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October 16, 2024   |   Articles

What are loyalty card points worth?

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The real value of your Tesco Clubcard, Nectar, Morrisons More, Boots Advantage and Superdrug Beautycard points

If you’re like me, you’ll have a few loyalty cards on your phone and swipe away when you get to the till. But do you have any idea what the points you earn are worth?

I’m a big fan of Clubcard points as you can boost their value. I know what my Tesco points are worth as I use them frequently, but what are 2,000 Nectar points worth? Or 800 Boots? Plus there are schemes at Morrisons and Superdrug too – and they’re all different.

To help me – and you – I’ve taken a look at the biggest schemes to see what you get for your points, and how much you need to spend in order to actually use them.

Some articles on the site contain affiliate links, which provide a small commission to help fund our work. However, they won’t affect the price you pay or our editorial independence. Read more here.

How much are Tesco Clubcard points worth?

Value of Tesco Clubcard points

  • 1,000 Clubcard points = £10
  • 500 Clubcard points = £5
  • 100 Clubcard points = £1
  • 1 Clubcard point = 1p

Real value of Clubcard points

  • Usually 1 point earned per £1
  • So 1 point = 1% of your shop
  • Minimum payout is 150 points = £1.50 in vouchers
  • So you need to spend £150 before you can start using points

You can earn these at Tesco shops, petrol stations, website and also via Tesco Mobile and Tesco Bank.

Though the value is equivalent to 1%, you can boost them, usually double the value. Read the Best Uses Of Clubcard Points article for more on how to make the most of these points.

There are often extra discounts in store for Clubcard holders.

The best ways to earn and spend Clubcard points

How much are Nectar points worth?

Value of Nectar points

  • 1,000 Nectar points = £5
  • 500 Nectar points = £2.50
  • 100 Nectar points = 50p
  • 1 Nectar point = 0.5p

Real value of Nectar points

  • Usually 1 point earned per £1
  • So 1 point works out as 0.5% of your original Sainsbury’s shop
  • Minimum payout = 500 points will give you £2.50 credit
  • So you need to spend £500 before you can start using points

You can get bonus points on specific items each week, but you need to activate these in the app. You can also earn Nectar points at Argos.

There aren’t really any ways to boost the value of your points, but here are the best ways to earn and spend your Nectar points.

The best ways to earn and spend Nectar points

How much are Morrisons More points worth?

Value of Morrisons More points

  • 1,000 Morrisons More points = £1
  • 500 Morrisons More points = 50p
  • 100 Morrisons More points = 10p
  • 10 Morrisons More points = 1p
  • 1 Morrisons More points = 0.1p

Real value of Morrisons points

  • Points are earned on specific products rather than your whole shop
  • The amount you earn will vary, so you can’t assign a percentage value for 1 point
  • Minimum payout = 5,000 points will give you a £5 voucher

Morrisons brought back points in the summer of 2023 (having axed them two years earlier). It’s different from the likes of Clubcard and Nectar but you can find out how Morrisons More works here.

You’ll need 5,000 points to cash them out as a £5 voucher and there aren’t any ways to boost the value of the voucher.

How much are Boots Advantage points worth?

Value of Boots Advantage points

  • 1,000 Advantage points = £10
  • 500 Advantage points = £5
  • 100 Advantage points = £1
  • 1 Advantage point = 1p

Real value of Boots Advantage points

  • Usually 3 points earned per £1
  • So 1 point works out as 3% of your original shop
  • Minimum payout = 1 point / £0.01
  • But you can’t part pay with points (you need enough points to cover the total of the transaction for which you are using them)

You can only spend them in Boots shops or online at Boots.com. Of course, if you can get your shampoo cheaper elsewhere, the points probably won’t make any difference.

Keep an eye out for frequent bonus deals and vouchers where you can earn double value or even more for your shop. There are often extra codes in your online account.

The best ways to earn and spend Boots points

How much are Superdrug Beautycard points worth?

Value of Superdrug points

  • 1,000 Superdrug Beautycard points = £10
  • 500 Superdrug Beautycard points = £5
  • 100 Superdrug Beautycard points = £1
  • 1 Superdrug Beautycard points = 1p

Real value of Superdrug points

  • Usually 1 point earned per £1
  • So 1 point works out as 1% of your original shop
  • Minimum payout = 100 points / £1
  • So you need to spend £100 to use any points

It’s similar to Boot’s in that there are often bonus points offers. You can only use your points in multiples of 100.

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October 14, 2024   |   Articles

Swap old clothes for money off vouchers

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Recycle clothes and shoes to help save on something new 

H&M, M&S, Schuh, John Lewis, River Island and George at Asda all have schemes that let you swap old clothes or shoes for vouchers.

It’s a great way to clear the clutter and save money at the same time. Plus it’s far better for items to go to charity or get recycled than adding to landfill.

Some articles on the site contain affiliate links, which provide a small commission to help fund our work. However, they won’t affect the price you pay or our editorial independence. Read more here.

Image of a pile of clothes

H&M clothes recycling scheme (£5 voucher)

Donate any bag of old clothes or unwanted garments into an H&M shop and you’ll be given a £5 voucher to spend as part of the H&M Garment Collection programme. In theory, you’ll get a voucher per bag of clothes so you can get multiple vouchers. However, there is a £25 minimum spend with each voucher.

So what can be in the bag? Well you don’t need to have any H&M products to get the voucher. And you can also donate any kind of textile, whether its curtains or knickers as the fabrics are all recycled.

You can also do the same at H&M’s Monki and & Other Stories brands. The latter also has a beauty recycling programme where you get 10% off their cosmetics if you take in your empty beauty product.

M&S and Oxfam’s Shwopping Clothes Exchange (£5 voucher/freebie)

There are three ways to get something back via Marks and Spencer and Oxfam.

Get a £5 off £35 voucher

Hand over your old gear at an Oxfam and you’ll also get a £5 voucher to spend on clothes in Marks and Spencer.

One item must be labelled M&S, and you can only use the voucher in the same calendar month. There’s a minimum £35 spend and it’s only valid on clothing, home or beauty.

I asked in a store a while ago if you can use the voucher with other offers and the checkout woman said she’d seen the vouchers be used with Sparks offers such as 20% off everything. So it’s worth grabbing one of these to use when those deals come around.

You can find your nearest Oxfam and read the full terms and condition of the Oxfam Clothes Exchange.

