These days a very common method to build a customer base for service industries, whether it’s Netflix, credit monitoring services or even Graze food boxes, is the ‘month’s free subscription’.   The obvious reason why companies do this is the apathy dividend – in other words, the hope that they’ll gain as people simply forget to cancel for...

The papers were full of it yesterday on the back of Lidl announcing sales of premium vintage and non-vintage wines such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape. All the messages were on about posh goods next to the usual tat. The phrase that came up time and time again was that "the firm is trying to move away from its poor...

Many MoneySaving techniques can be applied to dieting/healthy eating – I know, I do it myself. It’s all about adopting a ‘should I spend the calories?’ attitude… I’m writing this after a discussion on my regular Radio 5 Live Consumer Panel slot. While in the studio, the UK Chief Medical officer was interviewed and I got involved,...

While this may sound trivial, and indeed is, I need to admit horror at something my friend Richard did at our house over the weekend. He had a Kit Kat two finger packet, and instead of breaking it into fingers, simply bit across both fingers as if it was a single bar, entirely ignoring the Kit Kat’s...

Last night Mrs MSE and I headed out to use the 40% off Yo! Sushi deal from the restaurant vouchers list. When we got to the restaurant in the Whiteleys Centre in Bayswater, frustratingly it was closed for a private function. As the voucher’s only valid on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, I asked if it was possible...

This is perhaps the most bizarre blog I’ve ever written. Yet I thought I should warn people about pine nuts. For the last five days I’ve been complaining about a strange after-taste when I eat anything; it’s almost but not quite metallic. Having had a filling a couple of weeks ago I thought it might be that...

We had a trip to Hell’s Kitchen for dinner at the end of last week. Our table was right by the pass, meaning we got to watch Marco & the celebs cooking up close. Interesting to do, as you end up not talking, just staring in at the frenetic activity: celebs, Marco and two chef helpers running...

Do vouchers work for restaurants? Well, I just tried somewhere new & loved it! Having scanned down the restaurant vouchers list, the other day, to see what was available. My eyes popped onto a La Tasca 50% off deal; actually better than a 2for1 as it’s 50% off all food including starters and desserts. Now I’m not...

Here’s a valuable MoneySaving lesson – unfortunately its application is quite specific so I’m not sure how useful it’ll be for everyone. I was filming for ITV1 Tonight yesterday, a programme I’m doing for Friday 6 Feb on savings. It’s being put together on a very tight deadline, so we’re doing quite a lot on the hoof....

Hoorah. I’ve just hit my target of losing a stone, not a Money Diet but a real one. It all started when I saw myself on the beach in a friend’s wedding video, and my belly didn’t resemble my own self image. So I immediately said to the MSF “I’m on a diet”. She asked “when?” and...