Plus... 31mth 0% + £40 Amazon, Xmas supermarket slots, 'free' pumpkin, 100GB Sim £9/mth | | | Winter is coming
Our hot tips to cut costs before the big chill, including
DON'T fix energy rates | Free flu jabs | £54 breakdown cover | Free winter car check | Cheap boiler cover | Free cuppas | Keep heating on low all day?
The nights are drawing in, the weather's turning and it's even officially the end of British Summer Time on Sunday (so don't forget to adjust your clocks). So this is our annual checklist to help you cut costs as the mercury drops, but it's even more important this year amid rocketing energy costs. Here's how to keep the winter bill blues at bay... Martin's warning: Energy firms are pushing you to fix... don't. In fact DO NOTHING. Over to our founder: "The energy market is in crisis, wholesale prices have exploded. Firms are being forced to sell energy substantially below its cost price, due to the energy price cap on standard variable tariffs. And I'm starting to hear that firms' marketing departments are therefore kicking into gear to try to persuade people to take up other tariffs.
"Expect to get fancy letters extolling the virtues of fixing - tapping into switchers' instincts as if these were normal times, when that was the right thing to do. No surprise, they are desperate to get people off the price cap. Yet as a consumer, fixing now is almost certainly NOT the right thing to do (I can't say 100% without a crystal ball, but it's my very strong suspicion).
"The cheapest fixes cost 30%+ more than the price cap - a huge premium, when you consider the price cap is in itself fixed until April. If you're on it you're essentially locked in at the cheaper price over the high-use winter period. So DO NOTHING, and if you've never switched, you'll be on the price cap. If your fix is coming to an end, or your provider has gone bust, DO NOTHING and you'll automatically be moved to the price cap.
"If you want to see the price differentiation for yourself, do a Cheap Energy Club comparison."
Energy firm hiked your direct debit? Make sure it's proportionate - and challenge it if not. Energy prices are rising, so it's normal for firms to raise your monthly direct debit by a similar percentage to cover those increases. Yet some MoneySavers have told us they've seen their direct debits double recently - even when they're in credit. But you can fight back as everyone has the right to a 'fair' direct debit, so ask your energy firm to justify massive increases, and ask for it to be lowered if your supplier can't do that. See how to challenge energy direct debits.
Check if you qualify for a free flu jab - or where to get it for £8 if not. The NHS says flu vaccination is important this year because fewer people will have built up natural immunity during the pandemic. Some eligible for a Covid booster shot will be offered a flu jab at the same time, but if not, see if you qualify for a free flu jab, or where to get it for £8.
Is it REALLY cheaper to leave the heating on low all day? With energy prices so high an obvious cost-cutter is to use less. Common sense tells us that wearing layers instead of putting the heating on, or turning off lights, will help save on energy bills. But some tips are less clear-cut - such as whether it's cheaper to leave the heating on all the time, or to paint radiators black. We've looked at these and 16 other common energy conundrums in our Energy mythbusting guide. Slash boiler cover costs, plus full home cover for £10.25/month. You don't need to get boiler cover from your energy provider - and you may not need to get it at all, as most new boilers are reliable. Plus, self-insuring via an emergency fund can work well. But for older boilers or heating systems, it may be a sound investment...
- Use a comparison site to get boiler cover from £3/mth. Our top-pick comparison site is uSwitch*. Plus add MoneySupermarket* and Gocompare for a wider spread of providers.
- Full home emergency cover for £10.25/mth. MSE Blagged. Newbies to British Gas's Homecare service can buy via this Homecare Four* link by Thu 4 Nov and get a year's boiler, central heating, electrics, drains and plumbing cover for £10.25/mth (normally £18.50/mth) or £111/year. This price also includes a boiler service, which can cost £60-£80. After year one, you'll pay the higher price unless you cancel.
Even if you don't want to switch provider, you may be able to haggle a better deal. See our Cheap boiler cover guide for full help.
Warm your cockles with free cuppas from high-street chains including Nero and Costa. See how O2 and Vodafone customers can bag free tea and coffee. Or instead, grab the freebie and give it to someone sleeping rough.
Check if you qualify for £140 off energy bills with the warm home discount. This is a one-off payment of £140 on your electric bill which'll be applied by March. Most who were receiving the pension credit benefit on 4 Jul will get it automatically (provided your energy supplier is part of the scheme). Plus, some on means-tested benefits may also qualify - check our 2021/22 warm home discount info for full eligibility criteria, including how it works if your energy supplier recently went bust.
