Tuesday 21 July 2015

Easyjet trix, 1% mortgages, £1=€1.43, B Gas £250 rip-off, Trvldge 20% code, 2.4% ISA, 19mth 0% NO FEE, urgent tax credits, £4 uniform

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Martin Lewis

MoneySavingExpert.com weekly email

Cutting your costs, fighting your corner Martin's Money Tips Wed 22 Jul 2015
Cards Reclaim Shopping Deals Utilities Banking Travel Insurance Mortgages Income

This week

Savings tricks: New 2.4% ISA, 5% bank savings, 6% regular savings
British Gas still a rip-off - switch now
Top 10 summer 'staycation' savers
New: 16 Easyjet tricks
Travelodge 20% off August code
Longest-ever fee-free debt shift
£1 buys €1.43 - 10 euro maxing tips
Urgent tax credits deadline warning
100+ things to do with the kids
Full school uniform from £3.50
Longest ever 0% spending - 25mths
Ralph Lauren extra 20% off sale
Earn £15 M&S/Amazon via surveys
Free insulation & £25 J Lewis vch
Codes/vchs: 15% LivingSocial, 40% Body Shop, 10% Chemist-4-U
Corking £10 champers deals
Flash 10% off cheap games & tech, eg, £230 Xbox, £254 iPad Mini 3
Free £8 cocktail or £4 pint of ale
'I've reclaimed 370 songs'
Free tix to Martin's Radio 5 show
Vouchers Index: Restaurants / Shopping
Best Buys: 0% cards | Car insurance
Best Buys: Gas & Elec | Bank Accs

MARTIN'S QUICK BRIEFING: For more tips, alerts & awful puns, follow Martin on Twitter

Warning: Check your mortgage rate TODAY as...
- Fixed rates have fallen to lowest-EVER level, 1.05%, so you could save
- Bank of Eng warns rates may soon rise, so the window to do it is closing

Bank of England governor Mark Carney made headlines last week saying the 0.5% base rate - static for 6+ years - could rise in winter. It won't definitely happen but means mortgage rates, some of which are currently at all-time lows, could jump (they often do earlier than the base rate).

Mortgages You can fix for two years at 1.05% (£1,995 fee) if you've a 40% deposit and a good credit history - a huge saving against standard variable rates. So urgently check if you can save - some inspiration:

Christopher: "I remortgaged in Jan - monthly repayments fell from £785 to £533."

Sarah: "Got a new rate with the same bank, saved £289 a month."

1. Check your current deal. A mortgage is the biggest expenditure most people have, so I'm always slightly surprised that when asked, not everyone knows their rate and details. So check now that you know...

a. The current rate: And monthly repayment & amount outstanding.
b. Type: Is it a fix, tracker, discount or SVR?
c. Deal deadline: If it's a short-term deal (eg, 2yr fix), when does it end?
d. Term: How long it is, eg, 25yrs, and when it must be fully repaid by.
e. Penalties: Are there any early repayment or exit penalties?
f. Your loan-to-value (LTV): The proportion of your home's current value you are borrowing. Eg, £80,000 on a £100,000 property is an 80% LTV. The lower the LTV, the better deal you can get. So if your home has increased in value you may gain. See LTV help for full info.

Everyone should check, but not everyone can save by remortgaging (shifting to a better deal). To see how to use this info get my FREE 60-page MSE Remortgage Booklet 2015 (either instant PDF or order a printed copy).
2. Benchmark your cheapest deal at speed. OK, so mortgage rates are low, yet many factors affect your cheapest deal. To help we've our...

Mortgage Best Buy Comparison Tools
Remortgages | Moving home | First-time buyers

The table shows the type of rates available. I've added in the average standard variable rate (SVR), the go-to rate lenders put you on after a deal finishes, so you can see the savings possible.

