Beat energy hikes, Amazon tricks, roaming shock, £7k council tax reclaim, £250 WFH tax back

Plus... free £140, secret shoe outlets, £17/mth SUPERFAST b'band, low-fee 0% debt shift [MoneySavingExpert]( 11 August 2021 | [View in browser]( [MoneySavingExpert]( [Weekly Money Tips]( [Banking & Savings]( [Household Bills]( [Deals]( [Insurance]( [Cards & Loans]( [Mortgages]( [Income]( [Reclaim]( THE TOP TIPS IN THIS EMAIL [15 gold-medal MoneySaving successes of the year, eg, £7k council tax back, £250 WFH tax claim, £22k comp win]( [News. Huge energy price hikes - switch now to save £100s/yr]( [Shift debt to 27mths 0% for just a 1% fee]( [Free £6 Amazon + more tricks]( [Ending. Switch to HSBC for FREE £140]( ['Secret' shoe outlets, eg, £48 Birkenstock (normally £80)]( [Vodafone to reinstate EU roaming charges - full info]( [Ends Fri. Cheapest superfast broadband & line in 16mths - '£17/mth']( [New Tesco Clubcard swap - 3x value subscribing to Disney+]( [Updated. 17 holiday savers if you're going away or have decided to stay]( [TWO pairs of specs for £14]( [Halifax launches lowest ever mortgage rate]( [Top student bank accounts 2021/22... incl £1.5k 0% overdraft and 4yr railcard]( [Posh factor 50 sunscreen, shampoo bar, soap and washbag for £12 (normally £37)]( [Provident Financial mis-selling payouts to be limited after High Court ruling - full help]( [This week's best buys, incl 4GB Sim '£4.92/mth', top car insurance comparisons, 1.12% fixed savings]( [Cheap Energy Club, incl Pick Me A Tariff]( [Top savings accounts]( [Credit Card Eligibility Calculator]( [Loans Eligibility Calculator]( [Compare broadband deals]( [15 gold-medal MoneySaving successes of 2021 - incl £7,000 council tax back, £22,000 comp win, £250 WFH tax claim]( [Be inspired by heroes who made or saved £1,000s via our tips]( In a week many feel moved by Team GB's Olympics success, we hope to inspire you to overcome your financial hurdles and achieve a knockout MoneySaving victory by celebrating 15 of our users' best successes of 2021. Some require you to go the extra mile (for a big reward), others are swimmingly easy. On your marks, get set, go... 1) COUNCIL TAX - 'I reclaimed £7,625 after 28 years in the wrong band and I'll get cheaper bills in future'. Up to 400,000 homes in England and Scotland may be in the wrong council tax band because the original valuations were slapdash. It takes just 10 minutes to check - our [Council Tax Bands]( guide has the full system. Shaun used it to get a whopper of a reclaim. He emailed us in July: "I found we'd been in the wrong band for 28 years. Followed Martin's advice and two months later got a £6,125 refund and no council tax to pay until next year - saving £1,500 more [effectively £7,625 back]. Plus, we'll be £350/yr better off. Thank you, we're so grateful." [Martin Lewis's working-from-home tax back blog]( WORKING-FROM-HOME TAX BACK - 'I claimed £250'. If you were required to work from home, even for ONE DAY, during the current tax year and during the last tax year, you can claim tax relief for TWO WHOLE YEARS - worth up to £140 a year (depending on tax band). [Martin's working-from-home tax back blog]( tells you how to do it. David tweeted us only a few weeks ago with the max reclaim possible for a higher-rate taxpayer: "Thanks @MartinSLewis, I just claimed two years. £250 on its way to me off my tax." 3) COMPETITIONS - 'I was in disbelief when I won £22,000'. Forumite MSMD97 posted their massive win in our popular [Competitions Time]( MSE Forum board in January. Click the link for that and similar stories to inspire you. Here's what MSMD97 told us after we asked them about their huge success: "I won £22,222 from a Magic Radio competition. When I received a call from Emma B, the presenter, I was in disbelief. It was truly an amazing experience, and I am very thankful for people in the MSE Forum informing me of winning amounts every day." 4) BALANCE TRANSFERS - 'I'll save £1,940 in credit card interest after using your eligibility calculator to shift debt to a 0% card'. If you pay interest on credit or store card debt, STOP. With a balance transfer, you get a new card to pay off debt on old cards, so you owe it instead, but at 0% interest. The trickiest part is acceptance, so use our [0% Balance Transfer Eligibility Tool]( which shows which top cards you're most likely to be accepted for before applying, and see the [top balance transfer deals and help below](. It worked in a big way for Patricia, who emailed us in June: "I used the Eligibility Checker for the list of balance transfer cards and received the Santander no-fee card yesterday. I've already saved the stress of what would have been £1,940 in interest and have 18 months at 0%." 