Ends Mon. FREE winter car check - oil, battery, wipers etc. Before any long journeys on icy roads, it's a wheely good idea to check your motor is winter-ready. Halfords' winter car check examines oil levels, battery, bulbs and wipers, and includes a screenwash top-up - though you need to book it in by Monday.
Cut car brrr...eakdown costs - full service cover £54/yr. There's always a spike in breakdowns in winter, and the consequences feel more severe if it's cold and wet. Here's how to get covered cheaply:
- Full service cover from £54/yr. For breakdown, home start and onward travel cover, newbies going via our AutoAid* link pay £53.99 for a year's cover (it charges £59.99, then you get an automatic £6 cashback within 60 days), or £68.99 after the cashback if your car's 16 years old or older. It covers any car you, your spouse or civil partner drive, and has been our top pick for over a decade. See full info on this and other options including basic policies in our Cheap breakdown cover guide.
- Don't want to switch? HAGGLE. In our most recent poll, 82% of AA and 83% of RAC customers reported getting lower rates after haggling. Jayne told us: "Phoned RAC and saved £120 on the renewal, plus got a 15-month policy instead of 12. So worth it." See Breakdown cover haggling.
Stay toasty with a DIY sausage dog. With no savings to be had by switching to a cheaper energy provider, some simple draughtproofing can help beat the cold and cut bills. Thrifty tips include making a sausage dog draught excluder, lining your curtains with fleece or blocking draughts with a 'Chimney Sheep' - see thrifty heat-saving tips. Plus, on the MSE Forum there's the Winter Prep thread, where MoneySavers share ideas.
Find where your stopcock is. Everyone should know where theirs is - it's the mains water off-switch. Winter is a crucial time, as if your pipes freeze and burst, you'll need to turn the water off to prevent huge damage, which can cost thousands to repair. See how to turn your water off.
Having to choose between heating and eating? There's help available. Emergency pandemic rules mean your supply can't be cut off and prepay customers can get emergency credit. Your supplier may also be able to offer payment reviews, breaks or reductions if you're struggling.
Then check if you qualify for further help with energy costs. And make sure you're getting everything you're entitled to with our 10-minute benefits check-up and do a money makeover to check you're not overspending. |
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| 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. |
| Bag £130 free cash or 12 bottles of wine in time for Christmas (or very soon after) by switching bank
Seven banks currently pay you free cash or other incentives to switch, and five of them pay quickly enough for you to get it in time for Christmas or just a few weeks after, if you apply now. Here's our rundown... Switching's easy and hassle-free for most. To get the bonuses you must use the new bank's official switching service, and if you do so, the switch takes seven working days and your balance, direct debits and standing orders will be transferred for you, any payments in auto-forwarded, and your old account closed. You'll also need to pass a not-too-harsh credit check when you apply for the account. CURRENT FREE BANK-SWITCH BONUSES
Full details & crucial ELIGIBILITY info for each offer in Best bank accounts. |
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| BANK ACCOUNT & KEY DETAILS (1) | HOW GOOD IS IT? | Santander 123 Lite*
Min monthly pay-in: £500
Pays out: Late Dec to late Jan
| FREE £130 + 1-3% cashback on most bills for a £2/mth fee. Good for those who pay bills as it gives 3% back on water, 2% on energy and 1% on council tax, phones, broadband and TV. Those with mid to large bills could make £40-£80 back after the fee. Santander aims to pay the bonus around 60 days after account opening but some may need to wait 90 days. Full info and bonus eligibility criteria: Santander review.
| Ends Sun. HSBC Advance*
Min monthly pay-in: £1,750
Pays out: Early Dec | FREE £110 + £30 voucher for Uber Eats or The Dining Out. Apply by 11.59pm on Sun 31 Oct (and meet the other criteria) to qualify for the bonus. You also get a linked 1% AER fixed interest regular saver (which you can put up to £250/mth in). Full info and bonus eligibility criteria: HSBC review. | Nationwide FlexDirect
Min monthly pay-in: £1,000
Pays out: Mid Nov
| FREE £100 (but trick to get £125) + 2% interest on up to £1,500. Newbies switching to Nationwide get £100 but we've a trick to boost this to £125. Plus, in year one, you get 2% AER interest on up to £1,500 - and many get a 0% overdraft too. Full info and bonus eligibility criteria: Nationwide review.
