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DON'T believe the fake 'Martin Lewis' or 'MSE' ads |
Do you pay over £5/month for your mobile? If so, WHY? You can get 12GB data and unlimited mins & texts for less There are thought to be nine million people out of contract on mobile phones, and the huge majority of them are overpaying - some by £100s a year. This is especially pertinent as mobile tariffs, via cheap Sims (switching the chip in your phone that dictates your data, calls & texts allowance) is one of the rare areas where cheap deals are getting cheaper. Our Cheap Sim comparison has all the deals, but let's quickly run through the key decision... If you're out of contract, and aren't a data-fiend, slash your cost. If you're happy with your handset, check if you save by switching Sim. Don't worry, you can just text to keep your existing number. Check by doing a full Sim comparison, but we've picked out the headline new-customer deals below. All have UNLIMITED MINUTES & TEXTS...
If your current handset is locked and you're out of contract, your network must let you unlock your phone for free. Big data user? Check if you're paying more than £12/month. Most people tell us they use 3GB/month or less (unsure? try our Data Calculator) and only 8% use more than 10GB - though the 12GB deal above gives a little buffer for pennies more than lesser-data deals. However, some - especially those who are constantly watching videos on YouTube or TikTok - can use a lot more. In which case, there are now some very competitive high data deals, and our standout is...
Not willing to switch because you want to stay on the same signal? There is a way... There are only four networks in the UK: Vodafone, Three, EE and O2. All the others are virtual or piggyback providers, meaning they use one of those four networks' signals (see who piggybacks on who). So you can keep your signal but often find a far cheaper deal - our cheap Sim tool lets you filter by network to find it. Do be aware though: the piggyback firms have the same signal but can have totally different packages, so check they offer 5G, Wi-Fi calling or 4G calling. Paying more because you roam? If you use your phone abroad a lot (and can't just use Wi-Fi), that can add a fair whack to your bill, especially if you're travelling outside Europe (all the Sims above, apart from Three, let you roam like at home for no charge within the EU). If that's you, see our Cheap roaming guide. And finally, as with broadband which we discuss below, mobile firms are among the easiest to haggle with - success rates for those who try are over about 70%. Use the prices above to benchmark your top deal, then see our mobile haggling tips for how to persuade your provider to match it. |
Martin: 'A financial cataclysm will hit the UK roughly the time the new PM starts, devastating lives.' Already going viral, Martin's video warning to you and to Tory leadership candidates (and transcript) is to help you, and plea for them to prepare and prevent the worst. The must-watch covers the coming catastrophic rise in energy bills, the need for 'warm spaces' this winter, the risk to mortgages, unsecured debt, and more. £2 to £4 dresses, shoes, tops - some ex-high street. MSE Blagged. 1,500+ items in Everything5pounds' sale, including surplus stock and non-branded items from high street names. Delivery from £4. Everything5pounds Martin: 'Energy bills to rise 65% in October: 9 energy need to know NOWS.' On top of the warning above, Martin's new energy briefing shows what steps you can take (including should you fix?) and what help's available. Shark cordless vacuum £230 off code. MSE Blagged. Costs £200 (normally £430). 5,800 available. Shark code Now two accounts offer a FREE £150 bank switching bribe. First Direct's FREE £150* is a strong offer from the top bank for customer service (rated 90% 'great'), with a linked 3.5% regular saver and a £250 0% overdraft for many. This week it's joined by Halifax Reward's FREE £150 (rated 58% 'great') which, if you jump through a few hoops, gives you monthly rewards, including £5 cash or a monthly cinema ticket. Full reviews and key eligibility info in Best bank accounts. Holidaying abroad? 19 things to do NOW to save when you go. From don't shop at Zara before a hol to flight cancellation rights and how best to spend abroad - see 19 holiday tips from last week's email. Ends 10am Thu. 2.7% loan - if you NEED to borrow, we've not seen cheaper. Ratesetter is the cheapest or near cheapest for all loans from £4,000 to £25,000. Above £5,000, it's as low as 2.7%, the cheapest we've ever seen. Though unlike normal loans, this isn't a rep APR - instead fill in some details in our Cheap Loans Eligibility Calculator and you get an EXACT RATE before applying (without affecting your creditworthiness). Full help in Cheap loans. |
'I saved £350 a year on my broadband and almost doubled my speed - with just one phone call' There's a hidden world of haggling out there. Not in street markets, and not the faux business schtick of The Apprentice. It's with call centres, where, if you're out of contract and don't want to leave, don't settle - haggle. And we've a lovely broadband success of the week that proves the point today. First, benchmark the cheapest price elsewhere. The cheapest deals are short-lived promotional offers, but even if you don't want to switch, it's worth doing a quick broadband comparison to see what you could get. This helps set your best expectations for your haggle (and they often ask where you're considering moving). Right now, prices are as low as '£13-ish' a month for standard broadband, and '£16.50ish' a month for fibre.Then decide roughly what price you'd settle for and call your provider. While you may be armed with a price, don't see this as a battle, more an above-board financial seduction. Be polite, charming, even a bit cheeky, but never aggressive. There's full help in our Broadband haggling guide plus specific firm-by-firm guides, one of which MoneySaver Jo used...
