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March 6, 2023   |   Articles

Can you beat the bill price hikes?

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Which of your bills are going up and how to avoid paying more.

It’s the time of the year when a whole host of price increases are announced for a number of big services we all pay. Broadband, mobile, energy, council tax, water, TV… you name it.

And since many price hikes are linked to inflation rates from December last year or January this year, it means many bills are going up by up to 17%!

If you’re out of contract it can be the nudge you need to look for a better deal. Or even cut back on the services you pay for.

Of course, sometimes you can’t do much or anything about it. You can’t switch your water or Council Tax to a cheaper provider. Some contracts have annual increases written in when you sign up or exit fees.

But even in these situations, you might be able to find some savings. So in this article I’ve shared the top ways to pay less on your bills.

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.

Broadband and phone bills

Virgin Media, BT, Sky and other many broadband bills are going up at the end of March and start of April by around 14%. Which is huge!

The bad news is most customers can’t do anything about it until they are next out of contract. But the good news for Sky and Virgin Media broadband customers is you can use this as a chance to break your contract penalty free – handy if you’ve not been happy with service. Sadly this could be the last increase where this rule works for Virgin Media.

If you can break your contract, or if you’re already out of the initial one, then use a comparison site to see what you can get from a different provider. Here’s more on getting the best deal for your broadband.

New customer extras (such as bonus gift cards or extra credit on your account) aren’t as good as they used to be, but it’s still well worth seeing what’s out there. Don’t forget to go via cashback sites Quidco or TopCashback as you might be able to get £100 back, perhaps more.

Or you can use your price research to haggle. Along with mobile networks, I’ve found you can often get money knocked off your bill if you tell your provider you are going to leave. Then see what they offer you to get you to stay.

TV and streaming bills

You could be hit by Sky, Virgin and BT increases even if you don’t get broadband with them as TV customers will see hikes too – and these won’t allow you to ditch mid-contract.

If you’re out of contract you could shop around or haggle here too – but personally I’d see it as a chance to ditch something you are probably overpaying for!

Instead you can get all the Sky channels via NOW TV or Sky Stream, though I’d go with the former as you’ve more flexibility.

This will work out a lot less each month for most customers, though the sports channels can make it less cost-effective, especially since the Sky Sports and Boost packages on NOW and the BT Sport month passes have all increased in the last month. Here’s more on ditching Sky and Virgin TV.

Elsewhere, we’ve not had any other major streaming price hikes this year (so far at least). But prepare for changes in the near future as Netflix is set to bring in sharing restrictions and Disney+ might start charging more to avoid adverts. Even if there aren’t hikes, I think it’s a good opportunity to streamline your streaming and pay for fewer services each month.

Oh, and the TV Licence is frozen this year, so there’s no increase. Though I think it’s a vital service, those who don’t want to watch live TV or use iPlayer can stop paying.

Mobile bills

EE, BT, Three, O2, Sky and Vodafone are among the networks that have already announced price increases or have it written into existing contracts. And if you’re with Virgin Mobile or O2 it could be going up by more than 17% more!

If you’re not already SIM-only, then as soon as you are out of contract you need to seriously consider this. With 12GB deals available for £7 a month (or less with offers) there’s no reason people should be paying more than this.

If you’re out of contract it’s worth calling up your network to see if they can offer you a discount to stay. Don’t let them fob you off with free extra data. If you don’t need it you won’t use it, so you’re really gaining anything. Here’s more on how to pay less for your mobile phone bill.

Energy bills

Right now we’re set to see a £500 increase to average annual energy bills from 1 April 2023, along with the end of the £67 a month energy grant that’s been around since October. This is despite the energy price cap falling.

However, it’s looking increasingly likely that in the Budget on 15 March (perhaps before), the Chancellor will reverse part of this by extending the existing Energy Price Guarantee free. So we’ll still pay more each month, but not quite as much.

The best savings accounts

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

Water bills

Right, so can’t change your supplier if bills are going up. But you can potentially move to a water meter. The rough rule of thumb is you’ll save with one if there are more bedrooms in the home than people. But it’s best to use a calculator to get a better estimate of whether you will save.

And if you’re already on a water meter you can add water saving features to your home and ultimately just try to use less of it. Here’s more about reducing your water bill with a meter.

Council Tax

Most councils will be putting up prices from the start of April by up to 5%.

It’s also another bill you can’t switch. But you might be eligible for a discount. For example you’re the only adult in the property, are a student or are a carer.

It’s also possible to check whether you are in the wrong band. If you are, then payments could be backdated. Here’s more on cutting your council tax bill.

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February 27, 2023   |   Articles

Energy price cap drops but bills will still go up in April

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Despite falling prices, changes to government subsidies mean you’ll pay more.

The energy price cap is down for the first time in two and a half years, and looks to fall even more later in the year. But it’s still sky-high compared to historic bills, and with the energy price guarantee increasing in April, your bills are actually going to go up.