5) FLOG YOUR JUNK - 'I made £2,500 selling empty crisp packs from the 1980s'. Shops do stocktakes... most of us don't. Yet many have £1,000s' worth of items sitting in our homes that we don't use enough to justify keeping. And you might be surprised by what others are willing to pay for, such as the huge sums Karen made from selling old crisp packs. For her full story and tips to flog stuff yourself, read [Karen's incredible crisp packet profit story (it's the real McCoy)](. The avid MoneySaver told us her incredible tale in May: "I was going to recycle them. But I did a quick check on eBay and saw people were paying quite a bit for them, so I put them up for sale and made £2,500." 6) PERSONAL LOANS - 'I saved £1,870 by switching lenders'. If you're paying off a loan, it's worth checking if you can switch to cut costs, especially with rates from 2.8% which are close to record lows. See our [Cut existing loan costs]( guide for step-by-step help. Hazel tweeted us in February of her massive saving: "I always have a little think about my finances whilst watching Martin on TV. Tonight I've managed to save £1,869 by switching my loan to a different provider. Winner." 7) CAR INSURANCE - 'I saved almost £1,000 by using the three-week ahead renewal trick and paying it in one go'. Checking for car insurance quotes about three weeks ahead can save you £100s, as can moving from monthly to annual payments. Full switching help in our [car insurance cost-cutting system](. Amanda emailed us last month: "I read the tip about checking quotes a few weeks in advance - I got a quote for £600/yr less than my renewal. And I actually saved £960 in total because I can now afford to pay it all in one go rather than monthly. Thank you." [MSE's guide to manipulating the Meerkat Movies and Meals promo]( CHEAP CINEMAS & MEALS - 'I got a YEAR's 2for1 at cinemas and 1,000s of restaurants for £1'. This is all about manipulating the [Meerkat Movies and Meals promo]( and Reuben took it to the max by getting it for just £1. He emailed us last month: "My daughter wanted to go to the cinema... so I bought travel insurance for one day - it cost me £1.01. Instead of paying £18 at the cinema it was just £9, then we went straight to Pizza Hut and saved 50% on the bill." 9) PACKAGED BANK ACCOUNTS - 'I reclaimed £5,000 in fees'. These accounts are where you pay a monthly fee for extras such as travel, mobile and breakdown insurance. We often say they're the Marmite of banking - while they're good value for some, they were mis-sold on a mass scale to others. If you've been a victim, our [packaged bank account reclaim tool]( in conjunction with complaints site Resolver can help. Mary used it and emailed us about her colossal win last month: "I received just over £5,000 in reclaimed packaged bank fees. In 2001, I was told that due to my large overdraft I needed to upgrade my current account... I was made to feel I didn't have a choice. So I decided to apply through Resolver to see if I could claim any back. Thank you so much." 10) DEBT-FREE - 'I cleared £70,000 of debt in 10 years'. Forumite HappyNow shared their thanks for the support of the friendly folk on the [Debt-Free Wannabe]( board to help clear their debts, joining thousands who've posted similar successes over the years. Also read our [Debt Help]( guide, which takes you through the practical steps if you need more. Hopefully, that'll all make you as happy as HappyNow, who posted in May of her life-changing success: "Debts at their highest - £69,579 unsecured. Debt-Free Date - 21st March 2021. My diary helped me massively. A million thanks to everyone who has ever posted on the MSE Forum to offer advice, cheer me on, celebrate little victories with me, give me a kick up the bum when needed, and make me laugh - what a resource." 