw it again or move it into the saver. See full Zopa Biscuit review. Can't pay in £500/mth? There are better options: Ulster (part of NatWest) 4.5% AER* (min £5k) pays 1.5% plus a 1yr 2.75% bonus, as does Chase (part of JPMorgan) 4.5% AER* (min £1) at 2.5% plus a 1yr 2% newbies bonus when you open its current account. Those who haven't used this tax year's cash ISA allowance can get Trading 212's 4.51% AER* (max £20k) at 3.85% plus a 0.66% newbie bonus. Full info and more options in Top savings. All savings listed here have full UK £85,000 savings safety protection. £250 Vax carpet cleaner £100 via code. MSE Blagged. 5,000 available. Vax Student maintenance loans in Eng to rise by inflation, but Martin warns it's 'still not enough'. Tuition fees will go up by inflation from next year too. See Student loan news. Related: Martin's pod: Should you get a student loan? New. 500Mb Vodafone broadband '£26/mth'. This 500Mb Vodafone broadband and digital line deal is available to 70% of homes. You pay £28/mth, rising by £3/mth in April 2026 and 2027, but you'll be emailed a choice of a £130 voucher for Amazon, Tesco, Sainsbury's or M&S within 4mths of signing up (do check your junk folder). Factor all that in and it's equivalent to £25.84/mth over the 2yr contract. Want other options? Use our full broadband comparison. FREE pint of Heineken (incl 0.0%) at 1,000+ pubs in Eng. Mon to Fri from 5pm in Oct. Free pint (be Drinkaware). New. Now the longest 0% spending card gives all accepted 25mths. If you NEED to borrow for a planned purchase, and you can clear the debt within two years, nothing is cheaper than 0%. Normally the longest deals are 'up-tos', where not everyone gets the full length, but the new M&S 25mth 0% credit card gives all accepted the full time at 0%, a winner if you've decent acceptance odds - link goes via our eligibility calc so you can check before applying. You also get M&S points on spending, which can be converted to M&S vouchers - one point per £1 spent at M&S and per £5 spent elsewhere. Golden rules: Repay at least the monthly min & clear the card before the 0% ends, or you pay 24.9% rep APR interest. Never withdraw cash on the card. Full info and alternatives in 0% purchase cards. Menopause help: 'Free' hormone replacement therapy, travel insurance check & more. October's Menopause Awareness Month. Avoid hidden costs and help yourself for free with our MoneySaving in menopause guide. 'I saved £760 on insurance this year by not auto-renewing.' Success of the week. Sarah emailed: "Thank you Martin and team. In the last month, I've saved £100s by not accepting auto-renewals on my car insurance, home insurance, cycle insurance and breakdown insurance. The renewal on my car insurance was already £200 cheaper than last year, but by using your Compare+ Car Insurance tool, I've got cover for £350 less than the renewal offer [£550 less than last year]! My home insurance is now £240 less, cycle insurance £100 cheaper, and roadside assistance £70 less. People would be stupid not to follow your advice." If we've helped you save or reclaim (on this or owt else), please tell us about it. New podcast! Cash ISA limit to be cut? Free £400 for switching bank. Was uni worth it? In this week's main Martin Lewis pod, he explains it's sweet spot time for bank switching, and details how it works, the credit file impact, joint account help & far more. Plus, will the cash ISA limit be cut in the Budget? Listen on BBC Sounds | Apple | Spotify & more. Question Time pod: Can I refuse a smart meter? Should I clear my student loan? Is a stoozer a loser? In Martin's new Question Time podcast, you can ask Martin whatever you like (within reason)... this week, even the producer asks him for broadcasting tips! Again, listen on BBC Sounds | Apple | Spotify etc.

 

 

BLAGGED FOR MSE - £250 Vax carpet cleaner £100 via code 5,000 available - Extra 10% off past 'best-before' groceries Ends 29 Oct - 100 days' free access to 8,000+ magazines Ends 30 Nov	DID YOU MISS? - FREE postcode lotto with £200+ daily prize - Top 1yr savings FIX locks in a 4.55% rate, but lets you withdraw - £540 of Sol de Janeiro, Fenty, Medik8 beauty £150 - Cinema deals: 5 Vue tix £22, or £2.50 Cineworld on a Tue - Diesel emissions claims need-to-knows as first major trial begins

 

 