What's out there now? Some example deals
Deal Rate Fee Annual cost during deal term (incl fee) on £150k (i)
Typical SVR rate (for comparison) 4.75% N/A £10,260
FIX 2yr at 60% LTV 1.05% £1,995 £7,826
FIX 2yr at 85% LTV 1.99% £975 £8,108
FIX 5yr at 65% LTV 2.14% £1,675 £8,087
FIX 5yr at 85% LTV 3.09% £999 £8,816
TRACKER 2yr at 65% LTV 0.98% £1,675 £7,606
TRACKER 2yr at 85% LTV 1.75% £995 £7,902
(i) Fee spread across the deal period plus the repayments, assuming 25yr term
3. Fees can be £1,000s - our special tool factors them in. The smaller your mortgage, the bigger the impact fees have, especially for mortgages under £100,000. This can skew which is cheapest for you.

To assess, spread the cost of fees over the fixed or tracker period (as after you may shift again to another deal). To help, use the MSE Mortgage Total Cost Comparison within our best buys comparison, which factors in both fee and rate to find your true cheapest.
4. How much can you save? Now you know your rate and what's out there. Our mortgage calculators allow you to work out the potential savings...

Ultimate Mortgage Calculator
Eight tools to home in on the right answer for you, including...
Basic Mortgage Calc | Compare Two Mortgages | Mortgage Overpay Calc | Compare Fixed Mortgages | Ditch Your Current Fix?

   
5. Can you actually get a cheaper mortgage? I support the now 15-month-old 'affordability checks' those getting new borrowing or extending debt must have. Yet perversely, most lenders need to apply these rules to those trying to switch deal. It ludicrously results in many being told "you can't afford to get a cheaper rate", and it could get worse. See EU remortgage rules could create mortgage prisoners - an MSE campaign priority.

Lenders check you can afford your mortgage if rates hit 6-7%. They also want evidence of income, big bills and expenses, even eating out. Be careful before applying - see affordability help. If you're stuck, there are options. Your current lender and a few small building societies can waive some of the really heavy checks for switchers (you still need to prove income).
   
6. Should I get a fix or tracker/discount? With a fixed mortgage, the amount you repay is, er, fixed so it's like buying an insurance policy against possible rate rises. Variable deals move with UK interest rates (sometimes just at the provider's whim). Currently you only pay a touch more to fix.

It's difficult to predict future interest rate moves, so focus on your finances - the more crucial the security of knowing exactly what you'll pay, the more you should edge towards fixing (& fixing longer). If cracking the rock-bottom deal's your driver, edge to short-term trackers. Fix vs Variable help.
7. Is your credit score good enough? Getting accepted is now the challenge, and when possible you should start preparing months ahead. So... a) Never withdraw cash on credit cards; b) Avoid payday loans; c) Avoid other applications, eg, credit card & contract mobile just before applying; and d) Check your credit file for errors. See 36 Credit Boosting Tips.
8. Mortgage brokers can help boost acceptance. You can, and often should, use a broker to help you find the right deal. They've info unavailable to consumers, eg, lenders' credit and affordability criteria. So a good broker can ease acceptance by matching you to the right deal - and the mortgage interview's quicker too. See Top Mortgage Brokers for full info.
9. Yet brokers miss some mortgages... Some lenders, incl Yorkshire BS, Tesco and HSBC, largely sell only direct to the public, cutting brokers out. So brokers are allowed to exclude them, and some (not all) do - hence why using a broker in conjunction with our mortgage comparison, which includes all these deals, is the right route.
10. Got savings? They could get you a better mortgage. At every 5% LTV threshold from 95% down to 60%, deals tend to get better, so a little extra can have a big impact on your mortgage rate. For example...

Imagine you've a £150,000 home, and want a £122,000 remortgage. That's an 81% LTV, and the top 5yr fix is 3.09%. If you use £2,000 of savings to reduce the amount needed, you'd cross a threshold and be at 80%, where the top 5yr fix is 2.6%. This would save almost £500/year in mortgage payments alone.