Get 20% off selected kids’ clothes

You can also trade in your old M&S school uniform and receive 20% off selected kids’ clothing as part of the Back To School Shwopping Scheme.

All you’ll need to do is hand in your pre-loved uniform at a participating M&S store and scan the QR code on the Shwop Box.

You’ll then receive a voucher for 20% off selected kids’ clothing in the M&S app which can be used online or in-store.

Get a Sparks freebies

Or if you want to drop clothes off at an M&S Store you’ll be able to scan a QR code to receive a free treat via the M&S Sparks loyalty scheme.

It can be from any retailer, and the item doesn’t have to be clothing, with shoes, handbags, belts, hats, scarves, jewellery all taken, along with things like bedding, towels, throws and napkins.

The idea is that your donation will either be sold by Oxfam or recycled.

You’ll have to pop into a shop to see if it’s running there or not, but M&S say you can do this at most M&S clothing stores. It seems to work that you can get the Sparks treat every 30 days.

When I tried it the gift was a free pastry from the in-store bakery and I had 30 days to claim it. The M&S staff member who also tried it with me got the same promotion but I was told the offer will change and will be tailored to each person.

River Island x ReSkinned (£5 voucher)

This scheme requires you to send at least three items via courier to Reskinned. In return you’ll get a £5 voucher to use on purchases over £40 at River Island stores. They’re only valid for one month from issue, so don’t forget to use them.

Schuh “Sell Your Soles” scheme (£5 voucher)

You can get a £5 voucher to use at Schuh for every pair of shoes you donate. The shoes are donated to Recyclatex with around 98% of materials reused.

You can use your voucher online or in-store on full price items over £25.

John Lewis “Fashion Cycle” (£5 voucher)

Take five items of clothing into any John Lewis store as part of their FashionCycle scheme and you’ll get £5 off Fashion Rental, with a minimum spend of £50. They’ll accept shirts, t-shirts, jumpers, cardigans, jackets, coats, shorts, trousers, jeans, childrenswear, dresses, jumpsuits, skirts and school uniform.

You need to be a member of the free My John Lewis scheme and note that the voucher is only redeemable during the month.

The best deals

Find our picks of the best offers in our dedicated deals library

George (10% off)

You can box or bag up 10 or more unwanted clothes and textiles and donate them at Asda. In exchange, you’ll get a 10% off code to use at George .com.

There are limits on the parcel size (50cm x 30cm x 30cm) and it can’t weigh more than 10kg. You’ll need to check if your local store is participating.

Donate to Cancer Research UK via TK Maxx (no voucher)

You can take a bag of unwanted clothes to TK Maxx who will pass it on to Cancer Research to sell or recycle. Cancer Research UK will keep all the proceeds.

Donate to Zara (no voucher)

Zara will also take unwanted clothes that will be donated to those in need or sold by charitable organisations to raise funds. There’s no voucher for you if you do this.

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September 22, 2024   |   Articles

Regular savings accounts explained: Are they worth it?

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How you can save every month for a higher rate.

I’m a huge fan of monthly or regular savings accounts. They’re great for people putting money aside every month, and they also tend to have some of the highest interest rates! You can get up to 8% via these accounts – far above the best options elsewhere.

But these monthly savers are often misunderstood, especially when it comes to the amount of interest you’ll earn. So here’s an explainer to make sure you know how they work.

Some articles on the site contain affiliate links, which provide a small commission to help fund our work. However, they won’t affect the price you pay or our editorial independence. Read more here.

What is a regular savings account?

A regular savings account is designed for people saving some of their income every month rather than depositing a lump sum. Hence the name. Usually this transfer is made by a direct debit, set up when you open the account.

I’m a big fan as they encourage you to save a set amount every month, rather than ad hoc amounts as and when you have spare money.

How regular savers work

Often there are limits and restrictions, though this can vary depending on the account.

You’re limited to how much you can save in them

You can typically only deposit between £50 to £500 every month, with most actually having a cap of around £200.

You might also have to pay in a minimum each month, though that might not be much – usually £25 or £50.

The account normally closes after 12 months

The vast majority of regular saver accounts (Natwest/RBS’s option is the main exception) last for just one year. Once the year is up you’ll be paid the interest and the account is closed with your money moved to a lower paying easy-access account.

Rates can be fixed or variable

Unlike most other types of savings account, you’ll find some could change during the time you have them, while others are fixed.

During this time of likely base rate cuts, a fixed rate account is a good option, and worth tying in while you can.

Withdrawals can be limited

Some regular savers don’t allow withdrawals until the year is up, or have extra limits on them such as just two a year. If you do take money out, you might not be able to add it back in for that month.

The best accounts require current accounts

The highest paying regular savers are usually restricted to existing customers of the bank. Though you should be able to easily open a new current account with those banks to be eligible, there might be better paying options at other banks, for example a monthly reward or cashback. There are also a handful of loyalty savers via building societies that require you to have been a member on a certain date.

How interest is calculated

The main area people get confused about is the interest rate. For this example, let’s use an interest rate of 5%.

If you save £250 a month into the account, and therefore have £3,000 saved by the end of the year, you might expect to get 5% on that £3,000 – a total of £150.

However you don’t have £3,000 for the full year – you’re adding money incrementally. This means you’ll only earn interest on the cash held each month. So the first £250 will have been saved for 12 months and earn the full 5% – a figure of £12.50 over the year

In turn, the second £250 saved will only be in the account for 11 months. So you’ll earn 11 twelfths of 5% on £250 – which works out as roughly £11.45 of interest.

The next £250 will be 10 twelfths, the next one 9 twelfths and so on. If you miss a month or pay less in that month, then that’ll also affect your earnings. If carried on you paying in the maximum every month, you’d earn £81 after a year.

If you calculated this £81 return on the total £3,000 balance it’s effectively 2.7% – just over half the advertised rate. This is why people get angry. But you are still earning that headline money on your monthly deposits.

And that “50% of the headline rate” is a handy shortcut if you want to find out how much you’ll make based on the annual balance saved. For a more accurate figure, you can use the calculator on Money Saving Expert.

How much could you make?

Here are the top paying accounts at the time of writing, and the interest in the first year if you deposit the maximum amount allowed at the start of the month.