11) CHARGEBACK - 'I got £770 back for a cancelled flight'. Under the scheme, if something goes wrong with goods or services you've bought, your bank will try to get the money back from the supplier's bank for you. See [how to initiate a chargeback](. Ben emailed us in January: "As a regular user, I wanted to share my success for a £770 cancelled flight where I was refused my money back. In the end, I received a full refund from the chargeback." [MSE's guide to haggling with service companies including Sky]( 12) HAGGLING - 'I got £610/yr off my TV, phone and broadband bill, plus an upgraded service'. The best savings usually come from switching, but if you don't want to, haggling with your existing provider can help you slash costs - full help and tips in our [Service company haggling]( guide. Kim emailed us in July after her huge haggle: "Got my bill reduced by £51 per month [£612/yr] PLUS had broadband level increased and got upgraded to Sky Q including Netflix and Sky Sports. Used lots of your haggling hints and tips - thanks." 13) MOBILES - 'I got a new phone and saved £380/yr thanks to your Cheap Mobile Finder'. It's got four powerful tools to help you slash mobile costs: 1) The [new phone (& Sim)]( finder. 2) The [right phone at the cheapest price]( finder. 3) The [best phone deal in my budget]( finder. 4) The [Sim-only]( finder. Ben tweeted us in March: "Used your tips and managed to upgrade my iPhone, and cut my bill from £71/mth to £39/mth [saving £384/yr] while keeping exactly the same data, minutes and texts. Cheers." 14) WATER BILLS - 'I saved £600/yr by getting a water meter'. As a rule of thumb, if there are more or the same number of bedrooms in your home as there are people, it's worth [checking if you'd save with a meter]( if you're in England or Wales. See our [Cheap water]( guide for full help. Sharon emailed us in March to celebrate an end to her leaking of cash: "Went ahead with a water meter installation. My direct debit has been revised from £67 to £18 a month - saving almost £600 a year. Thank you - I just wish I'd done it sooner." 15) MARRIAGE TAX ALLOWANCE - 'I got a cheque for £945 within four days'. Around 2.4 million eligible couples miss out on this easy tax break, worth £252 this tax year. You can also backdate by four tax years, meaning you can be due up to £1,220. See our [Marriage Tax Allowance]( guide for who qualifies and how to claim. Mike emailed us in February: "I never thought I could get the allowance as we were both retired. However, I read up on your site and submitted my claim, and within four days a £945 cheque arrived. A very big thank you." BEST BUYS & TOOLS - [Cheap Energy Club, incl Pick Me A Tariff]( - [MSE Cheap Mobile Finder]( - [Credit Club incl free credit report]( - [0% Balance Transfers]( - [Compare Broadband deals]( - [Cheap Car Insurance]( - [Best Bank Accounts]( - [Top Savings Accounts]( - [Credit Cards for Bad Credit]( - [Credit Card Eligibility Calculator]( - [Loans Eligibility Calculator]( - [Mortgage Comparison]( - [Free online complaints tool - Resolver]( - [Compare Travel Money]( - [Best Sim Only Deals]( 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](. [News. Huge energy price hikes to hit millions in Oct. Switch to save £100s, but hurry as top deals are disappearing]( A huge bombshell will soon hit. On Friday, regulator Ofgem announced a typical £139/yr rise in the price cap for standard direct debit tariffs from October, due to rocketing wholesale costs (that providers pay for gas & elec) - which we've warned about. As about 50% of homes are on tariffs within a quid or so of the cap, huge numbers will be hit. Now's the time to act as those soaring costs have meant the cheapest deals have been disappearing (see graph), so we don't know how long the current crop will last. Do a [Cheap Energy Club comparison]( now, with savings