Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

New. FREE £175 for switching bank - by far the biggest upfront bonus

There is now a host of bribes but a new HSBC deal is the standout if you don't want to wait months for the cash

The bank bribe war is as hot as dragon fire, especially as HSBC has made a fresh move to take the crown in the banks' game of thrones. So if you're fed up with rough treatment or you just want free cash, now's a great time to give your bank the chop. And switching is easy - it takes just 7 working days and the new bank moves all payments. Let us be your Hand as we run you through the top deals below. For all, you must pass a not-too-harsh credit check.

• New. Top for upfront cash: Free £175 + access to 5% reg saver - from HSBC. Apply for HSBC's Advance* account and switchers get £175, which should come within 40 days. Plus you can open a 5% fixed regular saver, where you can put up to £250/mth for a year.
  
  How do I qualify? You must start a switch within 30 days of opening, incl 2+ direct debits or standing orders, and pay in a min £1,750/mth - essentially a £26,000/yr salary paid in. Also, you can't have had an HSBC account since 2016.
  
  If you don't like HSBC or can't hit the min pay-in, NatWest & RBS also offer £175 (but it's £125 upfront and £50 after a year) with their fee-free Select accounts.
  
  
• Top for bill-payers: Free £175 (over a year) + 2% back on bills - from NatWest or RBS. With the NatWest Reward* or RBS Reward accounts from these sister banks, new switchers get £125 in August, plus £50 more if you're still with them in June 2020. There's a £2/mth fee, but they also give 2% cashback on most bills (eg, energy, phone) paid by direct debit. On average the cashback is worth £60/yr after the fee - but some earn £100+/yr.
  
  How do I qualify? For the £175, switch, pay in £1,500+ and log in online by 12 Jul (NatWest) or 2 Aug (RBS). Then use your debit card at least once a month. For the cashback, continue to pay in £1,500+/mth (equiv £21,500+/yr salary).
  
  
• Top for service: Free £125 + 'great' service + 5% reg saver - from First Direct. Via our special link, new switchers to First Direct* get £125 in around 40 days (only £100 if you apply direct). You can also access its 5% regular saver and many get a £250 0% overdraft. It's rated highly for customer service - finishing second in our latest poll, the first time it's not won, but only just pipped by app-based Monzo, which doesn't offer a switch bonus.
  
  How do I qualify? Just ensure you pay in £1k+/mth (equiv £12,500/yr salary) for the bonus and to avoid a £10/mth fee.

For more help and options, including offers from M&S and Halifax, see Best Bank Accounts.

Martin - Beat the Holiday Car Hire Cowboys and PAY just £3/day

They'll give you hell to stop you. They tried with me. I fought back. Let me tool you up with 5 ways to do the same

I admit it. I'd done something awful when I recently arrived at a car hire pick-up desk in Spain... I'd used a broker to get a super-cheap price. There's nowt some car hire firms hate more. They fired salvo after salvo at me aiming to up-sell and fear-sell. I resisted.  And I want to use that experience to help you to do the same.

1. Book now via a comparison to grab the cheapest price. When to book isn't an exact science, but while summer walk-ins can be £40+/day, book now for mid-Aug and an economy car in Malaga is as little as £3/day, or in Gran Canaria it's £8/day. Use comparison sites Skyscanner* & Kayak* for breadth, and if time, TravelSupermarket* & Carrentals*.
   
   
2. Save up to 90% getting excess insurance BEFORE you go. Basic car insurance is included in the hire. Yet at the pick-up desk, they often try to fear-sell excess protection as an add-on, with "you'll pay the first £1,000 of any damage". And indeed, have a scratch and some unscrupulous firms charge many times the repair cost (even if they won't bother to repair it).
   
   These add-on policies can cost an extra £150+/week. But you can get a standalone policy before you go for as little as £15/week via Moneymaxim's comparison site* and checking MSE's up to 25% off car hire insurers' codes. Then at the desk, tell them you don't want cover, and they'll ask for a credit (not debit) card deposit often of £800+. If you do have an accident, they take this and you reclaim it from the standalone policy.
   
   
3. Compare fuel polices. You get a full tank, but some say return full, some empty, others just give a pro-rata refund of unused fuel. 'Return empty' can be costly if you don't drive far, as you'll have paid £50-£100 for fuel you don't end up using.
   
   
4. Be prepared for the hard sell - they tried it on with me. After three times trying (& failing) to sell me a car upgrade, the pick-up desk salesperson switched tack to try to charge me to "upgrade my mileage allowance" even though I'd more than enough miles. I pre-empted the 'excess insurance' hard sell by explaining I had my own policy and would pay the €1,200 deposit needed. She informed me my insurance was worthless. I disagreed.
   
   Frustrated, she started on a long script to push me again. I interrupted to say I knew the rules, so didn't need to listen, let's just do this. In fury, she left the desk, and shouted "you listen or no keys." I wanted to walk away but decided better revenge would be to get the cheap deal without paying more. So, with gritted teeth, I smiled, faced 5mins' more sell, got the keys and left.
   
   
5. Take pics of the car before & after. Many people return cars in what they believe is the same condition as they picked it up in, only to find £100s in charges taken from the deposit later. So take pics at pick-up & drop-off, so you've evidence.

Further tips to cut costs incl cheap child seats, free sat-navs and more in the full Cheap Car Hire guide.