Using plastic overseas? Always PAY IN EUROS (even if it says 0% commission)
Update 30 July 2019: Martin wrote this blog back in 2013 but while the rates have changed, all the logic is still correct.
I couldn’t believe my ears. While filming in southern Spain for the new series of my show, the producer told me he’d found a cash machine offering 0% commission if you chose to withdraw in pounds. In theory, that’d mean PERFECT exchange rates.
Why the introduction of “Simple Financial Products” may do more harm than good
The plan for a new "Simple Financial Products" kitemark could run the risk of misleading customers into getting poor deals. While I know many would’ve thought I’d support it – unless done right, it risks more harm than good. Listen to this on Radio 5 I’m writing this blog on the back of a debate on Radio...
1 in 4 say they want me to be chancellor – do they hate me that much?
I was shown a poll today which listed that I’m the person most people would like to do George Osborne’s job. Seriously people, do you hate me that much? I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. The research of 2,000 people by Opinion, for the Nutmeg website, asked: "If you could replace George Osborne as chancellor,...
OLD-Using plastic overseas? Always PAY IN EUROS (even if it says 0% commission)
Update 18 July 2017: Martin wrote this blog back in 2013 and all the logic is still correct, nothing has changed. I couldn’t believe my ears. While filming in southern Spain for the new series of my show, the producer told me he’d found a cash machine offering 0% commission if you chose to withdraw in pounds. In theory,...
A generation of Muslims not able to go to university?
I had a rather depressing day last Wednesday. I was filming a piece for my new series on student finance at a sixth form college in Hammersmith, west London, and there were many sparky 17-year-olds there. My aim was to try to ensure they weren’t wrongly put off going to university because of the misperceptions over student...
Read letters from blind children to Santa 2012
If you, like me, are a soppy git, you may just enjoy this. Each year we help spread the word in our Free Santa Letters guide that the RNIB has special elves, which help the giant with the white beard reply in Braille and other visually impaired-friendly ways. As a thank-you, the RNIB has given its kind...
Latest MoneySaving Tips
-
Cheapest British Gas deal since 2016Save £300/yr+
-
'How Much Should I Save For My Child To Go To University?'New calc
-
Grab up to £175 free CASHWhile you still can
-
Hot SimsIncl 8GB for '£7/mth'
-
Updated. Martin's Santander 123 warning'It's now a dead duck.'
-
Beat school holiday travel price hikesIncl how to find free kids' places
-
Virgin 100+Mb b'band & line '£19/mth'Ends Thu
-
Shift card debt to 29mthsNO INTEREST
-
Free McDonald'sFries, McMuffin, etc
-
New BBC Ask Martin podcastOn Radio 5 Live
-
13 Audible audiobook tricksIncl free books & pay £12 for 3mths
-
FREE ways to learn new skillsIncl coding, Spanish and more
-
Going vegan?Our top tips
Recent Blogs
-
Martin Lewis VIDEO: Should you pay off your Plan 1 student loan?
7 January 2020
If 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... -
How much the Govt expects you to give your children for university
16 December 2019
Update Note 25 May 2017: The ready reckoners below have been updated with the new 2017/2018 living loan amounts. Also since first writing this blog, and seeing the strength of feeling it attracted, I have written an open letter to the Uni Minister asking him to start telling people about this. Yet sadly received his no we won’t...
