MSE’s Money Tips Xmas Deals Predictor, Beat 0% rejections?, UK's best S&V crisps, free £1,000s for 1st-time buyers, c

From: MSE's Money Tips - Tuesday Nov 07, 2023 09:24 pm

MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

Plus... £10 Baileys, 2 specs £14, cheap wills, Paid to use less energy?, 25% off Disney/Star Wars

THE TOP TIPS IN THIS EMAIL

Cut credit card costs with Martin's 8-step plan, including...
- Use an eligibility calc first
- No luck? Try the credit card shuffle
- Clear highest APR debt first

Martin: Lifetime ISAs - a dead duck for some, a free £1,000/yr for others

Get PAID to cut energy use

It's back! MSE's Christmas Deals Predictor 2023

Martin: 'Revealed - the UK's best salt & vinegar crisps'

£10 Baileys bottles

New. FOUR banks now pay you up to £200 to switch

TWO pairs of specs £14

iPhone 15 + 100GB data '£35/mth'

£70 Soap & Glory 'Star Gift' £34.50

Tonight. Martin's live show - beat car & home insurance hikes

Martin's pod: ADHD, mental health, financial kindness & more

Energy bills to rise more than expected - should you fix?

Ending. 25% off Disney, Marvel & more

'We found Child Trust Funds worth £2,000'

Grab a cheap will via Will Aid

This week's best buys, including 5.9% loans, 3GB Sim '£2.70/mth', Compare+ Car Insurance tool

Should I ask for cash if family and friends charge their electric cars when they visit?

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

Worrying new figures show interest's being charged on 50% of credit card debt
Martin: 'Here's my 8-step plan to cut high credit card interest rates. Can you save £100s or £1,000s?'

If I've got a catchphrase, it's definitely a loud 'pay off IN FULL' when it comes to credit cards, then you get the benefits and pay no interest. Yet new UK Finance stats show credit card debt is up 9% in a year, and 50% of that debt has interest charges levied on it.

For some, that's due to inertia or apathy, but for many, it's likely about being rejected for lower interest deals. Jay tweeted: "@MartinSLewis We've a close friend in the middle of a messy divorce. She needs to balance transfer but is getting rejected. She is desperate but has nowhere to go?"

So I've come up with an eight-step plan. There's no perfect solution, but if there is a route, following these steps should find it.

Step 1:

Don't assume you'll be rejected. There's no risk to first using a balance transfer eligibility calculator to see if you can get a top deal.

A balance transfer credit card is where you apply for a new card to repay existing credit or store cards for you, so you owe it the money instead, but at 0% interest (ie, interest-free). That way your repayments clear what you owe - rather than just covering interest - so, as long as you don't borrow more, you get debt-free quicker.

Use an eligibility calc. Our 0% eligibility calculator (some card firms have their own) show your odds of being accepted for the top picks WITHOUT any impact on your creditworthiness (unlike applying for a card, it only does a soft credit search, so you see it on your file, but lenders don't). That way you can see if you've a chance of getting one without any impact or risk.

Lucky enough to have a choice of cards? Aim for a 0% deal long enough to clear your debt. They're up to 29 months 0%, though try to minimise the balance transfer fee (the one-off percentage fee of the amount of debt you transfer). Unsure? Play safe and go long.

Step 2: Only low odds of getting a card? Don't be put off. A 20% chance means two in every 10 applicants are accepted - you could be one of those two.

Many people tell me: 'I'm worried about applying because it may impact my credit score.' Yet the whole point of maintaining the best possible credit score is to help you get accepted for needed credit products. And cutting debt costs is a very important use. So it's worth it.

If you've only a low chance, it's worth a try. Adam emailed me after listening to my podcast:

"I applied to the top eligibility checker

result,

which estimated I'd just a 20% chance and, guess what, I was accepted with a £3,500 credit limit, two years' 0%. I can now focus on other debts, potentially having an extra £1,300ish. You mention the link between money and mental health. Well... your advice has really lifted me."

Step 3: If you get a card, but the credit limit isn't enough to shift all your debt, don't just not bother, move what you can, then you can apply for another.

Once you've applied for a card, it marks your credit file, so don't waste that. Use it to shift as much of your highest interest (APR) debt as you can to get it at 0%. Once it's on there, just go back to Step 1 and see your odds for being accepted for another provider's card, and move what you can there. Though each subsequent application can get harder, as too many can look to lenders that you're desperate for credit.