Here’s what you need to know about changes to the cap and freeze and how much you’ll pay.

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.

The energy price cap vs the energy price guarantee

The energy price cap is a limit set every three months that restricts how much an energy company can charge customers. Rather than capping bills, it’s actually a cap on the price per unit of energy.

Initially this cap was more expensive than fixed rates, then the energy crisis flipped that. But rising rates mean that even the capped prices are astronomical compared to prices from a few years ago.

However, in October 2022 a couple of government subsidies came along which meant no one was actually paying the cap. First, is a £400 discount added to all gas and electricity accounts, saving everyone £67 a month for six months, with the last payment coming in March.

Combined with this a lower price limit called the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG). The idea is that the government pays the difference between the two rates if the EPG is lower than the price cap.

At the moment the EPG is less than the cap, so we’re paying energy firms that rate, and also getting with the £400 discount on top. Together this averages out at £2,100 a year for a household with typical use. But that’s about to change.

How much is the energy price cap?

The latest announcement (in late February 2023) is for a decrease to the price cap from 1 April until 31 June 2023.

The new cap for a household with average use is £3,280 a year. That’s down by almost £1,000 from the cap that’s run from the start of the year.

How much is the Energy Price Guarantee?

The EPG will increase from £2,500 a year (based on average use) to £3,000 a year. In reality, with the £400 bill support ending, that’s actually a £900 a year increase. That’s about 43% more.

The actual prices per unit and standing charges will depend on where you live and the energy company that supplies you – and those figures haven’t been released yet.

How much will you pay?

Since the EPG is lower than the new price cap, that’s the figure which will be used to calculate the most you can be charged on energy usage. So you’re looking at £3,000 a year, or £250 a month for the next three months.

This is far and away the most you’ll ever have been charged for your gas and electricity.

As we’re only looking at this change for April, June and May it means on average the total extra you’ll pay in this period will be £225, or £75 extra each month.

Remember, these price cap figures are based on average use. If you use more than this average you’ll pay more, if you use less you’ll pay less. Plus, don’t forget it can vary regionally so you’ll need to check where you live to see exactly what it’ll be for you.

It also doesn’t take into account any standing charge change, or if you’ve got an accurate direct debit set up. And of course, energy usage will be lower in the spring than it is right now, so dividing the annual total by 12 won’t really add up.

If you want to get a rough quick idea, you can of course add 43% to what you pay at the moment. But you’ll get a sense.

If you want something a little more accurate, Money Saving Expert has a handy calculator to estimate what your direct debit should be. You’ll need figures showing your historical energy use, which can be found on your latest bill.

What happens next?

The EPG is fixed at the £3,000 average a year for the next 18 months – until October 2024. But the latest predictions from analysts show that wholesale prices (which correlate to the price cap) will be falling further as the year goes on.

In fact, it looks like the price cap could drop to £2,100 a year on average from June until the end of the year. If that was to happen, our bills would reflect this lower rate rather than the £3,000 EPG level.

How has the price cap changed?

As you can see from this table, the really big changes have happened since October 2021. Before this the average direct debit was under £100.

But the latest change is the first decrease since October 2020, albeit with the new cap still three times higher than the once set on that date.

DatePrice cap for a typical householdAverage monthly direct debitChange +/-
April to June 2023£3,000 EPG (£3,280 price cap)£250 (£273.33 without EPG)+ 43% (-23.3%)
January to March 2023£2,500 EPG – £400 grant (£4,279 price cap)£175 (£356.58 without EPG)+ 0% (20.5%)
October to December 2022£2,500 EPG – £400 grant (£3,549 price cap)£175 (£295.75 without EPG)+ 8%(+80%)
April to September 2022£1,971 price cap£162.25+54%
October 2021 to March 2022£1,277 price cap£106.42+12%
April to September 2021£1,138 price cap£94.83+9%
October 2020 to March 2021£1,042 price cap£86.83-7.5%
April to September 2020£1,126 price cap£93.83-4.5%
October 2019 to March 2020£1,179 price cap£98.25-6%
April to September 2019£1,254 price cap£104.50+10.2%
January to March 2019£1,137 price cap£94.75
Price caps since start in 2019

When is the next price cap change?

Until October 2022, the cap was reviewed every six months (in January and August) with new caps beginning in the April and October of each year. It’s now going to change every three months.

The price cap will next change on 1 April 2023, and we already know what this is (see above). After this, it’ll change again on 1 October 2023 until the end of the year.

Price cap announcements & changes

  • 26 May 2023 announcement for 1 July to 30 September 2023 charge
  • 25 August 2023 announcement for 1 October to 31 December 2023 change

Read next

February 24, 2023   |   Articles

Be Clever With Your Cash is nine!

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The highlights for me and the blog over the last 12 months.

