Your weekly money-saving deals and news from money expert Andy Webb and the team.
Our top content this week
BLOG VIDEO & ARTICLES
October's savings round up
Andy's taken a look at what's been happening to savings in the last month, including:
- New 8% and 7% regular savers
- Where to get up to 5.3% on easy and limited access accounts
- What NS&I pulling the 6.2% one year rate means for fixes
- Why Starling's 3.25% rate is actually a pretty good
- And more including the best paying accounts available right now.
Audible vs Spotify Audiobooks: which is cheaper?
Audiobooks are now available for Spotify Premium members but how does it compare to Audible? We’ve crunched the numbers to work out which platform is cheaper and whether Spotify Audiobooks or Audible is better for you.
Which supermarket Christmas delivery slots are already open?
Christmas is the busiest time of year for deliveries so it helps to get in early to secure your festive food order. From Asda to Waitrose, we round up the dates each supermarket opens its Christmas delivery slots.
Money Dashboard closing – what are the alternatives?
Money Dashboard is closing its Neon and Classic budgeting apps on 31 October 2023. We explain everything you need to know and round up alternative apps to help you manage your money.
American Express hikes some annual card fees
After pausing the end to refund on fees, Amex has now hiked the annual cost for cards such as the Platinum, Nectar and Preferred Rewards Gold. Find out how much they'll cost, and what it means for you.
CASH CHATS PODCAST
341 | Checking credit scores, Barclays cashback & Christmas spending ghosts
In the latest episode of the pod, Andy is looking at:
- How to check your credit report for free
- Why you need to think about Christmas spending now
- Barclays’ new cashback offer
- and more
You can listen to episodes via all the normal podcasting apps or over on the blog.
If you listen on one of these apps, remember to hit follow so you get notified of a new episode as soon as it's released.
YOUR QUESTIONS
Ask Andy Live Q&A
Andy's live Q&As are the best place to ask us your questions. You can catch up on Andy's latest one here.
We'll let you know when the next one is in a future newsletter. Make sure you follow us on YouTube or Instagram to join in. The earlier you ask your question the more likely he'll have time to answer it.
Ask a question in the Facebook Group
Or join our Facebook Community to ask your questions and share your money experiences and ideas. There are 6,900 of us in there so far.
THIS WEEK'S TOP DEALS
We only share deals and special offers on the blog which we think are really good value. Click the titles or links for more information.
1. Amex Platinum: Up to £450 profit & free travel insurance
A new boosted welcome offer is worth 75,000 Amex points. Combine that with £80 cashback and other offers and you could be looking at £450 profit and free worldwide travel cover - even after the hiked fee. Here's how to stack the offers.
2. Amex Preferred Rewards Gold: 30,000 points & cashback worth up to £257
Or you could get up to 30,000 Amex points and cashback worth up to £257 with the latest Amex Preferred Rewards Gold welcome bonus. Here's more.
3. Tesco: £12 Christmas bonus
Time is running out to save into Tesco’s Christmas Saver scheme and earn a bonus of up to £12 to put towards your festive shop. Here's more.
4. Barclays Blue Rewards: 5% cashback
You can now earn up to £10 a month on your Barclays spending until the end of the year. Here's more.
5. First Direct: £300 prize draw
First Direct account holders could get the chance to win £300 in a new prize draw. Here's more.
6. Smyths: Up to £12 off toys
You can get £6 off a £50 spend or £12 off a £100 spend at Smyths until Sunday. Here's more.
7. Amazon: 1% cashback
Get 1% cashback when you purchase a prepaid Amazon gift card via the JamDoughnut app. Here's more.
8. Supermarket wine: 25% off
Asda and Ocado currently have an offer where you get 25% off when you buy 6 bottes of wine. Here's more.
9. Hobbycraft: Free £5 voucher
Hobbycraft is giving new and existing customers a free £5 voucher this month. Here's more.
10. Audible: 2-for-1 on audiobooks
Current Audible members can get two books for the price of one in Audible's latest sale. Here's more.
11. Buses: £2 offer extended
The £2 bus fare cap has been extended to December 2024. Not all bus companies or routes are taking part. Here's more.
SAVINGS, BANKING & CREDIT CARD BEST BUYS
Savings
Top savings best buys:
- Top current account linked saver: 7% with Santander
- Top regular saver (with current account): 8% with Nationwide
- Top easy access account: 5.2% with Ulster Bank
- Top easy access Cash ISA: 4.93% with Shawbrook Bank
- Top 1-year fixed account: 6.12% with Al Rayan Bank
- Top 1-year fixed Cash ISA: 5.85% with Virgin
Top savings offers:
- Chip: 4.84% + up to £50 bonus
- Santander ISA: 5.15% + £50 bonus
Banks
Top banking switch and welcome offers:
- Barclays Premier: "£167.50" Avios switch bonus
- Co-operative Bank: £125 refer-a-friend switch
- First Direct: £175 switch + £40 cashback
- Lloyds: £175 switch
- Nationwide: £200 switch
Top banking best buys:
- Top reward account: £5 a month from Halifax
- Top cashback on bills: 1% back with Santander Edge
- Top cashback on spending: 1% back with Chase
Credit cards
Top credit card offers:
- Amex Platinum: 80,000 bonus points
- Amex Preferred Rewards Gold: 30,000 bonus points
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MORE DEALS
Here are a few ongoing and recent offers you might have missed:
Cashback offers
- TopCashback: £15 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
- NUS card: Non-student card trick
- Birthday freebies: Food, drink and vouchers
Entertainment deals
- Spotify: Including 12 months for the price of 9
- NOW TV: 40% off passes
- Apple TV+: Various free month deals
- Netflix: One month free via Sky Stream
- Cinemas: 2-4-1 tickets every week for £1
- Disney+: Free with bank account
- Ethical Consumer: Free issue of the magazine
Food and drink offers
- Tesco Clubcard Plus: One-month free trial
- Tastecard: 60-day free trial
- Gousto & Hello Fresh: More than 90% off your first boxes
- Cadbury's Buttons: Free pack
- GreenJinn: £1 welcome credit
- McDonald's & Burger King: Freebies from loyalty schemes
Recent content you might have missed
We know it can be tricky to read, watch and listen to everything we create each week, so here are some articles, videos and podcasts from the last few weeks you might have missed.
- ISA allowances explained: how much can you save?
- Christmas supermarket spend hack revealed
- How to check you’re really getting a bargain
- 9 ways your library can save you money
- How to check your credit score for free
- Will a water meter save you money?
- Nationwide Flex Regular Saver review – earn 8% interest
- Has the base rate peaked?
- Are your finances ready for Christmas?
- Monzo offers cashback in new trial
- 8 savings hacks to boost your money
- Baking on a budget: our top money saving tips
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Prefer video? Follow us on YouTube
If you want to watch our videos as soon as they're released, make sure you head over to YouTube and click "subscribe" and the little notification bell that appears next to it.
Most recent videos:
- October's savings account round up
- ISA allowances explained: how much money can you save?
- Nationwide £200 bank switch (get it 3 times) & 8% regular saver (September 2023 update)
- Interest Rate NO CHANGE - have they peaked? (Sept 2023 UK Bank of England Base Rate update)
- BANK SWITCH: Lloyds £175 & free Disney+ / TSB up to £240 (September 2023 update)
- BANK OFFERS: First Direct & Barclays switches + Chase, Santander, TSB, Monzo - UK Sept 2023 update
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