of £200/yr+ still possible. [Graph showing the increase in the energy price cap and the cost of the cheapest fix since October 2020]( - Top pick energy deals - most can save £200+/yr, but comparison results are massively UNDERESTIMATED. Firms won't publish exact new, costlier rates for weeks. So for now, if you're on a standard tariff, savings must be worked out vs current prices, ignoring the upcoming hike. Yet what looks like a £60/yr saving is really about £200/yr typically. To help give a more realistic savings figure, we've compared the deals below with one month at the current £1,138/yr cap, then 11 at the new £1,277/yr cap (creating a blended £1,265/yr figure). All prices are averages - your actual cost depends on your region and use, so all links go via our [full market comparison]( to find your winner. - Find choosing confusing? Most prefer to let us help them find a deal. With our [MSE Pick Me A Tariff tools]( tell us your preferences and we'll find your winner from the whole market - perfect if you're nervous about switching. - Market's cheapest deal (not available for elec-only) + 100% 'renewable' elec. Utility Point (1yr fix) - avg price: £1,036/yr on typical use. Service rating: 3.3/5. Save: £229/yr. This [Utility Point Just Join Up 21 12M Fixed Wk31]( tariff for new and existing dual-fuel customers is fixed for 12mths, but if you want to switch early there's a hefty £72 early-exit fee. - Cheapest top-service deal + 100% 'renewable' elec + you're free to leave penalty-free. Igloo (variable) - avg price: £1,053/yr on typical use. Service rating: Excellent 4/5. Save: £212/yr. This [Igloo Energy Pioneer]( tariff for new dual-fuel and elec-only customers comes with £25 MSE cashback (£12.50 elec-only). As it's variable, prices could rise (or fall) at any time, though you can always switch penalty-free - useful if Igloo prices rise or better alternative deals appear. - More help if you're a prepay customer, struggling to pay etc. - On prepay? Your cap is rising by £153/yr from October, but you can switch and save £200/yr+. You sadly tend to pay more, but try our [prepay comparison]( or check if you can [switch to a cheaper standard meter](. - Hikes leaving you struggling to pay? Help is available. The rises will bring further woes for millions on top of the pandemic's impact. See our [Housing & Energy Grants]( guide for possible help. - Switching is easy - little changes apart from service and cost. It's the same gas, elec and safety, and you don't lose any supply. Only the customer service and who bills you changes. See our [Switching FAQs]( for more help. [Amazon free £6 - are you eligible? Plus more tricks, incl free delivery loophole and Prime sharing.]( See [Amazon tricks](. [Ends next week. FREE £140 when you switch bank to HSBC - biggest cash bribe in 18mths.]( Newbies who switch to the [HSBC Advance account*]( (only via that link or via MoneySupermarket - we're part of the same group) can get the cash and access to a linked regular saver which pays 1% AER on up to £250/mth. You need to apply by Thu 19 Aug and begin a switch within 30 days, incl 2+ direct debits or standing orders, plus you need to pay in at least £1,750/mth. To count as a newbie you can't have had an HSBC bank account, or opened a current account with sister bank First Direct, since Jan 2018. Full info in [Best Bank Accounts](. ['Secret' shoe outlets, eg, £48 Birkenstock (normally £80).]( Some high street chains flog slightly scuffed and ex-display footwear online at huge discounts, but stock's limited. [Walk this way for how to find 'em]( [Vodafone the latest firm to reinstate European roaming charges - full info & help.]( See [Vodafone roaming]( . [Ends 11.59pm Fri. Cheapest SUPERFAST broadband & line in 16mths - '£17.42/mth'.]( This was due to end last Sun, but Vodafone has decided to extend the deal whereby [Vodafone newbies can get 63Mb speed]( for £22/mth and can CLAIM a £110 Amazon voucher. If you'd have spent that anyway, factor it in and it's equiv to £17.42/mth over the 24mth contract. For loads more deals, see our [Broadband Unbundled comparison tool](. [New Tesco Clubcard swap - get 3x value subscribing to Disney+ streaming.]