Latest
Best easy access Cash ISAs (August 2026) Best easy access Cash ISAs (August 2026) Best free business bank accounts Best free business bank accounts The best easy-access savings accounts (August 2026) The best easy-access savings accounts (August 2026)
All product comparisons
All savings, ISAs & investing
All banking
Latest
Should I cancel old credit cards? Should I cancel old credit cards? 0% balance transfer credit cards explained 0% balance transfer credit cards explained The best cashback or reward debit and credit cards The best cashback or reward debit and credit cards
All credit & borrowing
Latest
Best Lifetime ISAs for 2026 Best Lifetime ISAs for 2026 Interest base rate stays at 3.75%: what does it mean for you? Interest base rate stays at 3.75%: what does it mean for you? Should I overpay my mortgage and is it worth it? Should I overpay my mortgage and is it worth it?
All mortgages & homes
Latest
Swap old clothes for money off vouchers Swap old clothes for money off vouchers How much do fans cost to run vs aircon? How much do fans cost to run vs aircon? Amazon Prime review: is it worth the money? Amazon Prime review: is it worth the money?
All spending & bills
Latest
Magazine and newspaper deals Magazine and newspaper deals Save money on toys: sales, offers and more Save money on toys: sales, offers and more Tech, appliances and electronics deals Tech, appliances and electronics deals
View all deals

Images

Updated July 15, 2025   |   Articles

Be Clever With Your Cash is nine!

Andy Webb
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.

Paid advertisement

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 Steve Alderton and Editor James Andrews.

Episodes every Monday.

Listen now
Updated July 15, 2025   |   Articles

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

Andy Webb
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.

Paid advertisement

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

Updated July 15, 2025   |   Articles

Can you beat the bill price hikes?

Andy Webb
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.

Paid advertisement

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

Paid advertisement

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.

Read next

Updated July 15, 2025   |   Articles

How to reduce food waste & save money

Andy Webb
You’re practically throwing money away when you chuck out perfectly good food.

Most food waste at home can be avoided, whether that’s food chucked out because it’s gone off or we’ve cooked too much. And if you can reduce your waste you’ll also be saving a ton of 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.

Paid advertisement

Don’t buy more than you need

A simple place to start is to buy less food. Here are the key ways to do this.

Plan what you want to eat

How often do you just head to the supermarket and decide what you’re going to buy as you walk the aisles? The danger here is you buy ingredients that are hard to use in a single meal but won’t fit into meals later in the week.

The way around this is to plan your meals and snacks before you reach the supermarket. You can do this weekly or even daily – whatever works for you.

Write a shopping list

Once you’ve got a plan, make a list of what you need for those meals and when you’re shopping, whether online or in an actual shop, stick to that list. This’ll stop you from buying more items that you probably don’t need and possibly won’t use.

Be wary of big packs and multi-buy offers

Often (though not always), you’ll find it cheaper to buy bigger packs of items or if you buy a couple of packs. The problem is you’re only saving money if you actually use everything. Sometimes you’re better off buying a smaller box or bag at a higher price.

Know what you already have

We’ve probably all done this – you’re at the supermarket and you pick up some of the regulars. Maybe it’s milk or some veg. The things you always buy and always use. But when you get home you realise you’ve already got these items.

That’s not a problem with things like toothpaste or tins of beans, but it could be a problem for anything fresh.

A simple way to avoid this is to take a photo of your fridge and maybe any relevant cupboards before you go to the supermarket.

Don’t cook what you can’t eat

Again, the food preparation and cooking can lead to a huge amount of waste.

Measure the amount you’ll need

Following recipes will really help here, but if you’re used to measuring out quantities by eye, for example with rice, potatoes or pasta, then do some research and even weigh out the amounts you’ll actually eat. If you find these levels are too much or too little, then adjust this and make a note so you don’t forget next time you cook the same thing.

Use more of what you buy

There are certain foods where we’ll use a key part but throw out the rest. But if could be you’re chucking out perfectly good grub. Take broccoli stalks, potato skins or the bits of chicken under the carcuss. And you can use the bones from meat for broth or stock too.

Batch cook

There is an alternative to cooking less, and that’s to cook more than you need with the intention of using it later in the week or freezing. This not only saves time as you don’t have to cook again, but it can also use up more ingredients. Handy if you have bought multipacks or have things which could go off soon.