If you get a balance transfer, follow the golden rules...
Full help in Best balance transfers, but in brief...

a) Never miss the min repayment, or you could lose the 0% deal.
b) If possible, clear the card before the 0% ends, or the rate rockets.
c) Don't spend or withdraw cash. It usually isn't at the cheap rate.
d) The balance transfer must usually be done within 60 to 90 days.

Step 4: Can't get a top deal? If you've spare credit limit on one of your existing credit cards, see if they'll give you a balance transfer deal.

Some cards allow existing customers to shift debt to them from other cards at 0% (an existing customer balance transfer). They aren't usually as good as new cardholder 0%s, but they're better than nowt.

They usually send them out as marketing mail or emails offering this. So if you've more than one card, call them all to see if they'll offer this. Virgin Money, NatWest and Halifax commonly do. See the credit card shuffle for how this all works.

PS: The existing debt you already have will still be at the higher rate. So if you've a few cards with spare room, you can try to play, eg...

Card A. Debt: £2,000, credit limit: £3,000, APR: 18%.
Card B. Debt: £1,000, credit limit: £2,000, APR: 18%.

If Card A offers a 0% balance transfer, you could simply shift £1,000 from Card B. Or in some cases, you try first shifting £1,000 from Card A to Card B (even if at its full rate), then once done, shift £2,000 back to Card A so you've more at 0% (as long as nothing changes in the meantime).

Step 5: There are cards aimed at people with poorer credit, but be careful about how much you move there.

A few providers offer cards for those with a patchy credit past, though the 0% period is a lot shorter. Some will allow you even with past defaults or county court judgments (CCJs). Most of these are included in our eligibility calculator, but they're worth breaking out because of one big difference.

The interest rate after the 0% ends will be horrid. All these cards charge up to 34.9% rep APR after, so compare it against your current card's interest rate. If your current card's rate is higher, then shift as much debt as possible. If it's lower, then only shift the amount of debt you're sure you can clear within the 0% period, as you don't want it to be stuck at the higher rate after. Virgin Money. Best to check acceptance odds first, or apply direct*. - All accepted get 16mths 0%, 3% fee.
- 29.9% rep APR interest after the 0%.
- Min income £7,000/yr (or £15k household income). No bankruptcies, CCJs or defaults.

Fluid. Not in our eligibility calc, so apply direct. - All accepted get

9mths 0%, 3% fee.
- 34.9% rep APR interest after the 0%.
- Can't have been made bankrupt in past 18mths, and no CCJs in the past 12mths.

Zopa. Check acceptance odds (it's not possible to apply for this card direct).

- All accepted get

6mths 0%, 3% fee.
- 34.9% rep APR interest after the 0%.
- Must have history of managing credit even if you've had CCJs or defaults in the past.

Top poorer credit score 0% balance transfers Go for the lowest-fee card in the time you're sure you can repay in
- All accepted get 6mths 0%, NO FEE. - 34.9% rep APR interest after the 0%. - Min income £10,000/yr, plus two active lines of credit (eg, phone contract, overdraft).
Capital One. Check acceptance odds (it's not possible to apply for this card direct).
These are all new customer deals. You can't balance-transfer between cards issued by the same bank or banking group.

Step 6: Can't get any new 0% credit to help? Then if you've spare credit limit, try to move the debt somewhere cheaper, even if it's at 18%.

Earlier (in Step 4), I talked about existing customer balance transfers. Even if they're not offering that, if you've a few credit cards, just moving stuff around to where it's cheapest can help. For example:

Card A. Debt: £2,000, credit limit: £2,800, APR: 18%.

Card B. Debt: £1,000, credit limit: £1,000, APR: 25%. In this scenario, you could ask Card A if you can shift some debt to it, at 18% from Card B, as it's slightly cheaper. Again, see the credit card shuffle

for help on this.

Step 7: Focus on clearing the highest interest rate (APR) cards and overdrafts first.

Some try to repay their biggest debt first, or spread repayments equally. However, it's the debt with the highest interest rate (APR) that's growing most quickly, so that's the priority to pay off.