( See [Clubcard swaps](. [Updated. 17 August holiday savers if you're going away or you've decided to stay.]( Incl new top travel card, £29 Travelodge, free airline seat choice, 2for1 UK days out & £40 PCRs. See [17 MoneySaving holiday tips](. BLAGGED FOR MSE - [TWO pairs of specs for £14 delivered]( Ends Mon - [Posh sunscreen, shampoo bar, soap etc for £12 (normally £37)]( 10,000 available DID YOU MISS? - [Some petrol pumps now (temporarily) take £100 off your card]( - [Warning to everyone with a piggybank or money jar]( - [FREE Lindt choc and loads more supermarket coupons]( - [Slash PCR test costs to £40]( - [Students - get up to 10% off a Mac or iPad + free £159 AirPods]( [Shift debt to 0% for 27mths for just a 1% fee]( [A new crop of long 0% balance transfer credit cards with low fees have launched]( When we feature balance transfers - where you get a new card to repay debts on old cards, so you owe it instead but at 0% interest - we often headline on the longest 0% cards. They protect against huge rates for the most time but often come with 2-3% transfer fees. Yet in recent weeks MBNA and Virgin have launched deals just shy of the longest, with much lower fees. As we always say to choose the lowest-fee within the 0% period required to clear the debt, they're good options for some. Yet if unsure it's still best to play safe and go long - for that reason, we've ordered the top picks by length... TOP-PICK NEWBIES' 0% BALANCE TRANSFERS RECOMMENDED: Use our [0% BALANCE TRANSFER Eligibility Calculator]( to see which cards you're most likely to get Card Key info Who's it best for? Sainsbury's Bank It's best to [check acceptance odds first](. Or [apply*](. - Up to 29mths 0% - 2% or 3% fee (min £3) - After the 0%, it's 21.9% rep APR Joint-longest 0% with lower fee than other 29mth cards, but some won't get the headline deal. As it's an 'up to' card, poorer credit scorers may get 21mths at 0% and/or the higher 3% fee. HSBC It's best to [check acceptance odds first](. Or [apply*](. - 29mths 0% - 2.75% fee (min £5) - After the 0%, it's 21.9% rep APR Longest DEFINITE 0% card. Here all accepted get the full 29mths 0%, so it's a good option if you've decent odds in our eligibility calculator. New. MBNA It's best to [check acceptance odds first](. Or [apply*](. - Up to 27mths 0% - 1% or 3.49% fee - After the 0%, it's 21.9% rep APR Long 0% with lower transfer fee, but not all accepted get the headline deal. It's another 'up to', so poorer credit scorers may get 14mths 0% and/or the higher 3.49% fee. New. Virgin Money It's best to [check acceptance odds first](. Or [apply*](. - 27mths 0% - 1.2% fee - After the 0%, it's 21.9% rep APR Long 0% with a low fee, and all accepted DO get the headline deal. So it's a good option if you've decent odds in our eligibility calculator. Santander It's best to [check acceptance odds first](. Or [apply*](. - 18mths 0% - NO FEE - After the 0%, it's 20.9% rep APR CLEAR WINNER if you can clear the debt within 18mths. Done right, it's totally free, plus all accepted get the full 18mths at 0%. Getting a card? Always follow the Balance Transfer Golden Rules: a) Never miss the minimum monthly repayment, or you could lose the 0% deal and it'll cost far more. b) Clear the card (or balance-transfer again) before the 0% ends, or the rate rockets to the higher APR. c) Don't spend/withdraw cash. It usually isn't at the cheap rate and withdrawals hit your ability to get credit. d) The balance transfer must usually be done when applying or within 1-3mths to get the 0% - check your card. e) You can't balance-transfer between two cards from the same banking group. Full help and more options and info in [Best balance transfers]( (see [APR examples](. [TWO pairs of specs for £14 delivered.]( MSE Blagged. We've not seen this deal for less. [Cheap specs]( [Halifax launches record low mortgage rate as price war hots up - how it compares.]( See [Mortgage analysis](. [Top student bank accounts 2021/22... incl £1,500 0% overdraft and 4yr railcard.]