Some people worry and get nervous to try this in case they're disconnected. Yet don't panic if it calls your bluff and moves to cancel your account. Martin's easy 'get out of jail free' card on this is the phrase: "Hold on, I'll call you back on that. I'd like to check with my wife / husband / goldfish / cactus first." If you have no luck, try again later. When we asked MoneySavers for insider tips from their working life, one call centre worker told us that discounts offered can vary day to day, or even hour to hour. So just because it failed first time doesn't mean you'll never get an offer. And ultimately if the deal isn't good enough, don't get angry. Just take your custom elsewhere - top deals are in our broadband comparison tool. |
Beware 3 cost of living scams. Criminals are trying to exploit the crisis. Spot and stop them New. Get £30 cashback for investing £100. 4,000 available. MSE Blagged. If you plan to 'robo-invest' - where investments are selected for you based on your attitude to risk - then after fees, this InvestEngine deal is equivalent to a 29.3% head start, provided you keep it for at least 12 months. This isn't an InvestEngine recommendation - we don't do investment tips - just if you're going to use it anyway, you can get cashback. See Robo-investing cashback - including info on the deal and how robo-investing works. 3 months' free access to 6,000+ magazines & newspapers on your phone/tablet, including Hello, The Guardian, Gardeners' World. MSE Blagged. Read offline via an app, for Readly newbies. Mag-nificent Struggling with school uniform costs? Check if you can get a grant worth up to £200. There are means-tested grants available across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In England some councils offer them, some don't. See our council-by-council school uniform round-up. The 'Is your bank a dream or a nightmare?' poll. It's our six-monthly poll to find out how well your current account provider treats you. Please vote in the MSE banking customer service poll. Caught out by a tax rebate firm pocketing half of your cash? How to complain. Hundreds allege they were duped into using Tax Credits Ltd, a tax rebate claims firm. See what to do if you've been caught out and how to claim for free. Social media-savvy? Come work with us. We need a Social Media Manager plus Assistant (London-based). |
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AT A GLANCE BEST BUYS
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THIS WEEK'S POLL How do you rate your bank account's service? Every six months, we ask for your help to track the quality of customer service provided by banks. By comparing your answers with last time, we can see which providers have got better or worse. Let us know how you rate your bank. Most MoneySavers are on a fixed tariff for electricity and gas. Last week, we asked you if you were on the energy price cap or a fixed tariff. Of the 42,000 people who responded, a whopping 60% said they had fixed, with 45% of those having fixed before 30 September 2021 when prices were much cheaper. One in five of you, however, have fixed since April this year, perhaps to try to get ahead of price cap rises due in the autumn. See the full Have you fixed? poll results. |
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MONEY MORAL DILEMMA How much should my partner pay towards our holiday? I'm going away with my partner, his 15-year-old daughter and our 16-month-old daughter this summer. We're debating how much he should pay. He suggests he pays for his and his daughter's flights and me for my flight (our toddler will be on our laps), and that we split the accommodation equally, as we'd need somewhere to stay even if his daughter wasn't coming. Yet we'd have booked a smaller, cheaper apartment if she wasn't there, so is it fair to divide it equally? Enter the Money Moral Maze: How much should my partner pay towards our holiday? | Suggest a Money Moral Dilemma |
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MARTIN'S APPEARANCES (WED 20 JUL ONWARDS) Wed 20 Jul - This Morning, phone-in, ITV, 10.20am MSE TEAM APPEARANCES (SUBJECT TBC) Tue 26 Jul - BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, Mid-morning with Jeremy Sallis, from 10.45am |
WHAT'S THE ONE MONEYSAVING THING YOU'VE TRIED ONCE, BUT WILL NEVER DO AGAIN? That's all for this week, but before we go... we asked on social media for the MoneySaving things you've tried, but would never do again. One MoneySaver had attempted to make various products at home, but had always failed (we're looking at you, homemade oat milk) and another said that paid surveys rarely paid off for them - although this was highly contested by others who had seen success. But most agreed they would never again skimp on bin bags, teabags and toilet roll, with few keen to revisit the cheaper versions. Read more and tell us yours on our Once bitten, twice shy MoneySaving Facebook post. We hope you save some money, stay safe, |
Important. Please read how MoneySavingExpert.com worksWe 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 LewisWhat is MoneySavingExpert.com? Who is Martin Lewis? 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 chase.co.uk, uk.virginmoney.com, firstdirect.com, sainsburysbank.co.uk, bank.marksandspencer.com Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Note MoneySupermarket.com Financial Group Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 303190). MoneySavingExpert.com Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales. Company Registration Number: 8021764. Registered office: One Dean Street, London, W1D 3RB. MoneySavingExpert.com Limited is an appointed representative of MoneySupermarket.com Financial Group Limited. To change your email or stop receiving the weekly tips (unsubscribe): Go to: www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips. |
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