As has now become tradition, I use Be Clever With Your Cash’s birthday as a chance to share with you the good and the bad from the last year.

I rarely write about “blogging” itself or the challenges of running my own business, so also it’s a good opportunity for me to reflect on how things have gone and give you a bit of an insight into what happens behind the scenes.

Plus, I’d really appreciate it if you can fill in my annual survey so I can get your feedback on everything I do.  You’ll also be in with the chance of winning a £25 gift voucher or an hour long video chat with me.

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.

The biggest year yet

In recent birthday updates, I’ve shared how I quit my 9-5, presented a TV show and undertook a huge site redesign. All massive changes for the business and myself personally.

But this year, for the first time, there’s been nothing new. Nothing seismic. Or at least on the surface.

In reality, it’s actually been the biggest and most successful year yet. With 4.8 million views of the blog and 3.3 million views on YouTube, there was an amazing 60% growth compared to the previous 12 months. The podcast has also increased listenership, with 250,000 total downloads in the year, up by 40%.

Though I have an indie/blogger mentality, where I’m doing my own thing (on my own), this was the year where Be Clever With Your Cash really hit the next level.

If you forgive this tortured metaphor, it feels like the site is no longer a big fish in a small (blogger) pond. It’s moved up to an even bigger stretch of water, with some even bigger fish.

As I write this, the all-time views for the blog have passed 15 million, while the 10 millionth visitor should reach the site next month.

I’d never have dreamed of that kind of reach and impact when I started. To have saved so many people so much money is something I still struggle to comprehend.

And it’s not just about numbers. Getting Rishi Sunak on the podcast last spring was a huge coup, as was having Cash Chats featured as “Show of the Week” in the Radio Times in November. This isn’t “indie” anymore.

So, the question is what next? Very soon I’ll hopefully be able to share with you what the next chapter of Be Clever With Your Cash looks like. I’m really excited about the plans. Fingers crossed!

The pros and cons of a digital nomad

Something I’ve really loved about the last few years is the complete autonomy I have in when and how I work. I can choose my hours, allowing me to disappear to play tennis mid-morning or take afternoons off to binge the Olympic TV coverage.

Though it also means I do more hours than I’ve ever done before, and I often end up working late and at weekends. And I never get a chance to “switch off”, even on holidays when there’s always something that needs to be done on the site.

Even so, it’s a flexibility I’m always keen to take advantage of. So when my wife was between contracts in September and October we took the opportunity to try out remote working for an extended period. In theory, I can do what I do anywhere, so we headed to California for seven weeks. Part holiday, part working.

There were fantastic parts to the trip, especially the weather and the food. I studied there as a student so it’s always a place I feel at home.

However, the work side of things was tougher than expected. I found the eight-hour time difference an issue when responding to the day’s events, while my laptop wasn’t up to the job of live streaming and editing.

And there wasn’t really any proper holiday time as I had to do some kind of work almost every day, including filming a video about a Bank of England base rate rise in a LA hotel at 5am before heading to Disneyland for the day!

It also coincided with the collapse of the Liz Truss government and the chaos of the “mini-budget” so I woke up every morning wondering what fresh financial hell awaited me (and stressed about how much the pound had fallen against the dollar).

I’m glad we did it, but I think I’d rather put things in place so I can actually get away completely, and switch off for a fortnight!

Deprioritising other work

In last year’s birthday blog, I wrote how I’d refocused on what I viewed as a success for me and the business. Previously I’d seen being a TV money expert as the ultimate end goal. However, I’d not only accepted that might not be, but also that I wasn’t actually that bothered.

Instead, I was enjoying the success that I’d built on my on channels. Prioritising the growth of the blog, YouTube and podcast to help as many people as possible.

That’s still the case, and I frequently turn down local radio requests as I don’t have the time. I even had to rebuff some approaches from publishers to pitch book ideas as I knew there was no way I could do that and deliver the content I want to provide for all of you. Freelance work has been restricted to my weekly column in Metro and my monthly one for Reader’s Digest.

Still, it was nice to have a few TV appearances under my belt again for the first time since Shop Smart Save Money ended in 2019.

It took a while though! In the spring I filmed a pilot with Helen Skelton that didn’t get picked up, and I had to turn down some Jeremy Vine discussions in the summer due to availability.

So I didn’t get back on screen until a Channel 5 documentary back in September that looked at the cost of living crisis. This was followed a few months later by ITV Calendar news.

Then earlier this year I appeared on BBC News to discuss bank switching and then a few days later joined the Steph’s Packed Lunch team for Channel 4 to talk about haggling down bills.

I really enjoyed the experiences, especially the live element of the latter two. But I also enjoyed how I didn’t put any pressure on myself on what happens next.

I did some TV, and it went well. Then back to the day job. Which is how I like it.