Eat your leftovers

If you do cook too much and perhaps there’s not enough for a full meal another day, don’t just chuck it in the bin. You might be able to combine it with other things, perhaps whack it in a sandwich or salad.

The best deals

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

Avoid food going off

Know how food dates work

Something that people often get confused about is the date on packs. There are two key dates: use by and best before.

Use by should be consumed before the date on the pack, especially when it comes to things like fresh meat and fish. You’ve got more wiggle room with dairy – use your eyes and nose to sense if it’s off or not.

But best before dates are fine to keep even if that has expired. At worst you’ll find the quality or taste might not be optimum, but they are safe to eat (as long as they’re stored properly). In fact there are websites which sell items already past best before dates for a low price.

Many supermarkets are removing dates on fruit and veg, so just keep an eye on everything after you buy it to make sure it doesn’t go off.

Don’t open a new pack until you need it

If you want something to last longer, then don’t open it until you’re going to use it. My friend recently send me a photo of his mother-in-law’s freezer, including three open loaves of bread, two open bottles of milk and two open cream cheese packs.

One way to help avoid this is to put the items with better dates at the back of the fridge or cupboard, and the ones already open or the ones with sooner dates at the front.

Use your freezer

Freezers are fantastic ways to preserve leftovers and half-used ingredients, including many you might not think you can freeze. And of course they help you store items that are reduced to clear that you don’t have time to eat.

If you want to maximise the space in your freezer you can take things out of packs, while labelling what you’ve frozen and when can be a huge help too.

Store things properly

Covering or closing open items, or moving them into airtight containers, can help prolong the life of food and drink. You should also check the temperature of your fridge is at 5 degrees or less – too warm and it could spoil.

Donate to a food bank

If you have food that you know you won’t use, and as long as they have a decent expiration date, then donate it to a food bank.

Read next

Updated July 15, 2025   |   Articles

How to get the best value hotel rooms

Andy Webb
Seven steps to find the best price on hotels, motels and resorts.

On most of my holidays, it’s accommodation which is the biggest expense each day. But this article isn’t about finding the cheapest possible hotel room.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not someone who goes for luxury suites or top-end resorts. But I don’t want the most basic either.

Though I don’t usually spend a huge amount of time in these rooms, I want somewhere I’ll be able to get a decent night’s sleep and have a decent shower. Somewhere at least nice. And location can be important too, especially on short trips. And these things can all add to the cost of a room.

So how do I bring down the price? Here’s what I do to get the best possible value when staying in hotels – giving me more money to spend on the rest of the trip.

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.

Paid advertisement

Step 1: See what accommodation is available

With any trip I make I’ll first look on booking.com. I find it has a decent range of hotel and B&B options at (usually) competitive prices. It’s also a bit better than other websites at sorting and refining searches with filters such as guest ratings. It’s not perfect, but it does the job.

However, not all hotels are on Booking. com. I’ll generally search for apartments on AirBnb I’ve used this site a lot, especially in the USA, where hotels can be crazily expensive, and even in the UK. Don’t ignore traditional B&Bs either, they can often be far better value than hotels in some destinations.

I’m a fan too of Travelodge and Premier Inn and these often can only be booked direct. They do what they say they will and are usually good value for money. Though as with everything right now, I’m finding them not as cheap as they used to be.

Step 2: Check the reviews and details

Of course, the price isn’t my only consideration. So I always browse through the reviews and check TripAdvisor too.

You can’t trust all the comments, but you’ll hopefully get an idea of potential problems – and a sense of whether the hotel is worth the listed price.

Also, take a look at the small print. Often there’s extra to cover tax or resort fees. Find out if Wi-Fi is included, and if you are paying for a breakfast you don’t really want.

The best deals

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

Step 3: Find the cheapest price

Once I’ve found a couple of options I’ll quickly search hotel comparison site Kayak. It will tell you the rate for your hotel across a dozen or so websites, including other big booking sites like Expedia. It’s a great start to see what’s available and a quick way to spot savings.

It’s always worth checking directly with the hotel too – they might have extra discounts if you book with them as it means they’re not paying any commission on the sale.

