Hi
I’m sure everyone has now heard about claiming back PPI that may have been paid on loans taken out in previous years, without the borrowers knowledge or consent. However, a recent survey indicates that many people have not bothered to check to see if it affects them, or simply think it would be too much hassle or they feel intimidated to confront a financial institution. After the High Court ruling of April last year, pretty much all of the financial institutions have accepted that they must repay customers who did not want PPI in the first place. I would urge anyone who has had any sort of a loan in the last 6 years or so, to check out the paperwork as this is money that you can claim back. It is quite possible to deal with the claim yourself, but if you feel that you can’t deal with it for whatever reason, it may be worth letting a claims management service do it for you. To get all the facts and view the frequently asked questions, check out www.ppirefundss.co.uk who have an excellent track record (to date they have reclaimed over £1M for clients) and charge one of the lowest fees in the industry.

Top tips for saving cash

How do Guardian Money writers save cash? And what are their best tips for the rest of us? (Beware, they’re a bit of a hair shirt bunch) See this report from The Guardian.

Why are you wasting money?

Most people waste money. And I don’t mean on fun things like restaurants and handbags; most people pay more for their household services than they need. Do you? Following on from my article in last week’s newsletter, read the report from Yahoo Finance here:

If you have your own ideas, tips or just want to comment, contact me at brian@moneysaverstrategies.co.uk

Well that’s it for today, watch out for your next newsletter.

Brian Philips

Dell Inspiron M5040 Windows 7 Laptop – 15.6ins – 4GB RAM – 500GB Hard Drive only £297. Full details here:

Hi

With Christmas now well out of the way (but probably not the debts from it), it is well worth taking the time to overhaul your finances and see if you can save a few pounds here and there. Any little savings made can soon add up and could enable you to pay off the credit card debts a bit quicker or boost the holiday fund, which will probably be the next large expense. Listed below are a few simple ways that will ensure you get the best savings possible on your everyday expenses. a) Use comparison sites to check your gas & electricity prices, it’s usually cheaper to get both from 1 supplier and pay by direct debit. (DO NOT entertain door to door salesmen trying to persuade you to change) b) Do the same for your savings & cheque accounts, some banks offer up to £100 to simply change your current account over to them. Check that you are still getting the best rate on your savings, most financial institutions offer a good rate for a year, which then reverts back to a low rate and many savers fail to realise this, which is exactly what these institutions rely on ! c) Check out your car & home insurance on a comparison site as there are huge savings that can be made, particularly if both are through the same insurer by direct debit but NEVER pay monthly as 9 times out of 10 these schemes are an expensive rip off ! d) If you have a cash ISA you only have a month or so to make the most of your yearly allowance before the new tax year and it’s also a good time to check the rates on this type of account as well. These are the most common issues that apply to virtually everyone and it’s amazing how much can be saved with just a little time & effort.

Junior ISA offers best incentive for children to save

We often hear how important it is to put money aside and to have some savings behind you, but when you take a look at the rates of interest on offer for many children’s accounts, it’s easy to understand why some parents just don’t bother. Check out this report from The Independant here:

Electronic system that could save the cheque

A new electronic system could save the once-threatened method of paying by cheque, its developers have said.Paper cheques fell out of favour with banks as they were costly to process and need to be stored afterwards, yet they remained popular with customers, particularly the elderly.  Read this report from The Telegraph.

If you have your own ideas, tips or just want to comment, contact me at brian@moneysaverstrategies.co.uk

Well that’s it for today, watch out for your next newsletter.

Brian Philips

Save £200 on selected TV’s at Argos, check the details here

Hi

As I’ve mentioned many times before, having a good credit history & regularly checking your credit report are an essential part of saving money, not only because you can avoid being a victim of identity theft, but also with the rates you get on loans, credit cards etc. If you have a bad credit history you may not be able to get finance on simple things like, washing machines and other household goods, and even if you do it will be at an interest rate much higher than someone with a good credit record. There are ways to repair your credit history to enable you to become more credit worthy and avoid the higher interest rate. The first step is to look at your credit report & sign up for a monitoring service to enable you to see what lenders are viewing about you and also to avoid any attempt at identity theft, you can get a 30 day free trial, check the details here.