Connecting with you

The real highlight for me in the last year though has been the growth of the community via the Facebook group and YouTube live Q&As. “Speaking” regularly with you has been transformative in how I run the business, so thank you for joining in and contributing.

My annual survey: Win a video session with me or a £25 voucher

It’s important to me that any content I produce for you is what you actually want to read, hear or watch. So please do take a few minutes to answer this short survey. 

If you also enter your email address at the end of the form you’ll also be in with a shot of winning a £25 gift voucher or an hour-long video chat with me. This prize draw ends 30 March 2023 and one response will be randomly selected and asked whether they want the voucher or money chat. Open to UK followers only.

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.

Listen now
Andy and Amelia with the text "Cash Chats Personal finance podcast"

February 14, 2023   |   Review

Natwest 6.17% Digital Regular Saver review – is it worth it?

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It’s hard to beat this high interest rate on cash savings. But there are a few catches.

This monthly saver from Natwest (and also RBS) has had one of the highest interest rates since it launched in 2020 – but with a catch. The Digital Regular Saver is designed for those starting off their savings journey, and as such there’s quite a small monthly limit you can put away. Just £150.

But as rates begin to improve elsewhere, there’s been an increase in how much you can save. Here’s what you need to know and whether it’s worth it.

Screenshot of the Natwest Digital Regular Saver in the app

How much can you save in the Natwest or RBS Digital Regular Saver?

Since late 2022, the maximum you can earn interest on will be £5,000. This is a big jump from the previous maximum of £1,000.

But it’s not as simple as adding all that cash to the account in one go. You can save between £1 and £150 a month into the account (at launch it was just £50).

If you keep the interest in the account, it’ll take two years and seven months of saving the full £150 to reach a balance of £5,000 (including the accumulated interest payments)

For those already with £1,000 saved in the account, it’ll be just over two years until you reach £5,000 (again including interest paid each month).

Unlike other regular savers accounts it won’t close after 12 months so you’ll continue to earn interest on your savings beyond this. You can also keep adding money once you get to the £5,000 cap, but I wouldn’t bother.

Another difference to normal regular savers is that you can take the money out whenever you want, not just when it matures. But taking £150 out doesn’t mean you can put extra back in. That £150 monthly deposit limit stays at £150 regardless.

The only way to add more than the £150 each month, and get to that £5,000 sooner, is to use a round-up function on your debit card. More on how this works here.

How much money can you earn?

From 14 February 2023, the account pays a huge 6.17% AER. If you save the full £150 a month for the first year that’ll net you £60 in interest. Keep going until you reach £5,000 and the total interest will have been around £380.

However any new deposits will earn far less. Money saved beyond £5,000 will only earn 0.65%. This can easily be beaten elsewhere. Confusingly if you do have more than £5,000 in the account it’ll show the combined interest rate on the app as your earning rate. Don’t worry about this – you’re still getting the full whack on the initial balance up to £5,000.

It’s worth noting the interest rate is variable. So though it’s 6.17% now, that could change at any time.

The best savings accounts

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

Who can get this account?

You can only open one of these regular savers if you have a Natwest or RBS current account. There are free ones, or you can look at the Natwest or RBS Rewards account (here’s my review).

How many accounts can you have?

There’s only one per person, which means you can’t get another, even as a joint account.

However the same account is offered by both Natwest and RBS, and you can open up an extra current account and then digital regular saver at the other bank to get two.

Account summary

Natwest / RBS Digital Regular Saver (6.17%)

Account nameDigital Regular Saver
Interest rate6.17% AER (variable)
Max monthly deposit£150
Min monthly deposit£1
Max amount earn interest on£5,000
Account closesNo
WithdrawalsEasy access with no penalty
RequirementsMust have a Natwest or RBS current account
Must have a standing order of at least £1 every month from your Natwest current account
More on the account at Natwest

How to open an account

If you have an account you need to go to your online banking or app to open the saver. I did this via my app and it took just three minutes. There’s an “Apply” button on the bottom right, and then tap the savings option. It’s all self-explanatory from there.

You need to set up a standing order of between £1 and £150 from your Natwest account, though you can cancel this once you reach £5,000.

Should you open a Natwest Digital Regular Saver?

Andy’s Analysis

If you already have a Natwest or RBS current account then absolutely, it’s worth it. It’s one of the best rates out there (for now). And if you can, put the full £150 in there to reach that £5,000 as soon as possible.

But what if you don’t have one? Well, that depends if there’s a bank switching offer running. Often both banks offer up to £200 for switching (you can only get the cash from one). Add that to the £36 a year via the Reward account and the initial interest, and you’re making £296 in year one.

When there’s no offer, well… most of the switching deals have been open to existing customers. And even if not, you could get it from the RBS instead. So you could open the account now to get saving on the Digital Saver and hope you can still get the switching cash later on.

Though there are better paying regular savers which might take priority, the big difference here is you will continue to earn interest on this one after 12 months. So in time it could be a better earner. Ideally you’d do both this and a strong competitor.

