Your weekly money saving deals and news from money expert Andy Webb
My top content this week
BLOG, VIDEO & ARTICLES
The best American Express credit cards
With a brilliant welcome offer running right now, I thought I'd run down which Amex cards I think are the best for newbies, ongoing spending and those looking to change card to avoid hefty fees.
Premium Bond prize rate increases to 3.15%
If you've got Premium Bonds then there's a chance you'll win a bigger prize in February's draw thanks to this hike in the prize rate. Here's what is changing, and my thoughts on how they compare to savings accounts.
How to save at the cinema every day of the week
I tend to go to the cinema once or twice a month, and for the last few years, I've only had to pay for tickets twice! And those tickets were pretty cheap too. Find out the hacks I use to get free or cheap tickets that I can use all through the week.
40 more Halifax and Lloyds branches to close in 2023
Yet more branch closures have been announced, this time for Halifax and Lloyds. Find out which ones are going, and your options if you're affected.
CASH CHATS PODCAST
303 | The best bank accounts for 2023 (App, rewards, cashback & more)
In the latest episode of the pod I’m talking about:
- How many current accounts you need
- The best banking app
- Which current accounts offer extras like cashback, rewards, 0% overdrafts and fee-free spending overseas
- Why you might want to consider an ethical bank account
- Plus a switching question from a listener
You can listen to episodes via all the normal podcasting apps or over on the blog.
If you do listen on one of these apps, please do remember to hit follow so you get each episode as soon as it's released.
YOUR QUESTIONS
Ask Andy #63
My live Q&As are the best place to ask me your questions. Here you can watch the one that took place on Tuesday, as well as read my responses to some other ones you've asked.
The next one will be in a few weeks and I'll tell you the exact time and date in the next newsletter. Make sure you follow me on YouTube or Instagram to join in. The earlier you ask your question the more likely I'll have time to answer it.
Ask a question in the Facebook group
Or, join the Facebook community to ask your questions and share your money experiences and ideas. There are 3,200 of us in there so far!
THIS WEEK'S TOP DEALS
I only share deals and special offers on the blog which I think are really good value. Click the titles or links for more information.
I'll also share a quick update on Instagram on Saturday morning.
1. National Trust: Free family pass via Mirror
Buy a copy of the Mirror this week and you'll find a voucher to gain free access to National Trust properties. More here.
2. Paramount+: Free month trial
If you're trying to save on streaming then this free trial for Paramount + could mean you cancel those other services for a month. Plus you can watch Top Gun: Maverick. More here.
3. Co-op: Win up to £10
Spin to Win on the Co-op app to get up to £10 to spend on groceries. The prize is guaranteed, though it could be just 25p (which is what I got!). More here.
4. Vue: Free ticket via Telegraph
Sign up for a free trial of the Telegraph and you'll be able to claim a free Vue ticket and Chili movie rental on Friday afternoon. More here.
5. Deliveroo Plus: Free year via Prime
A quick reminder that if you have Amazon Prime you can get free Deliveroo Plus, which will save you a little on delivery fees. Personally, I think you'd be better off without either membership and shopping around, but it's worth grabbing if you're committed to them! More here.
SAVINGS, BANKING & CREDIT CARD BEST BUYS
Banks
Santander: £200 switching deal
Another new switching offer, this time from Santander. It's for new and existing customers, though not if you've had switching money from them before and only for certain accounts. Here's everything you need to know.
Top banking switch and welcome offers:
- First Direct switch: £175 bonus
- Lloyds switch: £200 bonus
- Monzo welcome: Free £5 offer
- Monese welcome: Up to £30 offer
- Tide business welcome: £75 cash bonus
Top banking best buys:
- Top reward account: £5 a month from Halifax
- Top cashback on bills: Up to 3% back with Santander 123
- Top cashback on spending: 1% back with Chase
Savings
Chip: £20 welcome plus 3.04%
Chip is increasing rates and converting to a "proper" saving account on 11 Feb, and right now there's also a £20 welcome offer running for downloading the app and putting £5,000 into savings. But you've got to be quick as the £20 deal ends 6pm tonight. Here's more in my latest best buy savings guide.
Virgin Money: 4.25% fixed ISA
If you have (or open) a Virgin Money current account you can get a one-year fixed ISA at 4.25%, which is only just below the best non-ISA fixed rate account. Again, there's more in my best buy savings guide.
Top savings best buys:
- Top regular saver: 7% with First Direct
- Top current account linked interest: 5.12% with Barclays
- Top easy access account: 3.03% with Kroo
- Top 1-year fixed account: 4.33% with Habib Bank Zurich
Credit cards
Top cashback credit card best buys:
- Top welcome bonus: British Airways American Express Premium Plus (70,000 Avios = up to £430 profit in Nectar points)
- Top non-Amex cashback welcome: Barclaycard Avios
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MORE DEALS!
Here are a few ongoing and recent offers you might have missed:
Cashback offers
- JamDoughnut: £4.50 welcome offer
- Cashback: Up to £91 for free
- YouGov: £50 cash for sharing bank data
Shopping vouchers and other deals
- Amazon: Up to £10 off for some
- Snoop: Free £5 Amazon voucher
- Flowers: £10 off Bloom & Wild
- LNER: Free £5 train travel credit
- Trainline: £15 off season tickets
- NUS card: Alumni card trick
- Birthday freebies: Food, drink and vouchers
Entertainment deals
- Spotify: Including 12 months for the price of 10
- NOW TV: 40% off passes
- Apple TV+: Up to 11 months free
- Odeon: Free weekly ticket
- Vue: Free ticket and movie rental
- Disney+: Save £2 a month
- Discovery+: Free with BT Sport and Sky
- Ethical Consumer: Free issue of the magazine
Food and drink offers
- Tesco Clubcard Plus: One-month free trial
- Tastecard: 60-day free trial
- Ocado: 25% off your first order
- Gousto & Hello Fresh: More than 90% off your first boxes
- Pringles: Free pack
- GreenJinn: £1 welcome credit
- Greene King: Free pint or spirit & mixer
- Brewdog: £150 bar credit for £99
- McDonald's & Burger King: Freebies from loyalty schemes
- Caffe Nero: 25% off drinks and pastries
- Franco Manca: £5 Pizzas
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Recent content you might have missed
I know it can be tricky to read, watch and listen to everything I create each week, so here are some articles, videos and podcasts from the last few weeks you might have missed.
- How to earn rewards & freebies from your current account
- How to survive until payday when you’re out of cash
- The best ways to use and earn Tesco Clubcard points
- Barclays to close 26 branches – find out which ones
- What’s in my wallet for 2023?
- The best auto savings apps and hacks
- How to get multiple American Express sign-up bonuses
- The top savings accounts for 2023
- Best Current Accounts for 2023
- 9 ways to cut your household bills
- Be a seat filler and get cheap tickets
- Are savings challenges worth it?
- Top credit cards for 2023
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