BankRateMonthly limitMax interest in 12 monthsRequirement?
Principality Building Society (six months only)8%£200£27*No
Progressive Building Society7%£300£135No
First Direct7%£300£135Current account
HSBC7%£250£114Current account
Nationwide6.5%£200£84Current account
Club Lloyds 6.25%£400£161Current account
Natwest6.17%£150£60**Current account
RBS6.17%£150£60**Current account
Halifax5.5%£250£89No
* Interest for 6 months only
** Carries on after 1 year but only paid on the first £5,000

Regular savings hacks

These regular savings accounts aren’t just for people building up a new savings pot. You can funnel other, lower-paid savings, into these accounts.

Drip feeding your savings

If you’ve got a small lump sum you can gradually move money from one account into a regular savings account.

Say you have £3,000 already. The first thing to do is move it to the highest-paying account or accounts you can find.

For the example here let’s assume it’s all in an easy-access account earning 4.8%. In a year this would earn you £144 of interest.

But if you then move it month by month (at £250 a time) to a regular saver account paying 7% you would earn a combined total of £180 in interest (£113 from the regular saver and £67 from easy access account). That’s £36 more than if you’d left it in the easy-access account.

However, this might not be too different from putting the cash in a one year fix. For example, one that paying 5% would earn £150. Here’s more on drip feeding vs fixes.

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Using multiple regular savers for larger savings

You’re not limited to just one regular saver, so you can use the same trick as above to drip-feed deposits if you have a larger stash.

For example, at the time of writing, you could pay a total of £1,000 each month into four accounts that earn above 7%.

Are regular savers worth it?

Andy’s Analysis

If you want an account that pushes you to save every month, earns decent interest and sometimes make it harder for you to access the money for a year then they can’t be beaten.

And as they’re offering some of the best rates on any kind of account, you’ll also likely be earning the most money you can. The fact that some are fixed also means you’re locking in a decent rate when they’re likely to fall elsewhere.

But, many of these high-paying ones do require a current account. Though there’s no reason you can’t open up more accounts to get these offers, it’s worth considering if you’ll make more money by switching bank instead. Plus bear in mind you’ll be credit checked to open those current accounts.

The best regular savings accounts

Right now those with current accounts get up to 10.38%, and with no restrictions up to 7%. Check out our regularly updated list of what’s on offer.

It’s always worth trying your local building societies too as they may have higher rates that are only accessible if you live locally.

The best monthly savings accounts

Check out our list of the highest paying regular or monthly savings accounts.

However, it doesn’t make sense to have a regular saver paying less than the best easy-access accounts, while lump sums might be better off in a fixed-rate bond. We’ve listed the highest paying ones in our savings best buy tables.

The best savings accounts

Check out our list of the highest paying regular, easy-access, fixed and ethical savings accounts

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September 3, 2024   |   Articles

Club Pret review: is it still worth it?

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Pret no longer offers five coffees a day with the subscription

Club Pret is Pret’s subscription service. It used to offer five drinks a day for £30, but has been given an overhaul, and ultimately downgraded, instead offering half-price drinks for a fiver a month. 

Here’s what you need to know about Club Pret, including how many coffees you’ll need to drink each month before you start saving money.

Some articles on the site contain affiliate links, which provide a small commission to help fund our work. However, they won’t affect the price you pay or our editorial independence. Read more here.

Text saying "Club Pret" with a cup of coffee

How Club Pret works

Club Pret gives you five half-price drinks for a monthly fee. You need to sign up in the app or on its website, including entering your payment details. Once you’ve done that, you’ll get a QR code in its app and by email.  

When you’re in Pret you order as normal and scan your QR code to get the discount. You can use it five times each day with at least a 30-minute gap between each one, to stop you from sharing the discount with your friends. 

There are a few locations where the discount can’t be used — mainly service stations and some in Ireland.

If you already had the old subscription

If you previously had the subscription then you’ll be moved to this one on your next billing date after 2 September, so you may have been moved to it already. You’ll need to cancel before your September billing date if you don’t want the new membership.

How much is Pret’s subscription? 

Club Pret costs £10 a month, although it’s being launched at £5 per month until 21 March 2025. The start of each month is determined by the date you sign up, so if you sign up on 10 May, your next month begins on 10 June.

You’ll be charged for the next month on the last day of the current month. So, in the above example, you’d be charged on the 9 of every month.

There’s no minimum subscription term, so you can cancel at any time. You’ll get the full month regardless of when you cancel so it makes sense to not leave it too late, just in case you forget.

Drinks included in Club Pret

As long as it’s a drink ordered over the counter and prepared by a barista (not a premade one in the fridge) then you’ll get the discount on it. This includes coffee, tea, hot chocolate, iced coffees and Pret Cooler Lemonades. Milk alternatives and syrups are included, too.

How much could you save?

For our calculations, a latte, flat white or mocha costs £4.05, tea is £3.30 and iced drinks are around £4. The cooler lemonades are £4.20.

 If you order a single £4.05 coffee every weekday, you’ll have roughly 22 coffees a month. This would usually cost you £89.10, but would be as little as £49.55 including the £5 membership fee. When Club Pret costs £10 per month, it’ll be £54.55. 

If you pay £5 per month for Club Pret from 1 October until 31 March (6 months) and taking into account annual leave, sick leave and bank holidays (so roughly 110 days), you’d potentially save £192.75. 

 If you go to the office three days per week and get a coffee each time, you’ll save £19.30 each month.

Minimum orders to break even

At £5 per month and with a latte costing £4.05, you need to have as many as three coffees each month before you start saving money. When the membership moves to £10 per month, it’ll take five coffees to break even. 

Do you get discounts on food with Club Pret?

Previously, Club Pret subscribers got an additional 20% discount on all menu items – including sandwiches, hot food, soft drinks and crisps, as well as additional hot drinks. This isn’t offered with the new subscription.

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Is Club Pret worth it?

Zoe’s analysis

At first, it’s definitely not got as much appeal as its previous “unlimited” but more expensive iteration. However, it could still save you cash, and may even work out better for more casual Pret customers.

If you reckon you buy at least three drinks each month at Pret, it’s probably worthwhile to get the membership. Once the membership goes up to £10 per month, you’ll need at least five every month to start saving money — still a good deal, but only if you know you’ll drink there.

There are downsides — you have to stick to Pret. Don’t let Starbucks’ new syrups tempt you away. And if you tend to get tempted to grab a pastry or sandwich that you wouldn’t otherwise buy, you’re not saving money.