See Should I overpay my mortgage? for more and use the mortgage overpayment calc to see how much regular overpayments can help.
11. FREE remortgage, first-timers' & buy-to-let 2015 booklets. Mortgages are a big transaction, and the best thing to do is to make sure you really know what you're doing. To help we've three free 40+ page printed guides.

- Remortgage booklet 2015: Download instant PDF | Order printed
- First-timers' booklet 2015: Download instant PDF | Order printed
- Buy-to-Let mortgage booklet 2015: Download instant PDF | Order printed
12. Don't fall for the hard sell on mortgage extras. Lenders & brokers may try to flog their Mortgage Life Ins, Home Insurance or Mortgage PPI. These can be expensive so use the links above to check what you need and how to get them cheapest. Also check if you're in the right Council Tax band.

PS from Martin. I’m away from MSE Towers for the first few days this week, so after doing a draft of the email, the polish and details are in the more-than-capable hands of the MSE team.

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MSE News

Top story: Npower complaints left unresolved for up to 19 months
EE 'pauses' power bar offer for a second time
Train delayed? You can now request cash compensation
Home and car insurance prices on the up, says the AA
'Interest rates could rise at turn of the year'
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If this email's ever helped you, please forward it to friends and suggest they get it via moneysavingexpert.com/tips
Use the Money Mantras If you're skint If you're not skint
The Ones Not To Miss Wed 22 Jul 2015
3 savings tricks: (1) New 2.4% ISA, (2) 5% bank savings, (3) 6% regular savings
Check your savings & ISA rates. Most pay a fraction of this - double, treble or even quadruple the interest you earn

Savings rates are dismal. Banks don't need our cash as they get it from the Funding for Lending Scheme, so they don't pay rates that attract it. Even the very top easy-access savings account from BM Savings only pays 1.6% AER variable and most people earn less than 1%. So if you really want to make your cash work for you, you have to get clever...

  1. SavingsNew. 2.4% tax-free cash ISA with access. A cash ISA is just a savings account where you don't pay tax on the interest. You can put £15,240 in per tax year and it stays tax-free every year. Easy access accounts let you withdraw cash whenever you want - the top payer's Virgin Money at 1.51% (max 3 withdrawals/yr) - but we've a trick to beat it:

    The new Coventry BS ISA is fixed till May 2020 (for new money & transfers) and pays 2.4%. Yet it allows you to withdraw the cash early by closing the account, and losing 120 days' interest. Even if you'd closed it after a year you'd have got 1.61%, better than the top easy-access deal. You'd get more by leaving it longer. Full info: Top Cash ISAs.
  2. Make your bank account pay you up to 5%. A raft of accounts pay higher in-credit interest than top savings. These loss-leaders aim to suck people into switching, but there's no reason not to take advantage:

    - For bigger savers, Santander 123* pays 3% AER variable on £3,000 to £20,000. Other banks pay higher rates, but as you can save more in it, Santander can pay up to £592/yr interest (pre-tax). It has a £2/mth fee, but for most that's easily covered as it pays cashback on direct debits, eg, 3% on mobiles, 2% energy & 1% water.
    - For smaller sums, TSB Classic Plus* pays 5% AER (4% after basic tax, 3% higher) on up to £2,000, plus get £100 if you switch via our link. Full info incl eligibility criteria and more top payers in Best Bank Accounts.
  3. Earn 6% if you save every month. New customers to no.1 cust service bank First Direct* get £100 to switch (if they pay in a min £1,000/mth - equiv £13,200/yr salary), and all customers get access to a linked 6% fixed-rate regular saver where you can save £25-£300/mth for a year. M&S is similar (it gives new M&S Bank Account* switchers a £100 M&S gift card). If you don't want to switch current account, anyone can save £50-£250/mth in Leeds BS's 3.05%. Full info in Top Regular Savings.