Another option I’ve looked at but never booked is as a “secret hotel” on sites like Lastminute.com or Priceline. With these promotions, you don’t actually know the hotel until you’ve booked, and as a result, you pay less. You can usually work out which hotel you’ll get with a bit of investigating – i.e. cut and paste the description into Google and see what comes up!

Step 4: Check for free cancellation

Now you’ve found where you want to stay, find out if any of the websites list it with free cancellation. This is a huge factor for me when choosing a hotel. It means that if I change my plans or find a better deal (potentially for the same hotel), I’ve got the flexibility to cancel and rebook. 

However, there are often discounts for non-cancellable rooms, so if you’re confident that you’re not going to need to cancel then it’s possibly not worth it.  

Step 5: Bring the price down even more

Booking. com, Expedia and a few others offer extra discounts if you’re registered with them, so it’s worth signing up just for these discounts. Or there are loyalty schemes such as the one with Hotels.com where you earn a free stay after booking 10 nights.

Then I’ll always try to book a hotel through a cashback site such as TopCashback and Quidco (get a welcome offer here). Rates usually range from 2% or 3% up to 10%.

Though I often get emailed voucher codes for sites such as Expedia and Hotels, I usually find the cashback rates are better. However, it’s worth remembering that voucher codes are guaranteed savings, while cashback might not track.

Step 6: Get more from your booking

Once I’ve decided where I’ll stay and made the booking, I’ll let the hotel know if I’m celebrating something special. On our honeymoon, we were upgraded a few times and given little freebies like a bottle of fizz and a cake from Magnolia Bakery. We also got a few extra perks on our first wedding anniversary. It’s always worth asking.

Step 7: Pick how you pay for the hotel

With many of these websites, you’ll usually pay when you get to the hotel – and if you’re abroad how you do this makes a big difference to the price you pay.

I’ve written an article about how to get the best value when you spend overseas, but the headlines are: always pay in the local currency, and try to pay with a specialist card such the Halifax Clarity credit card or the Starling current account. This will get you the best exchange rates.

Of course, if you’re given the option to pay upfront, you might want to do this – especially if you want to guarantee how much you pay.

Read next

Updated July 15, 2025   |   Articles

Your forgotten cash and where to find it

Andy Webb
From unused Oyster cards to old bank accounts you could have some handy spare cash ready to claim.

I spotted an advert on the tube the other year from Nandos – revealing there were 1.8 million unclaimed rewards sitting on Nando’s cards. That’s a lot of chicken. But I wasn’t that surprised. It’s just another example of forgotten cash and rewards that we really should be using.

So this got me thinking – where else could people forgot they’ve got some money? Here’s a quick list of places to check, and how to make sure that money is going to better use.

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.

Paid advertisement

Cashback sites

Regular readers will know I’m an advocate of using cashback sites to earn a little extra. By using Quidco or Topcashback as the first stop before going to most online shops you can receive money back on your purchase. Really easy.

But the cashback does take a while to be paid out. So if you’ve not used your account for a while, it’s worth looking to see if there’s anything ready to cash out.

Bank rewards

There are quite a few current accounts with extra rewards, from £5 a month from Halifax through to cashback on bills from Santander. If these aren’t your main accounts it might be those payments are stacking up, so transfer them through to your main current account or a savings account.

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

Old savings accounts

I remember a good few years back I found an old Post Office book that has been set up by my gran. There wasn’t much in it, but it has just been sitting there.

Similarly, a while back Becky had a letter from Virgin Money saying she hadn’t been in touch for a while. Turned out it had been four years and there was £4.41 of interest which had been added after she’d cleared the balance.

So take a look through your records. See if there are any accounts you’ve long forgotten – there could be cash lurking!

Auto-savings apps

Similarly, if you use Plum, Chip or the roundup feature with banks such as Starling and Lloyds then you could have squirrelled cash away bit by bit. Unless it’s the 5% bonus interest on roundups in Chase Bank, I’d move this money through to a better paying account or spend it.

Credit in online shops

With some online retailers, you’ll be refunded in credit which stays on your account, particularly if you’ve paid by gift card or voucher. So log in to Amazon, John Lewis and the rest to see if there’s any money sitting there. You can’t transfer this out to your bank, but you can use it.

