Your weekly money saving deals and news from money expert Andy Webb
My top articles this week
1. The problem with Just Giving and Virgin Giving
Did you realise that when you use sites like Just Giving the platform is taking a cut? Your £20 donation could be costing the charity as much as £1.50! And there are other costs they face. So if you're thinking of starting some fundraising you need to read this guide to where your money is really going, and some fee-free alternatives.
2. Swap old clothes for H&M or M&S vouchers
If you're planning to shop at H&M or M&S, then it's worth clearing out your wardrobe first. In return for donating unwanted clothes and textiles for recycling and resale you can get a £5 voucher to spend in-store - though there are minimum spends associated. Or if you just want your old gear to help a good cause, you can drop them at TK Maxx and proceeds will go to Cancer Research. Here's how to do it.
3. Irrelevant Savings Accounts: Why Cash ISAs are dead
It's that time of year where banks and building societies are pushing hard to get you to open up or top-up an ISA. But most of you are actually losing out putting money in a ISA. If you have savings and you're not sure where to put them, I've explained when you don't need an ISA and when you do.
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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 - and here they are for you too. First some newbies in a bit more detail, then some you might have missed from previous weeks. Click the red titles or blue links for more information.
1. Free or £15 Google Home Mini smart speaker
Spotify is giving away a free Google smart speaker, worth £49, if you sign up to its Family subscription. This costs £14.99 for a month, and you can cancel before month two.
And you don't have to be a new customer to get it! I already have this Spotify service and ordered my free speaker on Tuesday. It arrived on Wednesday. If you have Spotify Premium at £9.99 a month then you can upgrade for a month for a fiver and nab one too.
It's well worth doing this if you're after one of these speakers - but hurry as it's only while stocks last.
2. Half-price Chilly’s resuable bottles
I've got one of these reusable, plastic-free bottles and it's really good. Cold liquids stay cold for 24 hours and hot ones for 12 hours. They can be pricey, but this rare sale has 50% off, so a standard bottle is £12.50. There are some great designs available too, including ones by Emma Bridgewater.
3. Best Mother’s Day flower deals
We've just over a week until Mothering Sunday so I've rounded up some discount codes to bring down the cost of flowers for your mum.
4. Rare Netflix discount - get 4% off
You might be using someone else's Netflix, but someone somewhere has to pay for it. It's not easy to find money off, but I've spotted a 4% discount.
5. Half-price Easter Eggs
Can you keep chocolate for a month? If so then head to Tesco where large Easter Eggs are discounted by 50% until Tuesday next week.
Quick deals
Banking offers including
- Up to £175 via bank switching deals
- Free £5 for opening a Monzo bank account
- Free £10 Amazon voucher when you get a Tandem cashback credit card
- Get 3% interest on savings with Chip - earn up to 5%
- Free £5 for getting a Curve card - plus 1% cashback at John Lewis, Apple and more
Shopping vouchers and other deals
- Amazon - free £5 credit when you top up by £25
- Cash hack: Save 2% at Amazon every time
- Up to £50 off Amazon Business
Entertainment deals
- Latest cinema deals
- £10 Ticketmaster voucher for £5
- Nine months of Sky Sports for £195
- Six months free Amazon Prime video with EE
- Beat the NOW TV Sky Cinema Pass price increase
- 12 months of Spotify for the price of 10
- 30-day Kids Pass for £1, giving reduced cinema tickets for all ages
Food and drink offers
- Two months Tastecard or Gourmet Society for £1
- Free Nutella jar with supermarket cashback app
- Free Hotel Choc on your birthday
- Get 50% off Domino’s Pizza every time
- Free Deliveroo credit
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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.
- Credit scores explained, and free ways to check your reports
- The foods you can freeze… and the ones you can’t
- How much mobile data do you really need?
- Slow broadband? How to leave penalty free
- Tesco axes 3% interest rate - where to get the best rates
- Cash hack: How to go to festivals for free
- Tricks to help your freezer save you money
- Are your debts a problem?
- How to stockpile for an emergency
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My Cash Chats podcast tackles all sorts of money topics and I'm often joined by a guest to share their experiences of money saving and money making. You can download or subscribe at iTunes or in all good podcasting apps.
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