
Why say “I’m on annual leave”?
For me, I go on holiday or take a break. Yet more and more people’s email auto-replies over the summer state “I’m on annual leave, will be returning on…”. I’ve never understood the use of what to me is a rather stodgy old-fashioned phrase. If you “go on annual leave”, why? Comment and Discuss

Little Sister’s MoneySaving Tips.
Rarely are you listened to in your own home. My dad continues to ignore many MoneySaving opportunities and my big sister constantly amazes me by doing almost the opposite of what I suggest. Yet there is a Lewis household hope… Talya, my thirteen year old little sister is perhaps the MoneySaving junior, and was so proud of...

A 1p good Weeze: flying to Germany for a bit of fun.
There’s much debate about whether budget airline flights can really be cheap. We all know of the ridiculous number of possible additional charges, for checking in, extra baggage or even paying by DEBIT card. Yet even so, if you find a super-low cost or even one-penny flight you can have a holiday break for very little cash....

Marking on the curve; is it the solution to A-levels?
Today the A-level results are out, and there are familiar scenes: Lots of delighted and a few despondent teenagers; reports from the government of another record results year; calls that standards are dropping and it’s just due to easier marking; battles about coursework and exam-based assessment. Whether exams have got easier I don’t know, but with 25%...

Appearing on The Weakest Link. Well, as a question!
On Friday’s daytime edition of The Weakest Link, apparently the following question was asked: “Which name is shared by a BBC news presenter and a Money Saving Expert?” It seems they got it right! Comment and Discuss

One reason to never let work experience people act unsupervised…
We received the following e-mail today:

Car Insurance: Comparing the Comparisons…
As regulars will know, one of the key steps in the Cheap Car Insurance guide, is to use comparison sites in the right order. To decide that order we undertake a comparison of the comparison sites. The sheer scale of MSE and the fact the papers often cover the order, means it’s hotly contested.

Does anyone have a hobby?
I’ve just had one of those mind blank moments. I was doing a recorded interview for James Watt’s late night TalkSport comedy programme this Saturday am. He’s set up the Bum Reading Expert website as a homage to this one, and in the home he can “read bums on TV”. As my dad’s a regular Talk Sport...

Is the regulator, Ofgem, listening?
Update Note Dec 08. Originally this blog was called “Ofgem the regulator is listening: Good Stuff” yet we’ve never heard a peep back so I’ve changed the title. About ten days ago, by coincidence just before the mass of energy price hike news (which is why it’s taken me so long to blog this), I was delighted...
Latest MoneySaving Tips
-
Gas & electricity bills alertCheck NOW if you can save £200+/yr
-
No 'free cash' bank switches...But you can get £180 of FREE wine
-
Free MSE Academoney30,000 have enrolled – why don't you?
-
Martin's HSBC warning'You may get a cheque'
-
Cheapest-ever iPhone 11 dealIncl 25GB/mth data
-
Is M&S's £5 school food top-up worth it?We investigate
-
'Martin, should I buy Bitcoin?'Everyone's asking
-
20 ways to get free or cheap booksIncl free Kindle titles
-
25% off designer glasses codeEg, £45 Calvin Klein specs
-
Shift debt to 15mths 0% NO FEEPlus get £20 cashback
-
The '1p Savings Challenge'Can you save £665+ in 2021?
Recent Blogs
-
Martin Lewis VIDEO: Should you pay off your Plan 1 student loan?
11 January 2021If you started university between 1998 and 2012, or since then in Scotland and Northern Ireland, you'll have a Plan 1 student loan. While much is written about whether those with savings should overpay the current English Plan 2 student loans, there's little out there about Plan 1. I wanted to change that, so here's a video explaining how to decide... -
Martin Lewis: Payment holidays coming to an end – but should you take one? Mortgages, credit cards, loans, payday loans, car finance and more
5 January 2021Within the last week, we've seen the extension of coronavirus credit card, personal loan and overdraft help to 31 October 2020, with mortgage payment holidays already extended. The regulator's other help schemes are also likely to be extended too, including car finance and payday loans, yet should you do it?