
Banks want charge for going to the Ombudsman? P*** off
That’s what really crossed my mind last month ago when being cross examined by 10 Treasury Select Committee MPs at parliament. Now the official minutes are out (see below), and reading back it’s interesting to read the rather strange prose that appears with an accurate transcript of words designed to be said not written… These minutes are...

The MSE guide to Mental Health and debt… nearly there at last
Mental health problems can cause debts, debts can cause mental health issues and the two can feed each other. It’s been a passion of mine to produce a really strong guide to help individuals and their families/carers who suffer from these problems. We’re at the final stage now. The guide is written, we’re just waiting on the...

A warning to Mr. Cameron – information alone doesn’t solve a problem
A rather horrible vision came to me last night as I watched the ten o’clock news, about a new policy from the coalition to provide masses of information to us, the political consumer, with the objective being that we hold them to account… On the surface this doesn’t sound too bad, and it’s certainly a laudable aim,...

MP says don’t cap interest rates, cap loan costs
Most would say “I’ll lend you £20 if you repay and buy me a (£3) pint next week” is pretty fair. Yet if I (correctly) described it as a 140,000% annual rate loan would you still agree? Interest rates are a blunt tool, which is why when people say “2,300% APR payday loans should be banned”, I’m...

A mortgage warning, take a look at the UK Interest rates’ history since 1694
One of the great problems with our collective financial psyche is we normalise whatever the current situation is. This can lead to bad decision making. I just found a wonderful little document, showing the history of UK base rates and the figures contain a stark warning for all mortgage holders… This is well worth looking at on...

Stopping graduates repaying student loans early would be a terrible mistake
Shockingly, the new English student loan system could mean some students will be better getting commercial debts. I’m flabbergasted by one mooted proposal – it’d be the first time we’d see legislation designed to penalise people for good financial management. Worse, it will add a terrible hidden burden onto parents across the country… There’s a huge amount to...

Pringles Etiquette – do they have a ‘get out of bowl’ free card?
Over the weekend I spotted a buy 1 get 2 free offer on Pringles crisps in Tesco (though the price is higher than usual – so a good deal but not rip roaring). As Mrs MSE and I were having a few people round on Sunday I grabbed ’em. Yet here’s the dilemma; when serving Pringles do you...

I’ve lost my crown as most searched person in the UK: hmmph Cheryl!
I’ve got Cheryl Cole above me, and Katy Perry just beneath me, but before the double-entendres spread too far, this is in the online intelligence company Hitwise’s latest ranking of the UK’s most searched people in the last 12 weeks. The power of X-Factor means the Queen of Showbiz has regally booted me off the number one spot....

Council tax appeal rejected as you’d lived in the property over 6 months?
If you tried to get your council tax band lowered, but were rejected at the first attempt due to the ‘six month’ rule – I need your help. I’ve just confirmed an appointment with the council tax minister Bob Neill MP to discuss this ludicrous rule and would love to hear your experiences. This all started during...

“If the economy’s growing, why does it feel so bad?” The joy of maths, part two…
Yesterday we saw politicians and commentators crowing about bigger than expected economic growth, up 0.8% for the quarter. Yet I keep meeting people who ask “If the economy’s growing, why does it feel so bad?” The answer is all about how the numbers work… Way back in Nov 2008, I wrote a blog predicting exactly such...
Latest MoneySaving Tips
-
8 travel-money must-knowsDon't overpay to pay (ole!)
-
Martin's energy need-to-knowsAs bills set to rise by 52%
-
New. Cheapest ever loans at 2.7%If you NEED to borrow
-
44 tips to be tight (in a good way)Eg, use bulldog clips to eke out last toothpaste
-
£50 two-week summer breakFor teens - free if on a low income
-
Blue Light Card discounts boostedFor NHS and emergency workers
-
2for1 theme parks and attractionsAlton Towers, Thorpe Park and more
-
Ends Thu. 5GB Sim '£4 a month'Plus roam-like-home in Europe
Recent Blogs
-
Martin Lewis: The one thing everyone aged over 66 needs to know
17 June 2022It is a national tragedy that getting on for a million pensioners, many of whom have been paying into the system for years, are missing out on a critical boost to their income. It's called pension credit, and this year it also means you get an extra £650 to help with energy bills. -
Martin Lewis: What I asked the Chancellor to do when I spoke to him on Monday...
26 May 2022With the announcement of the Government's energy cost of living plans due out at lunchtime. I thought I'd speedily bash out a note down of what (from memory) I'd asked the Chancellor for when we spoke on Monday - and the other general suggestions I've been making. -
Martin Lewis: Got a cash ISA? You should probably ditch it
24 May 2022Press the rewind button and go way back to April 2015... Possibly on the telly in the corner of your living room, I was on-air at the time urging savers as usual to use their new tax-free cash ISA allowance – because 'money was nicer in an ISA'. But things changed in 2016. -
Martin Lewis: 'UO is just as important as UX: A tip for anyone developing their website or app'
6 May 2022I set up MoneySavingExpert.com nearly 20 years ago – when arguably the modern web was still in its infancy. With an abundance of self-belief (something I had too much of then, as I realise now) I decided not to read any books, or follow prevailing wisdom on how a site should operate – and just do it my way.