New. 16 Easyjet tricks to manipulate the budget behemoth. Beat kids' hols hikes, refund trick etc. Easyjet tricks

Travelodge 20% off August code. Book by Sat. Works on UK city breaks. Full info: Travelodge code

New. 19mths 0% NO FEE balance transfer - longest-ever fee-free debt shift. Accepted new Tesco* card holders can shift debt to it for 19mths 0% with NO fee. Need longer? Virgin Money's* 24mths 0% (1% fee) plus 0% on spending & money transfers (1.9% fee). A new Barclaycard* is up to 32mths 0% (1.59% fee) or another Barclaycard is up to 36mths 0% (1.99% fee). Which'll accept you? Use our Balance Transfer Eligibility Calc. Warning: Never miss a min repayment & clear debt before 0% ends, or on balance transfers, they jump to 18.9% rep APR (Tesco 20.6%, Virgin 20.9%). See Balance Transfers. (APR Examples).

£1 buys €1.43ish - an 8-yr high. Yet travel rates are far less, unless you use our 10 euro maxing tips.

Urgent. Tax credits deadline 31 July - don't delay. Ignoring forms can cost large. Check if you need to renew - if so, do online, as the helpline gets VERY busy. Do nowt & they may stop or you may have to repay already-spent cash. See Tax Credits help.

Even after British Gas 5% cut, you're ripped off by £250/year - SWITCH NOW
BG's cut prices, others will likely follow. Yet don't be fooled into thinking that means you're getting a good deal

British Gas has announced it's cutting gas ONLY prices by 5%ish from 27 Aug, shaving £35/yr off avg bills. All cuts are welcome, but the saving is trivial compared to the market's cheapest. There are no cheap British Gas tariffs so compare & switch NOW & you should be on a cheaper deal before its cut hits in a month. Here's watt (sorry) you need to know...

ARE YOU OVERPAYING?
(all figures based on typical usage)
Pay by monthly direct debit (dual fuel)
Avg big 6 standard tariff now
70% are on these
£1,155/yr
BG standard after Aug cut £1,123/yr
Cheapest variable deal £870/yr
Cheapest switchers' 1yr fix £885/yr
Prepayment meters (dual fuel)
Avg big 6 standard tariff now £1,234/yr
BG standard after Aug cut £1,193/yr
Cheapest switchers' deal £1,168/yr
  • The real price war is for switchers - save £250/yr. For months there's been a hidden price war, where those switching get deals that massively undercut standard rates. These cheap rates usually only last a year-ish, so it's not only switching, but switching often enough, that pays. To help, we built www.CheapEnergyClub.com. It does three things:

    1) A full market comparison to find your cheapest. Your winner depends on where you live & your usage. So enter this to compare. Unlike some sites, we don't exclude tariffs that 'don't pay us'. Plus, our top picks section shows the pros & cons of some of the tariffs you may miss.

    2) When we get paid we split it with you. Suppliers pay comparison sites c.£60 per dual fuel switch (£30 single), if they switch you (the price is still the same as going direct). We split this, so you get £30 cashback (£15 single fuel). The rest pays our data & switch suppliers, leaving us with hopefully £11ish to pay the team that work on this, and hopefully some profit.

    3) We then do a hidden monthly comparison for you. We keep your details and then compare each month. When you can again save over a certain amount, eg, £70/yr (you set it) we email you when it's time to switch.
  • Loyal to British Gas? At least switch to Sainsbury's. Sainsbury's Energy is just British Gas with a different badge on top. On typical use the Sainsbury's Energy fix is £930/yr (£904/yr from 8am Wed) - over £200/yr cheaper than British Gas's standard tariff.
  • Five gas & electricity need-to-knows. Full help & options in Cheap Gas & Elec, but in brief:

    1) A fix locks in the rate you pay per unit, but if you use more, the amount you pay can still rise.
    2) Currently this 'collective' fix* is the market's cheapest fix on pure price, & comparison sites (incl us) don't include collective deals (short-lived negotiated tariffs). Though if you factor in the MSE cashback it's beatable for most.
    3) To get the lowest price, pay by monthly direct debit. Just ensure you give regular meter readings.
    4) If you're in credit when you switch, the provider should give money back to you. Ask if it doesn't.
    5) Cut usage to max your savings - see our Free Insulation, Green Deal and Energy Mythbusting guides.