Once you've moved all your debt to where it's cheapest, list all your cards and loans in order of APR (it's more complex with loans, as there can be early repayment penalties). Then focus all spare cash on clearing the highest rate debt, paying just the minimum on all others. Once it's clear, focus on the next highest rate, and so on. This will get you debt-free quickest.

The only exception is if you've a 0% card soon to end that'll go to a hideous rate. Aim to ensure it's interest-free by the time it ends.

PS: Overdrafts are debt too and are often costlier than cards. Most banks' overdrafts are at 40% APR - far more than most credit cards. So if you're overdrawn, unless you've even costlier debt, pay just the minimum on your credit cards and use any spare cash to get out of your overdraft. See Cut overdraft charges for more help.

Step 8: In debt crisis? Get free debt help NOW.

My steps above are about cutting the cost of interest, but that still may leave you in a difficult position, which means you'll need a different tack. So I've three questions you should ask yourself...

- Do you have sleepless nights or depression/anxiety over debt?
- Do you struggle to meet minimum monthly payments?
- Is your total debt (excluding mortgage/student loan) over a year's salary?

If you answer yes to any of these, forget balance transfers and instead get free, one-to-one debt-counselling help from Citizens Advice, StepChange or National Debtline. They have many tools, including 'Breathing Space' which can stop your creditors chasing you for a time.

And if you need emotional support, try CAP. They're there to help, not judge. The most common thing we hear after is: "I finally got a good night's sleep." There's no stigma, you can sort this. Read inspiring stories in our Debt-free wannabe forum, and see our Mental Health & Debt and Debt crisis help guides.

DON'T believe the fake 'Martin Lewis' or 'MSE' ads
Lots of scam ads litter social media and even newspaper websites - some of these lie that we or Martin promote Bitcoin, binary trading etc. See Fake ads warning.

Martin's Lifetime ISA (LISAs) mixed message...
1. Aged 18 to 39 & want to one day buy your first home? Stick £1 in a LISA as it could mean a FREE £1,000/yr towards it

2. LISAs are a dead duck for some, I'm urging the Chancellor to fix 'em to stop some being fined when they buy a home

Lifetime ISAs (LISAs) are the best currently available savings for anyone who hopes to one day buy their first home, as the state can add £1,000s to your deposit. Though there's a big but, as my headline makes as obvious as a baboon's (butt that is), which I'll come to later. First, let me explain how and when LISAs work well. As Amy emailed us: "I opened a LISA in 2017 (after hearing through Martin). I managed to pay in the max for 6 years and bought my first home in 2022, so £6,000 free money - £30,000 deposit instead of £24,000. Thanks."

Five need-to-knows about free LISA money.

LISAs are tax-free savings or investment accounts open-able when age 18 to 39. While

usable for retirement money

, their best features are for first-time buyers:

i) You get a 25% bonus on everything you put in, up to £4,000 per tax year, till you're aged 50. So if you save £1,000, you'll have £1,250, or save the max £4,000 a year, you'll have £5,000. See LISA bonus details.
ii) You can use it on your first residential home (costing up to £450,000). Those who have never owned/part-owned a home anywhere can use it to buy a property, with a mortgage, as long as the LISA's been open at least a year.
iii) Withdraw before age 60, if you're not buying a qualifying home, and you pay a 6.25% penalty. So you'd get back less than you put in. See how LISA penalties work (& think carefully whether you'll definitely get a qualifying home).
iv) It's do-able even if you're buying with someone who isn't a first-time buyer. It's an individual product, so first-time buyers can still use it, regardless of who they buy with. Equally, if both are first-time buyers, you can get one each.
v) Already got a Help to Buy ISA? These were LISAs' forerunners (and can't be opened now). You can have both, but can't get the first-timer's bonus on both, so see Help to Buy ISAs v LISAs for which is best for your savings.

Most non-homeowners aged 18+ should put £1 in a LISA now (if you haven't got one). A LISA rule quirk means it needs to be open a year before you can use the bonus to buy a home. Currently, things aren't great for first-time buyers, yet you don't want to be caught with a year's wait if things change. So open one with £1 now just to start the clock, so you can use it at speed if you need it later (and if not, withdraw the £1 and suck up the 6p loss).

Top Lifetime ISAs (& boost your interest if you've already got one).