There is advice available on how to go about repairing your credit history, but a good way is to get a credit card, now I know this may sound bizarre, but if you have a card & pay it off regularly this can have a huge effect on your credit rating. Several of the banks do a special card aimed at helping to boost your credit rating, but beware they have very high interest rates so DO NOT pay only a portion of the card off, the idea is to pay it all off each month. Just buy items that you would normally pay cash for and don’t be tempted to buy anything else, if you use the card this way your credit rating can be greatly improved within a year. Check with your bank to see if they offer this facility.

When renting beats buying

Would you consider renting a big-ticket item instead of buying it outright? There’s a growing culture of renting in the UK; as budgets are pinched, fewer people can afford big upfront costs.But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, here are some occasions where renting can be a better choice than buying, see this report from Yahoo Finance.

How to save on your water bill

Here’s the bad news: The average water and sewerage bill in England and Wales will rise by nearly 6% from April to about £376 per household. But here’s the good news: You cannot pick and choose your water company – the market is not open to competition in the same way as gas and electricity – but you can still save money on your water bills. Read this report from myfamilyclub.co.uk here.

If you have your own ideas, tips or just want to comment, contact me at brian@moneysaverstrategies.co.uk

Well that’s it for today, watch out for your next newsletter.

Brian Philips

Asda Direct are selling 2 books for £7, check out the details here:

Hi

It’s time to look at your finances now we are in a new year and get your financial house in order. If you have not checked your gas/electricity supplier recently then go to one of the comparison sites & make sure that you are getting the best deal possible. It’s easier than ever to change supplier as they do everything for you, and there are some great cashback deals available from sites such as Quidco, all you have to do is make the purchase via their site whenever you buy something. Whilst you are looking at the comparison sites don’t forget to check out the banking section, as there are some great deals if you change your current or savings account. Look at your ISA if you have one, you only have a couple of months left to top it up to make the most of this year’s allowance and, once again, there are some excellent rates out there if you are prepared to switch. If you check these things every 6 – 12 months you can ensure you are saving as much money as possible, or alternatively you can take the ‘can’t be arsed’ approach and miss out on substantial savings! it’s up to you!

5 Super Saving Tips for Young People

Inspired by the Money for Life Challenge, Jamie Wright, Student Enterprise Champion at Gower College Swansea offers his advice to other young people. Read his article here:

 10 quick tips to keep warm during the winter

There are plenty of ways to stay cosy and keep your home central heating bills to a minimum during the winter. Simply try out some of the following ideas – from hot water bottles to huddling together – and start to embrace the cold weather with a satisfied smile on your face. See this article from the Energy Saving Trust.

If you have your own ideas, tips or just want to comment, contact me at brian@moneysaverstrategies.co.uk

Well that’s it for today, watch out for your next newsletter.

Brian Philips

Hi

Recently there have been articles about many people who use an alternative to satellite TV systems on their PC’s. I was quite intrigued by this and so I did a bit of investigating and came up with some information that may be of interest to those of you who don’t have or can’t afford satellite TV. Basically, you download software which has a one-off charge and are then able to watch satellite TV channels from all over the world (there are over 3,500 channels including over 500 from UK and over 700 from US) the installation onto your PC is simple, there are no monthly fees and you get unlimited usage. The only minor drawback to it is that you need unlimited broadband rather than mobile broadband which some people now have. I watched it on a friends PC and was amazed at the quality, and for those of you that have large monitors for your PC, it is just like watching normal TV. As usual this comes with a 60 day money back guarantee, so if you would like to check it out, go here:

Your Facebook profile could get you the sack

After an Apple employee was fired for ranting about his iPhone on Facebook, Robert Powell from Yahoo Finance looks at the information you should never put online, see report here:

The year of living frugally

If you stick to the plan this week an average household in the UK could SAVE a further £665 on motor and home insurance, SAVE £995 on your annual holiday and SAVE £2,330 from your mortgage. Check out what extra saving you could be making in this article from Express.co.uk.

If you have your own ideas, tips or just want to comment, contact me at brian@moneysaverstrategies.co.uk

Well that’s it for today, watch out for your next newsletter.