Of course, let’s not forget if you have a larger lump sum it’s better to prioritise opening up one of the best paying savings accounts.

Latest bank switch offers (A-Z)

As of 3/3/25

Click the links for further details and analysis

The best bank switch bonuses

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

the best bank switch offers on a blue background
February 6, 2023   |   Articles

MVNOs: The piggyback hack that’ll cut hundreds from your mobile phone bill

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Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) give the same signal at lower prices.

It’s easy to ditch EE, O2, Three and Vodafone and save money without compromising on the quality of your service. That’s thanks to cheaper networks which piggyback off the big four networks to deliver their services.

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 Mobile Virtual Network?

There are four main networks. EE, Vodaphone, O2 and Three. And these are actually the only real networks. The rest are what are known as mobile virtual networks operators (or MVNO). And that includes big names such as Virgin Mobile, Giffgaff and ID Mobile.

Essentially these MVNOs have agreements in place to lease the infrastructure and technology of the main networks to offer their own branded services – and their own prices.

Benefits of switching to a virtual network

There are two key reasons not to be scared of switching your provider.

They usually have the lowest prices

You will get much, much lower prices from the virtual networks. This is even the case for those owned by the big networks such as Giffgaff (owned by O2’s parent company Telefonica), BT Mobile (which actually owns EE) and Voxi (owned by Vodafone).

Here’s a good example. Right now 5GB of data and unlimited texts and minutes with EE will cost you £18 a month. But 10GB of data from BT Mobile is half that price for BT customers. That’s a saving of £108 a year and double the data!

A handful of MVNOs are also changing how you’re charged – which could make them the cheapest option for you. Sky Mobile will let you carry over unused data, while Smarty will give you credit back on each full GB of data.

Or you can get extra discounts thanks to your existing contacts. BT, Sky, Virgin and TalkTalk all offer their customers special deals for adding a mobile SIM to their existing TV and broadband packages.

You can get the same signal

You won’t see any difference to reception as long as you move to one which operates on the same service as your current main network.

So that could be Virgin Mobile instead of EE, Tesco Mobile instead of O2, ID rather than Three or Voxi rather than Vodafone. There’s a decent list of the main virtual networks and the network they use further down the page.

There might be some minor differences. Though most will be offering 4G service, not all will provide 5G. And they don’t all allow wi-fi calling via your number – though you can get around this by using alternatives such as What’sApp to make calls via the internet.

Benefits of sticking with the big networks

Of course, it doesn’t mean the main networks don’t have benefits. The following can mean you’re better off sticking with the likes of EE and O2 – but only if you’re able to get those prices down.

You can really haggle down prices

This is true for most, if not all, mobile networks – but especially with the big four. Use your research on the virtual networks to find the price you want to pay and then see if your existing network will match or beat it. 

Until recently I was with Three one and off for years. And every time I went to cancel they came back with an even lower price than what was advertised on their website.

Third parties often have cheaper deals

You can also get new contracts or upgrades via comparison sites and mobile phone shops that can be significantly cheaper than going direct, though they don’t always include extras, such as those listen in the next point.

You often get extra features, services and freebies

Free streaming

The big networks offer all sorts of discounts, such as £2 off Disney+ via O2, or free Paramount+ via Three. However, these offers are usually restricted to certain tariffs. – and they might work out no cheaper than finding a different deal elsewhere and paying for the streaming direct.

Now these can be great value for money IF you are already planning to pay for these services. But they certainly shouldn’t be the main reasons to choose one of the main networks. 

Loyalty apps

The same goes for Vodafone’s VeryMe, O2 Priority and Three+. These popular loyalty apps do have the occasional great freebie or discount – but you need to check just how much extra these are costing you.

Use them a lot on things you’d get anyway then great – e.g. the free Odeon tickets and Greggs from O2. But in my experience these are nice to have extras rather than essentials.

And there’s a hack that’ll get you access to each one even if you’re with different networks.

“It’s understandable people are nervous of switching – but it’s costing them a fortune”

One of the families I filmed with for the Channel 5 series Shop Smart Save Money was Christine and James. Christine was paying a fortune with O2 but she didn’t want to change her provider. She knew O2 gave a signal in the locations she needed it and didn’t want to risk bad reception with another mobile company.

And I think that’s quite a common feeling. We rely on our phones all day, whether at work or at home. Yes you might be able to get a signal with another big network, or you might be able to hop on to some wi-fi at those locations. But sometimes you just want to stick with what you know works.

However I was able to convince Christine that not only would she save a shed load of cash by moving away from O2, but also that switching provider isn’t actually much of a risk. All thanks to finding an alternative virtual network that still used the O2 network.

Which Mobile Virtual Network Operators use each network

There are a number of providers out there, but here are some of the main ones you will see. Some are very familiar names!

