MSE's weekly round-up

MSE's Money Tips email: Grab new bank-switching bribes, get £50 off Center Parcs, bag a 4.55% savings fix & more

Some highlights from this week's email include...

• Looking for some free money? Of course you are! A whopping six banks are offering switching bonuses right now, up to a huge £250.
  
  

• Holiday for less with this discount code. Enjoy £50 off a UK Center Parcs stay, with no minimum spend.
  
  

• Grab a top one-year savings fix. Marcus (part of Goldman Sachs) is offering a top rate of 4.55%, with a £1 minimum deposit. Plus, unusually, you can access your cash early if needed.

READ THE FULL WEEKLY EMAIL 

Key MSE News: Martin Lewis warns people NOT to trust councils' online Council Tax Carers Discount info

• A MoneySavingExpert.com investigation has found at least 69 councils in England and Wales have incorrect information regarding eligibility for the live-in Carer Council Tax Discount on their websites. We list those affected.
  
  

• This is likely to be putting off some of the millions of unpaid carers from claiming what they're legally entitled to: a 25% or 50% discount off their Council Tax bill – with a 25% discount typically worth £500 a year.
  
  

• MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has called for all unpaid carers who thought they weren't eligible to check council websites again.
  

READ THE FULL COUNCIL TAX DISCOUNT STORY

Hot deal: Slice Franco Manca pizza costs in return for getting active

• Get £1 off Franco Manca pizza for every one kilometre you run or walk in one go – provided the activity is 'pizza-shaped' (so running/walking in a circle or a triangle).
  
  

• For a totally free pizza, you'll need to cover 8km for the No.1 Marinara (£7.95) or 10km for a Margherita (£9.95).
  
  

• The deal runs (pun intended) until Saturday 31 January, and you'll need to record (or have recorded) your activity via a fitness app to be eligible.
  

SEE THE DEAL – PLUS HOW MSE GEORGIA-MAY CLAIMED IT

What's new on MSE: All you need to know about Europe's new visa-waiver scheme

• With the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) visa waiver due to come into force by the end of 2026, our new guide contains key info for anyone planning to travel to the Continent.
  
  

• Once the scheme's set up, you'll need to pay €20 for the waiver when travelling from the UK to 30 European countries, which will cover multiple trips over a three-year period.
  
  

• The new guide explains what exactly the ETIAS is, how you'll be able to get it, what to be wary of, how to avoid bogus websites claiming to sell you one and more.
  

READ THE FULL ETIAS GUIDE

The latest from Martin: 'What would you prioritise… a will/Power of Attorney or tax/pension/inheritance?'

• Martin tackled this query in a recent Martin Lewis Money Show episode.
  
  

• See Martin answer and explain why you should prioritise a Power of Attorney so you're covered in the unfortunate event that your faculties are compromised.
  
  

• This is because a Power of Attorney lets you give somebody you trust the legal authority to deal with your financial affairs if you later lost the capacity to do so yourself.

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

And finally, from our social channels: Add these 2026 savings dates to your diary

There are various financial dates throughout the year that you can't afford to miss.

Some of these are personal, such as six months before your mortgage ends, or two weeks before the 0% period on your credit card is up. Being aware of these means you don't end up needlessly paying extra interest.

Other dates are more fixed throughout the year, such as tax year end as well as when the Energy Price Cap is due to change.

In a video shared by our ever-organised social team, MSE Emily runs through some of the key events to add to your diary, with full info in our 2026 dates blog.

SEE THE FULL 2026 DATES BLOG