Your weekly money saving deals and news from money expert Andy Webb

My top articles this week

1. Santander changes cashback and interest on 123 accounts

Big news this week as Santander announced its cutting the interest and cashback you can earn on the popular 123 accounts. Here's everything you need to know if you have a 123 account, plus whether I think the changes mean it's worth getting one.

2. 0% balance transfer credit cards – the good and the bad

We're at the peak time of year for people looking to get a balance transfer on their debts. These can be great ways to lower the cost of your credit card borrowing - but they aren't necessarily a magic bullet. Here's how they work and what you need to watch out for before applying.

3. Can split tickets really cut the cost of train fares?

Trainline hit the headlines this week when it announced you can now get "split tickets" via its app. This has long been a favourite of the money saving community and can bring down the cost of train tickets. But in my experience it only works under certain conditions. Here's what you need to know, and how to find these split journeys.

4. Hacks to boost your savings pot

Last week I shared how to set a savings goal to keep you motivated throughout the year, but how do you actually find the cash to put away? These tricks should help you save at the start and throughout the month, including how Monzo customers can take part in the 1p savings challenge without any of the faff of literally counting out the pennies.

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The top deals this week

I only share deals and special offers on the blog which I think are really good value. Click the red titles or blue links for more information.

Plus, it's worth following me on Instagram where I post any extra deals which come too late for the newsletter.

1. Odeon's 5 tickets for £20 offer is back

Head over to Groupon and you can pick up two tickets for £10 or five for £20. There's a 75p booking fee each time you use your tickets, meaning you're looking at £4.75 or £5.75 a ticket - still very good value, especially at weekends.

2. Get 1.5% cashback at Amazon and £20 voucher

If you're a regular shopper at Amazon then you'll be doing yourself a favour by applying for the Amazon Platinum credit card. You'll get a free £20 voucher to spend, and if you're a Prime member you'll also get 1.5% cashback on all Amazon purchases. It's not great for other spending though (beaten by the Amex or John Lewis cards), and only use it if you can clear the balance every month.

3. Lidl 99p event

From Thursday 16th January Lidl is selling a range of products at 99p, from Chicago Town pizzas to Branston pickle to Ritter chocolate. Worth a look, while stock lasts.

4. John Lewis and Waitrose now payout options on cashback sites

I was withdrawing some cashback this week and spotted there's now an option to get your payout as John Lewis or Waitrose gift cards, both with a little bit of a bonus. My premium TopCashback account offered a 5% boost, while at Quidco it was 3%. Here's more about this payout method.

5. McDonald's freebies

If you download the McDonald's app to your phone you'll be able to access freebies and deals every day until 26th January. Today (Thursday) it's a free milkshake or Coke Zero. You need to order via the app when you're in one of the participating restaurants.

Quick deals

Banking offers

Top switch offer: £175 via HSBC
Best interest: 5% at Nationwide for one year
Top free cash: £50 cashback for opening a TSB account
Free £20 for opening a Monese bank account

Cards and bills deals

Shopping vouchers and other deals

Bills and utility deals

Great SIM only offer: £5.56 a month for 8GB of data with Three after Quidco cashback

Entertainment deals

Food and drink offers

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Recent articles you might have missed

I know it can be tricky to read everything I write every week, so here are my main articles from the last few weeks.

Santander 123 changes | Is split ticketing any good? | Odeon 5 for £20 | £20 Amazon & 1.5% back | Lidl 99p event | More