Gift cards

Speaking of gift cards, take a look in your wallet, drawer or wherever you keep them. These are so commonly forgotten about that when found they’ve expired and all the money lost. Hopefully it’s not too late for any you have. Here are my rules for making sure you don’t waste your gift cards

Loyalty schemes

If you’re always tapping a loyalty card when you go shopping, log in to see how much you have racked up.

Tesco Clubcard points are usually posted as vouchers, but you can reorder any which you’ve lost or exchange them online for boosted deals.

With Nectar you need to check your account. You can spend these in Sainsbury’s direct from your Nectar card.

And don’t forget the rest – there could be a free coffee, donougt or chicken sitting at the back of your wallet.

A Nando’s advert on the tube telling us to use our rewards points.

Old phone, TV or energy accounts

When you switch supplier to get a better deal, make sure you aren’t owed any cash. Often with bills like these you pay in advance so could well be due some money back – and the companies won’t automatically send it to you. So chase it up!

Oyster cards

Remember when you needed an Oyster card to get around London? Since we’ve been able to tap and go with Contactless cards on London’s tubes and buses, we’ve had no use for the official payment cards. So these cards have just been sitting there.

I had a quick look a few years ago and both Becky and I had a little bit of cash on our old cards. Just a few quid. A couple of clicks to cancel and apply for a refund then brought a welcome surprise. We were also due an extra £5 back. Each. We’d both forgotten that when we got the Oysters we had to pay this as a deposit.

Prepaid cards

It’s not just Oyster where you could have some balance left over. Have you ever had a prepaid card? Maybe on holiday? Check what the balance is and get that money back. And as with Oyster see if you had to put a deposit down.

Read next

Updated July 15, 2025   |   Articles

Cheaper alternatives to Sky TV and Virgin Media

Andy Webb

How do you watch TV if you don’t pay for Sky? Here are the ways you can watch the same and new content elsewhere and save money.

My post on why it was time to ditch Sky and Virgin TV subscriptions is always really popular, and I’ve had lots of questions about the cheaper alternative ways to watch TV. So here’s a little more detail on your options.

You might think that by dropping Sky, Virgin and other pay TV services you’ll miss out on some of the channels you enjoy. Well, you can actually get most of them elsewhere – and for less 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.

Paid advertisement
Image showing TV with Roku homescreen

Entertainment and film channels

First up, let’s cover the channels you might be watching right now via Sky or Virgin as you’re probably most concerned about these channels – from BBC One through to Sky Atlantic.

NOW Entertainment

This is the main way to get your core Sky channels for less. You get to pick and choose which elements you sign up for. So a monthly entertainment pass will cost £9.99 a month, while the Hayu reality TV pass is £4.99 a month.

I really only the Entertainment pass, but I never pay full price. In fact I’m often able to get passes for a fraction of the price.

Channels on the Entertainment Pass include Sky Max, Sky Atlantic, Sky Crime and Sky Comedy. You can also get UKTV channels such as Gold and all the box sets for those channels.

I’ve written in more detail about NOW TV here, including the ways to get it for less.

Now Sky Cinema

All the Sky Cinema channels are available on a separate pass from NOW. Passes also cost £9.99 a month, though as with the Entertainment pass there are deals to bring the price down which I’ll share on this page here.

Freeview and Freesat

Most channels you watch are probably free to air, which means even if you are watching them via Sky or cable they aren’t part of the monthly fee – and you can continue to watch them without paying a penny.

Freeview needs an external aerial and Freesat requires a satellite connection. As long as you’ve got one of these (and the box/TV to receive the signal) you’ll get free access to hundreds of channels including the most popular ones – BBC, ITV and Channel 4 – and favourites such as Dave and The Food Network. Here’s a full list.

You can still record these free channels with the right box. This box is £169.99 at the moment. Spread that cost over three years (though it’ll probably last longer) and it works out at £4.72 a month. I think it’s worth paying this vs sticking with Sky.

If you only have access to TV via the internet then Virgin Media, BT and Sky now (or soon will) offer cheaper devices that let you watch free channels – though you’ll still need broadband with those companies.

iPlayer, All 4, ITVX and My5

There’s an amazing back catalogue of free TV to watch on these services. Really, it’s huge.

