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

My top content this week

BLOG, VIDEO & ARTICLES

Is it time to fix your energy tariff?

We're starting to see fixed tariffs back on the market, mostly being offered to existing customers.

We've created a guide on how to work out if an energy fix is a good deal and how to compare it with your energy bills from July.

(Oh, and don't forget to take a meter reading this weekend to ensure you're getting charged the lower price cap rates).

READ: Is it time to fix?

Interest rate at 5%: what does the rise mean for you?

The base interest rate moved to 5% on Thursday, which may impact your finances if you've got savings, a mortgage, or other borrowing, such as a credit card or loan.

Read this guide which explains how the latest interest rate hike might impact you, and predictions on how much higher it could go.

READ: How are my finances impacted?

Mortgage lenders pledge more help for borrowers

With last week's hike still fresh, mortgage lenders have agreed to offer more flexibility to customers that are struggling with repayments.

Our guide breaks down how lenders are promising to help ease the financial pressure caused by record-high interest rates.

READ: What help is coming?

My holiday finances checklist

From spending money to phone data and insurance to passports, I've created a checklist of things you should take care of before jetting off on holiday. Here's the checklist.

READ: Holiday checklist

The cheapest ways to get Wimbledon tickets

Wimbledon is back from 3 July, serving up good quality tennis (and strawberries and cream).

If you're planning on travelling down to watch some games live, we've rounded up some of the best ways to get cheap last-minute tickets and how to do Wimbledon on a budget.

READ: Wimbledon on a budget

CASH CHATS PODCAST

325 | How high could interest rates go? Plus Premium Bond hike, loyalty point value & State Pension top-ups

In the latest episode of the pod I’m talking about:

What the latest Bank of England hike to 5% means for your money
Whether Premium Bonds are worth it
How much you’ll need to spend to use supermarket loyalty points
A listener question about the State Pension and the minimum earnings needed for a full NI year contribution

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.

Listen on the blog

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Google Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

YOUR QUESTIONS

Ask Andy Live Q&A

My live Q&As are the best place to ask me your questions. The next one will be in early July and I'll share the date in a future 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.

Follow me on YouTube

Follow me on Instagram

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 5,200 of us in there so far!

Join the Facebook group

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. HSBC: Last chance to earn £240

There’s less than a week left to get HSBC’s £200 switching offer, which you can boost by an extra £40 by applying through Quidco. The deadline is 3 July 2023 so you’ll need to act fast to get this one. Here's more.

2. Ulster Bank: Earn £200 switching bonus

If you've already had a switching bonus from Natwest or RBS, you might want to try for the "triple crown" and get another £200 by signing up for an Ulster Bank Select account. Here's more.

3. The Athletic: £1 per month for a year

The Athletic is having a summer sale, offering access to the site for £1 per month for an entire year. Here's more.

4. Central Tickets: £10 bonus wallet credit

You can get 10% free wallet credit (up to £10) on your first top-up with Central Tickets to put towards "seat filling" tickets. Here's more.

5. Amazon Prime: Early Prime Day deals

Prime Day is back next month, and there are a handful of early deals, including £15 credit to spend in the sale when you back up photos on Prime Photos (for some users) and 20% off Amazon Fresh orders. Here's more.

6. Supermarket deals: 25% off wine

Get 25% off when you buy at least six bottles of wine from Sainsbury's or Tesco, or 25% off three bottles of Morrisons "The Best" wines. This popular multi-buy offer runs for a limited time which varies between stores. Here's more.

7. Savings: 4.21% easy access & 5.86% 1-year fix

We've seen lots of savings accounts up their rates again this week. You can now get up to 4.21% for an easy-access account and 5.86% on a 1-year fixed rate deal. Here's more.

8. Pieminster: £5 reward

Get a £5 voucher along with the latest news on all things Pie when you sign up for the Pieminster newsletter. Here's more.

9. Yonder: 6 months free and a pint

Sign up to credit card Yonder for six months free use of the card (which is usually £15 per month) plus a free pint. You'll get travel insurance and the chance to earn points. Here's more.

SAVINGS, BANKING & CREDIT CARD BEST BUYS

Savings

Top savings offers

Chip: Up to £50 bonus
Hargeaves Lansdown: Up to £100 bonus
Santander: £50 ISA bonus

Top savings best buys:

Top regular saver (with current account): 7% with First Direct
Top current account linked interest: 6.25% with Club Lloyds

Top easy access account: 4.21% with Chip
Top easy access Cash ISA: 3.85% with Cynergy

Top 1-year fixed account: SmartSave with 5.86%
Top 1-year fixed Cash ISA: Virgin Money with 5.05%

READ: All the savings best buys

Credit cards

Top cashback credit card offers:

American Express Gold: Boosted 30,000 points
British Airways American Express: Boosted 10,000 points

READ: Best buy cashback credit cards

Banks

Top banking switch and welcome offers:

Co-operative Bank: £125 refer-a-friend switch
First Direct: £175 switch + £40 cashback
HSBC: £200 switch + £40 cashback (ends Monday)
Lloyds: £150 switch
Natwest switch: £200 bonus
RBS: £200 switch offer
Ulster Bank: £200 switch offer
Tide business welcome: £75 cash bonus

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

READ: All the banking best buys

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MORE DEALS!

Here are a few ongoing and recent offers you might have missed:

Cashback offers

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
Railcards: 20% off
NUS card: Non-student 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
Netflix & Sky TV: One month free
Vue: £5 for ticket and 2 pizzas
Disney+: Free with bank account
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: 30% off your first order
Gousto & Hello Fresh: More than 90% off your first boxes
Buttons: 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
Hotel Chocolat: £5 VIP reward

Energy fix pros and cons | 4.21% easy-access & 5.86% fixed savings | Can you get help with your mortgage? | Wimbledon tickets | Holiday checklist | More