Alternatives to Club Pret

If you’re missing Pret’s original subscription then you could go for Leon’s newly launched subscription that gets you five coffees a day for £25 each month.

Or you can sign up for other coffee shop loyalty schemes which can offer stamps to earn a free drink or other discounts. You might even get free coffee with other memberships or services without even realising it.

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July 15, 2024   |   ArticlesReview

Halifax Reward account review: is it any good?

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Jump a few hoops to make £60 a year

The Halifax Reward account offers a monthly reward. This has changed over the years – it currently offers a choice of £5 in your account, a cinema ticket or three digital magazines each month.

Plus, you can get three accounts and therefore three lots of the bonus, but you have to jump through a few hoops. Here’s everything you need to know.

** Update – the Reward Extra perks will end for new customers in June 2025, and for all in September. Here’s what we know so far**

Image of a Halifax bank card

What is the Halifax Reward current account?

The Halifax Reward account is a fee-based account that gives you a choice of freebies each month. You can only have three accounts in your name.

How much does the Halifax Reward Account cost?

The Reward account charges a £3 monthly fee, meaning it’ll cost you £36 a year. This isn’t unusual – many current accounts with benefits have a similar charge, including Barclays Blue Rewards, NatWest Reward and Club Lloyds.

However, you won’t pay the fee if you deposit £1,500 every month. This should be fine for most people if you have your salary paid into your account – you need to earn just under £21,500 a year to take home this amount after tax and National Insurance.

If not, you can pay in a smaller amount from another account, e.g. £500, withdraw it, pay it back in, then repeat it once more.

What rewards do you get?

To be eligible for one of the Reward Extras you’ll need to either spend £500 a month on your debit card or keep £5,000 in the account every day of the month.

You also need to pay in £1,500 a month every month to get your reward (and avoid the fee). You also need to keep your account in credit.

If you do these then you get to pick a reward. These are:

  • Three digital magazines a month from a selection of Hearst magazine titles (eg Good Housekeeping, Red)
  • One Vue cinema ticket a month (each valid for 12 months)
  • £5 a month

The one you choose is fixed for a year, so you can’t mix and match throughout the year. You can choose a new reward at the start of each 12-month anniversary.

It’s possible to track the progress towards your reward in the app so you know if you’re going to get it or not each month. You’ll also find when your 12 months are due to end so you can choose a new reward (if you want to change it).

Extra cashback offers

You can activate offers from a handful of retailers to earn cashback if spending with your Halifax card. I’ve hardly ever used it, but I check from time-to-time to see which shops are on there, just in case.

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  • FSCS Protected? Yes
  • Bonus requirements Switch using the Current Account Switch Service and close your old account within 60 days of starting the switch
  • Deposit requirements Deposit £1,500 in the first 60 days from opening the account
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Switching bonus

Halifax tends to run a switching deal two or three times a year, usually offering between £100 and £175. Get details of how it works, and any future promotions, in our Halifax switching offer analysis article.

Latest bank switch offers (A-Z)

As of 10/12/25

Click links for further details and analysis

Account summary

BenefitsChoice of £5 a month / Vue cinema ticket / 3 digital magazine subscriptions
Save the Change auto-savings feature
Limited cashback with retailers via debit card
Fee£3 (£0 if you pay in £1,500 every month)
RequirementsPay in £1,500 every calendar month
Either spend £500 on your debit card each month or keep £5,000 or above in the account all month
Stay in credit (above £0) all month
Multiple accounts?Three
ExclusionsYour chosen Reward and qualifying method are fixed for 12 months
More on the Halifax Reward account

Are the rewards any good?

I’ll look at each benefit in turn:

£5 monthly reward

£5 a month profit is better than similar rewards on offer elsewhere – as long as you are avoiding that monthly fee. That adds up to £60 over the year, which might be a lower value than the other options but you have the freedom to spend it how you wish.

The money is paid into your account each month. It’s worth noting that if you are a higher rate taxpayer you’ll be liable to pay extra tax on this bonus.

Free cinema ticket

The code you’ll get each month is valid for a year, and you can use two or more at the same time, saving on a family trip. They can also be used for pricier 3D screenings or VIP seats, increasing the value.

Standard Vue cinema ticket prices can vary between a fiver through to well over a tenner, and even more for the posh seats – it all depends on where you live.

If you’re paying close to a fiver, you’re better off getting the cash option – that’ll give you the flexibility to go to different cinemas (or not go at all).

But if you have an expensive Vue cinema near you and go once a month then the value of this reward could be pretty decent.  Say your tickets are £10 that’s an annual reward worth £120. If VIP tickets are £18 it’s worth £216.

Even so, it’s possible to save on cinema tickets in lots of different ways, and those deals could work out as a better option. For example two-for-one tickets via Meerkat Movies or free Vue tickets via a Telegraph trial. Here’s our guide to the best ways to save at the cinema.

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Free magazines

You can choose your three titles from this selection:

  • Cosmopolitan
  • Country Living
  • ELLE
  • ELLE Decoration
  • Esquire
  • Good Housekeeping
  • Harper’s Bazaar
  • House Beautiful
  • Men’s Health
  • Prima
  • Red
  • Runner’s World
  • Women’s Health

Your picks will be digital-only, so you’ll need a tablet or computer to read them. The three magazines you choose at the start of the year will be the same ones you’ll get all year.

Spend or save: which is best?

So you could be making anything from £60 a year (taking £5 a month) through to £200 (for top-end Vue tickets) from this account. But you need to factor in the requirement that you either need to spend or save a lot of money each month with Halifax. Here’s my take on each option.

Have £5,000 in savings

The option of £5,000 a month in your account seems relatively simple. Do this every month for a year and the £60 cash reward is the same return as putting that money in a 1.2% savings account. There are much better savings accounts on the market where this money might be better suited.

But I’m not a fan of this method. For a start that money has to stay there every single day of the month. So whether you need to use it, or the balance accidentally dips after a large purchase, you don’t get the reward.

The best savings accounts

Check out our list of the highest paying regular, easy-access, fixed and ethical savings accounts

Spending £500 via the debit card

The alternative is to spend £500 a month on your debit card. Do this exactly and you’ll earn £60 a year (if you take the cash option). That’s the equivalent of 1% cashback – so no real difference to using the top cashback cards.