MVNO for EE

  • BT Mobile
  • Plusnet
  • Your Co-op
  • Utility Warehouse
  • 1pMobile

MVNO for O2

  • Virgin Mobile
  • Giffgaff
  • Lyca
  • Sky
  • Tesco Mobile

MVNO for Three

  • ID
  • Smarty
  • Superdrug

MVNO for Vodafone

  • Voxi
  • Talk Mobile
  • Asda
  • Lebara

How to bring your mobile phone number with you

You can take your existing phone number with you to your new network. You just need to request a PAC from your existing network and give it to your new one, and your number will be moved over, usually the next working day. Here’s more on how that works.

More ways to bring down your mobile phone bill

December 28, 2022   |   Articles

The best of Be Clever With Your Cash in 2022

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Catch up on my top articles, podcasts and videos from the last 12 months.

Over the last 12 months I’ve produced more content than ever before, writing 221 articles, recording 54 episodes of my Cash Chats podcast, uploading 96 videos to YouTube and hosted 25 live Q&A. And that’s not including countless deals posted here on the blog and Instagram!

No doubt even the most regular readers among you won’t have managed to take in all that money-saving and making content. So here’s a look at the highlights that are still well worth a look.

I’ve shared the most read, listened to and viewed over the year, which lends an obvious bias to content produced earlier in the year, so for each category I’ve also shared my personal favourite from the year.

And I’d also like to say thank you to all of you who consumer my content. This year will be my biggest by a long way, with close to 7.5 million views across all content. That’s almost double 2021’s figures. I couldn’t have done it without you, so thanks!

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.

The Be Clever With Your Cash blog in 2022

It’s been another record year for visits to this site. In total 2.5 million people (up from 2.1 million last year) came to Be Clever With Your Cash reading a total of just over 4.1 million pages (up from 2.8 million in 2020).

Almost half a million of those views were for my savings best buy tables! Streaming deals and bank switch offers were also very popular.

The most read new articles published this year included:

My personal favourities included:

The Andy Clever Cash YouTube channel in 2022

2022 was another great year for YouTube. I started 2021 with 20,000 subscribers and by the time you read this that figure has just nudged over 50,000.

Views were also phenomenal, with more than 3.1 million taking place across all the videos – that’s almost 2 million more than in 2021.

Alongside the usual video guides, I also held 25 live Ask Andy Q&A’s which have been an amazing way to connect with you every other week.

The most viewed videos created this year included a number of my monthly updates on savings, banking and credit cards, which I won’t share below as they’re largely out of date (new versions are published every month). But of the rest, these had the most views:

There are also a handful of videos with lower views which I think are worth a look at if you missed them:

The Cash Chats podcast in 2022

Even though I had to drop the bonus weekly “Your Money, This Week” episode of the pod (I just didn’t have time, but hope to bring it back in 2023), there have been a total of 225,000 downloads (up from 172,000 in 2021) of Cash Chats, with double the number of people listening to each episode.

Once again I managed to publish at least one episode a week all year, bringing the number of consecutive weeks to 154! Podcasting might be smaller than the others, and not really bring in much income, but I love being able to speak to guests or just chat to you each week.

But the two biggest moments of the year for me were thanks to the podcast. First, in March, I interviewed then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak on the show, a huge coup for an independent podcast.

And then in October Cash Chats was featured as “Show of the Week” in the Radio Times, selected ahead of alternatives from the BBC, Which? and the FT.

I’m not going to suggest certain episodes to catch up on as it’s best to just follow Cash Chats on your podcast app via these buttons and start listening!

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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.

Listen now
Andy and Amelia with the text "Cash Chats Personal finance podcast"

November 15, 2022   |   Articles

The best price comparison sites for your shopping

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Never pay more than you need to when shopping.

We’re used to using comparison sites for things like mobile phone contracts and insurance, but this kind of tool isn’t limited to bills.

You can quickly get a sense of the cheapest prices out there for a huge variety of items – from tech to trainers – with just a few clicks either to locate where you will buy or to use as a benchmark for further deal hunting.

So download these apps or bookmark these websites and make sure you check them before you shop.

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.

Getting the best out of comparison sites

Use more than one

I’ve listed below the main ones I use, but it’s often worth a quick look at a couple of these sites as some retailers won’t appear on them all. You might also want to search a few different permutations if there are different models or colours as the price could vary on those too.

Watch for extra costs

We all know that the price you see isn’t always the final price you’ll pay. Fortunately, all the sites listed here will allow you to search with or without delivery. I’d suggest searching without this cost as a default, then if there are extra costs, checking after to see if there are ways to get free delivery.

Use the prices as a guide

The lowest price you find might not be the cheapest you can get it. Once you’ve found a handful of retailers with similar low prices, take a look at cashback and voucher code sites to see if you can get the price down even more. Doing this could well make the third or fourth lowest price on the comparison site the cheapest one overall.

