You may have heard me on BBC Radio Lancashire with Graham Liver this morning for Thrifty Thursday. Here are the top money saving tips and deals I talked about.
The Price Cap Increase Comes In Tomorrow
The cost of living crisis will be in full swing from tomorrow as the new price cap is introduced and energy rates will rise. This will affect anyone not on a fixed tariffs. If you run your washing machine at weekends, maybe consider doing it today. Strip the beds and get the covers washed, fill and run the dishwasher. Go round the house and unplug anything you don’t need to be running. It’s all going to cost more from tomorrow.
Today is #MeterReadingDay. Be sure to take your meter readings later today and submit them to your provider. This means you aren’t going to be running on estimated readings or charged higher rates for energy used before the price cap changes on 1st April.
Some people, especially British Gas customers are reporting that it’s difficult to submit meter readings. It will be busy today, so even if you cannot submit your readings, be sure to take a photograph on your phone of your meter readings. This will be date and time stamped which you can then use as proof.
Even if you have a smart or prepayment meter, be sure to take a photo in case of future disputes.
Other people have been asking if you can submit incorrect meter readings so that you get more energy at the cheaper rate. This is fraud, don’t do it.
It’s kind of like a line in the sand. Take your meter readings (as late in the day as possible) and say everything before that was on the old cheaper rate. Anything afterwards is going to be on the higher new price cap rate. We all need to start the new month with your meter readings up to date.
Interest On Savings
You can get 3.04% interest on up to £1000 with the Regular Saver account from NatWest. You can put in up to £150 each month. So you could max out that £1000 in 7 months should you have the money to do so, taking advantage of that interest rate. Anything over £1000 gets 0.25% and anything over £5000 only get 0.01%.
There is also the Chase app-only current account which pays 1.5% on up to £250,000. Remember, only £85k will be covered by FSCS protection.
Cashback By Spending With Gift Cards
Download the JamDoughnut app and you can buy gift cards at over 100 brands. It could be 2.5% or 20% cashback.
I’m not a huge fan of gift cards and because most of them get given as gifts and then end up sat in a drawer, forgotten about. If the retailer goes bust you’re also unlikely to get that money back.
However if you are going to buy something online, your click & collect Asda order for example, you can buy a gift card via the JamDoughnut app to cover your shopping and use it straight away at checkout rather than paying with your card.
You’ll get 4% cashback for Asda gift cards. That’s £2 off a £50 shop.
5% for Morrisons, 8% for Currys and 10% for Costa Coffee. When you get to £10 you can click to cash out and transfer it into your bank account, which is usually really quick to arrive.
So far, I’ve earned over £180 cashback by using the app. These are purchases that I’d usually buy with a debit card and get no reward. Instead, I use my debit card to buy a gift card to earn cashback.
Sign up with the code XEA5 today to get 100 bonus points (£1). You’ll also get 500 points (£5) when you buy your first gift card.
Discounts On DIY
10% discount if you shop online with B&Q. Includes click & collect orders. Ends today (31/03/2022).
Cheap Cinema Trips
There’s a new animated Easter film in cinemas this school holidays. Rabbit Academy tells the story of a heroic rabbit and his friends battling to save Easter from the foxes. Tickets are £2.49 each at Vue, £3.25 at Odeon as they are part of their kid club screenings in the mornings.
If you want to see Sonic The Hedgehog 2 which comes out tomorrow, head to a Reel Cinema (one in Burnley, Blackburn, Chorley, Morecambe) and if you see any film before 1pm it’s just £3.50 a ticket, for anybody. You can combine with with the 2 for 1 Meerkat Movies offer as well which is available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Maybe a nice treat for the kids this school holidays? Or go see The Batman yourself.
I hope these Thrifty Thursday top tips save you some cash.
*all prices & deals correct at time of publishing