Brian Philips

Hi
There has been a lot of press in recent times about green products & energy savings and also how the average home owner can save money by building things themselves.  I am a great believer in DIY, but for most of us the projects are usually restricted by lack of know how and knowledge. However, I have come across a very good publication that has complete & virtually foolproof plans to build over 14,000 different projects from sheds, dog kennels, garden furniture for outdoors, to desks, kid’s furniture, shelves, coffee tables for indoors. The guide is written with beginners and novices in mind and is in downloadable format, so no bulky manual to read through, and there is the usual 60 day money back guarantee that most of my recommendations carry. It is well worth a look as there is nothing more rewarding than building something yourself and knowing you have saved a small fortune on shop prices. To find out more click here:

Top ten tips – Energy Saving Trust

Here are some simple ways you can stop wasting energy and money now, courtesy of the Energy Saving Trust. This agency is a social enterprise with charitable status & can give advide on all aspects of energy, including generating your own power. Check it out here:

How to save money in the home

This year, perhaps more than any in the past few decades, will be a year of belt-tightening and saving. But it won’t all be a grim struggle for survival. There are ways to reduce bills, be gentle on the environment and save money without having to don a hair shirt. This report from The Telegraph.

If you have your own ideas, tips or just want to comment, contact me at brian@moneysaverstrategies.co.uk

Well that’s it for today, watch out for your next newsletter.

Brian Philips

Hi

I was reminded about an idea that I featured in this newsletter over a year ago when a member mentioned it in an email to me recently. It can save you money as well as make you money if you wish. Anyone thinking of buying a new car can get complete instructions on how to import one directly from Japan and save a considerable amount of money. Some people have turned it into a business and import cars for other people, to order. The good thing about this idea is that you get the money from the customer up front before you broker the deal, and then you keep a commission. It is, apparently, very simple and requires little time to complete, so can be run in your spare time. The trick is in knowing exactly what to do and what steps to complete in what order. The whole guide is available to buy and comes with the usual 60 day money back guarantee from the publishers, so it might be worth checking out. Full details are available here:

 Seven things to ditch in 2012

If you don’t want to get ripped-off in the New Year, make sure you get rid of these seven products. This report from Yahoo Finance makes interesting reading & confirms a lot of the things we all suspected, see it here:

10 steps to a debt-free life

It’s not just low earners who are worrying about debt – the credit crunch is hurting us all. So, as the cost of living continues to rise, Moneywise reveals 10 simple steps to a debt-free life. See this excellent report here:

If you have your own ideas, tips or just want to comment, contact me at brian@moneysaverstrategies.co.uk

Well that’s it for today, watch out for your next newsletter.

Brian Philips

When I was at school I worked at Next in my spare time so, for me, the phrase ‘January sale’ conjures up images of people desperately rifling through racks of clothes, barging each other out of the way in order to nab that £10 top.
But it’s not just the high street retailers that are at it – even banks now launch January sales, with enticing offers on select deals. And HSBC’s sale has included the launch of a current account paying an amazing fixed rate of 6% on balances! Banking with HSBC
As part of its January Sale, HSBC has revamped its current accounts, and now has a number of extremely attractive deals.
My favourite is the simple Bank Account. Whether you are a new or eligible existing customer, you can secure a whopping rate of 6% interest fixed on balances up to £2,500. However, in order to secure the deal, you will need to get your switching forms over to HSBC by 5pm on the 31st January.
You can also get this rate if you go with the HSBC Advance account or the HSBC Premier account.
With the Advance account not only will you get 6% on your money, but also life insurance cover up to £3,000, worldwide travel insurance, roadside breakdown assistance and exclusive deals on a rate of products and services. It will set you back £9.95 for the first 12 months, and £12.95 thereafter though. However, I’m not a big fan of packaged accounts like this, and the FSA has its own concerns too, as we highlighted in The new bank mis-selling scandal.
With the Premier Account you’ll get wealth management advice from an HSBC IFA, family banking accounts and all sorts of other personal services. However, to qualify, you’ll need to meet any of the following criteria:
•    Joint savings or investments of at least £50,000 with HSBC in the UK. •    An annual income of at least £100,000 paid into your HSBC Premier Account, as well as either: 1) a mortgage of at least £300,000 with HSBC or 2) a product taken out from the bank’s independent financial advisory service, excluding mortgage-related insurance.
In other words, it’s not an account for everyone.