100+ free or cheap things to do with the kids this summer. See our 100+ summer savers.

Full school uniform from £3.50. The supermarket deals are on, we round up the best. See all school uniform deals.

New. Longest EVER 0% spending - 25mths. The Post Office* (eligibility calc) last week launched the longest ever 0% new borrowing card, at 25mths (if you make a purchase within 3 months, else it's 16mths 0%). It acted shortly after Virgin Money* (eligibility calc) launched a 3-in-1 24mths 0% on spending, balance transfers (1% fee) and money transfers (1.9% fee) - it was the longest 0% on spending. Clear both before the 0% ends, or they jump to 18.9% rep APR (20.9% on balance and 22.9% on money transfers for Virgin). Full info: All-rounder cards & 0% spending (APR examples)

Ralph Lauren extra 20% off 'up to 60%' sale code. Eg, men's polo £32 del (was £80). VERY ltd stock. R Lauren

Earn £15 M&S/Amazon vchs doing quick online surveys. MSE Blagged. Popular MSEers' site where you fill in surveys & search online to earn. We've a link for you to accrue £5 & get a bonus £10. Newbies only. Swagbucks

Click the titles for full info and all our top picks
Balance Transfers Car Insurance Cheap Loans Top Cash ISAs
Longest 0%: Barclaycard
Up to 36mths 0%, 1.99% fee

(18.9% rep APR)

No fee 0%: Tesco Bank*
19mths 0%, no fee

(18.9% rep APR)
Get comparison site quotes in this order...
Google*
Confused.com*
MoneySuperMarket*

Then check insurers they miss:
Direct Line*, Aviva*
Admiral MultiCar*

Zopa* (£5k - £7.5k)
4.3% rep APR



M&S Bank* (£7.5k - £15k)
3.6% rep APR


Virgin Money 1.51% AER
Min £1, no bonus
Limited access. Transfers allowed.


Coventry BS 2.4% AER
Min £1. Transfers allowed
Fixed till 2020 but with access


See Card APR Examples & Loan APR Examples

Free insulation worth £700 plus £25 J Lewis/Argos vch. MSE Blagged. It's back. Anyone in a suitable home (not NI) can get free loft & cavity wall insulation & a £25 J Lewis/Argos/Homebase etc gift card. Insulation

CODES & VCHS - incl £43 Android tablet, 40% off Body Shop. This week, we've blagged a LivingSocial 15% off all daily deals code (ends Thu, incl a £43 Android tablet) & Chemist-4-U 10% off, incl sale code, plus there's a Body Shop 40% off code until Fri. ALL Codes & Vchs

£10 champers (were £12-£25). Massive summer reductions, see all Bubbly Deals. Pls be Drinkaware.

FLASH 10% off cheap games & tech, eg, £230 Xbox, £254 iPad Mini 3. MSE Blagged. Rakuten's often cheapest to begin with, yet our 48hr code can undercut by a further 10%. Valid on everything till Thu. Rakuten deals

Top 10 summer 'staycation' savers
Whether it's day trips with the kids, or a wee break in our fair isles, here are our hot tips to keep costs down

There's fierce argument even at MSE Towers over what a 'staycation' is. Martin reckons it's staying at home with the occasional day out - most of the team say it's a UK holiday. We asked Facebook users to decide and 17,000+ of you got involved - roughly a third said it's a UK holiday, the rest were with Martin. Either way, here are 10 tips to keep all happy...

