THE Martin Lewis Money Show returned last night and the savings expert sent a warning to ALL mobile phone users.
The UK's resident MoneySavingExpert returned to our screens on Tuesday with the best ways for families to save cash as the cost of living continues to soar.
During the show he urged mobile phone customers to check if their contracts have termination fees ahead of anticipated "14 per cent" price rise this spring.
If you don't have termination fees or you're out of contract then you should ask for your PAC code, which you can give to your new provider in order to keep your current mobile number.
The expert went on to explain that once customers ask for this they could "use this as a way to haggle with your existing provider" to potentially save hundreds of pounds per year.
Read our Cost of Living blog for the latest news and updates…
- Louis Allwood
How to instantly block out draughts in your home
Budgeting whizz Cost Of Living Crisis Tips has shared their draught hack in a video online.
They said: “If you have a draught coming through your window cracks.”
“Stick a piece of paper in between to stop the cold getting through”
For this you may need to fold the paper a few times to make sure it fits into the size of your gap.
It’s also important to bear in mind that the length of your paper may not match the length of your window so you may have to layer pieces of paper on top of each other to block the full draught.
- Louis Allwood
Eight vital energy checks you need to do now, according to Martin Lewis
Money-saving expert Martin Lewis has warned households about eight vital energy checks to do now as bills rise.
It comes as millions of households are set to see their energy bills hike in April.
Here’s a look at the eight vital energy checks you should do now.
- Check if your energy prices changed on January 1
- Check if you’re overpaying by direct debit
- Check if you’re eligible for the new cost of living payments
- Get ready to apply for £400 energy bill support later this month
- Check if you need to apply for the £200 alternative fuel payment
- Check if you’re due £600 in government support next month
- Check if you need to redeem any energy discount vouchers
- Check if you can get help through supplier grants
Find out more about Martin’s money-saving tips here.
Martin Lewis offers advice
During the show on Tuesday, Mr Lewis revealed the best savings account for your little ones, which included Halifax's Kids Regular Saver, Saffron BS' two-year child bond and HSBC's My Savings account.
The MoneySavingExpert also issued an urgent tax warning for parents everywhere.
He revealed that children mostly pay the same tax as adults and can only be given £12,570 by their parents tax-free per year.
- Shanine Bruder
How much does it cost to run an electric blanket?
As temperatures drop and bills rise, many are looking for an affordable way to keep warm this winter.
Electric blankets are a great way to help you try and cut back on your energy bills.
According to research from Uswitch, these gadgets use 100 watts of energy to warm a double bed before switching to a sleep setting or being turned off.
A 100W electric blanket run for seven hours a week would use 0.7kWh.
Based on the current cap, it costs 24p to run a 100W electric blanket for one hour a day for seven days.
If you were to use an electric blanket for one hour a day, every day of the week for a year, it would cost you £12.48 in total.
- Shanine Bruder
Piers Morgan to quiz Rishi Sunak in bombshell TalkTV interview
Piers Morgan is set to grill Rishi Sunak tomorrow on a range of issues effecting Brits today, including the crippling cost of living crisis.
Other issues set to be addressed include stopping small boats and the ongoing strikes.
The interview will air at 8pm on the Piers Morgan Uncensored show on TalkTV.
- Shanine Bruder
Argos gadget that will keep you warm without adding turning the heating on
Shoppers are rushing to their local Argos stores to get their hands on a household gadget that will keep them warm – without turning on the heating.
Argos is selling a Dreamland electric throw for just £60.
It's a fleece material so can be used as a blanket or throw.
It comes with six heat settings and a timer that allows you to keep it on one, three or nine hours.
After the time you've set it to has been reached it will automatically turn off.
Find out more here.
Credit: Getty - Shanine Bruder
Passport fees set to rise this week
As part of a slew of government changes, the cost of a British passport is set to increase later this week.
From the start of February, passport renewal fees will go up by 9%.
Getting new passports for children will also increase from £49 to £53.50.
- Shanine Bruder
Five cheapest duvets with the highest tog rating to avoid putting the heating
As temperatures continue to drop and the cold weather shows no signs of leaving, investing in a winter duvet could be a cost-effective purchase.
Buying in a new winter duvet could be a cheaper alternative to putting the heating on overnight.
Here's a look at five cheap duvets with the highest tog rating.