However, if you spend more than £500 you won’t earn any extra money, reducing your equivalent rate. So do you just spend £500 and stop, then move over to your alternative card?

There are a couple of workarounds here that allow you to effectively earn double cashback on that £500 monthly spend.

Very simply, if you have a cashback credit card, you use your Halifax debit card to pay £500 off the bill every month. I’ve done this for the last year now and it works – you’ve just got to remember to do this before your direct debit for your card goes out of your account. I actually moved my Amex payment date from the start of the month to the middle to give me a bit more leeway.

The best bank switch bonuses

Check out our list of all the bank switch offers you can get when opening a new current account

the best bank switch offers on a blue background

The app

I quite like the Halifax app as you can do pretty much everything on it without needing to log on via a desktop. Some of the key features:

Sharing bank details

You can send your sort code and account number via the app. There’s no option to copy these in the app, so you’ll need to share them to another app (eg notes or messages) and copy from there.

Card controls

All the main options are here:

  • View PIN and request new one
  • View and copy card details
  • Freeze card use abroad, online and / or in-person
  • Stop gambling payments
  • Set your own contactless limit

Alerts

You can get notifications for:

  • Debit card transactions
  • Weekly spending summaries
  • Money paid in and out

Sending and adding money

It’s easy to transfer cash to new and existing payees, and there’s no need for a card reader. You can scan a cheque using the app to add the cash to your account.

Insights and budgeting

There’s an easy-to-find option to see all your upcoming payments in one place, how much they add up to and when they’ll be paid. You can also manage and cancel subscriptions in the app – the ones paid via a debit card rather than a standing order or Direct Debit.

You can look at monthly trends and payments which is potentially handy, but not as good as those on offer from third-party apps like Money Dashboard and Snoop.

Tapping on a transaction will show on a map where it took place.

You can see seven years of transaction history on the app, which you can also search. It’s possible to export monthly statements from when you opened the account but only as PDFs.

Other features

You can also:

  • Use Face or Touch ID
  • Change personal details
  • Add accounts from other banks via Open Banking (just the major high street banks)
  • See your credit score from TransUnion (which you can do for free anyway)

What’s missing?

However, when compared to the likes of Starling and Monzo, the big absence is the lack of separate pots or spaces. All your money is together in the main account.

Summary: should you get it?

Andy’s Analysis

If you have £5k to save or already use a cashback card for spending, then the £5 reward isn’t better than what you can get elsewhere.

But thanks to the debit card hack, I think it’s well worth getting one of these accounts to claim the reward alongside your other cashback card. And then another two times with additional accounts.

Plus the app is actually really decent and does most things you’ll need. So all in this is a good account to have and perhaps even use as your main account.

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July 10, 2024   |   Articles

Is Amazon Prime Day any good?

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Amazon’s member’s only sale is back this month, but can you actually save any money?

As with Black Friday, there’s quite a frenzy when it comes to Amazon’s Prime Day sale. There are often an awful lot of offers in just about every category, with a lot of them seeming to have huge discounts so it’s easy to buy things that you don’t really need.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you can afford it and will use the things you buy. But, despite the discount advertised, you may actually be getting a bargain? We’ve taken a look at some of the offers from last year to find out if Prime Day is just a deception.

Some articles on the site contain affiliate links, which provide a small commission to help fund our work. However, they won’t affect the price you pay or our editorial independence. Read more here.

What is Prime Day?

Amazon Prime Day is an annual sale to celebrate Amazon’s birthday, although they’ve started to sneak another into October. It’s only for customers signed up to Amazon Prime. This comes at a cost: £95 for a year, £8.99 a month or newbies can take out a 30-day free trial.

For that money you don’t just get access to this special sale, you also get extras such as film and TV streaming and free next-day delivery. Here’s our full review with thoughts on whether it’s worth the cash.

When is Amazon Prime Day 2024?

This year, Prime Day is on 16 and 17 July. Offers will go live from midnight and run for 48 hours.

There will be some deals across both days as well as “Lightening” offers that will come and go. There will also be a few early offers in the days leading up to the sale.

How good are Prime Day deals?

There are two parts to Prime Day offers. The first are extra savings and offers, such as an extra £5 off here, or £10 credit there. These can really help bring down prices, but over the last few years there haven’t been too many of these. That could well change in 2024, and we’ll let you know on our Amazon Deals page if they do.

The other part, and the bulk of the offers you’ll see are discounted items. And there are thousands of these. I’ve taken a look at some of last year’s best offers and reached out to both the Be Clever With Your Cash and our sister site Smart Money People‘s teams to find out some of the (so-called) bargains they’ve blagged. I’ve used the price comparison site CamelCamelCamel to work out which of them got a great deal, which ones went down to the same prices eventually and who got fobbed off.

A quick caveat: CamelCamelCamel’s price history doesn’t include Prime Day or Lightning Deal prices. This means that there’s a chance that lower prices have occurred. Even so, the site gives us a good indication of the usual selling prices. More on CamelCamelCamel further down.

Prime Day 2023 offers analysed

When we asked colleagues for some items they’d bought on Amazon last year for Prime Day, it turned out none of us at Be Clever With Your Cash had bought a single item during Prime Day last year. Seeing as we’re all dedicated bargain hunters, that says a lot. But some of our colleagues at Smart Money People did shop in the sale, so here’s how their purchases rate.

Echo Pop

  • Prime Day Price: £29.00
  • Lowest price since: £17.99
  • Price now: £44.99
  • The consensus: she missed out on a great deal

Sara at Smart Money People bought herself an Echo Pop on Prime Day last year. The smart speaker costs £44.99 at the time of writing. Sara nabbed it for £29.99 in the sale, reckoning that she saved about £20 on the purchase. Since this was a new product it was a hefty discount.

But just three months later, the Echo Pop was selling for just £17.99 — she could have saved herself £11 more if she’d waited.

Anker Powerbank

  • Prime Day Price: £19.99
  • Lowest price since: £27.99 (11 months later)
  • Price now: £27.99
  • The consensus: lowest price all year

Another item Sara picked up on Prime Day was an Anker Powerbank for £19.99, reckoning she’d saved herself about £10 on it. The power bank is being sold for £27.99 right now and that’s also the lowest price it’s been since. So she managed to grab herself the lowest price on that item all year.