Often you can watch programmes that are also on the likes of Netflix and Amazon, except on iPlayer and the others it won’t cost you a thing. You can also watch the channels live and download programmes to your phone for offline viewing.

Discovery+

Discovery+ is an option for some other channels you’d normally get on Sky such as Discovery, Animal Planet and TLC – though the likes of HGTV, Quest and Food Network are also on Freeview. It costs £3.99 a month to get access.

Sports channels

A big draw for people with Sky and BT is often the ability to watch sport, but you can get access to these channels on a monthly basis – and without the need for a long contract.

NOW Sky Sports

Once more NOW TV is your option to watch Sky’s sports channels, and you can get all the sports ones. The big difference here to the other NOW TV passes is this is live viewing only – there’s no on-demand.

Passes are available for the day (£14.99) and month (£34.99), while there’s also sometimes a mobile phone only option.

Again there are always deals to cut the price you pay, and we’ve got a special page devoted to NOW TV Sports Pass offers.

TNT Sports (formally BT Sport)

TNT Sports has a monthly pass at £30.99 a month. This means you don’t need to have any other service with BT or to sign up to a long contract – though you will have to cancel to stop the subscription rolling over to a new month.

Our podcast

Listen to Cash Chats, our award-winning podcast, presented by Steve Alderton and Editor James Andrews.

Episodes every Monday.

Listen now

Other streaming services

These are the pay subscriptions that give you extra content you can’t get with Sky, Virgin or Freeview – and chances are you’ve already signed up for one or two.

Often these are extra costs on top, so signing up for these might be as well as some of the more direct Virgin and Sky replacements – though personally I’d always suggest you sign up as an alternative, then mix and match, rather than have them as well.

Netflix

There’s a lot of very good original and old TV on Netflix, as well as award-winning movies that appear here just weeks after the first cinema showings. It’s my top pick if you’re only going to get one service as there’s always something to watch.

It starts at £4.99 for the ‘Standard with ads’ option, though the most popular option is £10.99 which gives you HD quality and the ability for two people to watch on different devices at the same time. The top level £17.99 tier upgrades to Ultra HD and allows four simultaneous uses of the account. There are occasionally deals and discounts.

Amazon Prime Video

If you’re a frequent Amazon shopper then there’s a good chance you’ve got this. A full year at £95 which works out slightly cheaper than the standard £8.99 a month price.

If you don’t want the extra Amazon Prime features like free next day delivery you can get a video-only subscription for £5.99 a month. Don’t forget there’s a 30-day free trial for new customers.

There’s still decent exclusive TV and movies here so you’ll likely find something new.

Andy’s YouTube

Watch new videos every week on the Andy Clever Cash channel, plus a regular live Q&A

Watch now

Apple TV+

There’s only new and original TV shows on Apple’s entry to the streaming service. It costs £8.99 a month, though there are often deals to get a few months for free – even if you’ve had the service before. In fact, since it launched, I’ve not paid a penny but had access for almost two years!

Disney+

Disney+ has three tiers to choose from. Standard with ads for £4.99 per month, Standard for £8.99 per month or £89.90 per year and Premium for £12.99 per month or £129.90 per year, though there are ways to pay less.

Big shows include new TV based around Star Wars and Marvel, as well as have a back catalogue of the MCU, Pixar and Disney movies and TV like the Simpsons and The Walking Dead.

The rest

There are so many other streaming services you could go for. I’ve shared the best deals here, but these include:

  • Britbox
  • Starzplay
  • Mubi
    Paramount+
  • BFI Player

My TV set up and savings

I haven’t had a TV subscription from the likes of Sky or Virgin since early 2014, but I’ve still been able to watch channels such as Sky Atlantic, Fox and Sky One (more on this below).

My total on NOW TV in the last year has been just £61. That’s about 10 months of entertainment and Boost, two of Cinema and four of sports. I’m not saying you’d be able to get these deals (or that I would again), but these have been some cracking savings.

I don’t have Apple TV+ right now but I’ve got a voucher for four months free which I’ll activate soon, on top of the free five months I had earlier in the year. I also managed to get a year’s free Prime Video and three months free Disney+ via O2. I’m about to cancel the latter and only pick it up occasionally.

My Freeview is via a six-year-old YouView box, which I got for free with a previous broadband contract from BT so I’m not paying anything there.