( The [Santander 123 student account*]( is this year's standout. It offers a £1,500 0% overdraft for the first three years, and unlike many other banks you're certain to get that limit if accepted - provided you register for online banking and pay in £500+ each term. Plus you get a free four-year 16-25 Railcard (worth £90ish), which gets you a third off rail travel. Full info, including other options, in [Top student accounts](. [Gruum set: posh factor 50 sunscreen, shampoo bar, soap and washbag for £12 all-in (norm £37).]( MSE Blagged. 10,000 avail. [Gruum]( [Provident Financial mis-selling payouts limited after High Court ruling - full help.]( If you were mis-sold a short-term loan by its Glo, Greenwood, Provident or Satsuma brands you'll likely get back much less than you're owed, but it's still worth trying. See [Provident help](. Tell your friends about us They can get this email free every week [FORWARD](mailto:?subject=MoneySavingExpert%20weekly%20email&body= [SHARE]( [TWEET]( AT A GLANCE BEST BUYS [0% balance transfers]( Longest 0%: Sainsbury's Bank ([check eligibility]( / [apply*]( up to 29mths 0%, 2% or 3% fee - min £3 (21.9% rep APR) No-fee 0%: Santander ([check eligibility]( / [apply*]( 18mths 0% (20.9% rep APR) [Top energy deals]( Cheapest deal: [Utility Point 1yr fix, save £229/yr]( Cheapest top-service deal: [Igloo Energy variable, save £212/yr]( Want us to help you pick a tariff and switch you yearly? Try [MSE Pick Me A Tariff Every Year]( Assumes typical use vs price cap over the next 12mths, incl MSE cashback where paid. Links go via Cheap Energy Club. [Top savings accounts]( Top standard easy access: [Tandem 0.65%, no min]( Top one-year fix: [Tandem 1.12%, min £1]( [Car insurance]( Get comparison site quotes in this order: - [Confused.com*]( - [MoneySupermarket.com*]( - [Compare The Market*]( - [Gocompare*]( [Cheap loans]( Cheapest for £5k-£7.5k: Sainsbury's Bank ([check eligibility]( / [apply*]( (3.3% rep APR interest, must have had a Nectar card for 6mths+) or Virgin Money ( [check eligibility]( / [apply*]( (3.4% rep APR) Cheapest for £7.5k-£15k: M&S Bank ([check eligibility]( / [apply*]( (2.8% rep APR) [Broadband top picks]( Standard (10Mb+): [Shell Energy, equiv £12.83/mth]( Fibre (30Mb+): Energy, equiv £15.74/mth]( Superfast fibre (55Mb+): [Vodafone, equiv £17.42/mth]( [Best bank accounts]( £140 cash to switch + 1% regular saver: [HSBC]( £150 gift card to switch: [Virgin Money]( [Cheap Sims]( Up to 3GB data: [Lebara, equiv £4.38/mth for 3GB, unltd mins & txts]( 4GB-9GB data: [Plusnet, equiv £4.92/mth for 4GB, unltd mins & txts]( 10GB+ data: [Three, equiv £6.67/mth for 12GB, unltd mins & txts]( THIS WEEK'S POLL [Do you use the subscription services you pay for?]( They've boomed during the pandemic as many of us spent more time at home. Yet providers know once they hook people in, customers often stay, even if they've stopped using the service. So this week, we want to know... [do you still use the subscription services you pay for?]( Pet owners spend more on dogs than cats. In last week's poll, we asked how much you spend each year on your pet(s). More than 3,000 people responded, with 83% of dog owners spending more than £500, compared with just 52% of cat owners. Other pets were more budget-friendly - 64% of hamster owners and 62% of fish owners spend less than £100 per year. See full [pet spending poll results](. MONEYSAVING NEWS - Top story: [Mortgage rates hit record low AGAIN as Halifax launches 0.83% two-year fix]( - [Tesco Bank switches delayed as it struggles with demand after revealing plans to close its current accounts]( - [Groupon threatened with court action after refusing cash refunds]( - [France travel restrictions eased in latest 'traffic light' system shake-up]( MONEY MORAL DILEMMA [Should I send a gift even though I was uninvited from the wedding?]( A friend recently got married. I was on the guest list originally, but was culled when they decided to have a smaller, Covid-safe wedding, which was understandable. They've said they're going to plan a party for a later date, but I'm unsure what to do for a gift. If I send one now (I'd have got them one if I'd gone to the wedding), will they expect another at the party? Or should I wait until the party? Enter the Money Moral Maze: [Should I send a gift even though I was uninvited from the wedding?]