Garmin Venu watch

  • Prime Day Price: £259.99
  • Lowest price since: £244.99 (5 months later)
  • Price now: No longer available. It was £369.99 before removal but is now available at many retailers for £249
  • The consensus: a fair price

Sophie, Senior Insight Analyst at Smart Money People bought herself a Garmin 2S last year on Prime Day at £53.44 less than the advertised price, spending £259.99.

The CamelCamelCamel graph below suggests that she picked up a huge saving with the same watch costing far more for most of the last 12 months.

However, that dotted line shows Amazon didn’t actually sell it that often after Prime Day, which suggests it was a stock clearance price rather than a special deal. In fact the S3 was released soon after.

An alternative colour did keep selling though, often between £260 and £300, so while her watch wasn’t really available from Amazon at the listed £310 price, it looks like it was a decent price at the time.

Ultrasport F-Bike

  • Prime Day Price: £79.99
  • Lowest price since: £99.99 (2 months later)
  • Price now: Unavailable – was £100.99 before it was pulled
  • The consensus: a decent deal

A friend of mine, Jen bought herself an UltraSport F-Bike on Prime Day last year. The Bike was £133.99 at the time and was reduced to £79.99 on Prime Day. This was the lowest price on this item since 2016. It was never reduced as far as this before it was removed from Amazon, so Jen got herself a pretty good price.

Apple Airpods

  • Prime Day Price: £169.99
  • Lowest price since: £149.99 (8 months later)
  • Price now: £169.99
  • The consensus: the price went down anyway

One of the top advertised deals for Prime Day last year were these Apple Airpods. They were £189.99 before Prime Day and you could get them for £169.99 on Prime Day — not a bad deal, but if you tried to buy them today, they’re selling at Apple’s new retail price of £169.99, so the price was going to go down eventually anyway.

There was a brief time when they were £149.99, which could have saved you an extra £20 on them, but this was eight months after the Prime Day price.

But remember that technology has new upgrades all the time – the 3rd Generation pair are still the latest ones, but there’s likely to be a 4th Generation set out soon.

Barbie DreamPlane

  • Prime Day Price: £52.99
  • Lowest price since: £39.79 (1 month later)
  • Price now: £65.99
  • The consensus: you could’ve saved more by waiting

Another deal heavily advertised by Amazon last year was this Barbie DreamPlane, a toy that would’ve been on the top of my Birthday wishlist as a kid! This was sold on Prime Day last year for £52.99, down from £74.39 — a £21.40 saving on the original price — surely Amazon didn’t go lower than that.

Just a month later, the Barbie DreamPlane was up for £39.79, so waiting just a little longer would’ve saved you an extra £13.20.

Other items

Here are some of the items we analysed for this, including whisky, an IPL Hair Removal Device and the Shark vacuum.

ItemPrime Day pricePrice nowLowest price since Prime DayWait time to lowest price
Hinyx 3 in 1 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Charger Stand£19.99£29.99£29.990 months
Anker Power Bank£19.99£27.99£27.990 months
Echo Pop£29.00£44.99£17.993 months
AMINZER IPL Hair Removal Device£48.72£59.99£46.275 months
Garmin Venu 2S£259.99N/A£244.995 months
Apple AirPods (3rd generation)£169.99£169.99£149.998 months
Sony LinkBuds S£119.99£119.99£99.995 months
Philips Series 3000i Connected Air Purifier£269.99£270.00£269.999 months
Barbie DreamPlane£52.99£65.99£39.791 month
Highland Park Dragon Legend Single Malt Scotch Whisky£26.99£42.00£44.000 months
Panasonic CT54 Slimline Combination Microwave Oven & Grill with Turntable£165.00£219.00£189.005 months
Bosch Home and Garden Cordless Combi Drill£59.99£110.00£56.995 months
Remington PROluxe Midnight Hair Dryer£29.99£52.82£29.995 months
Shark Handheld Cordless Vacuum Cleaner£49.99£79.00£49.995 months
Ultrasport F-Bike£79.99£100.99£99.992 months

Conclusions: is Prime Day any good?

While it’s easy to get sucked in by some great-looking prices, last year’s big deals weren’t always the best prices offered, with a lot of items getting reduced further just a few months later for Black Friday.

It’s always frustrating when something is cheaper in a subsequent sale, and Amazon doesn’t appear to be offering partial refunds if something you bought goes down just days later (as it does over Black Friday).

Saying that, most of these prices were pretty strong at the time, so if you need an item now it could be a good time to buy. So on this basis, I’d say Prime Day deals can be fairly decent.

Of course, that’s only if you’re not buying items on a whim. This whole sale is designed to get you to part with your cash so be wary of any impluse spending.

And you should still do some quick research into whether you have a good price. Importantly, don’t trust the RRP — these are rarely the real selling prices. Instead, use price history to see what your real discount is — more on this below. Essentially, you’re looking for:

  • a discount bigger than the usual selling price
  • items that are rarely discounted
  • something which isn’t about to be replaced by a newer version – bigger discounts could be on the way
  • a price you’re happy to pay
  • something you actually want and need

Our podcast

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Episodes every Tuesday.

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Prime Day vs Black Friday

In a lot of cases with the above items, the prices dropped again on Black Friday, sometimes further. Amazon has recently started to throw an extra Prime Day into October, with Black Friday deals too. Prices will likely be pretty similar on core Amazon devices.

Ultimately, if you see something on Prime Day at a price you are happy to pay, it probably makes sense to pick it up rather than wait. While there’s a chance you’ll miss out on a few quid, there’s also the risk that the item won’t be reduced in November!

How to find the best prices

As you’ll see from the graphs above, there are tools to help you work out whether a deal really is a deal. Here are our best picks of what you can use.

Check price history

The strangely named CamelCamelCamel is what we’ve used for the price history charts. It’s essential for helping to work out whether you’re likely to see a further drop.

You can also use it to set price alerts for when items hit a level you want to pay, though as mentioned, it doesn’t include Lightning Deals or Prime Day prices, which is a shame.

There are more price history sites that you can use, too.

Look for price-matching

Though the Prime Day prices will only be available to Prime members (remember you can get a free trial if you aren’t already, or sign up for one month at £8.99), other retailers might match prices or even offer their own deals to try to get some money spent with them rather than with the US giant.