So this means I’ll likely have spent around £153 this year on a huge range of TV services. That’s just £12.75 a month on average. 

Compared to the basic TV Sky package that’s easily half of what I’d be paying, if not much, much more.

Working out which services are for you

Do a channel audit

Before making your choice about the services to pay for you need to do a channel audit.

Think about what you actually watch, and whether you’re actually bothered about those channels. Most people will be fine with Freeview the majority of the time, adding on one or two pay subscriptions to boost viewing options.

The TV Tapas method

Of course, there’s the chance that the more of the premium services you sign up for the less you’ll save vs the price you were paying for Sky.

And consider how much time you actually have for TV viewing. Realistically you won’t be able to fully take advantage of all the services at the same time.

I’d recommend a “tapas style” approach where you pick and mix over the year, rather than gorging all at once on more than you can possibly manage.

For example, you could get Netflix for a couple of months and binge the shows you want to watch there.

Once you’ve exhausted the shows, or fancy a change you can then switch to NOW TV for a month or so.

Then perhaps have a break where you focus on programmes you missed on iPlayer and then back to Netflix. Or any combination!

How to watch without a Sky or Virgin box

Most modern TVs are “smart TVs” and come with apps for many of these online services. But chances are it won’t have them all.

So you’ll need to invest in a relatively cheap streaming stick like an Amazon Fire Stick or Roku which plugs into an empty HDMI socket on your TV and connects wirelessly to the internet. You’ll usually need a power supply too.

Read next

Updated July 15, 2025   |   Articles

What you should be asking for this Christmas

Andy Webb
If you’ve got family and friends asking what you want this Christmas and you’re struggling for ideas I’m here to help.

This isn’t one of those gift list guides that crop up everywhere from glossies to blogs. They’re often just lists of overpriced items the writer has been sent for free. Rarely of much use!

No, this is a very simple trick to not just give you a little bit of inspiration, but also help you spend less money on yourself throughout next year.

ask for christmas

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.

Paid advertisement

My struggle for gift ideas

I know lots of people never really know what to say when asked what they want for Christmas – myself included.

It’s not that I don’t ever need anything, it’s just that I always buy what I want or need when I need it. Or for expensive things I tend to save up until I’ve enough cash, and then get it. So come December, my Christmas List is usually non-existent.

It really frustrates my family and I sometimes end up being given gifts which, being really honest, can be hit and miss. I’ve got to take most of the blame here. If I could just name what I want, it could avoid all this waste. But year after year I’ve struggled for ideas.

But a few years ago my friend Michelle said something which was a revelation. As soon as she mentioned it, I couldn’t believe just how obvious it was. I suddenly realised I hadn’t ever properly thought about what I really needed.

If someone asks what I would like, I’ve always thought about what I need at this moment in time. And that’s why I’ve struggled.

But the answer is to think beyond “right now”. Think about everything you frequently pay for throughout the year. 

What you should be asking for

Of course, if there is something else you’ve had your eye on but not been able to afford, or haven’t got around to buying yet, then that’s the perfect thing to ask for. But if not…?

Consider every regular cost you have. These are the things you actually need. These are where money spent on a present for you is going to actually be well spent. And they can still be nice things.

But there is a limit – I wouldn’t ask for money towards your other bills like energy or broadband. If you’re really struggling to make ends meet then there are different conversations that need to be had – perhaps a present amnesty so you don’t have to spend cash you don’t have.

Anyway, here are a few things you could be asking for.

The things you always buy

Ok, yes you might already get socks from your mum at Christmas, but what else do you need to resupply on? These are the things you will need, even if not at this moment.

Cosmetics and toiletries are top options here. You will get through a number of these through the year and they can often be expensive. So asking for one or two of them is a good bet.

Booze is another good one, as with most there isn’t a best before date you need to keep an eye on. This means there’s no problem getting them at Christmas for much later in the year.

Your subscriptions and memberships

There will also be many more expenses which aren’t things you buy in a shop.

Subscriptions for a start. If you pay for Netflix or Spotify every month, then why not ask someone to pay for it for a few months? Could someone buy you Amazon Prime for a year?

