A dragon in the Napoleonic wars
I’ve written before of my predilection for historic and science fantasy novels, (see my top 10 summer reads) so I reserve a special sense of tiggerish excitement for a book that combines the two. Having just finished all six in the Temeraire series in a row, and slightly saddened at that loss until Naomi Novik writes more,...
Student loans will be interest free for many 2012 starters
On principle I hate the fact 2012 uni starters aren’t just going to pay for their education, but for financing it too. For the first time students will be charged ‘real’ interest rates. This may seem a contradictory start to a blog promising interest free loans, but that’s because, yet again with student finance, principle and practice...
Why I confidently predict this recession won’t be as ‘severe’ as the last
I normally say I don’t do predictions, so you may be surprised to see me putting my neck on the line in such a way. Yet I haven’t suddenly bought a crystal ball or grown cahoonas the size of an ox, this is a natural conclusion on the back of the political spin of recession maths… A...
“MoneySavingExpert: a stronger brand than iTunes”
Here at MSE Towers, we’re a little gobsmacked after reading new research about ‘brand strength’. We don’t really think of the site as a brand and we don’t deliberately try and cultivate that image, but it seems we have become one without trying. I was first alerted when someone emailed a Scotsman article based on a YouGov...
A40 speed limit: is TFL incompetent or misleading?
The Westway route just out of central London (to Shepherds Bush) is a three lane dual carriage way flyover, so there are no pedestrians. Last February the speed limit was cut from 50mph to 30mph. Apparently this was due to repairs and speeding. However, after a few complaints, and even a mention on Top Gear, it was...
The New New MSE Masthead – your thoughts please
Last week I blogged about our proposed new masthead for the site and other changes (see New Masthead blog). After all your feedback, we’ve been working on some improvements, and before we go live I’d love your feedback. The ‘new’ masthead (see below for the new new one) Click here to see a clearer full size version...
Sneaky preview of the new MSE masthead – what do you think of m’pic?
The green masthead’s on its last legs, we’re in the process of a gradual redesign and a big element of this is the new masthead. It’s prime real estate on the site as it’s on every single page, so before we go for it, I’d love your views… Click here to see a clearer full size version...
Prospective students no longer so scared of £9,000 fees
I got a bit stumped on Thursday on the weekly Consumer Panel hour I do on Radio 5. The subject was the new up to £9,000 fees for new student starters in 2012, on the back of applications closing Sunday (yesterday now). There were three prospective students on, so I was poised to rebut the usual misunderstandings...
Energy price cuts – was it wrong to fix?
Updated 17 January after all companies have cut… The last week’s very modest cut in energy prices have led some to question whether they were wrong to lock into a cheap fixed rate tariff to guard against future rises. Yet these cuts need to be put in perpective. The typical bill for a standard tariff before cuts...
The bank deal that makes 5,000% APR payday loans look cheap
Payday loans at 5,000% APR rightly shock many people. Yet high street banks have a product so expensive many would save by taking a payday loan, even at ridiculously high rates, instead. But as banks needn’t phrase it as an APR, they get to offer this product without the nasty brand damage. As for what this extortionate...
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Recent Blogs
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Martin Lewis: Got a cash ISA? You should probably ditch it
24 May 2022![]()
Press 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 2022![]()
I 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. -
Martin Lewis: Money and Mental Health charity 2021/22 – Covid & cost of living hell...
26 April 2022![]()
It's hard to believe the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) charity is now six years old. As the chair of trustees, each year I write the foreword to its annual report – and today the 2021/22 report is out, so I thought I'd blog my formal chair's foreword here. -
Martin Lewis: What happened to my pledge to give £10m to charity – 2022 update (spoiler: it's now £20m)
11 April 2022![]()
Nearly a decade ago, in June 2012, MSE joined the MSM Group and I pledged £10m to go to charity. As that was a public pledge and I feel I've a duty of transparency, every year or two I bash out a blog report to explain where I'm up to, and who's got what money.