With cash LISAs, it's all about maxing the interest. Our Top cash LISAs guide runs through top payers, including those that can be opened with £1 (there are also investment LISAs, more for those using LISAs for retirement). If you've an existing cash LISA, you can transfer to up the rate.

And now for the but (I'm asking the Chancellor to fix)...

LISAs are great for many, but for some, especially in urban areas or the south-east of England, they are a dead duck, due to the property price cap and the fine to withdraw if you don't use them. Watch my video explainer or read on.

House prices are up 33% since LISAs' 2017 launch, but the £450,000 property cap hasn't budged.

So some who've diligently saved in the Government's LISA scheme can't use it, as their potential home now costs over the threshold. The average first-time buyer house is above £450,000 in 26 of 32 London boroughs, and outside the south-east of England, there've been 60% rises in first-time buyer prices in parts of N Ireland, Wales, the Midlands, north-east and north-west England, and Yorkshire. See the

impact of house price rises on LISAs

... so for some who opened LISAs, they're not only a dead duck product, as they won't get the promised 25% boost - but one with a poisoned beak, because to get money out to buy a home above the property cap, they'll have to pay an effective

6.25% fine

. Eg, someone who maxed LISAs out for 5 years has £25,000 saved (£20,000 put in plus a £5,000 bonus). Yet to withdraw their money for the deposit, they pay a 25% penalty, so just get £18,750. That's £1,250 (6.25%) less than they put in, and govt pockets the difference.

I'm asking the Chancellor to wipe the fine in these cases. Jeremy Hunt is rumoured to be looking at new incentives to help first-time buyers in the coming Autumn Statement. So I've contacted him to ask him to prioritise fixing the existing broken scheme first by

ending LISA fines for those buying homes above £450,000

, so while they may not get the bonus, they at least get back what they put in.

It's time...

MSE's Christmas Deals Predictor 2023: 70 forecasts on when Amazon, Ikea etc will launch discounts.

Big retailer sales, booze deals, cheap flights, sprout price wars... Xmas Deals Predictor.

Martin: 'Revealed. The UK's best salt & vinegar crisps - a data-Crunch.'

It's the investigative journalism MSE was made for. A hard tasting data-Crunch with more info than you can shake a packet at. After a blind taste test of 46 brands, we reveal the winner, plus the strongest flavour, top vinegar etc. See Martin's S&V data-Crunch.

£10 for one litre of Baileys.

The cheapest we've seen it all year - normally £22. Baileys

(please be Drinkaware

New.

FOUR banks now pay you up to a FREE £200 to switch to 'em.

It's been a while since a new bank decided to lob some cash to win your custom, but Barclays has joined the fray this week. Choose from... Top for free cash: Nationwide's £200 plus 8% regular saver. Top for service: First Direct's FREE £175* is rated 90% 'great', plus has a linked 7% regular saver, cheap spending abroad and a £250 0% overdraft for many. Top for monthly rewards: Club Lloyds' FREE £175 lets you pick from a year's Disney+, six cinema tickets & more. New this week: Barclays' FREE £175*, plus 5% interest on up to £5,000. See Best bank accounts for full info & eligibility criteria.

TWO pairs of specs £14 delivered.

MSE Blagged.

Stack our code with existing offers. Cheap specs

New iPhone 15 + 250GB data '£35/mth' - cheapest deal we've seen since it launched in Sept.

Being first to adopt new technology is never MoneySaving, but if you're buying the new model, this is the best price we've seen. Newbies to iD Mobile (uses Three's signal) can get an iPhone 15 (128GB)

with 250GB data for £129 upfront, then £29.99/mth, via Carphone Warehouse. You'll also be able to CLAIM (don't forget) a £5 Currys voucher. If you'd have spent there anyway, factor it in and it's £844 over the 24mth contract, only £45 more than buying the handset outright. Note: Carphone Warehouse is responsible for the handset, iD Mobile for the contract.

Want a different handset? See Cheap Mobile Finder

£70 Soap & Glory 'Star Gift' for £34.50.

We've one day's early access to two 1/2 price Star Gifts. Soap & Glory

Beat HUGE car & home insurance price hikes. The Martin Lewis Money Show Live - tonight (Tue) 8pm ITV1. Over to Martin: "Car insurance prices are up an average 61%, home insurance not far behind. So I'm dedicating the show to every trick in the book to fight back and cut cover costs (if you miss it, catch up later via ITVX series 13 ep 2). What I can't say on the show, but can here, is to use MSE's Compare+ as part of it. Plus I've lots of news you can use, and as the show's live, your questions also dictate what we cover. Please watch or at least set the Betamax."

