Martin Lewis' Blog...

“Wish I’d been stupid enough to get PPI in the first place”

Martin Lewis — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:58:18 +0000

Having PPI paid back doesn’t mean you’re stupid, yet there’s a growing attitude on the web of people feeling PPI payouts are rewarding stupidity. This is a damaging attitude, so I want to explain why… This morning I saw a classic Twitter example – I’d retweeted this: After reading Martin’s website I made 1 phone [...]

Surprise call from Ed Davey, Energy Minister – on collective switching

Martin Lewis — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:30:53 +0000

It’s rare (well it never happens actually) a Secretary of State calls me out of the blue, especially in his first week in the job. Yet Ed Davey, the new cabinet minister responsible for energy and climate change, has done just that. In a nutshell, it was all about him wanting MSE (and others) to [...]

A warning to freelancers and the self-employed everywhere

Martin Lewis — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:53:03 +0000

TV presenter Miquita Oliver, 27, has sadly gone bankrupt, owing the taxman £174,000. The details are sketchy (see the Press Association) but I suspect, like most presenters, she’s primarily freelance. I don’t mention this as salacious tittle-tattle, but as a salient reminder of a nightmare that hits many freelancers and the self-employed. Unlike employees, where [...]

A dragon in the Napoleonic wars

Martin Lewis — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:35:07 +0000

I’ve written before of my predilection for historic and science fantasy novels, (see my top 10 summer reads) so I reserve a special sense of tiggerish excitement for a book that combines the two. Having just finished all six in the Temeraire series in a row, and slightly saddened at that loss until Naomi Novik [...]

Student loans will be interest free for many 2012 starters

Martin Lewis — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:59:12 +0000

On principle I hate the fact 2012 uni starters aren’t just going to pay for their education, but for financing it too. For the first time students will be charged ‘real’ interest rates. This may seem a contradictory start to a blog promising interest free loans, but that’s because, yet again with student finance, principle [...]

Why I confidently predict this recession won’t be as ‘severe’ as the last

Martin Lewis — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:21:13 +0000

I normally say I don’t do predictions, so you may be surprised to see me putting my neck on the line in such a way. Yet I haven’t suddenly bought a crystal ball or grown cahoonas the size of an ox, this is a natural conclusion on the back of the political spin of recession [...]

“MoneySavingExpert: a stronger brand than iTunes”

Martin Lewis — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:59:44 +0000

Here at MSE Towers, we’re a little gobsmacked after reading new research about ‘brand strength’. We don’t really think of the site as a brand and we don’t deliberately try and cultivate that image, but it seems we have become one without trying. I was first alerted when someone emailed a Scotsman article based on [...]

A40 speed limit: is TFL incompetent or misleading?

Martin Lewis — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:22:38 +0000

The Westway route just out of central London (to Shepherds Bush) is a three lane dual carriage way flyover, so there are no pedestrians. Last February the speed limit was cut from 50mph to 30mph. Apparently this was due to repairs and speeding. However, after a few complaints, and even a mention on Top Gear, [...]

The New New MSE Masthead – your thoughts please

Martin Lewis — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:06:40 +0000

Last week I blogged about our proposed new masthead for the site and other changes (see New Masthead blog). After all your feedback, we’ve been working on some improvements, and before we go live I’d love your feedback. The ‘new’ masthead (see below for the new new one) Click here to see a clearer full [...]

Sneaky preview of the new MSE masthead – what do you think of m’pic?

Martin Lewis — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:47:17 +0000

The green masthead’s on its last legs, we’re in the process of a gradual redesign and a big element of this is the new masthead. It’s prime real estate on the site as it’s on every single page, so before we go for it, I’d love your views… Click here to see a clearer full [...]

Prospective students no longer so scared of £9,000 fees

Martin Lewis — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:31:50 +0000

I got a bit stumped on Thursday on the weekly Consumer Panel hour I do on Radio 5. The subject was the new up to £9,000 fees for new student starters in 2012, on the back of applications closing Sunday (yesterday now). There were three prospective students on, so I was poised to rebut the [...]

Energy price cuts – was it wrong to fix?

Martin Lewis — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:45:27 +0000

Updated 17 January after all companies have cut… The last week’s very modest cut in energy prices have led some to question whether they were wrong to lock into a cheap fixed rate tariff to guard against future rises. Yet these cuts need to be put in perpective. The typical bill for a standard tariff [...]

The bank deal that makes 5,000% APR payday loans look cheap

Martin Lewis — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:54:11 +0000

Payday loans at 5,000% APR rightly shock many people. Yet high street banks have a product so expensive many would save by taking a payday loan, even at ridiculously high rates, instead. But as banks needn’t phrase it as an APR, they get to offer this product without the nasty brand damage. As for what [...]

Death of the ‘Do you do it from your bedroom?’ MSE design

Martin Lewis — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:47:25 +0000

We have a brand spanking new home page. Hopefully it’s a lot easier to navigate and looks much cleaner – though that’s for users to judge (do leave some feedback below, which we’ll use with tracking stats). Yet this is just the start and I wanted to explain why we changed it and what’s ahead. [...]

(Sorry) Have a great weekend! The 10 top Friday funnies EVER

Martin Lewis — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:07:01 +0000

Every Friday on my Facebook page, I do a funny. Well when I say funny, more of a terrible, tumbleweeding, shaggy dog of a pun. Yet for some bizarre reason, if I ever miss it, hoards of Facebookers – mostly women I may add – virtually attack me, demanding their weekly groan (oh, err missus). For newbies, [...]

Chart-Porn: my top 10 most read blogs of 2011

Martin Lewis — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:28:02 +0000

We’re nearing the year end, it’s a time for reflection – to look back and consider the past… who am I kidding, this is just an excuse for a bit of chart-porn. It’s a chance for me to dig through some statistics and produce a table. Woo hoo… So here’s my top ten most read [...]

Unearthed video of my Comedy Characters – did I really do that?

Martin Lewis — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:38:59 +0000

I can’t quite believe they’re me – especially the ‘Costin Powers’ (watch it yourself below). All of these sketches were filmed in 2000-2001 as part of my ‘Deal of the Day’ piece on the then little watched, and now long defunct, Simply Money TV. I can’t blame anyone else for them, I had to research, present, [...]

Read letters from blind children to Santa

Martin Lewis — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:46:37 +0000

This blog is for all the soppy gits (like me) out there. Sit back and prepare for some bitter-sweet Christmas joy. The wonderful RNIB kindly sent us these beautiful messages as a thank you for supporting their special braille and other visually impaired-friendly letters within our Free letters from Santa guide. Of course they don’t [...]

The MSE Christmas pub quiz 2011 results

Martin Lewis — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:03:08 +0000

Last week I challenged you to the pub quiz I’d given the MSE team at our Christmas party. Now as promised, it’s time for the answers…(and as in all good pub quiz tradition, I of course expect you to argue). Spoiler alert! If you want to have a go at the quiz before seeing the [...]

The financial education debate – in full

Martin Lewis — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:35:56 +0000

Below is a cut and paste of the Hansard transcript of last week’s debate (source: Parliament). For those wanting a quick summary see my financial education debate – who said what blog, as the transcript below came from five hours of debate. You can also watch a video of the session. Financial education Justin Tomlinson (North [...]