| First Direct 1st Account*
Min monthly pay-in: None
Pays out: Early Dec | FREE £100 + GREAT service. A good mix of reward and service, with 85% rating First Direct 'great' in our last poll. The account has a linked 1% AER fixed interest regular saver (which you can put up to £300/mth in) and many get a £250 0% overdraft too. Full info and bonus eligibility criteria: First Direct review. | Virgin Money M Plus*
Min monthly pay-in: None
Pays out: End Nov | 12 bottles of wine or £150 Virgin Experience Day gift card. Switchers can choose from the two options which can be good gifts, plus you get 2.02% AER variable interest on up to £1,000, and no fees on spending or ATM withdrawals overseas. Full info and bonus eligibility criteria: Virgin Money review. Please be Drinkaware if choosing the wine. | | (1) The bonus payout dates assume you start the switch today and meet all criteria as quickly as possible. |
PS: NatWest and RBS also offer £100 to switch and £50 if you stay, though they pay out later - in early February. |
| Get £200ish of beauty products for £40-£50 via Advent calendars from M&S or No7. Beauty Advent calendars can be a great way to get cheaper posh cosmetics - and many wait for these two, though M&S requires you to spend another £30 to qualify for its deal. See our beauty Advent calendar round-up - including from Aldi and Body Shop. Cheap lateral flow travel tests from £15 - where to find them. Testing rules for inbound passengers have changed with cheaper lateral flows allowed for many, so we've updated our Cheap lateral flow & PCR travel test guide. New. Shift debt to 31 months 0% for a 2.75% fee, plus get a £40 Amazon voucher. The longest 0% balance transfer card, Santander's 31-month 0% (2.75% fee, min £5)*, just got better as it now gives those accepted a £40 Amazon voucher, sent within 30 days. So if you've credit or store card debt, check NOW if you'll be accepted via our eligibility calculator. Golden rules: 1) Pay at least the monthly minimum. 2) Pay it off within the 31 months or it's 20.9% rep APR interest. 3) Don't spend/withdraw cash on it. Full options in Top balance transfers ( APR examples). Mortgage rates are at all-time lows - can you lock in cheaply now to save £1,000s? Our eight tips to check if you can slash your mortgage costs . Join us Wed 12.30pm for live Budget coverage. Martin will do his usual plain English translations on Twitter, with MSE's Twitter there to provide more detail. Once it's over, MSE News will dig deeper into what it all means for you. New. A huge 100GB/month of mobile data for just '£9/month'. Why pay more? MSE Blagged. With this Three Sim* via Fonehouse you get unlimited minutes & texts, and enough data to download all of Squid Game every month 3 times over. It costs £15/mth, but until 11.59pm on Sun 31 Oct we've blagged you £72 cashback, automatically paid after 90 days. Factor that in over the one-year contract, and it's equivalent to £9/mth - the cheapest we've seen for this much data. Want a different network / handset / less data? Use our powerful Cheap Mobile Finder tool. Christmas delivery or click & collect slots open at Asda, M&S, Sainsbury's etc - hurry as demand's high. See our store-by-store round-up of Christmas grocery slots - but some are already full.
Back to the classroom: A Martin Lewis Money Show special on ITV, Thu 8.30pm. Martin's off work for half term, but told us: "For years I've campaigned for financial education in schools, even funding free financial education textbooks , so this one-off special is a real treat. Sadly not all schools teach it, but I got to go into one school that does, and take part in some amazing lessons. And for parents and grandparents, I'll also cover how to help your children, grandchildren or yourselves get financially savvy. Do watch it, especially with kids - or set the Betamax." |
| 'We overpaid council tax for 24 YEARS - but using Martin's tips we reclaimed £8,000.' Check if you can save too
Council tax bands were set for homes in 1991, many by 'second-gear' valuations - where assessors drove slowly down streets rating properties. This haphazard method resulted in about 400,000 households being placed in too high a band, and even now - 30 years later - many in England and Scotland still overpay (Wales revalued in 2003). So it's worth 10 minutes to check if your home's in the right band. If not, you could claim £100s or £1,000s, and pay less in future. Use our tried & tested system to check if you're among 100,000s overpaying. For the full lowdown on how it's done, see our council tax check & challenge system. Suzanne and Sami did: " After reading Martin's tips, we checked our council tax band online - it was higher than our neighbours' band. We challenged it and received £8,192 within three months - we'd been paying the wrong amount for 24 years. Thank you Martin... keep up the good work." Here's how you can check too:
- Step 1. Compare your band with nearby similar homes. See the neighbours check.