Not a long-term answer
The HSBC Bank Account is a pretty incredible deal for the vast majority of us. However, it does have one rather significant fault to be aware of.
That enticing 6% rate does not last forever. Indeed, it’s gone after 12 months. And what’s more, the rate doesn’t just fall to something smaller, but still acceptable, like 2% say.
No, at the end of the year, that rate of interest falls to a bit fat zero. So if you want to continue earning any interest at all, let alone a market-leading rate, on your cash, you’ll need to switch accounts again.
The best of the rest
The next highest rate on offer comes from an old favourite of lovemoney.com readers, Santander, with its Preferred current account. You get a rate of 5% on your cash (again only for 12 months), but you can also nab a free overdraft for the first year too, of up to £5,000 (depending on your circumstances).
What’s more, Santander has extended the welcome bonus of £100 for another couple of months – that’s cash you get simply for signing up to the Preferred account and switching over your direct debits. Indeed, you could get a bigger welcoming bonus if you’re already a Santander customer – £200 if you have a Santander mortgage, or £300 if you have a mortgage and at least £10,000 in savings with the bank.
Of course, banking with Santander is unlikely to be a stress-free experience, with the bank notorious for its dreadful customer service. That said, I banked with Santander for a little over a year and had no complaints, so things are at least improving.
After that, the rates on offer fall off sharply. You can get 3% from the Lloyds Classic Account with Vantage, so long as you maintain a balance of between £3,000 and £5,000. Otherwise your rate will be 1.5% for balances under £1,000, or 2% for balances between £1,000 and £3,000.

Get £60 a year from an empty current account
But even if you don’t tend to have much cash in your current account by the month’s end, you can still secure a decent return from your current account, thanks to the very clever Halifax Reward Account.
So long as you pay in £1,000 each month, then you shall receive a lovely monthly reward of £5. That’s irrespective of your account’s balance. So you could finish the account £1,000 in credit, or even in your overdraft, and you’ll still get that £5.

What’s more, you can currently secure a £100 welcome bonus as soon as you apply for the account.

Article by John Fitzsimons Lovemoney.com

Hi

In this first newsletter for 2012 I would like to wish you and your families a very Happy & Prosperous New Year.
Most people will have made a New Year resolution by now, but unfortunately, many will not actually fulfil them. There are usually 2 very popular resolutions that are made and those are to lose weight and to give up smoking, so below are some cost effective ways to achieve both of these goals.

The Diet Solution Program is not your usual ‘run of the mill’ program and thousands have lost weight using this unique approach to dieting. There are lots of free recipes, tips & advice to help you lose those extra pounds, check it out here:

E-Lites Electronic Cigarettes really are a fantastic way to stop smoking normal harmful cigarettes and make the transition to giving up altogether. They have been featured on Eastenders, Top Gear and many other high profile programs and are now sold at Roadchef outlets. They contain small amounts of nicotine, are completely harmless and can be ‘smoked’ anywhere quite legally as the ‘smoke’ is water vapour. Costing less than you would pay for normal cigarettes for a week or so, they fulfil the need to hold something in your hand & simulate the smoking experience. Well worth checking this out here:

Credit card fees to be banned in crackdown on surcharges

Customers are being charged as much as £12 to use their cards when they pay, though the transactions cost as little as 20p to process. In some cases, the surcharges are higher than the value of the item being purchased, reports the Telegraph, see the full report here:

Four big gas and electricity scams to avoid this winter

If it looks too good to be true, it usually is. An especially valid mantra if the ‘it’ in question involves saving cash on your gas and electricity bill. Read this essential report from Yahoo Finance.

If you have your own ideas, tips or just want to comment, contact me at brian@moneysaverstrategies.co.uk

Well that’s it for today, watch out for your next newsletter.

Brian Philips

Hi

This will be the last newsletter for this year and I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for continuing to support it and to wish you any your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy & Prosperous New Year. The next newsletter will be on 8th Jan, (I did consider sending one on the 1st Jan but thought nah! everyone will be too busy celebrating to read it !!). In it I will be looking at the most popular New Year Resolutions and cost effective ways to achieve them, so have a great time.

Cheques saved

Plans to scrap cheques as a form of payment have been dropped following an outcry from consumers, charities and small businesses. See the details in this article from Yahoo Finance here:

The top eight biggest Christmas cons!

As Christmas approaches and consumer spending becomes a whirlwind, we reveal the eight biggest ways to get taken for a ride — but not in Santa’s sleigh… read this interesting report from Lovemoney.com

If you have your own ideas, tips or just want to comment, contact me at brian@moneysaverstrategies.co.uk

Well that’s it for today, watch out for your next newsletter.

Brian Philips