It’s worth using Idealo, Price Spy or even just Google Shopping to see how much the item is selling for elsewhere. And don’t forget to see if you can stack other codes and savings on top!

Beat others to Lightning Deals

A lot of the offers you’ll see will be Lightning Deals with a limited quantity and limited time to grab them. Amazon obviously want to rush you into buying these offers, but there are ways to get the product in your basket before everyone else and still have time to check price history.

2024 Prime Day deals

We regularly update our Amazon Deals page with all the top offers we spot, both ahead of the day and once the sale kicks off.

There are already some early bird offers that are worth checking out.

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July 5, 2024   |   Articles

When direct debits are a bad idea

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Watch out for hidden extra costs

Most of the time paying your bill by direct debit will save you money – but if you’re not careful they can also end up costing you hard earned cash.

Some articles on the site contain affiliate links, which provide a small commission to help fund our work. However, they won’t affect the price you pay or our editorial independence. Read more here.

When direct debits aren’t the best idea

“Pay by direct debit to save” is a message you’ll see on most bills. And most of the time it’s true. From gas and electricity to magazine subscriptions and gallery memberships, you’ll find lots of places will give you a discount if you set up these regular payments.

But there some high profile instances where it’s actually better to pay the whole amount upfront.

Insurance is the worst offender. If you pay in installments you’re borrowing the money to pay for the cover, and then getting charged interest. So the vast majority of the time it’ll cost you more money.

And some direct debits can be estimated – meaning you pay more than you actually should. Energy bills are the main culprits here, and you could end up with more money on your account that you’ve actually spent.

I’ve broken down some of the times it’s bad to split your payments by direct debit, and when you can make a saving by using them. It won’t be the case for every company, so make sure you check the terms and conditions.

Regular payments that aren’t direct debits

You might think that any payment you set up to leave your account on a regular basis is a direct debit, but they aren’t.

If you’ve used the long number on your debit or credit card that’s known as a continuous payment authority (CPA), or if you’ve set up a regular transfer between different accounts that is probably a standing order.

There can be advantages of using these options, and in many cases you won’t actually be able to choose between them – for example, streaming service subscriptions are pretty much all CPAs.

Which direct debits are bad?

You will usually be charged extra money on each of the following if you choose to pay by direct debit as you’re effectively taking out a loan for the product.

  • Insurance policies – from home and contents to travel and car, making a monthly payment adds interest meaning you pay more.
  • Car and vehicle tax – Pay for the full year for the cheapest price. There’s a 5% surcharge if you pay in monthly or 6-monthly instalments. However you can still set up a direct debit for a 12-month payment to make sure you don’t forget. All the different costs are here.
  • Mobile phone handsets – it’s not always the case but you’ll usually pay less overall if you pay upfront for the handset rather than get it as part of a contract.
  • White goods – rent to own services charge extortionate interest when you buy a TV or washing machine.

Alternative ways to spread the cost

If not a direct debit, what? Well paying for a full year in one go for car insurance or a new phone can be pretty expensive. Ideally you’ll have planned for these as most are expected costs and have the cash available in your savings The easiest way to do this is to calculate the annual costs for there services and split it by 12. This is how much you need to save into a separate pot each month to cover the costs.

But if you don’t have the savings to pay for them? If you can get a 0% purchase credit card it’s a good way to spread the payments without getting charged. You will need to make minimum payments each month, and make sure you have a plan to clear the borrowing before the 0% period ends. Fail to do both of these and the charges can be sky-high.

Buy Now, Pay Later is also an option, though you’ll find the interest free periods are often much shorter, perhaps just a couple of months.

Or you could borrow from a friend or family member – just make sure you do pay them back!

When direct debits are good

Of course, on the whole, direct debits are good and can save you money or help you budget. They’re also protected by the direct debit guarantee. This means if something goes wrong, perhaps you’re charged too much, you’ll get the money back.

These are the key services where you could be given an extra discount for paying in regular instalments.

  • Gas and electricity bills – these charges will be estimated so give regular meter readings to make sure you don’t get caught out by paying too little or too much. You can contact your supplier and ask for a refund if you have a decent balance.
  • Credit card repayments – you won’t forget to make your monthly payments this way! Try to clear the whole balance, or at least as much as you can afford, rather than the minimum required.
  • Magazine and streaming subscriptions – Monthly payments give you the option to cancel at any time. Just don’t forget to do this or you’ll roll over for another month or year.
  • Memberships – e.g. gym, galleries and clubs. Watch out for auto-renewal here too.
  • Donations to charities – though if you can give via Payroll Giving at work you’ll be able to give before you get taxed.

Then there are a few where it doesn’t make much a difference – well you don’t make a saving. However, paying for the following by direct debit will help you spread the cost over 12 months.

  • Council Tax – you can ask to pay this over 12 months rather than the default 10 months if you want consistency each month
  • Water bills
  • TV Licence

And if you choose to pay many of the bills above via direct debit from a selection of Santander current account, you’ll also earn cashback on those payments.

Remember a direct debit means the amount can vary each month, but a standing order is for a fixed amount. It’s important to make sure you have enough money in your account before committing to a direct debit to avoid penalties for going overdrawn.

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June 18, 2024   |   Articles

How to save money on books

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The best discounts, freebies and tricks to buy books for less.

I tend to go through spells where I’m reading loads followed by periods where I can’t get going with a book. But when I get into a good book, there’s nothing quite like it.

And the more I read, the more expensive it can get. So it helps to find a few ways to find the best price, add extra discounts or even get books for free.

Here are the tricks I use to avoid paying full price.

Some articles on the site contain affiliate links, which provide a small commission to help fund our work. However, they won’t affect the price you pay or our editorial independence. Read more here.

Shop around

Don’t just head to Amazon and assume it’ll be the cheapest place to buy a book. Yes it often does sell at reduced prices, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to find it for less.

I use a website called 123 Price Check, which lists most major online retailers. This alone should get you the lowest price – though you can often save more.

Save at independent book shops

I like to shop at my local independent book shop, and they take National Book Tokens (as most retailers will). These are easy to get with a discount. I tend to buy them when there’s a short term TopCashback bonus, often spend £5 get £2 back, and earn cashback on top. You’ll also find them on apps like Cheddar, Jam Doughnut and HyperJar.

It’s also worth checking other membership schemes or work perk sites you have access to in case the rates are even higher. For example, I get 9.5% off National Book Tokens via an old Scottish Friendly ISA account.