- Step 2. Estimate your home's worth in 1991. See the valuation check.
- Step 3. If BOTH checks show your band may be too high, challenge it: you can't ask for it to be lowered, just reviewed. But beware - there's a risk your band and that of your neighbours could rise if it's revealed you're in too low a band, meaning higher costs. See how to challenge your council tax band.
- Told you can't challenge? Don't give up. The Valuation Office Agency (covering England and Wales) or the Scottish Assessors' Association has a legal duty to ensure all bands are correct. So if pushed, it must investigate - our guide explains how to force it to.
Check if you qualify for other discounts or rebates. Make sure you explore these avenues too...
- Do you live alone, with a student or live-in carer, or are the only adult? You may be due a 25% reduction.
- On universal credit / benefits / low income? Some can get discounts of up to 100%. See low income and benefits help.
- Receiving pension credit? Many are due a reduction. See pension credit and council tax.
- Moved home since 1993? You might also be owed £100+. Council tax is paid monthly (sometimes annually) in advance so often you'll be in credit when you move, and you're entitled to that money back. Two years ago, we established about £230 million is unclaimed. See how to reclaim overpaid council tax. |
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| AT A GLANCE BEST BUYS | 0% balance transfers New. Longest 0%: Santander (check eligibility / apply*) 31mths 0%, 2.75% fee - min £5, plus claim a £40 Amazon voucher (20.9% rep APR interest)
No-fee 0%: Sainsbury's Bank (check eligibility / apply*) up to 21mths 0% (20.9% rep APR) Broadband top picks Standard (10Mb+): Plusnet, equiv £12.74/mth
Fibre (30Mb+): Vodafone, equiv £14.30/mth
Superfast fibre (55Mb+): Shell Energy, equiv £15.74/mth Top savings accounts Top standard easy-access: Cynergy Bank 0.66%, min £1
Top one-year fix: SmartSave 1.34%, min £10,000 Car insurance Get comparison site quotes in this order: Confused.com* MoneySupermarket.com* Compare The Market* Gocompare* | Cheap loans Cheapest for £5k-£7.5k: AA (check eligibility / apply*) - 3.3% rep APR (AA members), 3.4% rep APR (non-members)
Cheapest for £7.5k-£15k: M&S Bank (check eligibility / apply*) - 2.8% rep APR Best bank accounts £130 to switch for new and existing customers: Santander
£100 to switch + top service: First Direct Cheap Sims Up to 3GB data: Lebara, equiv £4.09/mth for 3GB, unltd mins & txts
4GB-9GB data: Plusnet, equiv £5.34/mth for 9GB, unltd mins & txts
10GB+ data: Three, equiv £9/mth for 100GB, unltd mins & txts |
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| THIS WEEK'S POLL The MSE Annual Census. So who are MoneySavers? For the eighth year running, rather than data mining, we reckon the politest way to find out is just to ask. Plus, we think you may like to find out a little bit more about who else uses this site (or more accurately, who uses this site and answers the polls). So please fill in the eighth MSE Annual Census. Most of you haven't recently (or ever) switched banks. Last week, we asked when you last switched banks and more than 4,000 people responded. Some 10% said they'd switched in the past three months, likely driven by fierce competition from banks paying newbies £100+ to join. Yet this was dwarfed by the two-thirds who said they'd not switched in the last five years or had never switched. The most common reason? They're happy with their current bank. See full bank switch poll results. |
| MARTIN'S APPEARANCES (WED 27 OCT ONWARDS) Thu 28 Oct - The Martin Lewis Money Show, ITV, 8.30pm MSE TEAM APPEARANCES (SUBJECTS TBC) Tue 2 Nov - BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, Mid-morning with Jeremy Sallis, from 12.40pm |
| 'LOO ROLL, BIN BAGS AND CAT FOOD' - WHAT WON'T YOU SKIMP ON? That's all for this week, but before we go... we're always shouting from the virtual rooftops about all the ways you can save money, but some things are often worth paying a little extra for. When we asked on social media, some MoneySavers told us they wouldn't skimp on saucepans, bin bags, cat food, and even peas. Loo roll also scored highly - with memories of scratchy paper in primary school as a prime motivator. Let us know what you won't skimp on in our 'What are you happy to pay a little extra for?' Facebook post. We hope you save some money, stay safe,
The MSE team |
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