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

My top articles this week

1. How to automate your savings

How many of your New Year resolutions relate to savings? It's a good goal to have but an easy one to let slip as the year goes on. So to help, I've rounded up three ways you can automate payments from your current account into your savings account including apps that'll calculate how much you can afford to bank accounts that'll round up your spending each time you use your debit card.

2. Frugal January: Spend less by using what you’ve already got

It's a long time until payday this month, especially with the expense of Christmas. So over the next few weeks I'll share a few ways to help you get through January starting with these simple tricks to find some free alternatives in the home to avoid paying out in the shops.

3. Swap old clothes for New Look, H&M and M&S vouchers

You can now handover old clothes in exchange for a 20% off voucher at New Look, alongside long running schemes from M&S and H&M which also give money off vouchers in exchange for donations. Here's how all three schemes work.

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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. ENDING SOON - M&S Bank £180 bank switch bribe

You've only days to get this longstanding bank switching incentive before it becomes yet another free cash bonus to end. It's £100 in M&S vouchers for switching, then another £80 if you stay a year (£120 if you have an M&S credit card).

If you've already had it then you could alternatively check out new bonuses announced this week. There's the return of £175 from HSBC, while the First Direct reward has been doubled to £100.

2. Free £30 John Lewis voucher with credit card

If you're a regular John Lewis or Waitrose shopper then you can pick up double points (worth 2%) in rewards for 90 days with a new John Lewis & Partners credit card, plus you can get a free £30 bonus voucher if you spend £250 in that same period.

3. Free £10 with saving app

One of the apps I've mentioned in this week's automated savings article is Chip, and new users can get a free £10 for signing up and making two saves. It's a good app which I use and would recommend, so the extra tenner is a nice bonus.

4. Look out for restaurant sales

With healthy eating suddenly becoming a priority in the new year, January sees loads of pubs and restaurants offer big discounts on food to get people through the doors. It's well worth having a look at the places you love or the pubs near you to see if they are offering anything.

5. Free Ben & Jerry's tub

If you've not used the cashback app Shopmium you can claim a free tub of ice cream from all the major supermarkets.

Quick deals

Bank account 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

Free Tastecard or Gourmet Society trial for 3 months
Craft beer sale and discounts, inc free beer!
Free Leon hot box

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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.

Automate your savings | Frugal January | Old clothes for vouchers | £175 & £100 bank switch bonuses | More