Get an extra discount

The big chains often offer deals and voucher codes, so if you’re shopping online these could help bring the price down. If there are bookshops you like particularly then it’s worth signing up to email lists – WH Smiths for example often emails promo codes to use online.

Most of the big online retailers will also offer money back via cashback sites Quidco and TopCashback. In an ideal world you’ll be able to combine this with a discount code or discounted gift card, though check the cashback site terms and conditions. It’s worth seeing if you can also earn via Airtime Rewards at the same time, with retailers including Waterstones also offering cashback.

Use loyalty schemes

My local independent has a stamp scheme where you get a stamp for each £5 you spend. Get a full card and you’ve £10 credit to use. Another good reason to support your local shop.

Larger chains also have loyalty schemes. Both Foyle’s Foyalty scheme and Waterstones Plus give a stamp for every £10 spent, and once you have 10 stamps you get £10 to spend.

Visit your library

It’s easy to forget you can pick up free books from your library, including new releases though you might need to wait your turn.

Most libraries will have online catalogues and ordering systems which also let you renew if you haven’t finished.

If they don’t have the book you want you can request it. They’re often a small fee for this, but it’ll be less than buying a book outright.

Though it can vary depending where you live, you can often join a library online and even order books for collection.

Here’s my article on the books, magazines, ebooks and more you can get from libraries.

Buy second hand

You’ll also be able to pick up a decent read from your local charity shop, and your purchase has the added benefit of supporting a good cause. Obviously you’ll probably struggle to get a specific title, but if you’re open to what you read it’s worth a look. It’s worth seeing if there’s an online option, such as this one from Oxfam.

Or specialist second-hand book stores – both online on the high street – could give you a wider range of titles and perhaps a more knowledgeable staff to help you pick a decent read.

Swap books with others

Finished a book? See if a friend, colleague or family member wants to switch it with something they’ve loved.

If you’ve young children see if anyone is clearing out books their kids have outgrown – parenting groups on social media can be great places to look.

You should also see if there’s a swap box in your local area or workplace. These are generally set up by individuals – we’ve got one on our street where you can leave a book and take another. If there isn’t one, maybe look at setting one up yourself. This site has some listed, but it’s by no means a full list, and there’s this one too.

Go digital

Ebooks might not give the same experience as handling a paperback or hardback, but they can make reading a lot more convenient, especially when out and about. And they can also be a lot cheaper.

You can borrow them for free from your library, or get access to titles out of copyright via sites like Project Gutenberg – though these won’t work on a Kindle unless you convert them.

If you do have a Kindle then you can still save, with regular 99p offers on Amazon, and tools that help you track price drops and other promotions. You can read more about these in my article to help you save on Kindle books.

Our podcast

Listen to Cash Chats, our award-winning podcast, presented by Editor-in-chief Andy Webb and Deputy Editor Amelia Murray.

Episodes every Tuesday.

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Sell old books to fund new purchases

If you need to sell old books to raise funds for new books, then it’s worth looking at sites such as We Buy Books and Music Magpie. From my experience you won’t get anything for any popular titles, but rarer books and text books could get you a few quid. Here’s my guide to how these sites and apps compare.

Avoiding Amazon

Obviously lots of people will go to Amazon first for books, but I’m consciously avoiding any spending with them. Yes it does mean I could pay more for my books, but high street chains tend to be fairly competitive if you can’t afford smaller indies.

And even if you do still use Amazon, if the book is sold by a different retailer, take a note of their name and see if you can buy from them direct. They’ll get more of the money, and it could even be cheaper.

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June 17, 2024   |   Articles

Why you still need to watch out for 0845 and 0870 numbers

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The numbers that can add a fair whack to your phone bill.

I’m so used to inclusive minutes on my mobile SIM that I forget not all numbers are included in the allowance. Fortunately, there’s a work around if you come across premium rate digits.

Some articles on the site contain affiliate links, which provide a small commission to help fund our work. However, they won’t affect the price you pay or our editorial independence. Read more here.

What’s the deal with 0845 and 0870

Most non-mobile numbers start 01, 02 or 03, while mobile numbers start 07. These are generally included in your mobile phone allowance. 0800 and 0808, or freephone, numbers are also now included. All well and good.

But the rest… well it’s pretty confusing. On the whole, every other type of phone number isn’t going to be included in your mobile allowance, while it’s possible some might be part of your home phone package.

If these calls are on top of your allowance you’ll pay an “access charge”, often per minute which is set by your network. Then on top is another service charge per minute which is set by the people you are calling. And together it can make your calls pricey.

So you should avoid them if possible. And that’s not just 0870 and 0845. It’s the same with similar variations such as 0871 and 0843. Oh, and premium 09 numbers too. And don’t forget the exorbitant 118 directory enquiries numbers.

Numbers which are unlikely to be included in your mobile phone minutes

If the number you want to call starts with any of the following it’s likely to cost you money on top of your monthly contract cost.

  • 0842
  • 0843
  • 0844
  • 0845
  • 0870
  • 0871
  • 0872
  • 0873
  • 09
  • 118

How to avoid paying for 0870, 0845 and other non-inclusive numbers

You obviously want to avoid these extra charges. Here are a few ways to find an alternative.

Search for another number

You can, of course, go to the company website or Google to see if there’s an alternative number.

If you have no joy there’s another option. For years I’ve been using the website Say No To 0870. It’s pretty basic but is a big help. Essentially you search for the company you want to contact, or enter the number you have, and hopefully there will be an alternative.

In my experience, it’s hit and miss. The numbers are all provided by users so they can be out of date, or just plain wrong. But more often than not you’ll get some new digits to dial that won’t cost you extra.

Call the overseas number

This is a trick I’ve always used when calling a bank. On the back of your card there’s often a number to call from overseas, which starts +44 followed by a number starting 1, 2 or 3. Basically, ditch the +44 and replace it with a 0.

Use your landline

If you really have to call one of these numbers, then find out the cost from your landline. Some providers include these in your call package (if you have one), or are cheaper than using your mobile.

To be fair it’s years since I’ve had to do this – we haven’t even plugged in a phone at our new house. But it’s a decent backup option.

Try webchat

If you can’t find an alternative number, it’s worth seeing if the company has an online webchat service. These can be frustratingly slow, but they won’t cost you anything.