BLAGGED FOR MSE

- Two pairs of specs for £14 Ends Thu 16 Nov

DID YOU MISS?

- Black Friday predictions - what will Amazon, Apple & more do?
- Millions to get 'benefits' £300 cost of living payment this month
- M&S Advent calendar out now, 10% off Debenhams, plus more
- £27 designer prescription specs (normally £89)
- 600,000 Travelodge rooms £38 or less - can you find 'em?

Get PAID to cut your energy usage at peak times
... and have fun doing it: eat by candlelight, 'disco baths' and digital detoxes

Energy firms are relaunching schemes pioneered last winter which pay electricity users with smart meters NOT to use electricity on certain evenings to relieve pressure at crunch times of high demand. They're mainly part of a move by grid operator National Grid ESO (which doesn't include NI) in order to balance supply and demand, reduce the need to fire up fossil-fuel plants and, in the worst-case scenario, avoid power cuts. So we've a rundown of what firms are doing and what people did...

Will your energy supplier pay you to reduce usage for a few hours? Going via your energy firm is usually the easiest way to do it. British Gas, EDF, Octopus, Ovo, Scottish Power and Utilita are all running schemes this winter - the link takes you through to firm-by-firm details. Shell is also running a scheme, though we're less keen as it only offers to put you in a prize draw rather than paying. You'll need a working smart meter to do this, though. See Is a smart meter worth it?

78% of MoneySavers who took part last winter said they'd sign up again - a strong recommendation. We surveyed 3,000 participants, and the substantial majority had a good experience, even if they only typically earned £5 to £20 (only 16% got more than £20 and just 3% earned over £50). Despite the modest earnings, many enjoyed the experience and were happy to earn a little cash to help keep everyone's lights on. Those that didn't said the rewards weren't worth the challenge or found the targets to be too vague.

As one MoneySaver said: "I loved it. We made it fun - eating by candlelight, the kids having 'disco baths' (in the dark except for a flashing floating light)." Another reported: "It was fun, and a good chance to talk and detox from devices." See full info on what people did to cut usage.

If your supplier doesn't have a good scheme, there are other options. A number of 3rd party smartphone apps connect to your smart meter, get the money from the National Grid and pass some on to you. We've less feedback on these, but they could be a good option for some. PS: We know what you're thinking. No, you can't sign up to multiple schemes/apps to game the rewards - the rules limit you to one per household.

Admin anxiety, ADHD, mental health, a wallet workout and acts of financial kindness... A jam-packed pod that goes places you may not expect. All in the new The Martin Lewis Podcast episode - listen via BBC Sounds, Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more.

Energy bills to rise more than previously thought in Jan - should you fix now?

New predictions from analysts at Cornwall Insight say bills are likely to rise 5% in Jan (was 4%), and will be higher than previously thought for the rest of the year. See how this affects our Should you fix energy? analysis.

Ends 11.59pm Wed.

25% off Disney, Marvel, Pixar & Star Wars toys code.

Two-day flash discount on hundreds of full-price and already-reduced toys, costumes and stationery. ShopDisney Toy Tuesday

'We found missing Child Trust Funds for our adopted children worth £2,000, thanks MSE.'

Our success of the week comes from Kirsty, who saw our info on how to track down Child Trust Funds (CTFs) for children born 1 Sept 2002 to 2 Jan 2011. She said: "As an adoptive family, we didn't know anything about CTFs until I read one of your newsletters at the end of 2022. I followed the info and discovered that both children had funds set up valued at around £1,000 each. Thank you so much for raising awareness." If we've helped you save or reclaim (on this, or owt else), send us your successes.

Will Aid is now on - get a cheap, solicitor-drafted (or updated) will.