( | [Suggest an MMD](mailto:%20mmd@moneysavingexpert.com) | [View past MMDs]( MSE TEAM APPEARANCES (SUBJECTS TBC) Sat 14 Aug - BBC Radio Leicester, Mid-morning with Summaya Mughal, from 11am Mon 16 Aug - BBC Radio Manchester, Drive with Phil Trow, from 2.20pm Tue 17 Aug - BBC Radio Berkshire, Mid-morning with Sarah Walker, with MSE's Guy Anker, from 11.35am Tue 17 Aug - BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, Mid-morning with Jeremy Sallis, from 12.40pm 'THE ICE CREAM VAN'S JINGLE MEANS IT'S SOLD OUT' - WHAT MONEYSAVING FIBS DO YOU TELL YOUR KIDS? That's all for this week, but before we go... in the MSE Forum, parents are sharing the white lies they tell their children to save money. Lots revolve around the ice cream van, with one parent telling their child the jingle means they've run out of ice cream, and another explaining it actually sells vegetables. Another Forumite recalled the coin-operated rented TV they had when they were young - when the money ran out during a show, their dad would say the actors had gone home for tea. Join the [What MoneySaving fibs do you tell your kids?]( discussion. We hope you save some money, stay safe, The MSE team Important. Please read how [MoneySavingExpert.com]( works We think it's important you understand the strengths and limitations of this email and the site. We're a journalistic website, and aim to provide the best MoneySaving guides, tips, tools and techniques - but can't promise to be perfect, so do note you use the information at your own risk and we can't accept liability if things go wrong. What you need to know This info does not constitute financial advice, always do your own research on top to ensure it's right for your specific circumstances - and remember we focus on rates not service. We don't as a general policy investigate the solvency of companies mentioned, how likely they are to go bust, but there is a risk any company can struggle and it's rarely made public until it's too late (see the [Section 75 guide]( for protection tips). We often link to other websites, but can't be responsible for their content. Always remember anyone can post on the MSE forums, so it can be very different from our opinion. Please read the [Full Terms & Conditions]( [Privacy Policy]( [How This Site is Financed]( and [Editorial Code](. Martin Lewis is a registered trade mark belonging to Martin S Lewis. More about MoneySavingExpert and Martin Lewis What is [MoneySavingExpert.com?]( Founded in February 2003, it is now the UK's biggest consumer help website, with more than 16 million users each month and about 7.5 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 OBE 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](. What do the links with an * mean? Any links with an * by them are affiliated, which means get a product via this link and a contribution may be made to MoneySavingExpert.com, which helps it stay free to use. You shouldn't notice any difference; the links don't impact the products at all and the editorial line (the things we write) isn't changed due to them. If it isn't possible to get an affiliate link for the best product, it's still included in the same way. More info: See [How This Site is Financed](. As we believe transparency is important, we're including the following 'un-affiliated' web-addresses for content too: Unaffiliated web-addresses for links in this email hsbc.co.uk, sainsburysbank.co.uk, mbna.co.uk, uk.virginmoney.com, santander.co.uk, confused.com, moneysupermarket.com, comparethemarket.com, gocompare.com, bank.marksandspencer.com Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Note MoneySupermarket.com Financial Group Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 303190). MoneySavingExpert.com Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales. Company Registration Number: 8021764. Registered office: One Dean Street, London, W1D 3RB. 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