Your weekly money saving deals and news from money expert Andy Webb
My top content this week
BLOG & ARTICLES
Discounted gift card hack & up to £150 back with new ISA
Here's something I did a few years ago and still works. Open up a new stocks and shares ISA with Scottish Friendly and you get access to all sorts of discounts, including gift cards. This is a bit like the savings some people get via "work perk" schemes.
This is a great trick to save regularly when you shop at the likes of John Lewis (5.5% off), Tesco (4% off), M&S (6.5% off), Sainsbury's (5% off), ASOS (7.5% off) and many more.
There's also the chance to get a bonus between £25 and £150 when you open the ISA (the amount depends if you go direct or via a cashback site).
Of course if you do this you won't be able to pay into another Stocks & Shares ISA this year - but if you don't plan to invest it's well worth a look.
Cheapest ways to watch the Oscar and Bafta nominees & winners
This year the big award contenders can mostly be watched from your sofa, including Promising Young Woman which premiers this weekend on NOW & Sky Cinema.
As a huge movie fan I took the opportunity to round up which films were showing where, and how much it costs to watch them - including those potentially available for free.
A massive 25 out of 34 movies across the main Bafta and Oscar categories are available via Netflix, NOW, Amazon & Disney.
Ask Andy #8 Your questions answered
This week's round-up of answers to some of your questions includes:
- How long do I need to keep an account open after a switch?
- Can I pay into a LISA and ISA in the same year?
- Can I withdraw money from my regular saver?
YOUTUBE
Chip+1 savings account review - update
This video looks at how the fees work that are required to earn interest above £2,000, and details of why you're not really getting 1.25%. Plus info on the £10 welcome bonus.
Best UK Current Accounts | April 2021 update
Here's my monthly update on the changes on savings accounts, including details of Halifax's new £100 switch bonus and Virgin Money renaming accounts.
Rather read than watch? Here's my article with similar information.
CASH CHATS PODCAST
As always, there are two episodes for you this week.
#185: Lockdown money habits to keep & ditch
As non-essential retail and businesses open up in most of the UK, so does the temptation and opportunity to start spending and stop saving.
So how do you keep the good behaviours going rather than lapsing into old habits? That's the focus of this episode of the pod.
#184: Your Money, This Week
Former BBC 5Live business presenter Danni Hewson helps me look back at the top money news stories from the week, including:
- High street reopening & Covid passports
- A new BNPL danger
- FTSE250 record highs and what this suggests about economic recovery
- Which supermarkets have grown most in the last year
- & more
You can listen to both via all the normal podcasting routes or over on the blog.
WEEKLY LIVE Q&A:
THURSDAY 15th April @ 6pm-6.30pm
If you want to ask me questions about the content in today's newsletter I'll be live in the Be Clever With Your Cash Facebook community and on Instagram this evening at 6pm - that's Thursday 15th April.
You'll also be able to watch and ask questions over on my YouTube channel.
THIS WEEK'S 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've also set up an extra Instagram account dedicated to the flash sales, deals and short-lived offers I spot throughout the week. Do follow me there so you don't miss out on offers that are already finished by the time this email goes out on a Thursday.
1. Tesco: 8% cashback on everything in-store
Connect your debit or credit card via TopCashback and you can get 8% back on one transaction each day at Tesco from now until the 25th April - though it could end early.
The offer excludes petrol but works for all other in-store purchases. This means you could potentially even use it on gift cards sold in store, eg Netflix, John Lewis or Amazon.
2. Amazon: £5 off for some
As always there are a number of Amazon discount vouchers and bonuses available for eligible customers. One that ends today is £5 off a £20 spend if you stream a song on Amazon Music. Find out which ones you can claim here.
(A quick reminder that I'm taking part in a year without Amazon, and would love you all to join me in reducing how much you spend there).
3. Waitrose: 50% off sale
People often turn their nose up at Waitrose, saying it's too expensive. Though it can be true, you can also pick up loads of bargains, and the annual Spring Sale is always full of savings. There are loads of food, toiletries and household items half-price, and more with a third off. Well worth checking out.
4. Costa: 50p hot drink
This offer ends today, so be quick. You can get any hot drink for 50p at Costa if you scan the Costa app at the till.
5. MOT: "Free" with any Halfords purchase
Your last chance to nab a free MOT from Halford with any purchase, including a £1 bucket. Ends Monday. You don't need to book the MOT until mid-May, and it doesn't have to happen until the Autumn.
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Quick deals
Banking & Saving offers
- Top bank switch: £125 cash bonus or free wine & charity donation
- The best cash savings accounts - inc up to 3% interest
- CHIP: £10 bonus and 1.25% interest
- Student bank accounts: 0% overdrafts & freebies
- Best business bank accounts: Free accounts
Cards and bills deals
- 20 months 0% balance transfer credit card with no fee
- American Express: Up to £186 welcome bonus
- Three: SIM-only 12GB of data for £5.50 a month
- Curve: Free £10 welcome bonus
- PayPal: Refer friends for £10 credit
Shopping vouchers and other deals
- Amazon: Up to £10 off for some
- Free £5 credit when you trade in old CDs, books, DVDs or game
- 0% finance deals on new Samsung or Apple phones
- Holland & Barrett: Free £3
- Lidl: Coupon Plus promo
- Flowers: £10 off Bloom & Wild
- Emma Bridgewater: Free 1/2 pint mug with £40 spend
Entertainment deals
- Spotify: Including 12 months for the price of 10
- Six months Tidal & five months Apple music streaming for free
- Disney+: Including 6 months free and then £2 off
- Netflix: Inc Netflix & Chromecast bundle
- Mubi: One-year free streaming service hack
- Ethical Consumer: Free issue of the magazine
- Free postcode competition
- Lucky Voice: Free month of at home singing
Food and drink offers
- Tastecard: 90-day free trial
- £1 off at M&S with app
- Free Pret coffee for one month
- Supermarket cashback freebies
- 8 Brewdog for £3.95 / £10 off Honest Brew
- £10 off your first Uber Eats order
- 50% off Meatliquor when restaurants reopen
- Up to 30% off posh home meals
- Voucher and cashback stack on Gousto & Hello Fresh kits
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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 I manage my multiple bank accounts
- 9 ways your local library can save you money
- Work from home tax relief extended for 2021/22
- Ask Andy #7 Your questions answered
- YOUTUBE: Best UK Savings Accounts | April 2021 update
- PODCAST #183: How much tax you actually pay and why
- The best bank mobile apps
- Beat the energy price cap increase
- Santander to close 111 branches
- Ask Andy #6 Your questions answered
- YOUTUBE: LTV & the remortgaging tricks that’ll save you thousands
- YOUTUBE: The best credit card offers (April update)
- PODCAST #181: “It’s not about the pay gap”
- When Direct Debits are a bad idea
- How to quickly clear your credit card debt
- Ask Andy #5: Your questions answered – savings special
- YOUTUBE: Lifetime ISA explained: Is it worth it?
- PODCAST #179: My top cashback credit card hacks
- Premium Bonds: Are they better than savings accounts?
- Should you be sharing your TV streaming subscription passwords?
- Morrisons More to end loyalty points
- Ask Andy #4: Your questions answered
- YOUTUBE: How to cancel Amazon Prime (and why)
- PODCAST #177: ISAs – everything you need to know
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