- Amazon DN Collection Winter Duvet 16.5 tog – £20.99
- Dunelm Wonderfully Warm Duvet 15 tog – £24
- Asda Basic Duvet 13.5 tog – £6.50
- Aldi Slumberdown Single Mega Bounce 13.5 tog – £14.99
- John Lewis Synthetic Soft Tough Duvet 13.5 tog – £50
Free debt advice
If you’re in debt there are plenty of services you can take advantage of and they offer free advice on how to manage debt.
Most of them can offer you free guidance and help in person, over the telephone or online.
- Money Helper – 0800 138 7777
- Citizens Advice – 0808 800 9060
- StepChange – 0800 138 1111
- National Debtline – 0808 808 4000
- Shanine Bruder
Thousands of North Yorkshire households have just weeks left to claim up to £325 supermarket vouchers
Tens of thousands of struggling households can get up to £325 in free supermarket vouchers to help with the cost of living crisis – but they will have to be quick.
North Yorkshire County Council is giving people either £85 or £325 in free e-vouchers.
Residents can then use these vouchers for food shopping and other essentials.
Over 23,000 eligible people will have received a letter from the council containing a code for them to redeem their voucher.
Everyone should have received their letter by January 16 but if you think you qualify and haven't got one, do contact North Yorkshire County Council.
Residents only have until February 15 to redeem their code into a voucher – so do so by this date or lose it.
Find out more here.
- Shanine Bruder
How can you get money off your supermarket shop?
As food prices rise and bills soar, thousands of households are looking for ways to cut back and save some cash.
Making a list is one way to budget and it means you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases or enticed in by offers.
You could also try “downshifting” too – this involves going for supermarkets’ own brand goods.
And Money Saving expert Martin Lewis says that particular trick could save you around 30% on your yearly shopping bill.
A number of other supermarkets run wonky veg schemes like Lidl’s Too Good To Waste too including Morrisons.
And if you’ve got the time, you can try opting for yellow sticker products – these are reduced items that could save you a pretty penny.
- Joseph Gamp
What is child benefit?
If you’re a parent living in the UK and you’re responsible for a child who’s under 16, you can claim child benefit.
This benefit is aimed to help you with the costs that come with raising children.
With it, you also get National Insurance Credits that count towards your state pension.
Parents claim £21.80 a week for their first child and then £14.45 is added for any extra child they’ll have.
Payments are usually made every four weeks.
Find more information on child benefit here.
- Joseph Gamp
Asda applies new feature to its Rewards app
Asda is giving its shoppers more time to spend the vouchers created on the Reward app.
Customers will now have three months rather than one, giving the opportunity to those who like to build up their Cashpots more time to save up more vouchers.
The supermarket reminded its shoppers that any cashpots created will be available to turn into vouchers for six months before they vanish.
- Joseph Gamp
10-minute hack to restore filthy trainers – and you don’t need to add to energy bills
A cleaning fan has shared a ten-minute hack that will help transform filthy trainers back to their former glory – and you don’t need to use a washing machine.
As the cost of living crisis continues, households don’t want to be putting on a whole wash just for one pair of shoes.
And they don’t need to – Makelifesimpler_ shared their easy hack in a video on Instagram.
They said: “How to clean sneakers in under 10 minutes.”
All you need is baking soda, white toothpaste and a toothbrush.
Find out more here.
- Joseph Gamp
You’ve been using your kettle all wrong – and you might be adding to your bills
By changing the way you use your kettle you could save some much-needed cash – and here’s how.
Each time you fill the kettle more than you need to it’s costing money and adding to energy bills.
Tashema Jackson, consumer champion at energyhelpline, previously told The Sun: “Adjusting how much water you use and the temperature you boil your water to, can save you around £6 a year.”
To save, simply take the mug you’re using and fill it with water before pouring it into the kettle – that way you know you’re only paying to boil what you actually use.
Find more money saving tips here.
- Shanine Bruder
Free debt advice
If you’re in debt there are plenty of services you can take advantage of and they offer free advice on how to manage debt.
Most of them can offer you free guidance and help in person, over the telephone or online.
- Money Helper – 0800 138 7777
- Citizens Advice – 0808 800 9060
- StepChange – 0800 138 1111
- National Debtline – 0808 808 4000
DWP shares tips for finding work this year
The Department of Work and Pensions has shared some essential tips for finding a new job this year.
On its website, the DWP outlined several key steps to take before applying for a new job.
- “Do your research – Make sure you research the company or sector you are interested in. Don’t submit an application without drilling into the finer details of a vacancy. ”
- “Update your CV – Tailor your CV to the role you are applying for. Many of your skills will be transferable, so make sure you are highlighting relevant experience.”