Check price history

I’ve written before about how price history trackers are essential to work out if you’re getting a good price, so I won’t focus massively on it here. But many of these sites also offer this feature, so it’s worth checking while you’re looking at prices to see whether it’s worth buying now, or waiting for prices to fall.

Set price alerts

If you don’t spot a price you’re willing to pay, then some price comparison sites will set alerts for a target price. If the product price does drop to or below this you’ll get an email letting you know.

This can be really handy as it avoids you having to constantly check prices, and reduces the chance you’ll miss out on a great deal.

Sadly it will be limited to the retailers listed on each site, so you might need to have a couple of alerts across a few of the comparison site. And don’t forget to turn them off once you’ve made your purchase.

Get the app

Though you could just use your mobile phone’s browser to access these sites, some also have apps. These are particularly handy when you’re out and about as they tend to have barcode scanners, meaning you’ll get the exact product pop up instantly.

The best shopping comparison sites

Google Shopping

Over the years, my go-to price comparison tool has been just to whack the item into my browser bar. As I use Chrome, it defaults to a Google search, so this is the fastest way to see what’s out there – at least in the first instance.

The first results you’ll see are usually adverts, so you’ll want to hit “Shopping” in the filters to get all the results. A search for Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones brought up a few different options for the same product, but clicking allowed me to see results from a few more retailers. But be careful you’re not accidentally looking at a similar product that’s listed in the mix.

PriceSpy

However, Google Shopping doesn’t show every retailer, or allow you to see price history or set price alerts, which is where these other sites come into play.

Of them, PriceSpy has the edge thanks to a better price history interface. You can drill down the price changes at individual retailers. Simply click the main price history graph to open up a price history table. 

You can then expand the information for each shop. You’ll not only see what the price changes were, but when they happened, giving you an idea as to whether this is a regular promotion or a genuine special offer.

PriceSpy is also available as an app so you can search prices on the high street too and scan barcodes.

Idealo

Alternatives such as Idealo and Pricerunner both also have these features, but I prefer Idealo as my third choice.

Amazon – Camel Camel Camel (alerts and history only)

Since this site will only look at prices on Amazon itself, it’s not really a price comparison site. However, Camel Camel Camel will let you look at options direct from Amazon and third parties, set price alerts and track the price history.

I’ve installed an extension into my Chrome browser that lets me quickly see the price history graph without having to open up a separate tab.

If you don’t want to do this then a shortcut to find the items is to copy the product code from the Amazon page URL (highlighted in the pic below). It’s always in the same place. Then paste this into the Camel Camel Camel search bar and you’ll get the exact product you’re looking at.

How to quickly grab the Amazon product code from the URL

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November 7, 2022   |   Deals

Latest Paypal offers & deals

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From time to time PayPal runs extra offers that are worth checking out.

We all use PayPal (check out my review here and guide to features you might not know about), but you might also be able to nab a special offer. Here’s my pick of the latest deals:

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.

Offers

£10 when you spend £5 at Google Play

If you’ve never used Google Play before then use PayPal to spend £5 and you’ll get £10 credit to your PayPal wallet.

Ends 31 December 2022 and you need to use the credit by 31 January 2023.

Sign up to Google Play

Referral bonus

Free £20 credit for signing up or referring a friend

As explained here you can refer a friend and both get £10 if they’re new to PayPal. They’ll also have to spend £5 via PayPal for you to both get the cash paid into your accounts. Now this all has to be done before the 31 December 2022.

Also, you can only refer ten friends, capping the amount you earn at £200. That means I can’t share a link here, but if you are one of the first to contact me I’ll happily refer you from my account.

October 12, 2022   |   Articles

Chip app autosave fees could cost you £41 a year

Written by
With automatic saves, can this app help you put money away?

One of the best savings apps over the years has been Chip. A smart autosave feature and often decent interest rates have meant I’ve often been a big fan.

Note often, not always. That’s because it feels like every few months the proposition (and charges) change. Sometimes it’s free, sometimes it’s not, and in recent years there’s been a move to focus on investments over savings.

And the latest revamp means it (once again) won’t be free to use the auto-saving feature. In fact, it’s never been so expensive!

So is it worth getting or sticking with the app to boost your savings?

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 Chip?

Chip is an automated saving app for your phone or tablet. It analyses your current account and works out how much you can afford to save – and then does it for you by moving the money to a separate account.

It also offers a savings rate of 1.1% AER or a Prize Savings Account with the chance to win up to £20,000.

There are also an increasing number of investment features, though this article is focused just on savings.

How much does Chip cost?

One issue I have with Chip is how frequently they change the cost of using the app. Sometimes it’s free, sometimes you have to pay.

Currently there’s a free tier called “Chip”, which is all you need to access the savings accounts and features. This is the focus of the review.