staycation1. 2for1 attraction vouchers. 50+ attractions eg, Ldn Zoo, Legoland, Thorpe Park. Theme parks
2. Rent a posh house if there's a crowd. We found a holiday home with heated pool, hot tub and mountain views for less than £22/night each (for 8 going together). See Cheap Rentals.
3. Free £5 arts & craft kit. A free kit for 3-8yr-olds with our code, for Toucan Box newbies.
4. Cheap city breaks in uni halls. Many open their doors to all, eg, Ldn b&b £47/nt uni stays.
5. Grab a gold bar... At the Bank of England Museum (you have to give it back). A day out in its own right, but there are 180+ free museums across the UK. Free museums/galleries near you
6. Stay in a castle for £20/nt. Don't think all hostels are dirty, smelly rooms. Some are in surprising places. Hostels
7. Mega train deals. Incl Southeastern £1 kids & 25% off, Megabus £2.50 Ldn-York rtn train/bus combo. Cheap trains
8. Uncover secret hotels. Bag 5* hotels at 3* prices with our Secret Hotel tricks. Caroline tweeted: "Booked the Hilton London Paddington for £69. On Hilton's site it was £205."
9. Free £15 summer car check incl screenwash. Get your battery, bulbs and blades checked at Halfords & get Cheap Petrol.
10. £25 off Butlin's code. Blagged discount off Butlin's 3-nt family stay. More deals incl 20% off Travelodge in Hotel Deals.

Free £8ish cocktail or £4ish pint of ale. Sign up for Pitcher & Piano voucher. Pls be Drinkaware

SUCCESS OF THE WEEK: (Send us yours on this or any topic)
"Thanks to MSE I've downloaded 370 songs from Amazon from CDs I'd bought." Check if you can reclaim lost music going back 16 years.

Free tickets to the audience of Martin's BBC Radio 5 live prog 5th anniversary. Get free tickets (Mon in Ldn), but be prepared to share your MoneySaving stories. Or listen live from 12-1pm.


Click the titles for full info and all our top picks
Gas & Electricity Bank Accounts Home Insurance Landlines

Compare, get £30 dual fuel cashback & alerts if your deal's no longer cheap. Go via the free MSE Cheap Energy Club Top Pick Fixes Comparison.

The savings can be huge. Someone with typical dual fuel usage on a big 6 standard tariff pays £1,155 a year, the cheapest deal's £870.


First Direct*
£100 bonus and top cust service


Santander 123*
Up to 3% cashback on bills

(£2 per month fee)
Get comparison site quotes in this order...

CompareTheMarket
Confused.com*
MoneySuperMarket*

Then check insurers they miss:
Direct Line*, Aviva*

Direct Save Telecom*
with weekend calls
£11/mth (pay a yr upfront)



Post Office*
with weekend calls
£12/mth (pay a yr upfront)


Do a Money Makeover Budget Planner MSE car sticker £13 Travel Insurance

Restaurant vouchers

Discount vouchers

Top deals

The Moneysaving community
The MoneySaving Community

Get 1-2-1 help on claims handlers. The free Legal Ombudsman is in our forum, ready to answer your queries and concerns. Claims handler complaints

MONEY MORAL DILEMMA
Is the lead tenant pocketing some of my rent?

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... I rent a room where I pay a longstanding lead tenant, who then pays the rent to the landlord. The other tenant and I think she's over-charging us and pocketing some of our rent. What should we do? Enter the Money Moral Maze: How do I prove the lead tenant is pocketing my rent? | Suggest an MMD | View past MMDs

THE GREAT HUNT
Great 'shop assistants, help us crack price tag codes' hunt
In preparation for sales, shop staff often scribble codes on tags to secretly indicate it'll be discounted. See the Next price tag secrets blog for a previous example. Shop assistants (and shopping nerds), please help us decode what these numbers/letters/dots mean in different stores - we'd love examples. Share yours/read others': Secret Price Tag Codes Past topics: View all

THE GREAT HUNT... REVEALED
Which online stores offer discounts if you abandon your basket?
We asked which shops offer discounts when you put items in your online basket but don't buy them. One forumite reckons Urban Outfitters emails a 15%-20% discount, another says Tesco gives £5 off a £50 spend. One scored £150 off Princess Cruises.

