Your weekly money saving deals and news from money expert Andy Webb
My top content this week
BLOG, VIDEO & ARTICLES
Halifax Reward £360 a year hack
Alongside the current £175 Halifax switching offer, you can earn £5 a month as a reward. But recent changes mean you can now have three accounts. So get all three and you're getting up to £15 a month or £180 a year.
But sadly it's not that simple as there are some hoopes to jump through. But my debit card hack will help make that easier and double up with a cashback card so you could in fact be £360 better off in total. Here's how it works.
Gift cards: Should you ever use or buy them?
As we get closer to Christmas, the more likely it is a last minute present will be a gift card! And there are also more and more offers that'll give you money off gift cards for your own spending. But they come with risks you need to be aware of.
Natwest 5.12% Digital Regular Saver review – is it worth it?
A big change happened this week with the popular digital regular saver from Natwest and RBS - you can now earn interest on up to £5,000. Sounds great! And it is pretty good - but whether you're a new or existing account holder there are a handful of catches.
My month in money #11
In my latest look at how I spend and save my own money, I share how why I'm glad we have emergency savings, compare car hire with car clubs, reveal how an in-app notification saved me almost £300 and more!
CASH CHATS PODCAST
296 | Emergency savings, 7% regular saver & my month in money
In the latest episode of the pod I’m talking about:
- My month in money
- Emergency car repairs
- Checking statements
- Regular saver updates from First Direct and Natwest
- A listener question about Halifax Reward accounts
- And more!
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 #60: Your money questions answered
My live Q&As are the best place to ask me your questions, and you can rewatch the latest here, plus my responses to some of your messages about:
- Ditching Virgin Money savings
- Whether cashback counts towards your tax-free savings allowance
- If a Help to Buy ISA is still worth it
- When to shift a credit card debt
The next one will be in a few weeks. I'll confirm details 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 2,800 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. Railcards: Earn £15 cashback
You'll need to be fast for this one as it ends today and there's a limited number of codes! Head to Quidco and opt-in to the £15 bonus on a £25 spend with selected travel retailers. One of these is Railcard, and since a railcard is £30, you'll save 50%. More here.
2. Discovery+: Free with BT Sport
If you pay for BT Sport via BT, EE or Plusnet you can now get Discovery+, which includes Eurosport, HGTV and more for free. More here.
3. Amazon Fresh: £5 voucher
This code will get you £5 to spend in one of Amazon's bricks and mortar supermarkets. More here.
4. John Lewis: Members' Week coupons
There are two vouchers for MyJohnLewis members this week. £5 off £70 and £15 off £150. More here.
5. Tesco: New Clubcard coupons
It's worth checking your Tesco app to see if you're one of around 1 in 5 customers who are now getting extra personalised coupons to save on their shopping. More here.
6. Shop Small: £5 off £15 spend with American Express
Amex Shop Small ends on Monday. This is the offer that earns you up to £25 per card. So far I've spent money at a bookshop, a deli and two restaurants, and I'll be snapping up some gift cards in the next few days. More here.
SAVINGS, BANKING & CREDIT CARD BEST BUYS
Banks
Top banking switch and welcome offers:
- HSBC switch: Up to £250 cash bonus
- Nationwide switch: £200 cash bonus
- First Direct switch: £175 bonus
- Halifax switch: £175 bonus
- TSB switch: Up to £100 cash 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 1% back with Santander Edge
- Top cashback on spending: 1% back with Chase
- Top ethical bank: £60 voucher or donation via Triodos
Savings: Chip offer 2.9% easy access
Late yesterday Chip increased the rate on its easy-access account, with a top-of-the-table 2.9% (though it can be beaten by limited access accounts).
However it's not like other accounts as the money you make will be a reward rather than interest and it doesn't compound (earn interest on the interest). The bonus also isn't protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Elsewhere, fixed rates continue to drop, though there are improvements on limited access accounts with First Direct offering 2.6% and Coventry Building Society 2.85%.
More on these and other latest best buys here.
Top savings best buys:
- Top regular saver: 7% with First Direct
- Top current account linked interest: 5.12% with Barclays
- Top easy access account: 2.9% with Chip
- Top 1-year fixed account: 4.32% with Smart Save
Credit cards
Top cashback credit card best buys:
- Top welcome bonus: American Express Preferred Rewards Gold (20,000 points = up to £167)
- 0% purchase welcome: £20 bonus and £19 cashback
- Top non-Amex cashback: 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
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: 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
- Ethical Consumer: Free issue of the magazine
Food and drink offers
- Tesco Clubcard Plus: One-month free trial
- Tastecard: 60-day free trial
- Ocado: £20 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
- Deliveroo Plus: Free year via Prime
- Brewdog: £150 bar credit for £99
- McDonald's & Burger King: Freebies from loyalty schemes
- Caffe Nero: 25% off drinks and pastries
- Aperol: Two cocktails for £5
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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.
- Savings round-up & news, including earn 7% interest
- Current account news, including £175 Halifax switch
- Monese adds charge for debit card top-ups
- Changed your mind? Your refund rights
- Santander Edge review: Earn 4% interest and 1% cashback
- Where to price match and save cash
- The problems with Buy Now, Pay Later
- Autumn Statement 2022: What it means for your money
- How to improve your credit score
- How to make the most from Amex Shop Small 2022
- The best price comparison sites for your shopping
- Regular savings accounts explained: Are they worth it?
- Base rate at 3%: what does the rise mean for you?
- Avios to Nectar swap range cut
- More than books: 9 ways your library can save you money
- Credit card stoozing: Earn interest from 0% borrowing
- Cheap direct debits for bank switching and rewards
- How to search price history and know if you’re getting a good deal
- Waitrose brings back “free” hot drinks
- Sky Stream: Will it save you money?
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