2023

NS&I will increase its Premium Bond prize-fund rate to 3.15% from 3% for its February 2023 draw and beyond, with an extra £15 million in higher-value prizes up for grabs. The odds of winning will remain the same at 24,000-to-one, but there will more prizes between £50 and £100,000 available.

Evri has been ranked the worst parcel delivery firm in an annual poll of MoneySavingExpert (MSE) users. The firm rebranded from Hermes in March 2022 after earlier reports of parcel mishandling – yet despite the name change, MoneySavers rated their experience with the firm as significantly worse this year.

You will still be able to use non-barcoded 'everyday stamps' after 31 January for another six months, MoneySavingExpert.com can confirm. The deadline to use these stamps is 31 July. This is despite a series of misleading adverts from Royal Mail saying otherwise. 

Lloyds Banking Group has announced another round of bank branch closures, with 18 more Halifax locations and 22 more Lloyds outlets set to shut between April and June this year. The latest closures mean the two banks will close at least 59 branches by the end of the year. Below we list the branches disappearing and what the alternatives are if you still want face-to-face banking.

Energy companies have been called on to voluntarily stop the practice of forcibly moving customers to prepayment meters without taking every step to support households struggling to pay bills first. The message has been put forward in a letter to firms from business and energy secretary, Grant Shapps. It follows a reported surge in households being moved to prepayment meters over recent months.

Change is needed to help half a million younger people with Lifetime ISAs as many risk lock-out and £1,000+ in fines to get their money back.

Struggling students have been “dealt a blow” as loans to help with living costs will fall far short of rising inflation, based on Government plans. From September, English students will see a real term cut to maintenance loans of 8p in the £1 - a shortfall students or parents will have to make up for themselves.

TSB has announced it will shut nine branches in May – its first round of closures this year. Below we list the branches disappearing and what the alternatives are if you still want face-to-face banking.

Wholesale energy rates have dropped rapidly in recent months, and energy bills are now forecast to be even lower, undercutting even what MSE founder Martin Lewis explained last week. Analysts at Cornwall Insight predict the energy price cap to drop pro-rata to £2,200 a year for a typical home from July, below the Government's energy price guarantee (EPG) rate – but what does this mean for bills?

If you're one of the millions of people booking holidays right now, MoneySavingExpert.com's founder Martin Lewis has an important warning for you, which he shared in the latest episode of ITV's The Martin Lewis Money Show Live. Watch the clip below or read on to see what Martin said.