Compare and Save | Money Saving Tips & Finance Help

06 October 2008 :

Top tips to improve and maintain your credit rating

by compareandsave.com Editors

In recent weeks, the news has been full of stories reporting on the global credit crunch and how lenders are refusing more people credit with the aim of minimizing their exposure to debt and therefore to risk.

Your credit rating will be looked at when you try to get credit facilities (such as credit cards, loans, mortgages, mobile phone and broadband contracts and store cards) and when you go to open bank accounts and savings accounts.

In light of this, we have compiled a list of the best tips to help you to improve your credit rating so that you can increase your chances of getting the credit you want.

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03:44 PM | Categories: Mortgages, Bank Accounts, Savings Accounts, Money, Bad Credit, General Hints & Tips, Credit Cards, Loans, Broadband

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Tesco home insurance offer – don’t miss out

by compareandsave.com Editors

Tesco are currently running a great deal on their home insurance products.

If you get a quote from Tesco for your home insurance between 10 January and 6 February, and then buy the quoted policy, you will get £75 off any Hotpoint appliance ordered from Tesco Direct.

To be eligible you need to enter the promotional code hotpoint75 into the ‘promotional code’ box on the quote form.

Once you have accepted the quote, Tesco will send you an E-voucher code that you must accurately provide when you buy the Hotpoint appliance from Tesco Direct.

• Tesco home insurance can provide you with buildings and/or contents insurance.

• For added protection, they offer accidental damage cover, personal possessions cover and family legal protection as optional extras.

• If you enter your Tesco Clubcard details when you buy your policy, you can earn Clubcard points and use your Clubcard vouchers towards the cost of the policy

• Cover includes up to £1000 worth of stored information (e.g. music on an iPod)

• Discounts offered if you apply online or over the phone

Tesco Direct offers 31 Hotpoint products starting from a price of £159.97. With the promotional voucher you could get one of two fridges or a tumble dryer for only £84.97 and you could have this delivered to selected stores for free.

Learn more about Tesco home insurance and £75 Hotpoint offer

03:35 PM | Categories: Money, Offers, Home Insurance

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Savings tips

by compareandsave.com Editors

Saving money isn't easy. First you need to find the money to save and then you need to find an account that will give you the best return.

We thought we would take some of the hassle out of saving for you and provide you with our top ten savings tips.

If you need more information, our 'Guide to savings accounts' is there to talk you through some of the essentials, in more depth, so that you can get yourself the best savings account for your individual needs.

Contents

1.    Divide and conquer
2.    Pay day = save day
3.    Interest-ing
4.    Time does = money
5.    Learn to walk before starting to run
6.    For richer or poorer
7.    Forms, forms everywhere
8.    Inflation
9.    That old chestnut
10.  Don’t forget your ‘shrapnel’

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02:24 PM | Categories: Money, General Hints & Tips, Savings Accounts

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Free home insulation scheme

by compareandsave.com Editors

In the last two weeks, both Npower and EDF Energy have increased their gas and electricity prices. Because of this, we thought you might like to know about a way of reducing your heating bills by better insulating your home. What’s even better is that, if you satisfy certain criteria, it won’t cost you a penny.

According to the Energy Savings Trust, a third of a home’s heat is lost through the walls. Cavity wall insulation can prevent this loss and save you around £90 a year on your heating bills. Loft insulation should add an extra £110 on average to this amount saved.

British Gas and Npower are offering free home insulation, worth about £600, to anyone over 70 and those on certain benefits.

What’s even better is that it doesn’t matter how much you earn and that you don’t need to be a current customer of either company. British Gas is running the initiative as part of the government’s carbon emissions reduction target (Cert) scheme. Both will offer cavity wall and loft insulation absolutely free of charge to every homeowner in the UK who is over 70 or on certain benefits.

Under the Cert scheme, energy companies are required to spend £1.5bn over the next three years on the installation of energy efficiency measures in the homes of the elderly and those on low incomes.

To qualify for the scheme you must be over 70 or in receipt of at least one of the following benefits:

• Council tax benefit

• Housing benefit

• Income support

• Income-based Jobseeker’s allowance

• Attendance allowance

• Disability living allowance

• War disablement pension which includes either mobility supplement or constant attendance allowance

• Disablement pension which includes constant attendance allowance

• State pension credit

• Child tax credit where the relevant annual household income is £14,600 or less

• Working tax credit where the relevant annual household income is £14,600 or less

The scheme is not just for homeowners. If you live in privately rented housing, and receive any of the above benefits, you can also apply as long as you have the landlord’s approval.

For further energy saving ideas please read our article: ‘Top tips to save you money on your energy bills’.

For additional information and to apply:

Ring British Gas on 0845 605 2535 and quote ‘JOU’

Ring Npower on 0800 02 22 20

04:46 PM | Categories: Utilities, General Info, Gas & Electric

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