Quick forum tips

Freebie of the week

Martin's blogs

Martin's appearances (from 22 July onward)

Thu 23 Jul - GMB, ITV, Deals of the Week, 7.40am.
Fri 24 Jul - This Morning, ITV, 90-Second Savers, 10.30am.
Mon 27 Jul - This Morning, ITV, Money Monday, 11am. Watch previous
Mon 27 Jul - Consumer Panel, BBC Radio 5, 12pm-1pm. Subscribe to podcast

MSE team corner

Team blogs:
No blogs this week.

Regular team appearances:
No appearances this week.

Discussion of the week

What's your home like before a holiday?

Preparing for a holiday can be stressful for some and for others it's all about the art of organisation. What's your house like before a holiday? Share your stories.

Cheap travel money

UK's Best Currency Rates
£100 will buy you:
Best Worst
Euro Flag 142.00 127.35
US Flag $ 154.30 138.65
Turkish Flag TL 403.52 351.46
Rates correct at 2pm Tue
Find all top currency rates
Compare travel cash

This week's poll: Should the BBC be downscaled?

The Government has launched a consultation on the future of the BBC ahead of its 2016 Royal Charter renewal. Its main focus is, controversially, on downscaling the BBC. So we wanted to test attitudes on this, with some deliberately stark options. 

How it works today: You need a TV licence to watch any TV channel (not just BBC), unless you only watch catch-up (see our Do I need a TV licence? guide) - but the TV licence primarily funds BBC TV, national & local radio and BBC online. Overseas services can be funded by commercial profits.

Should the BBC be downscaled? Please choose the option NEAREST to your opinion. Options include: 

Poll results

Do you have a will & power of attorney in place?
Our poll found having kids isn't much of a deciding factor. 58% of parents have either or both in place, compared with 45% of those without kids.

Older respondents were more likely to have either - 82% of over-65s have at least one, compared with 24% of under-25s.

See our Cheap & Free Wills or Power of Attorney guides for more information.

11,471 voted. See the full results.

Question of the week

Q: When should you book airport parking to get the best price? I'm flying from Gatwick this summer and it's currently £111 for a week. Emma, via Twitter.

MSE Sally’s A: The earlier the better, or even if you have left it late, at least book before you get to the airport. Wait till you're there and parking companies know you've no choice and that's when they sting you.

As well as booking early, always compare prices and bag extra discounts using specialist comparison sites - full info in Airport Parking. Using our full cost-cutting system, a week's parking at Gatwick in early September is around £60 if you book now compared to about £125 booking on the day.

Please suggest a question of the week (we can't reply to individual emails).

 Nick's free game of the week: Pogo swing

When IKEA took a bite out of Apple.

That's it for this week, but before we go, check out this IKEA advert, as it completely rip off Apple's style in launching its 2015 catalogue with 'book' technology, including eternal battery life. It gave us all a good laugh at MSE Towers.

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As we believe transparency is important, we're including the following 'un-affiliated' web-addresses for content too:

Unaffiliated web-addresses for links in this email

santander.co.uk, tsb.co.uk, firstdirect.com, marksandspencer.com, tescobank.com, virginmoney.com, barclaycard.co.uk, greatbritishcollective.com, postoffice.co.uk, google.co.uk, confused.com, moneysupermarket.com, directline.com, aviva.co.uk, admiral.com, zopa.com, directsavetelecom.co.uk.

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Note

Referring people to insurers or insurance intermediaries can in some circumstances constitute an FCA regulated activity. For this reason, pages with links which take you to the sites of insurers or insurance intermediaries are hosted by MoneySavingExpert.com Limited on behalf of MoneySupermarket.com Group PLC. MoneySupermarket.com Financial Group Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 303190). The registered office address of both MoneySupermarket.com Group PLC and MoneySupermarket.com Financial Group Limited is MoneySupermarket House, St. David’s Park, Ewloe, Chester, CH5 3UZ.

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