Solicitor-drafted wills are the gold standard, and you can get one in return for a suggested £100 donation (£180 for couple mirror wills) throughout November, so book now. See

Will Aid

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

AT A GLANCE BEST BUYS

Longest 0%:

Barclaycard (check eligibility / apply*) - up to 29mths 0%, 3.45% fee (24.9% rep APR interest)
No-fee 0%:

NatWest (check eligibility / apply*) - 14mths 0% (24.9% rep APR)

£200 to switch + 8% regular saver:

Nationwide

£175 to switch + TOP service:

First Direct

Top easy access:

NatWest Group's Ulster Bank 5.2%, min £5,000
Top one-year fix:

Union Bank of India 6.05%, min £5,000

Try our Compare+ Car Insurance tool

Cheapest for £5,000 to £7,499:

AA (check eligibility / apply*), 7.2% rep APR (members), 7.3% rep APR (non-members)
Cheapest £7,500 to £15,000:

Tesco Bank (check eligibility / apply*), 5.9% rep APR (must have a Clubcard)

Superfast fibre (100Mb+): Shell Energy £17.82/mth (though its customer service rating ain't great)

Fast fibre (55Mb+) with 'OK' service: Vodafone '£21.42/mth'

On Universal Credit or similar? Check all

discounted social tariffs

Up to 3GB data:

Lebara, '£2.70/mth' for 3GB
4GB to 9GB data:

TalkMobile, '£3.45/mth' for 6GB
10GB to 30GB data:

Lebara, '£3.57/mth' for 12GB
31GB+ data:

iD Mobile, '£7.09/mth' for 70GB

CAMPAIGN OF THE WEEK

It's Number Confidence Week - check and improve your maths skills... Brushing up on your numeracy skills can make you feel more confident managing money. To help, the National Numeracy charity has a free 10-minute challenge to check your current level, then offers you tailored support to skill up. Take the National Numeracy challenge.

THIS WEEK'S POLL

Are you planning on shopping in the Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday sales this year? Black Friday's no longer just a weekend of deals, with many retailers starting offers in early November. The event has got bigger and bigger, but the cost of living crisis has meant many having to cut their cloth accordingly. So we want to know if you're planning to shop in the Black Friday sales this year and, if so, how much do you intend to spend? Vote in this week's poll.

Most MoneySavers dip into their savings fewer than four times a year. Last week, we asked if you had savings and, if so, how often you accessed them. Around 4,300 people responded, with 33% saying they almost never touched their savings, and a further 18% saying they only dipped in once or twice a year. The most common reason to take money from savings was to cover a one-off planned expense (38%). See the full poll results.

MSE NEWS

- Top story: Bank of England holds base rate - should you fix your mortgage and savings now?
- Tesco Christmas delivery slots now open - here's how to bag yours

MONEY MORAL DILEMMA

Should I ask for money if family and friends charge their electric cars when they visit? Given the massive rise in energy prices over the last couple of years, I've been wondering whether I should ask family and friends to contribute to my bills when they charge their electric cars at my home when they visit. I have a petrol car, and when l visit others I obviously wouldn't ask them to fill it up for me, so I'm not sure what the right thing to do is. Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should I ask for money if family and friends charge electric cars when visiting? | Suggest a Money Moral Dilemma

MARTIN'S BLOG

- Martin Lewis: The UK's best salt 'n' vinegar crisps, a data-Crunch of 46 types

MSE TEAM BLOG

- MSE Forum highlights: Woodworm, working from home & window tint

MARTIN'S APPEARANCES (WED 8 NOV ONWARDS)

Wed 8 Nov - Ask Martin Lewis, BBC Radio 5 Live, 1pm

Tue 14 Nov - This Morning, phone-in, ITV1, 10.30am

Tue 14 Nov - The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, ITV1, 8pm

SANDWICH BAGS, BROCCOLI STALKS AND LYING TO FRIENDS - WHAT'S YOUR SECRET MONEYSAVING THING?

That's all for this week, but before we go... we asked you on social media what's the MoneySaving thing you do that you don't tell anyone else. While a few shy MoneySavers wanted to keep their secrets, others were happy to spill the beans. Wasting food is the opposite of one person's goal, as they told us they always carried sandwich bags around to fill up with unfinished food when they ate out. Others told us about breaking off the stalk on broccoli so they don't have to pay for the weight, or filling up Heinz sauce bottles and branded gin with supermarket own brands - saying what their friends don't know won't hurt them! Let us know your MoneySaving secrets in our Facebook and Twitter conversations.

We hope you save some money,
The MSE team

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What you need to know

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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.

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