Energy price hikes: Why there’s ‘still time to fix’ when it was ‘urgent, fix now’
British Gas today announced 6% price rises to hit on 16 November, while SSE will hike prices by 9% next Monday. There’s still time to beat these by locking in cheaper prices with no jumps guaranteed for two years (see the Cheap Gas & Electricity guide for how). The solution is all about switching to a cheap...
When will Eon raise prices?
Update 16 October: Since this blog was written British Gas, Scottish Power and Npower have all announced 6-9% price hikes due to hit in the next couple of months. Eon’s marketing currently touts it "won’t raise prices this year". Well, we’ve heard these type of pledges before. What usually happens, a very short time after the pledge...
Halifax official info disgracefully 18 months out of date
I’ve just received an official email response from the Halifax over a savings account. At the bottom, there was the following information… HBOS plc. Registered Office: The Mound, Edinburgh EH1 1YZ. Registered in Scotland, number 218813. Telephone: 0870 600 5000." As I had a query and further information on the site was missing, I decided to call...
Student loans aren’t a debt – change the name to avert a national tragedy
Language is powerful. In some countries around the world that use our student finance system, repayments are called a contribution. In the UK we call it a loan – that’s killing us. With the increase in tuition fees, we risk damaging a generation of youth because of it. This isn’t solely about the fear-factor of huge ‘debts’,...
Universal credit will push people into 5,000% APR loans
Last week, on the BBC’s Daily Politics, I commented that the new universal credit system is likely to cause a budgeting bloodbath. Yesterday I was pleased to see a report from the Social Marketing Foundation echoing this (see the Monthly benefit payments ‘risk backfiring’ MSE News story). This is all about a nightmare transitional issue. As part...
Turning the MSE forum into a true social network…
The launch of the Citizens Advice Bureau board in the MSE forum is a more radical change than it may appear. Our forum has more active UK users than Twitter (source: YouGov), yet when social networks are discussed, it’s overlooked. After Facebook, the dominant UK social media platform are forums – MSE, Mumsnet, The Student Room, Digital...
Time to ban bank staff sales commission?
For too long, we’ve had speed-bump financial services with products launched, sold heavily by highly incentivised, ill-trained staff, then the brakes put-on with mis-selling reclaiming campaigns. That’s bad for both consumers and the industry. The regulator, the Financial Services Authority (FSA), yesterday launched its report into how banks and other financial services staff are incentivised to flog...
A hidden way to boost Nationwide’s rates
It’s the UK’s biggest building society, widely trusted, with a loyal user base. Yet, if you like the strength and values of the Nationwide, you may be surprised that its existing customers don’t get the best deals – it often saves them for rate tarts going through its little known sub-brands. I was inspired to blog on...
“I’ve not always been a model moneysaver, I frequently don’t listen to you, but… heartfelt thanks”
Some emails just makes you smile. We’re fortunate to get many thank yous, but the mood around MSE Towers after the email below was sent around was a real high. And as the MSE community is credited, I wanted to share it with you. Thanks to Mia for her kind permission to print it. I’ve added links...
Why? Because they can!
In journalism, we’re taught there are six key questions: "who, what, why, how, where and when?" My mailbag, whether via Twitter, Facebook or email, is swamped with all these questions, far more than I could ever hope to begin to answer. Among those, by far the most difficult to answer are the "why?" or "how can they...
26 September 2023
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Martin: It's Meter Reading Week
His 9 energy need-to-knows
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Martin's savers alert
After base rate freeze
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Grab 1.5yrs' FREE family insurance
Travel, mobile & breakdown
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FREE Greggs pizza slice & hot drink
Normally up to £4
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14,000 Vax codes
Incl £400 cordless for £100
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Mortgage rates are falling
Is now the time to fix?
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Now FOUR banks pay you to switch
Up to a FREE £210
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Recent Blogs
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Martin Lewis: Is it time to ban unnecessary Christmas presents?
11 September 2023![]()
Update September 2017: It’s eight years since I first braved this subject, expecting a snowstorm of protest. Instead, year after year more join in, like Julia who recently tweeted me, “@MartinSLewis, finally took your advice and told my family I can’t afford Christmas presents. What a weight off my mind. Thank you.” One year even the Archbishop of... -
Martin Lewis: Five things all new English university starters should know
4 September 2023![]()
The 2023 academic year is about to start, and it'll see the biggest shake-up to student finance in England for a decade. The changes are both subtle and massive. On the surface they look like a tweak, in practice they will increase the eventual cost of going to university by over 50% for many typical graduates.