And if you’d be happy for someone to buy you Netflix, even the TV Licence could be a gift. It might seem weird, but think about it. You get all the tv and radio channels, as well as the website. That’s not really any different than asking for a DVD or CD.

Do you have any memberships, perhaps to the National Trust or Picturehouse Cinemas? Again, perfect gifts. Even if the renewal date isn’t for a few months, you can still ask for money towards it.

If you go to any classes, clubs or activities, see if someone will buy a batch of them for you. Services are another area you could ask for as gifts. Think haircuts or massages.

Activities and events

One of my go-to ideas for gifts is money towards a gig, or cash towards a special meal out. If you can name the actual concert or restaurant that’ll help the gift giver feel like the money won’t fritter away.

You could even crowdsource among different family members. I did this for my 40th, and this helped fund a trip to double Michelin star restaurant L’Enclume.

Services that free up your time

You could push this idea further still. If you pay for a cleaner or gardener, ask for a contribution towards these costs. That might feel like it’s taking this idea too far.

But the main reason people pay for these is to free up time to spend with their family. So it’s really a gift of time that is being given. I think that’s actually a top present.

Money vs gift cards

You probably could cover some of these expenses with gift cards – but I’d argue you’d be better off asking for money and making it clear how it will be spent.

With gift cards there’s always the risk that you’ll forget you’ve got them or lose them. Or, as we see year after year, if a shop goes under there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to use any cards you’ve still not spent.

Dealing with people who don’t like these ideas

These aren’t perfect solutions. For one thing, you can’t really wrap most of these, except cosmetics or booze. And this could be an issue for some gift-givers.

There’s often a reluctance to hand over money as a present. And even if someone is willing to do that, how often have you had people buy you little extras just so there’s something to unwrap?

It always annoys me when someone says “It’s the thought that counts”. No. I completely disagree. That’s only true if a gift is truly well-intentioned but falls short. Yet even then I’d argue it would be better to not buy something than buy a gift someone doesn’t want.

And I hate waste. Yes there’s the environmental impact of unwanted gifts, which shouldn’t be forgotten, but I really, really hate wasted money – whether that’s my money or someone else’s. And I hate it even more if it can be avoided.

So if you’re happy to receive the above suggestions as gifts then stick to your guns. Explain how they’ll help you throughout the year. Share why the service, subscription or club are important to you. Tell them why you don’t need little extras you won’t use. Hopefully they’ll happily accept your gift request.

If not, it’s the gift giver who needs to think about why they are buying you something in the first place. If they then decide to just buy you something else there’s little you can do.

Yes, sometimes a surprise gift can be spot on, and that’s fantastic. But let’s face it, it’s usually hit and miss.

Our podcast

Listen to Cash Chats, our award-winning podcast, presented by Steve Alderton and Editor James Andrews.

Episodes every Monday.

Listen now

If you really don’t want or need anything

If you don’t feel these ideas work for you, then a final suggestion is one where the thought really does count. You could instead ask for a donation to a charity of your choice. I think you’ll agree it’s a far better option than getting a gift that ends up in the bin.

Finally, if you’re still to buy gifts, make sure you ask people what they want. If they’re struggling for ideas, maybe share this article with them – it could be the inspiration they need.

Updated July 15, 2025   |   Articles

Beat the Virgin Media price hikes

Andy Webb
Use the increases to cut what you pay.

I feel like there’s a broadband, mobile and TV price increase every few months… and the latest is from Virgin Media. Letters and emails are being sent to customers detailing increases to bills in March.

Usually those in a utility contract are tied in and have no choice but to pay the extra cash. The good news is that’s not the case if you’re with Virgin Media. Depending on what services you use, you might actually be able to ditch your contract and save money.

Here’s what you need to know.

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.

Paid advertisement

How much Virgin Media prices are going up

From 1 March this year, most Virgin Media customers will see an increase to their monthly bills. The average increase will be £4.70 a month, or £56.40 a year.

It’ll apply to broadband, phone and TV customers. There’s a separate increase on 1 April for Virgin Mobile customers.

Exactly how much more you’ll get charged will depend on the package you have right now, so you’ll have to look out for the letter to learn the exact amount.

Obviously if you have just broadband it’ll be less than those with TV and / or phone as well, and the more expensive your package in terms of speed and channels will likely also have an impact.