Eight supermarket savers, incl FREE cheese, £25 Sainsbury's bonus, sort Xmas delivery NOW, 23p Heinz Beanz & more Like it or not, supermarkets are already gearing up for the festive season, with Christmas delivery slots opening and savings schemes that bag you bonus cash closing soon. With food costs also rising, now's a great time to get on top of your supermarket spending to save yourself time and expense ahead of what's a high-spend time of year for many. Our 30+ supermarket tips guide is regularly updated to help you slash costs year-round, but here are some seasonal highlights... Grab the latest coupons: FREE £3 Boursin soft cheese, £2 off Crosta Mollica pizzas, FREE £5 Bakers dog food and more. See 30+ October supermarket coupons. Instant £25 boost to your Xmas food budget at Sainsbury's, £20 at Iceland, £15 at Asda & more. They're designed to reward those who save all year, yet our simple supermarket Xmas savings scheme trick lets you grab a year's bonus in just a day at most. Go quick though, the Sainsbury's and Iceland schemes close next week, Asda's the week after. Co-op and Morrisons also have 2025 schemes running, while Tesco's has already closed. Book your Christmas food delivery NOW. Asda today launched open-to-all bookings, joining Waitrose and Morrisons. There's also still time to bag priority access at Tesco & Sainsbury's, though the latter ends at 11.59pm tonight (Tue). Bookings usually go quickly - do it now to save yourself the stress of a pre-Xmas in-store food shop. Xmas delivery round-up. 23p Heinz baked beans, 30p Nature Valley nut bars, 90p Fox's biscuit selection box & more via 10% off code for already-reduced past 'best-befores'. MSE Blagged. Approved Food sells super-cheap groceries near or past their 'best-before' date, which is just a manufacturer's view of optimum quality (different from 'use-by', which is about safety). Min spend £22.50, delivery from £3. See Approved Food. Get money off your online shop via first-timer codes, eg, 25% off Ocado, £15 off Amazon Fresh. The Holy Grail of supermarket discounts are those that apply to a wide range of items. Right now there's Ocado 25% off £60 to £80 | Amazon Fresh £15 off £70 | Sainsbury's £11 off £60+ | Iceland £5 off £45 (and 10% off for over-60s every Tue). Free loyalty schemes give supercharged deals, eg, £2.67 whole chicken. If you shop at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons or Lidl, and you're happy to share your shopping habits with them, you can unlock weekly deals only available via loyalty apps/cards. For example, this week we've seen: £2.67 whole Sainsbury's chicken via Nectar till next Tue (28 Oct), usually £5.35 (see How to stretch a whole chicken into several meals on the MSE Forum). Plus: £3.50 large Swizzels Sweet Shop tub via Clubcard, next cheapest £5. Costco vs the supermarkets - how much does bulk-buying really save you? Many qualify for Costco membership without realising, and its prices often beat supermarkets (plus petrol savings alone can pay for the membership). Eg, this week we found 5l Filippo Berio Olive Oil £29.99 (next cheapest £44.17), 116 Persil non bio capsules £16.18 (£19.72) and 1kg Parmareggio cheese £16.99 (£45.30). See 17 Costco tips. Get paid cashback every time you shop. The app-based Chase current account* gives 1% cashback when you use its debit card to spend on UK groceries, transport and fuel, max £15/mth (after year one, you need to pay in £1,500/mth to get this). It's easy to get as you don't need to switch bank and it only does a soft credit-check. It's also a top card for spending overseas, plus newbies can also open its linked easy-access saver paying 4.5%. See Chase review. PS: Struggling to afford food? There's help. Don't go hungry. Check whether you live near a social supermarket or community shop if you're on a low income. If you're on certain benefits and are pregnant or have a child under four (or three in Scotland), also check whether you can get money towards nutritious food through the Healthy Start scheme. Foodbanks can also help - find a foodbank near you or see how to donate if you can afford to.

 

4,000 FREE £25 Good Housekeeping Live tickets. London, 12 to 15 November. Free tickets Smyths 'up to 50% off' toy sale. Pre-Xmas toy sales tend to be a good time to buy before the festive rush. Smyths sale Do you have a Money Moral Dilemma? Whether you're warring with a friend over replacing a coat their hamster chewed up, or wondering what to do with the cash you found down the back of a second-hand sofa, we want your suggestions. Send us your Money Moral Dilemmas (for inspiration, see this week's MMD or the MMD archive). 100 days' free access to 8,000+ digital mags, eg, Hello!, Gardeners' World, Good Food. MSE Blagged. For Readly newbies & those who cancelled 6mths+ ago. Mag-nificent How do you rate your broadband provider's customer service? This isn't about price, we can do that bit, but we want to know how each provider rates for service (how it treats you). Please vote in our poll.

 

 

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AT A GLANCE BEST BUYS 0% balance transfers Longest 0%: Barclaycard (check eligibility) 35mths 0%, 3.45% fee, 24.9% rep APR interest No-fee 0%: Barclaycard (check eligibility) up to 14mths 0%, 24.9% rep APR interest Best bank accounts Free £150 + £25 Amazon + £60 cashback: TSB Spend & Save Free £200 + perks: Barclays Bank Account Broadband top picks Fast fibre (100Mb+): Vodafone '£20.80/mth' Superfast fibre (500Mb+): Vodafone '£25.84/mth' On Universal Credit or similar? Check all discounted social tariffs Cheap insurance Car: Use our Compare+ Car Insurance tool Home: Try our Compare+ Home Insurance tool Cheap loans £5,000 to £7,499: M&S (check eligibility), 6.9% rep APR interest £7,500 to £15,000: M&S (check eligibility), 5.8% rep APR interest Top savings accounts Top easy-access savings: Zopa 4.75%, min £1 Top easy-access ISA: Trading 212 4.51%, min £1 Top one-year fix: Marcus 4.55%, min £1 Top energy deals Use our whole-of-market Cheap Energy Club Cheap Sims Up to 3GB data: Lebara, '£3.18/mth' for 3GB 4GB to 9GB data: Lebara, '£3.43/mth' for 5GB 10GB to 30GB data: Lebara, '£3.70/mth' for 10GB 31GB+ data: iD Mobile, '£3.88/mth' for 40GB

 

THIS WEEK'S POLL How do you rate your broadband provider's customer service? This isn't about price, we can do that - we want you to rate your home broadband firm's customer service over the past six months. Vote in this week's poll.

 

 

MSE NEWS - Top story: State Pension to rise 4.8% next year - Martin Lewis says the year after many will need to pay tax on it - Government finds 'systemic failure' with solid wall insulation fitted under official schemes

 

 

MONEY MORAL DILEMMA Should my friends share the cost of my holiday speeding fine? My three friends and I hired a car on holiday, in a country notorious for being strict on speeding. We were careful to obey the rules, but coming down a hill, I slipped over the limit. There were police with a radar gun waiting, and they pulled us over and issued me with a hefty fine. Should I pay it as I was the driver, or is it fair to ask my friends to help cover the cost, as it was an innocent mistake rather than irresponsible driving? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should my friends contribute to my speeding fine? | Suggest a Money Moral Dilemma (MMD) | View past MMDs

 

 

 

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