- “Think about what works for you – Whether you are looking for a full-time workplace-based role or part-time role with more flexibility, you can find a job that suits your circumstances.
- “Be flexible – Why not explore opportunities in a new industry? There could be the perfect new role just waiting for you. Don’t worry if you don’t have experience in this sector, the skills you already have could be used in a new role”
Read the rest of the tips here.
Cheapest supermarket this week revealed
The cheapest supermarket of the week has been revealed – and shoppers can save up to £26 on their weekly bill if they purchase from their local store.
According to The Grocer 33, Aldi is the UK’s cheapest supermarket this week.
It’s a weekly comparison and it assesses the price of 33 items across all major supermarkets.
Now, Aldi has overtaken retail giant Lidl with a total cost of £46.78 for its items.
That’s £1.12 cheaper than Lidl, which finished second on the list with a total cost of £47.90.
Find out more here.
Five tips to use when asking for a pay rise
Asking for a pay raise is something everyone is likely to experience at some point in their career.
With bills rising and food prices soaring, many will need some extra cash.
If you’re planning on asking your employer for a raise, experts at webrecruit have provided some useful tips.
- Have a figure in mind
- Make sure the figure is realistic
- Gather evidence to build your case
- Be professional
- Consider the timing
- Be prepared for rejection
- Don’t give up
Parents are only just realising they can get free Pampers nappies – here’s how
In a bid to help parents with the cost of living – one company is giving out nappies for free.
Parents can get a voucher and exchange it for one pack of Pampers New Baby Carry nappies.
Posting on the B&M Bargains, Extreme Money Saving Deals and More Facebook group on January 26, one shopper said: “Free pack of pampers if you sign up to pampers.
“They posted my voucher and it came yesterday. I used it to pick up these completely FREE in Morrisons today.
“These scanned at £14.99 before the voucher!”
And it’s easy to get the free vouchers – you just have to find the “squaddies” page on Pampers’ website.
Where to find the UK’s cheapest petrol and diesel
The best way to find the cheapest petrol and diesel in your area is to use price comparison sites.
Websites like Petrolprices.com show you where you can fuel up for cheap in your area.
Register on the site and you’ll need to give information such as your postcode, how far you’re willing to travel and what type of fuel you need.
- Shanine Bruder
Urgent warning issued to all drivers filing up vehicles with petrol or diesel
Drivers are now being warned to expect to pay more at the pump as retailers increase fuel prices.
The average price for a litre of petrol on UK forecourts on Monday was 148.8p, according to Experian.
While diesel averaged at 170.4p a litre on Monday, having fallen to 170.3p on Wednesday and Thursday last week.
This week, the RAC has warned that forecourt prices have failed to fully reflect a fall in recent wholesale prices.
The RAC said retailers make more money out of drivers from every litre of fuel they sell by “keeping pump prices artificially high”.
Find out more here.
- Shanine Bruder
10-minute hack to restore filthy trainers – and you don’t need to add to energy bills
A cleaning fan has shared a ten-minute hack that will help transform filthy trainers back to their former glory – and you don’t need to use a washing machine.
As the cost of living crisis continues, households don’t want to be putting on a whole wash just for one pair of shoes.
And they don’t need to – Makelifesimpler_ shared their easy hack in a video on Instagram.
They said: “How to clean sneakers in under 10 minutes.”
All you need is baking soda, white toothpaste and a toothbrush.
Find out more here.
- Shanine Bruder
How to find your nearest warm hub
The cost of living crisis is affecting millions across the UK, with many unable to switch on the heating on in the coming months.
In a bid to help those struggling, warm hubs have been set up across the country to provide people with a warm and safe space in times of need.
There over 3000 registered organisations that have opened or are opening up free, warm, welcoming spaces for the public over across the UK.
You can find the nearest location to you here – just simply find the map and type in your postcode.
- Shanine Bruder
How much does it cost to run an electric blanket?
As temperatures drop and bills rise, many are looking for an affordable way to keep warm this winter.
Electric blankets are a great way to help you try and cut back on your energy bills.
According to research from Uswitch, these gadgets use 100 watts of energy to warm a double bed before switching to a sleep setting or being turned off.
A 100W electric blanket run for seven hours a week would use 0.7kWh.
Based on the current cap, it costs 24p to run a 100W electric blanket for one hour a day for seven days.
If you were to use an electric blanket for one hour a day, every day of the week for a year, it would cost you £12.48 in total.
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