Why this isn’t necessarily bad news

Since the increases are a change to your contract, you’ll have 30 days from getting the letter or email to give notice and not get charged any penalties for leaving early.

So Virgin customers in the middle of a contract can use this hike to move to a different provider and potentially cut what they pay for their broadband, TV and landline services

Or, if you don’t want to leave Virgin, you can still use the increase to push for a better deal. And I’ve used that to my advantage in the past.

How to use the price increase to get a better deal

Wait for your letter or email

This is really important. You’ll need this to start the process of moving away or negotiating. It might be sent as an email rather than a letter so keep an eye on your spam folder. Once you have it you’ll see the date you have to take action by.

Sign up elsewhere

Many of the best prices for broadband and TV are for new customers. It’s not just special offers and reductions for signing up, you can also get a bonus for going via cashback sites.

Ideally you’ll stack different deals to really bring the price down -e.g, combining a sale price, freebie and cashback, though these aren’t always all available at the same time.

It’s also potentially possible for you to cancel your Virgin contract and get your partner to sign up as a new customer to get special incentives. I’ve done this before with other providers, but I’ve also heard Virgin are cracking down on this. 

Haggle 

Even if you’re not keen to leave Virgin you can use the change to get money off your bill or extras thrown in for free. Do a little bit of research on what other companies are offering, and see if they can match it.

They might try to appease you by giving you extras for nothing, which is fine as long as you are actually going to use them. Personally I’d rather have money knocked off the bill than receive extra channels I won’t watch.

And if you don’t get the deal you want, I think it’s worth giving your notice and waiting to see if they call back. If they don’t and you really don’t want to go you can always call them back up and say you’ve changed your mind.

Do stay polite throughout the chat though – it won’t help you to get angry.

My Virgin Media haggling experiences

I’ve been with Virgin Media for the last four years, and during this time there have been three, if not four, times when prices have been increased. On each occasion, I took the opportunity to give notice. And each time I got a discount on my bill.

The first time, Virgin were especially eager to keep me as a customer. The cancellation department not only waived the price increase, they also gave me an extra discount for the bad service I’d had.

Fast forward to February 2019 and the end of my 12-month contract. I got in touch again, but this time the call centre team couldn’t match what I would get as a customer elsewhere. So I gave my 30-day notice.

The next day though I got a call from Virgin, offering me a deal even cheaper than the one I’d signed up for as a new customer 12 months earlier. It meant I’d have to ditch my landline – but that was no problem as I didn’t even have a phone plugged in!

And I’ve done this at each price increase and end of contract, keeping my price down.

Cut back 

With either leaving Virgin and sticking around, you can use this as a chance to drop some of the services you’re paying for but don’t actually need.

First have a quick audit of what you’re paying for – whether that’s call packages, TV channels and even the speed of your broadband. Then think about how much you use them – if at all. Ditching or reducing some of these are good ways to help bring down your bill further.

Look for alternatives

You also don’t need to get all your services from Virgin. It must be eight years now since I stopped paying for TV via my broadband service.

Instead I opted for a YouView recording box to record Freeview channels. I’ve got a BT one (you don’t need BT to use it), but there are plenty available (including this one for £129 at Argos. Mine is currently seven years old, working out at the equivalent of just 77p a month.

I then top up my channels by buying discounted NOW TV passes to get my Sky Atlantic fix – which you can’t get with Virgin anyway. I tend to pay under £3 a month for my Entertainment pass and Boost pass (required if you want HD and no adverts).

Combined that’s less than £4 a month for channels and services which would cost much, much more from Virgin.

Should you ditch Virgin Media?

I’ve given you the how to reduce your bills, but should you? I’d say if the saving you make is decent then yes, go for it.

But I appreciate it’s not all about price. If you’re happy with the service you get then it might be worth paying a little more (if that is the case) rather than switch away.

And don’t forget you Virgin Media customers can now get discounts on O2 SIMS and access to the O2 Priority loyalty app, with all sorts of freebies.

Personally I’ll be staying put. As you’ll know I do a lot of video work on my YouTube channel, so the extra upload speed makes a big difference to me so I’m happy to pay a little more than any deal I might be able to with a non-cable company. But I will be haggling to see what extra discounts I can get.

Read next