There’s an additional paid tier called “ChipX” (at £5 every 28 days) which adds investing functionality.

Auto save charges

Rather than make users pay a monthly charge for the entry-level Chip tier (which has happened in the past) there are going to be charges from 12 October 2022 for using different features – including autosaves.

New savings fees

These new charges begin on 12 October 2022

  • 25p per recurring save
  • 45p per auto-save

New withdrawal charges

  • Two free withdrawals per calendar month
  • £1 per withdrawal after this

Are the new charges worth paying?

Andy’s Analysis

I’m disappointed Chip has added charges for using autosaves (again). I get that the app needs to make money, and they can’t offer loss leading products. But it’s ridiculously expensive.

An autosave happens every four days. So unless you turn them off or pause them, they will happen 7 times a month or 91 times a year. At 45p per autosave, you’ll pay £3.15 a month or £40.95 a year.

That’s far more than you’ll have paid for this feature on the pre-2022 model. And it’s something no one should be paying especially since the exact same function is available for free via the Plum app.

You’ll also need to be careful if you do use Chip not to withdraw your money more than twice a month, otherwise you’ll get hit with a hefty £1 fee.

How does Chip help you save?

Chip offers a handful of features to boost how much of your money goes into savings.

Autosaves

I really love the “big idea” behind Chip. With automated savings, the app’s “AI” (artificial intelligence – don’t worry it’s not Terminator) algorithm analyses your spending habits, and based on what goes in and out of your account (along with general data about all its users) Chip will suggest an amount you can afford to save each week.

The amount will vary depending on how much money you have in your account and how often you spend it. It could be just a few quid, or a decent chunk. In theory, you shouldn’t really notice that the money has gone.

This is great for those who always plan to save but never get around to it. The autosaves can quickly add up.

But with a 45p charge for each autosave you’re really wasting cash for using the feature. However, if you want to learn more, keep reading.

How often does Chip save money?

By default Chip will suggest savings for you every four days. You can pause auto-saves for a week, two weeks or a custom date up to three months away. 

It can take up to three working days for your money to reach the linked account.

How to cancel autosaves

You have until 3pm to choose to stop this payment if you wish. If you’re happy with the suggested amount you don’t need do anything and the money will automatically be sent to your Chip account.

How much can you save with Chip?

Chip says the average is £20. There are five levels of auto-saves, with one being the lowest. By default, you’re at level 3, but it’s easy to switch between them in the app. 

Overdraft savings

I’m not a fan of this feature which allows you to move money from your overdraft into Chip. If you do this you’ll likely end up paying huge overdraft fees. Personally I’d avoid activating it.

Minimum balances

This is a handy cap you can put so that Chip won’t every take money out of your connected bank account past a certain balance. This can ensure you don’t ever go overdrawn or not have enough cash for other payments.

Splitting your autosaves

You have the option to choose how much of your autosaves goes into each savings account or goal (more on these later). So you could put 80% into the main savings account, but 20% into another.

Recurring Saves

This feature lets you choose when you move a set amount over. It can be weekly, fortnightly, every four weeks or monthly.

It’s basically a standing order – but one that charges you 25p for each transfer. So you’d be better off just setting these up with your bank for free, and moving the money to one of the best paying savings accounts.

Savings goals

The savings goals feature is useful in helping you identify what you’re saving for, and track your progress against the targets you set.

You can enter a name, date and amount to help motivate you to keep saving. You can have as many as you want, and allocate how much of your autosaves goes to each goal. 

The app then shows you how realistic it is to achieve your savings target by certain dates in the calendar when you’re choosing your savings deadline. Once you set a savings goal, Chip lets you know whether you’re on track to hit your target.

The money isn’t held in separate pots for these goals (as you would with Starling or Monzo). It’ll still sit in whichever account you’ve chosen for your money.

Save streaks

The more you save without cancelling a transfer or withdrawing cash the longer your savings streak will be. In theory, this keeps you motivated to keep on saving, though I doubt you’ll pay much attention.

Chip’s savings accounts

The money you auto or manually save to Chip sits in one of the connected accounts.

There’s the Instant Access saver, which can pay a decent rate – you can see the latest one in our savings best buy tables.

Alternatively, you can put your money in the Prize Saver account. There’s no interest here but you might win a prize between £10 and £10,000. Here’s my full analysis.

The best savings accounts

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

Is Chip any good for savings?

The autosave feature is great, but not at 45p per save. There’s no point paying 25p for the recurring saves either.

That leaves it just as an account to maximise earnings on savings. Does it perform? In the past Chip has offered high-interest rates, but the ones currently on offer can be beaten.

Alternatives to Chip

I’d use Plum for autosavings without a charge, and simply set up standing orders for regular payments for savings. Meanwhile Monzo and Starling let you create goals within their “Pots” or “Spaces” features.

For higher interest savings rates, check out my latest best buys.

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